The Thomasville and Demopolis 12U softball All-Stars advanced to the state tournament Monday night by finishing first and second in the district 8 tournament.

Thomasville had already secured its spot in Enterprise, but Demopolis had to face Linden to open the night Monday for the chance to advance.

Linden opened scoring in the top of the first against Demopolis with Mazzy Marlowe on the mound for Demopolis. Mary Grace Sheffield crossed the plate to give Linden the 1-0 lead.

In the bottom of the first, Marlowe and L.B. Burbage crossed the plate for Demopolis to give the home team a 2-1 lead.

Linden had a chance to take the lead back in the third inning with the bases loaded and no outs, but Demopolis was able to get out of the inning without giving up a run.

Kavelyn Bryant scored for Demopolis in the bottom of the third, but Linden tied the game a 3-3 in the top of the fourth when Claudia Peppenhorst and Jordyn Moore crossed the plate.

Demopolis added three runs in their half of the fourth to take the final lead of the game. Burbage, Lizzie Willis and Zanadia Wright scored for Demopolis in the inning.

Sheffield scored for Linden in the fifth, but they couldn’t keep the rally going. Demopolis won the game 6-4 to advance to the state tournament in Enterprise on July 11.

In the second game of the night, a fresh Thomasville team was more than Demopolis could handle, and they clinched the top seed from the district with a 21-1 win in four innings.

Thomasville scored 14 runs to open the game in the top of the first and added six runs in the second and two in the third to claim the win.