The woes for the DCHS Tigers baseball team continued last week, as DeKalb fell in four fairly close games. At least three of the games were decided by just a single run.

On Thursday, April 4, the Tigers were on their home field as they hosted the Tigers of visiting Gordonsville. Gordonsville would jump out with a big lead early, but DeKalb would narrow the score late.

Gordonsville scored four runs in the first inning, including a three-run double on a fly to right fielder Braxton Cantrell. Gordonsville would gain three more runs at the top of the second, going up 7-0.

DeKalb would finally get moving as they came to bat in the second after Evan Prichard got a walk, then stole second on a wild pitch. Westin Wright would then single on a ground ball to center as Prichard scored. Later, Carson Donnell reached on a line drive and an error by short as Wright took second. The bases would then be loaded as Ty Webb got a walk. Konner Young would later also get a walk, sending Wright home. The Tigers were on the board, 7-2.

The action wouldn’t pick back up until the bottom of the sixth, when DeKalb would tie things up. Wright would get a walk, then Cantrell doubled on a line drive to left as Wright took third. Donnell would then single on a grounder to first as Wright touched home plate and Cantrell took third. Cam Caballero stepped up next and doubled on a line drive to center, sending Cantrell home, and Donnell scoring on the throw.

Dallas Kirby was up next and hit a single ground ball to short as Caballero scored. Kirby would then take second as Young sacrificed to the pitcher, then Webb doubled on a line drive to center as Kirby scored. Gordonsville would get off the field, but DeKalb had knotted the score 7-7.

With one on base, a double to center would result in one more run for Gordonsville at the top of the seventh. DeKalb had one last at bat, and only Donnell would manage to get on base. He would be left standing as Gordonsville would claim the 8-7 win.

The following day, the Tigers were on the road, this time facing off with the Pioneers of Warren County in the Mountain Valley Classic. Once again, the Tigers would let things get out of hand early in the game.

The Tigers would go three up, three down to start the game, then the Pioneers would go on to put five runs on the board on a series of single hits to left field.

DeKalb wouldn’t get on the board until the top of the third, when a walk for Caballero, then a single grounder to left by Kirby had Caballero touching home plate. The Pioneers would get off the field, but the Tigers were on the board 6-1.

The Pioneers bats were hot, and Warren County put five more runs on the board at the bottom of the third. DeKalb was down 11-1.

The Tigers wouldn’t get things rolling until the top of the fifth. Kirby took a base with a HBP, then Young got a walk. Webb would load the bases with another HBP, then Brayden Carter took a hit as well, sending Kirby home. Wright would then step up and hit a double on a fly to center, as Webb and Young each scored. Cantrell would later reach on a grounder and an error by the pitcher, followed by Donnell reaching on a ground ball and error by short as Wright touched home. Caballero would then walk, followed by Kirby grounding out at third, as Cantrell scored. As the Pioneers got off the field, DeKalb had cut the lead, 11-7.

Unfortunately, that would be all DeKalb had and the Pioneers would claim the win.

On Saturday, the Tigers were back in action, this time taking on Shelbyville Central. Once again it would be a narrow score.

Shelbyville would take the lead early, scoring two runs in the first, then another in the second. DeKalb would finally get on the board at the top of the third, after a walk by Kirby, and later a single by Webb. Both would steal a base as Carter was at bat, then Kirby scored as Carter sacrificed on a fly to center. The Tigers were on the board, 3-1.

The Tigers would actually take the lead as they came to bat at the top of the fourth. With two outs on the board, Donnell got a walk, then Caballero took an HBP. Kirby then stepped up and doubled on a fly to center, sending Donnell and Caballero home.  DeKalb was on top, 4-3.

Shelbyville would regain the lead at the bottom of the fifth, with two runs, but DeKalb would come right back at the top of the sixth. Caballero reached on a fly and an error by the pitcher, and later Young singled on a line drive to left as Caballero scored. The game was tied 5-5.

The Tigers retook the lead at the top of the seventh, after a run by Wright, but Shelbyville would seal the game as they came to bat with two more runs. Shelbyville took the 7-6 win.

That same day, the Tigers faced a good Marion County team. It would be much of the same. Marion would score three runs in the second, then another in the fourth, taking the 4-0 lead.

The Tigers would final get moving at the top of the fifth after Cantrell got a walk. Evan Prichard would then single on a grounder to right as Cantrell scored. Later, Caballero singled on a ground ball to left as Ben Driver, running for Prichard, took second. Young would later double on a line drive to center as Driver scored and Caballero took third. Webb would then single on a grounder to left as Caballero scored. The Tigers were in the game, 4-3.

DeKalb would later tie the game at the top of the seventh after Caballero took an HBP. Andrew Dakas, running for Caballero, would take second as Kirby sacrificed to the pitcher, and later Webb would double on a line drive to left as Dakas scored. The Tigers had tied the game 4-4.

The game would go into the eighth inning, when the Tigers would take the lead with a run by Carter. Marion would have their turn at bat and once again DeKalb would fall by a one-run score. Marion took the 6-5 win.