The city of Demopolis finds plenty of things in which to take pride. We flaunt our natural resources, tell everyone about our Christmas festivities, and don’t mind throwing a piece of barbecued meat toward a camera.

Sometimes, though, we ought to take a little more pride in the actual people who make up this great community.

Thursday, members of the West Alabama Prep baseball team made their seemingly annual trek to Selma for the AISA State Baseball Tournament. Sure, a state championship doesn’t come with every appearance, but to have a consistently strong program at WAP is a direct result of the people who make up that school’s organization. Whether it’s the players, coaches or administrators, the WAP family deserves congratulations for their representation of Demopolis.

Today, members of the Demopolis High School baseball and softball teams will take up where WAP left off Wednesday evening.

Both DHS teams are competing for state championships — the Lady Tigers vying for their second in a row.

Those who remain behind and don’t travel with the teams may never realize the impact and publicity our city receives from having strong athletic teams.

Should the Lady Tigers repeat as state champions, we build respect among hundreds and hundreds of other spectators at those events.

And with their appearance in the state finals against Hokes Bluff, the boy’s baseball team again proves we have strong-willed young people who reflect the city in which they live.

Yes, it’s nice to take pride in the events that characterize our city. Every once in a while, though, we should admire the men and women — young and old, alike — who represent the soul of our community.

Congratulations to all of our teams competing this week.