The DeKalb County High School Tigerettes softball team had a bit of a slide, losing their first district game of the season, then stumbling during tourney play in Brentwood. The girls did conquer Stone Memorial in a district game.

On Tuesday, April 10, the ladies traveled to the far away land of Macon County, where they faced off with a tough Lady Tigers team. DeKalb would fall behind early and never be able to catch up.

DeKalb would go three up, three down to start the game, then Macon would get two on the board with errors by the Tigerettes.

The Tigerettes’ Aniston Farler would hit a single on a grounder to short in the second inning, but would be left standing before she could advance any further. As Macon came to bat, once again errors would cost DeKalb dearly. Macon would had six more runs and take the 8-0 lead.

DeKalb would finally get settled down at the top of the third. Elaina Turner hit a grounder and reach on an error by third, then Morgan Walker tripled on a line drive to center as Turner crossed the plate. Emma Martin would then ground out to second, but not before Walker would score. The Tigerettes were on the board, 8-2.

The action wouldn’t start up again until the top of the fifth. With two outs on the board, Walker singled on a grounder to second, followed by Emma Martin hitting and reaching on a pop fly to second as Walker scored. As Bryna Pelham came to bat, Martin would steal second and advance to third on an error by the shortstop. Martin would then score on the same error. Before Macon got off the field, DeKalb had cut the lead, 8-4.

Macon would pull away as they came to bat in the fifth, scoring on another error, then once again on a double line drive to centerfielder Morgan Walker. The Lady Tigers were up 10-4.

DeKalb refused to give up, and would add another run at the top of the sixth. Aly Griffith hit a double on a fly to right, followed by a sacrifice bunt by Farler as Griffith took third. Madison Martin would then single on a fly to left as Griffith scored. DeKalb had cut the lead 10-5.

The Tigerettes made quick work of Macon at the bottom of the sixth, thanks in part to a double play by shortstop Pelham to first base Madison Martin, then DeKalb would have one last chance at the plate. After Walker popped out to left, Emma Martin hit a double on a line drive to center. The slugger, Pelham, stepped to the plate and doubled on a line drive to left as Martin scored, then Gracie Randolph would then fly out to left. Griffith was up next, and doubled on a line drive to center as Pelham touch home plate. Unfortunately, they would be the last run they would see that evening. Macon would hold on to claim the 10-7 win.

Kilgore took the loss, allowing four hits and seven runs over one and one-third innings, striking out three and walking zero.

The following Thursday, the Tigerettes traveled to Crossville, where they took on the Stone Memorial Lady Panthers. DeKalb would again lag in the game early, but ramp up their play late.

The game didn’t get going until the bottom of the second, when a triple right off the bat had the Lady Panthers in scoring position. Stone Memorial would come away with a 4-0 lead before DeKalb could get off the field.

Their lead wouldn’t last long, as the Tigerettes evened up the scoreboard at the top of the third. Madison Martin doubled on a line drive to left, and later Morgan Walker homered on a line drive to right.

Next, Emma Martin singled on a line drive to right, then Bryna Pelham hit a double on a left field hit as Martin scored. Gracie Randolph then singled on a line drive to right as Pelham scored. The Tigerettes evened out the score 4-4.

Stone Memorial would pull away again at the bottom of the fourth after a walk, then a homer on a line drive to center. The Lady Panthers were up 6-4, but it wouldn’t last long.

At the top of the fifth, Pelham would take a base after a HBP, followed by Randolph getting her own home run on a line drive to center. Again, DeKalb had tied the game 6-6.

The Tigerettes would finally take the lead at the top of the sixth, putting some big points on the board. Madison Martin singled on a grounder to left, then she would steal her way to second as Zayleigh Bain came to bat. Bain would single on a grounder to third and Martin would take third on the play. Bain would steal second as Walker was up to bat, then Walker singled on a grounder to right as Martin and Bain scored.

Emma Martin would double on a fly to center as Walker scored, then Martin would take third on the throw. Martin would score on a wild pitch as Pelham was up to bat, then Pelham singled on a ground ball to short.

Later, Griffith reached on a fly and an error to right as Pelham took second. Farler would then single on a line drive to left as Pelham scored and Griffith took second. With two on base, Madison Martin homered on a line drive to right. The Tigerettes commanded a 14-6 lead.

The Lady Panthers would manage one more run at the bottom of the sixth, but that would be as far as they would reach. The game would go to the seventh, but the Tigerettes would hold on for the 14-7 victory.

Kora Kilgore got the win from the circle going five innings, allowing three runs on five hits, striking out 10.

On April 7 and 8, the Tigerettes traveled to Brentwood, TN, where they participated in the Rapture Classic. It would not be a good outing for the girls, though they gained some experience playing some tough competition.

The Tigerettes fell to the Jo Byrns Lady Devils 5-0 in the first game. DeKalb was shut out of the game despite a triple by Morgan Walker at the top of the third. Bri Murphy took the loss, going four innings, allowing six hits and five runs while striking out four.

The ladies then fell to the Brentwood Bobcats 8-0. The Tigerettes fell behind early and would never be able to get on the board through four innings. Kilgore took the loss allowing three hits and eight runs over three innings, striking out three.

DeKalb’s final game ended in a narrow defeat by the Nolensville Lady Knights. The Tigerettes would take a 1-0 lead at the top of the second after Farler took a HBP, followed by a double on a line drive to left by Madison Martin.

Nolensville would tie the game as they came to bat in the second, then take the one-point lead at the bottom of the third.

The Tigerettes had one last chance at the top of the fourth, but would go three up, three down, all going down swinging. Kilgore took the loss going three innings, allowing two runs on two hits and striking out seven.