Vicksburg’s Ashley and Landers to represent Mississippi in Little League Southwest Region Tournament on ESPN

VICKSBURG, Miss. (VDN) — 

Brently Ashley and Ruston Landers, both of Vicksburg, are headed to Waco, Texas, after helping their team capture the 2026 Little League State Championship and earn the right to represent Mississippi in the 2026 Little League Southwest Region Tournament.

The tournament is scheduled for Aug. 6-11, with Mississippi opening play against New Mexico on Aug. 6 at 4 p.m. The game will be nationally televised on ESPN where many can tune in to watch the local athletes.

Ashley and Landers are among the players who led Mississippi to the state title, putting the team one step away from a berth in the Little League World Series. The Southwest Region Tournament features state champions from across the region competing for a chance to advance to the prestigious international tournament.

For the two Vicksburg athletes, the opportunity marks a significant milestone as they prepare to compete on one of youth baseball’s biggest stages.

A victory in the regional tournament would send Mississippi to the 2026 Little League World Series, where the nation’s top teams will compete for a championship. Fans will have the opportunity to watch Ashley, Landers and Team Mississippi begin that journey when they face New Mexico in their tournament opener on ESPN.