Demopolis top seed in tourney

Published 6:51 pm Friday, June 26, 2009

All teams have good days and bad days. For the 12U all-stars from Demopolis, Thursday night was a good day.

The all-stars from Demopolis were able to take out Greensboro in just four innings in a 15-0 rout at the Sports-Plex.

“We said before (that) they needed to find the joy in playing good,” said head coach Rob Pearson. “And they have started to do that. This is the result of that.”

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That joy helped Demopolis tally 15 runs on 10 hits and leave only two runners on base in the game. Demopolis was patient at the plate as well, gathering eight walks in the game to put runners in the position to score.

The 12U team’s pitching was also in top form Thursday night with three hurlers making an appearance and allowing only three hits the entire game. Justin Sanders got the start for Demopolis, giving up only one hit in his two innings of work before giving way to Heath Stanford. Josh Holifield came on in the last inning to get some work as well.

As good as the arms were for Demopolis, the bats were that much better.

Pearson does not think that there is a particular reason for the sudden onslaught of offense, but he and his coaches know when it began.

“It’s hard to explain, but it’s just clicking and it’s fun to watch,” said Pearson. “I think you look at Tripp’s (Perry) home run against Sumter County in Monday night’s game. That moment seemed to bring our bats to life.”

Over the four games it played this week, Demopolis romped through at a combined score of 56-2.

Ryan Schroeder again led Demopolis in hitting, going 2-for-2 with two doubles. Steven Stewart also had a couple of hits, including a triple. Along with his work on the mound, Holifield added a two-run home run in his only official at-bat of the game.

Sanders, Blake Bowden, Stanford, Joseph Wilson and Seth Aiken all pitched in with hits of their own.

The play of Demopolis this week earned the team the No. 1 spot in this weekend’s four-team, single-elimination tournament. While the 12U team was not sure as of press time who they would play in the first round, Pearson was confident the team would be prepared to take on anyone. The head coach was also certain which player he will send to the rubber to start the game.

“We’re gonna have Tripp starting. You’ve always got to throw your best first, but we hope we can put some runs up and get him out of there early” said Pearson.

It the 12U team can win Saturday, it will return to the Sports-Plex in Demopolis to play Monday night.