It took six innings for Demopolis to take the lead against Linden. But that would be all they needed as the 10-year-olds erased a three-run deficit to win 8-7 Tuesday night.

“That is about as exciting as a ballgame can get,” said head coach Scott Parten.

Exciting it was as Demopolis struggled to get runners across the plate all night, twice having the bases loaded with no outs and only coming up with one run to show for it.

“We couldn’t quite make that big hit early on, but the guys kept their heads in it the whole time and came up big when they needed to,” said Parten.

Hunter Colyar started the game for Demopolis and had some control issues in the first inning. Walks and a couple of Demopolis errors lead to Linden jumping out to a four-run first inning. Demopolis climbed back in the game, getting it down to 5-4 headed into the sixth.

Linden padded its lead with two more runs and seemingly looked to have the victory in hand before facing the top of the Demopolis order.

Chandler Barton lead off the inning by just beating out an infield single on a ball hit to the second baseman. Colyar scored him on a tripl. After Robert Tutt’s double to score him, the Sports-Plex crowd came alive. After a long fly ball put out Nick Nelson, Jakell Armstead drew a walk to load the bases.

R.J. Cox promptly unloaded them and ended the game in one swing, knocking it over the heads of the infielders who had been pulled in. Cox also earned the win after coming in for Colyar in the fifth and giving up two runs.

Monday night’s game was not nearly as close.

From the first pitch Demopolis took control and did not look back until the final out was tallied.

“You kind of get scared in that situation. You hope that they don’t let off.” Said Parten.  

Parten didn’t have to worry about his team slowing down. After giving up their only allowed one run of the game, Demopolis manufactured two more runs. The hitting parade resumed in the top of the third for Demopolis.

Demopolis put six more runs on the board. They ended their offensive onslaught in the fourth, putting three more runs across in the mercy-rule shortened game.

Barton led the team in hits, going 4-4. Colyar had three hits. Ryan Morrison and Cox had two hits each. Tutt, Nelson and Jonathan Lewis each had one hit.

Nelson pitched all four innings, giving up only one run on two hits and one walk.

The 10-year-olds will be back in action Wednesday in Butler and in Demopolis on Thursday.