The Demopolis 9-10 year old Dixie Youth Softball all-stars fell Tuesday in heartbreaking fashion.

“I’m sick. These girls worked so hard for us all year. This is the best team I have ever worked with,” said head coach Robbie Malone.

The girls fell to Butler Tuesday night 2-1 in a pitchers’ duel that only saw seven hits combined between the two teams in their five innings of play.

Lara Little was in the circle first for Demopolis and only allowed one runner on base in her two innings of work.

Butler was able to match Little on the defensive side of the ball and it was not until the fourth inning that Demopolis, down two already, was able to get its first hit.

Caitlin Thrash led the inning off with a triple and was promptly brought in on a fielder’s choice RBI by Ashley Brooks.

Demopolis was able to hold Butler quiet in its half of the fifth inning and knew that it would have to battle to win.

After a lead-off single by Anna Reid, Hanna Malone hit a sharp ball into left-center field where a heads up play by Butler resulted in Reid being thrown out at second.

Three batters later, the game was over and, with it, Demopolis’ hopes of making it to the championship game of the District 8 tournament.

“They did everything we asked. They never quit, even when they were down. We played four games this tournament that ended in one-run games,” said Malone.

The loss came only one night after the girls saw a last at-bat rally fall short against Gilbertown.

Entering its final offensive half inning, Demopolis trailed 4-0. Little put the team on the board with a one-out, two-RBI double that plated Jessica Adams and Malone.

Reid later crossed home on a two-out Jamie McGilberry blooper, cutting the score to 4-3 before the tying run was eventually stranded at third to end the game.

With the loss to Butler, the 9-10 age group became the final Demopolis all-star team to fall.