The Demopolis 10-year-old all-star team is getting ready to hit the dirt Monday in Sumter County at 5:30 p.m..

Manager Scott Parten is excited about getting play under way and said that the team is really looking good as game time approaches.

“We have about eight or nine that can pitch, which helps,” said Parten.

Obviously, with eight or nine hurlers, the depth of pitching looks to be a strength for the 10-year-olds.

Parten also believes that the all-stars’ hitting will be a huge key in the success of the team.

“They can swing it pretty good. Right now, their hitting could definitely be considered a strength,” he said.

Although the 10-year-olds will already have a spot in the state tournament by virtue of being the host team, they are looking to win the district anyway. And the experience that the team has gained from other state tournaments could help them do that.

“We have about 10 or 11 guys on this team that have gone to the state tournament as 9-year-olds and as 7-8-year-olds,” said Parten, “I think that gave these guys good experience for the upcoming tournament.”

The boys will play four nights in district pool play next week before potentially heading into the weekend as a seeded team. There will be games between the top four teams on the weekend, and the winners of those two games will play each other in the district finals, where the winner will advance to state.

Parten hopes that his team will continue to have the success they have had in previous years, and knows that it will take disciplined baseball to achieve victories.

“The number of walks and errors will be the difference, just like any other game.”

So now, it is up to them to try and play mistake-free and bring back a 10-year-olds’ state title to the City of the People.