A band of Suburbans filled with 15 area youth baseball players began the long journey to Lincoln, Neb., Thursday afternoon for the 1998 Junior Babe Ruth Regional Tournament which begins Saturday morning.

SEMO South, a group of 13-year-old Babe Ruth players from four different communities in Southeast Missouri, will begin play Saturday at 10 a.m. against a squad from Iowa. Other states represented at the eight-team regional are Kansas, Minnesota, Colorado, Nebraska, North Dakota and South Dakota.

"The kids couldn't be happier," said SEMO South coach Russell Burger. "They raised $6,000 since we got back from state to make this trip. They're excited as can be."

Made up of all-star players from a six-team Junior Babe Ruth league, SEMO South consist of players from Chaffee, Oran, Frohna and New Hamburg.

After winning the district tournament held in Cape Girardeau earlier this month with a 3-0 record, SEMO South qualified for the regional by winning the state tournament last week in Chillicothe. On the way to a 4-0 tournament mark, the local squad outscored its opponents 48-12 and beat Kennett 11-3 for the regional berth.

"We're really playing good ball," Burger said. "I think it's the first time, in a long time, that a (Junior Babe Ruth) team from around here has won state."

Despite the big numbers Burger's offense put up in the state tournament, he still thinks the strength of his team lies in keeping its opponents off the scoreboard.

"Although we scored a lot of runs at state, I still believe our strongest suits are pitching and defense," said Burger. "We're real strong in those areas and I like our chances."

Win or lose, the whole experience of reaching the regional should be a memorable one for the players. Whether collecting money at roadblocks for traveling expenses or seeing their names on the Busch Stadium scoreboard at the Cardinals' game Thursday night, the players had a blast.

The title game of the double-elimination tournament is scheduled for Wednesday.