District 10 Babe Ruth Commissioner Rob Pearson officially received word Monday that Demopolis will play host to the 2010 14U Southeast Regional Babe Ruth Baseball Tournament from Aug. 5-10.

“We were at the right place at the right time,” Pearson said. “The reputation that the Sports-Plex and the entire town has as far as putting on tournaments certainly made it possible.”

“I think our reputation and facilities and everything we’ve done in the past is what brought it to us,” Arthur Evans, who will replace Pearson as the District 10 commissioner this year, said. “It is going to be a huge deal.”

The tournament will welcome 12 teams from Florida, Georgia, Tennessee, South Carolina, North Carolina and Virginia.

“Anytime we can have the opportunity to bring folks from out of town in here and showcase our facility and our town, we’re going to jump at it,” Demopolis Mayor Mike Grayson said.

The tournament will come just weeks after Demopolis hosts the 13U Babe Ruth State Tournament from July 17-20, an event that marks the third straight summer the City of the People has hosted a state baseball tournament.

“Arthur’s job he did with last year’s 10U tournament played a big part,” Pearson said.

“It takes a lot of work to host a tournament like that. (Babe Ruth officials) have a level of confidence with Demopolis that we’ll provide the same big deal for (the 14U players).”

Pearson pointed out that Demopolis will be the smallest Southern town to host a Babe Ruth regional this year, a fact of which he believes the city should be proud.

“We’ll be by far the smallest town in the South that will host one of these tournaments,” Pearson said. “It will be a challenge for us, but the City of Demopolis will shine. It always does.”