The Double Day Nationals, a youth league team from Rome, is raising money in order to make it to the Dizzy Dean Baseball World Series, in South Haven, Miss., that begins July 14.

Every Wednesday and Thursday, the boys will be outside of Kroger located at 1476 Turner McCall Blvd., selling cookies for $1 and accepting donations.

The Double Day Nationals, who are coached by Jesse Bannister, have 13 players on the roster, but not all of the boys can afford to go to the Series.

“They’re dedicated boys that have worked really hard,” said Lisa Hamby, stepmother of player Jay Hamby, 12.

As they stand out in the heat, offering nearly-empty buckets to passersby on their ways in and out of the store, the boys remain optimistic that they can raise the funds to be able to go and battle for the trophy.

“We’re excited and hoping that we get there and win,” said Jayce Bannister, 12. “We’re raising up enough money so all the kids will be able to go and get there. We are sponsored by Charlie Culberson Jr.”

Culberson, who grew up playing in youth leagues in Rome, is now in the San Fransisco Giants’ farm system.

He made his major-league debut with the Giants earlier this season.

Jayce said he and the other boys have been practicing hard to prepare for the games.

“We’ve been practicing three days out of five days in the week for the whole year,” he said. “On the weekends, we don’t practice much.”

Darlene Chatman, mom of Austin Vines, 12, said all the boys would benefit from their fundraiser.

“A lot of boys can’t afford to go, and we’re going to split the funds evenly between them,” she said.