The Demopolis 12-year-old all-star team was able to come away with a hard-fought second place trophy this past weekend.

The 12U team played five games in all during the remarkable state tournament run.

Game one for the team did not start out as hoped as the 12U squad fell in its first game to Coosa 11-1.

Justin Sanders was able to score the only run of the game for Demopolis after he got on base after being hit by a pitch in the third inning and hits by Seth Aiken and Ryan Schroeder brought him in.

Steven Stewart was the only other player for the 12U team to get a hit in the first contest.

The second game went much better for Demopolis as a quartet of pitchers were able to shut down Southern in a 5-2 win.

“We were able to shake off the nerves of the first game and play some good baseball in the second game,” said manger Rob Pearson.

Southern started the scoring with a run in its half of the first inning before Demopolis was able to answer right back.

After a walk by Will Stephens, Josh Holifield singled to take him to third. Stephens then scored on a passed ball.

In the top of the third inning, Tripp Perry gave Demopolis its first lead of the tournament with a two-out solo home run.

Southern came back to tie the game in the fourth inning but again Demopolis responded the very next frame.

Schroeder, Stewart and Stephens were all able to reach base without getting a hit to start the inning.

Holifield was able to bring Schroeder around on an error.

Blake Bowden walked to plate Stewart and Stephens was able to come around on a passed ball.

Heath Stanford came on to get the save in the game.

The Childersburg game was a classic.

It took a dramatic Demopolis comeback in the bottom of the sixth to take the 5-4 win.

“This was our game to prove we belonged,” said Pearson.

Demopolis was able to take an early lead in the first and the two teams exchanged outs in the second before Childersburg was able to pull even in the top half of the third inning.

Demopolis again pulled ahead in the bottom of the third as Schroeder and Stephens were both able to score.

The big moment of the game came in the top half of the fourth inning.

Childersburg managed to get the bases loaded and Tyler Jackson, nicknamed “man-child”, at the plate. But Justin Sanders was able to strike him out to preserve the lead.

Childersburg did not go down quietly.

Demopolis gave up a couple of walks and Childersburg was able to push three runs across to take a 4-3 lead.

Demopolis got back-to-back hits by Stanford and Joseph Wilson to start the inning off.

Then three consecutive walks scored Stanford and Cameron Palmer — who was pinch running for Wilson — to end the game.

In the championship round, Demopolis again matched up with Coosa.

The first game was one in which the 12U side gave its all and just came up short in a 4-1 loss.

Stewart pitched all five innings in the loss, giving up only four runs to a very good hitting Coosa squad.

Schroeder led off the game home run and prove to be the only run for Demopolis in the contest.

Demopolis had a great chance to score in the fifth after Wilson led off with a single, Aiken moved him with a double and Austin Dinning walked to load the bases. But the team was not able to capitalize.

The second game was all Coosa.

Using an eight-run first inning that featured five homeruns, Coosa was able to cruise to a 12-0 win.

“We are too proud of these guys,” said Pearson. “Every single one gave it their all.”