The DeKalb West School Bulldogs baseball team continued its dominating ways last week, trouncing a Tuckers Crossroads team, before splitting games against Upperman.
On Monday, April 8, the Bulldogs traveled to Lebanon where they took on the Tuckers Crossroads Hornets. DeKalb wasted no time in the game, putting up nine runs in the first inning alone.
Cooper Odom singled on a fly to center to start the game for DWS, followed by a pop fly to right by Anthony Moore. Odom would score on a passed ball as Preston Taylor was up to bat, then Taylor got a walk. Next, Porter Hancock stepped to the plate and homered on a fly to center, sending Moore and Taylor home.
Later, Reed Midgett reached on a grounder and an error at second, followed by Elliot Barnes reaching on a fly and an error by right. Anderson Fortner grounded to fielder’s choice at short, catching Midgett at third, then Carson Davis singled on a fly to right as Barnes scored. Keegan Taylor would single on a line drive to center, sending Gavin Frazier, running for Fortner, home. Odom had come back to the plate, and this time singled on a grounder to third, sending Davis across the plate.
Later, Taylor was back up, and singled on a line drive to center, sending Odom and Taylor home. Tuckers managed to get a third out, but the Bulldogs were up 9-0.
It didn’t stop there. At the top of the second, the Bulldogs added more runs. Midgett singled on a line drive to right, followed by Barnes singling on a grounder to first. Later, Davis singled on a line drive to left with Midgett scoring and Barnes taking third. Keegan Taylor would ground out to short but allow Barnes to touch home, and just like that DWS was up 11-0.
Action would pick back up at the top of the fourth with the Bulldogs piling on 11 more runs. Hayden Quarles, Davis, Gavin Frazier, Zander Simpson, Donnell, Brantley Brooks, Cathey, Logan Gard, and Brantley Starkey would all touch the plate for the Bulldogs, putting them up 22-0.
Quarles earned the win for the Bulldogs on the mound, giving up one hit and zero runs over three innings, striking out two and walking one. Logan Gard tossed one innings, striking out two and walking zero.
The next game saw the Bulldogs take on Upperman in a much tighter game. The two-series games were moved to Saturday due to the stormy weather during the week. Upperman took the early lead in the game, but the Bulldogs would come roaring back late.
Upperman scored three runs at the top of the first, but it would be the only runs they would see in the game. DeKalb would finally get moving at the bottom of the fourth, with three runs of their own. Midgett singled and reached on an error by short, then Barnes singled on a line drive to left as Midgett took second. Donnell would also single on a line drive to left, loading the bases.
As Fortner was up to bat, Midgett would steal home, as Barnes and Donnell each moved a base. Cathey would later single on a grounder to right, as Barnes and Donnell each came home. The Bulldogs had tied the game 3-3.
The game would come down to the bottom of the fifth. Moore would single on a grounder to center, followed by Taylor getting a HBP. Hancock would then single on a fly to center, sending Moore home. The Bulldogs claimed the hard-fought 4-3 victory.
Donnell earned the win, allowing two hits and zero runs over two innings, striking out two and walking zero. Barnes started the game, allowing five hits and three runs over three innings, striking out two and walking two.
In the second game, the score was even tighter, with DeKalb taking the early lead, but Upperman coming on late.
Moore would single on a fly to third for the Tigers at the top of the first, followed by a double by Taylor on a fly ball to center, sending Moore home. Unfortunately, that would be the only run DWS would see that game.
Upperman would take the lead at the bottom of the third with two runs, and that would be where the score would stay. The game would go to the top of the fifth, and despite the Bulldogs out hitting Upperman three to two, Upperman would claim the narrow 2-1 win.
Taylor took the loss from the mound, going three innings, allowing two runs on one hit, striking out two and walking five.