While the Fort Dale Eagles basketball team is taking to the hardwood in their quest for another state championship, the Fort Dale baseball team took the field Monday with a one-day tryout.

The Eagles' goal this season is to get into that spot in the AISA that

they fell one game short of locking up last season.

The Eagles finished last season with an 8-13 record but were denied entry into the playoffs thanks to the Patriots of Pike Liberal Arts School in Troy.

"We lost to them 5-4 in Troy," said Clint Lowery, coach of the Fort Dale baseball team.

The Eagles return 14 from last year's squad. Lowery said that he was probably going to take at least 20 on the team. He also listed some key returners from last season as well.

"We've got Brady Newton

who played short stop and pitches some for us, Cory Ausderau who's our catcher and a fourth year starter. "

"We've got Erik Hicks who plays second and Chuck Barrett, probably the best pitcher we had last year. He finished 6-2 and he'll be a senior. We have David and Adam Moore, pitchers and an outfielders too."

The Eagles will be in the same area in baseball that they are in basketball with Monroe Academy, Morgan Academy and Hooper

Christian Academy.

Each team will play each other three times and the team with the best area record will advance to the playoffs. Just like in football the lower seed will travel to the higher seed.

If Fort Dale wins their area, then the No. 2 from Edgewood region will travel down. But if FDA finishes second, then they will travel.

"Most of the team will start practice Jan. 17, which is next Monday," said Lowery. "But some of the guys will have to leave to go to spring football. We are going to kickoff practice officially the first week of February with our first game being in March against Escambia Academy."