The Demopolis 13-15-year-old Dixie “Belles” All-Star team already has the District 8 Tournament title under their belt along with victories over rivals Linden and Thomasville. The Demopolis Dixie “Debs” 16-18 year-old team hasn’t gotten the chance to play a true competitive game as of yet. But this weekend, both will be in Montgomery playing for the same prize: a state title.

Both are taking part in their age groups’ state championship tournaments, to be held at Montgomery’s Fain Park beginning Friday and running through Monday.

The Belles qualified for state by taking the District 8 tourney, held in Grove Hill two weekend ago, with a 1-0 win over Linden. The Belles are led by their powerful pitching rotation of Sara Davis, Shay Smith, and Savanna Osmer. Between the three of them, Demopolis allowed one run or less in four of the five games played in Grove Hill–and won all four of them.

The Demopolis Belles may also have the advantage of experience, as this season marked the third consecutive year the Belles have claimed the District 8 title and competed in the state tournament. Several members of the team–Davis, Jasmine Simmons, Corey Gross, Alex Ward, Mahogany Jones, and Morgan Patterson–were also members of the Demopolis High softball team that competed in the AHSAA 4A state tournament last May.

The Debs’ roster also includes a number of DHS players, which will help offset the potential lack of team cohesion from not being able to compete in a District tournament. Like the 13-, 14, and 15-year old West Alabama Babe Ruth All-Star teams competing in state tourneys across the state this weekend, the Demopolis Debs received a default invitation to the state tournament when no other Debs teams were formed in the District.

The Debs will take the field for the first time at 4:30 p.m. Friday against Green Hill of District 1. The Belles will follow suit at 6:30, taking on Muscle Shoals, the District 1 representative.

Demopolis’s 13-15 year-old All-Stars are Jasmine Simmons, Morgan Patterson, Mahogany Jones, Sara Davis, Raven Simmons, Shay Smith, Savanna Osmer, Corey Gross, Lindsey Bedsole, Victoria Barley, Alex Ward, and Nicole Davis.