DEMOPOLIS &8212; The Cal Ripken 8 and under all-star team is heading down the stretch of its preparation for the District 10 8U Tournament that begins Monday. The event pits the all-star squad from Demopolis against their counterparts from Linden, Sumter County, Greensboro, Gilbertown and Butler in a pool play format. At the conclusion of pool play, the top four teams will compete in a single-elimination tournament Saturday, June 21 at the Sports-Plex.

The Demopolis team, coached by Terry Lay, has been working for three weeks in an effort to ready itself for the event.

In order to achieve that goal, the boys will have to effectively make a series of adjustments.

In addition to learning the nuances of a new position, the young ballplayers will also have to travel to an opposing field for the first time.

According to Lay, the experience of coaching the boys at this level has proven a rewarding one thus far.

Monday&8217;s contest against Gilbertown will likely provide Lay with his first indication of how well the team will do in its effort to play to its potential.

The 8U all-star team for Demopolis consists of Dylan Crocker, Dawson Lay, Andrew Patterson, Jeremy Foster, Jackson Lay, Andy Hoggle, Davis Petrey, Hunter Tangle, Malik Moore, Tony Pittman, Jacobi Ware, Carson Crawford and Russ Logan.