They already knew their destination when they took the field Monday night.

By just by making it to the championship round both teams guaranteed themselves a spot in the 10U state championship tournament. But, as it always is when Demopolis and Linden face-off, the finals of the District 10 tournament were about more than just the end result.

To the boys and coaches involved, it was about pride and bragging rights.

“We all know each other. It is such a short drive between the two cities. Parents work together and some of the kids go to the same school. Games like these become a big deal,” said 10U head coach Scott Parten.

In Game one of double-header, Linden jumped out to a quick 1-0 lead in the top half of the first inning.

Cameron Barton got on base for Demopolis in the home half of the frame, but his teammates failed to get him around.

The second frame was not nearly as kind to Demopolis as Linden took advantage of five walks issued by Demopolis pitching and then utilized three errors and a timely hit to increase its lead to 5-1 before pitcher R.J. Cox. came in to end the inning.

Demopolis finally managed to get on the board in the bottom of the second when Carson Parten got on base with a single and was driven in later by Nick Nelson.

Over the next two innings, Demopolis was able to continue to chip away at the lead, getting the deficit down to 5-3 to start the fifth inning.

Then disaster appeared to strike.

Linden used its half of the fifth inning to begin its hit parade.By the time the dust settled, Linden had a 12-3 lead.

Demopolis refused to go down quietly though as Barton stepped up in the latter portion of the frame to begin a rally that saw his team put up five runs to pull within four scores of Linden’s lead.

After Linden scored two insurance runs in the top of the final inning, the stage was set for Demopolis.

Hunter Colyar led off the inning with a single and Demopolis just kept on hitting. Robert Tutt, Cox, Ryan Morrison, Nelson, Cal Logan, Kyle Woodruff and Barton all reached base.

By the time Colyar returned to the plate for the second time in the inning, the lead was down to one and the bases were loaded with two outs.

A sharp ground ball to Linden’s second baseman looked to end Demopolis’ hope, but a bobble was all Colyar needed to get to first base safely and get the tying run home from third. After failing to get the out at first, momentary confusion on the part of Linden gave Demopolis the chance to take advantage.

Woodruff, who started the play at second base, used some gutsy baserunning to advance from third and complete the comeback with the final run of the game, handing Demopolis the 15-14 win.

“The kids just did a great job. I really can’t be more proud of them for hanging in there and never giving up,” said Parten. “But we still have another game.”

Parten’s focus was passed down to his players and Demopolis rode its game one momentum to a 17-2, four-inning win in the nightcap of the double-header.

“We came out this second game and just hit like we knew how,” said Parten.

After starting off the game with a quick three runs, Demopolis was up 3-1 at the end of the first inning. Then the floodgates opened.

Demopolis scored 11 runs on 10 hits in the second inning to jump out to a 14-1 lead and then continued to add on runs as Nelson was able to shut Linden down on the mound.

“Nick pitched great this second game. He only gave up two runs and five hits,” said. Parten.

With the District 10 championship in tow, Demopolis will return to the Sports-Plex next weekend as host of the 10U state tournament.