WARNER ROBINS -- A week after their female counterparts took to the fields, boys from Little League baseball teams crowded the Southeastern Region headquarters Thursday.

The state champions from Alabama, Florida, Georgia, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, Virginia and West Virginia introduced themselves to the fields Thursday before taking group and team photos.

Georgia

The Warner Robins American team isn’t betting on home-field advantage at the tournament this week held in its own back yard.

Like many of the other teams, the players have never been on the field, said 13-year-old second baseman Logan Arnett.

Arnett is the team’s leadoff hitter and tops the stat charts in on-base percentage, but coach Buddy Deal said there isn’t just one standout player. That has created a lot of team unity, he said.

“It’s really exciting to know that you’ve (made it to the regional tournament),” said Logan Fink, 11. “It’s kind of a once-in-a lifetime thing.”

Deal said he wants the players to just go out there and “hit, catch and throw, play hard and play baseball.”

And as for that home-field advantage?

“We’ll know when those stands are full,” he said. “I think there’s going to be a rowdy, raucous crowd, and I’m going to ask the boys to play off of that. I’m also going to give them that speech: ‘You don’t want to lose on your home field.’ ”

Alabama

Westside Mobile Little League is all about business.

No pregame rituals. Just get out on the field, “just play our game and take care of business,” said manager Neal Pepper.

This year’s team returns most of the group that played together last year, with the addition of three new players, he said.

Josh Lewis, 13, is one of those returning players.

“We work really hard at practice, and we like to win -- nobody likes to lose,” he said. “I’m really excited to get on this field and play baseball.”

Florida

On a team trip to McDonald’s this season, New Tampa Little League found its mascot. She was waiting in a Mighty Kid’s Meal.

Third baseman Henry Harve colored hair on the doll head his team’s colors and named her “Star.”

“We’ve won every game with her,” Harve, said, defending his team’s lucky charm.

“Well, except one,” teammate Ethan Thomas admitted.

But, that lapse in Star’s powers were quickly righted, manger Ed Thinger said. Every player kissed Star after that game, and she willed her luck in the next game with another win.

This is the league’s first trip to the Southeastern Regional tournament. Thinger said standout players were Conor Grady -- pitching a complete game that only yielded one run for the opposing team -- and Aaron Guiang -- who hit 15 home runs this season.

And Star was with them the whole way.

North Carolina

There’s no “I” in team on the Greenville, N.C., team, not even for standout player Holton Ahlers.

“(The players are) more about the win than they are about their individual accolades,” manager Jeff Henson said.

Ahlers hit three home runs in the state tournament, including a walk-off home run, according to Henson. But, he adamantly shook his head when asked if he believes himself to be the key to the team’s success.

“If you work together, you do a lot better,” Ahlers said.

In fact, Henson said, his team is so well-rounded that each team member has something to offer.

“This is one of the most balanced teams I’ve ever had,” he said, adding that it’s hard to select starters because of the evenly skilled players.

Henson said he wants his players to continue their teamwork in hopes of being “in the mix” during the final games of the tournament next week.

South Carolina

Third baseman Wade Ward has given his teammates the ultimate motivation.

If they don’t play well, he will “unfriend” them on Facebook.

“He’s our motivational speaker,” manager Brian Beatson said of the 12-year-old. “Most of them have played together since they were 8, so they work well together.”

After all, Facebook friendships are on the line.

Tennessee

The first time has been the charm for the Goodlettsville, Tenn., team, having advanced to the regional in its first year as a team.

“We played some good baseball, but we had a couple of breaks, too,” manager Joe Keef said.

Keef said his city department played in the Dixie League for years but was ready for a challenge. So it formed a Little League team that hopes to go all the way.

The team came from behind in three games in the state tournament -- trailing by as many as 7-1 -- to win the title.

“Perseverance,” Keef said. “They never did give up.”

Pitcher Terron Smith said winning the state championship has been the highlight of the season so far. And, he’s done it with friends, he said.

“We all know each other, and we’re together all the time,” he said.

Virginia

Five Virginia players already have had a long week. Held up by a rain delay, they finished another baseball tournament in Cooperstown, N.Y., at 2:30 a.m. on Thursday and then hopped on a plane to Georgia to join the rest of the their team for the regional.

Despite the quick turnaround, manager Jeff Grammes said he has “no doubt about” his players being ready to play Friday.

“This is what the kids live for,” he said.

The team can be described as persistent, said third baseman Eli Nachison. Trailing 5-1, the team came back and scored 10 runs in the second inning in its state championship game to earn Reston’s second ever regional appearance.

“I’m really excited because I’ve never been in anything like this, and a lot of kids don’t get to experience this,” said 12-year-old third baseman Eli Nachison.

Grammes said the coaching staff tried to keep the players loose. Before each game the players pick a song and “sing and act like goofballs.” He said the coaches join in -- if they don’t know the lyrics.

“They understand the significance of this event, but we’ve also tried to stress that it’s also just another Little League game,” he said.

West Virginia

The state championship team from Fairmont, W.Va., is a laid back bunch from, home of Olympic gold medalist gymnast Mary Lou Retton and pepperoni rolls.

That team’s pitching came in handy during the team’s district championship game, which went into extra innings and ended with a walk-off home run by Michael Gaskill.

Also new this year is the team’s additional size. Bigger and faster, the players said they are ready to play ball and not let nerves get the best of them.

“They’re relaxed all the time,” manager Brent Hall said. “Nothing seems to rattle them, and then I get nervous, and they make fun of me.”