Congratulations. There’s no other way to put it. Selma’s 15U Dixie Baseball team brought home the trophy after going undefeated in the Dixie Baseball World Series in Independence, Louisiana this weekend.

The team was welcomed home Monday by a crowd of friends, fans and family at Bloch Park. The team even had an escort from the Selma Fire and Police Departments, who sounded the sirens and flashed their lights, as the team came through town.

The city of Selma should be proud of these young men for accomplishing such a tall task. They beat teams from Louisiana, Florida, South Carolina, Texas and Mississippi to win the championship. Most of their games were not even close. They won game 19-1 against New Orleans, Louisiana, 12-2 against Bartow, Florida, 11-1 against Gaston, South Carolina, 5-2 over Marshall, Texas, 13-12 over North Charleston, South Carolina and 8-3 over Mississippi. Winning the World Series is one thing, but the way they did it was astonishing. These young men deserve a lot of credit for the heart and determination they showed.

This year was the second year in a row the team went to the World Series. Last year did not go the way the team wanted, but they redeemed themselves this year and went all the way. This will be a moment these young men look back on for the rest of their lives. Congratulations. You deserve it.