The DeKalb County High School Tigerettes softball team traveled to Watertown last week to play their second TSSAA District Tournament game. DeKalb would face off against the Lady bees of Upperman, and things would go wrong in the game early.

On Monday, May 10, fans traveled the short distance to Watertown, TN, where the next rounds of the district tourney were being hosted. The Tigerettes would start things off, and the first batter, Morgan Walker, reached on a grounder and an error by short. But Walker would be the only one to reach, as the team went one, two, and three afterwards.

As the Lady Bees came to bat, things didn’t look good. Upperman’s first batter singled on a grounder to shortstop Jacey Hatfield, then another batter reached on a ground ball and an error by second base Ellie Cripps. The next batter was hit by a pitch by Bri Murphy, loading the bases. Murphy would then walk a batter, sending one point to the scoreboard.

Next, the Tigerettes got an out off of an infield fly to third baseman Aly Griffith, then a grounder to Griffith resulted in an out to Kennedy Polk at home plate. With two outs it looked as if the Tigerettes might get off the field without too much damage. But Murphy would walk the next batter, then a single on a grounder to centerfielder Morgan Walker sent two more runs home. Then next batter was hit by a pitch, then a double sent two more runs home. Before DeKalb could get off the field, the Lady bees were up 6-0.

DeKalb would go three and out to start the second. Upperman would load the bases again at the bottom of the inning, but the Tigerettes would get off the field without any more damage.

The Tigerettes would finally get into the game in the third inning, when Layla Walker, Morgan Walker, and Aniston Farler all walked to load the bases. Next up, Jacey Hatfield doubled on a line drive to right field, as Walker and Walker scored, and Farler advanced to third. Then, Griffith grounded into fielder’s choice, Farler was out advancing to home, then Hatfield scored off of an error by third base. DeKalb had cut the lead, 6-3.

Unfortunately that would be the highlight of the game for the Tigerettes. The Lady Bees had some strong bats, and would score two more runs at the bottom of the third, then another at the bottom of the fifth. Upperman would take the 9-3 win.

Murphy took the loss for the Tigerettes, lasting five innings, allowing 11 hits and nine runs while striking out one. Cripps, Hatfield, and Morgan Walker led DeKalb in hits, each with one.

The following day, the Tigerettes were back in action at the tournament, facing off with Smith County.

DeKalb would put two runs in the books in the second inning, with Madison Martin scorings after a double line drive to right by Cripps. Polk would double next off of a line drive to leftfield, sending Cripps home. At the end of two, the Tigerettes were up, 2-0.

Farler would add another point in the third with a homerun out of center. DeKalb held a 3-0 lead.

Smith made things interesting in the fourth when they put two points on the board, but the Tigerettes would match them in the fifth with two points of their own. Emma martin would score on the throw after Murphy singled on a grounder to center. Morgan Walker would also touch home plate. DeKalb held a 5-2 lead.

DeKalb sealed things up in the sixth, after Hatfield homered out of center with Polk and Farler on base. The Tigerettes took an 8-2 lead, and that is where the score would stay.

Murphy took the win, lasting seven innings, allowing three hits and two runs while striking out nine and walking one.

The Tigerettes returned to tournament play on Wednesday, May 12, again in Watertown taking on the home team.

DeKalb got on the board first, when Morgan Walker scored after a sacrifice fly to center by Emma Martin.

Watertown would jump ahead at their first at bats, when, with one on base, a batter knocked it out of centerfield. The home team took a 2-1 lead.

Layla Walker, courtesy running for Bri Murphy, would tie the game in the second inning, after Ellie Cripps singled on a line drive to center. Then Hatfield would put another run on the board in the third inning, after Madison Martin hit a sacrifice fly to center. The Tigerettes took the lead, 3-2.

The Tigerettes would pad their lead at the top of the fourth inning, when Jacey Hatfield singled on a hard grounder to leftfield, sending Cripps and Morgan Walker across the plate. DeKalb held a 5-2 lead.

But just as Tigerette fans started to feel comfortable, Watertown came roaring back. At the bottom of the fifth, an error by Hatfield, and another by Kennedy Polk allowed three runners to come home. Later, with two on base, another homer gave Watertown an 8-5 lead.

DeKalb did not lay down though, and at their next at bat the Tigerettes would retake the lead, this time for good. With bases loaded at the top of the sixth, Emma Martin singled on a line drive to center, sending Morgan Walker home. Then, Madison Martin doubled on a line drive to center, sending Farler and Hatfield across the plate. DeKalb had tied the game. After that, a sacrifice to first base sent Emma Martin home.

The Tigerettes would get off the field quick to end the inning, then would add one more to the board as they came up to bat. Hatfield would single off of a line drive to right, as Kennedy Polk touched home plate.

Watertown had one last chance at the plate, but the Tigerettes defense held strong, taking a 10-8 win.

Murphy took the win, allowing eight runs on 12 hits over seven innings, striking out one and walking one. Hatfield and Morgan Walker each had three hits to lead DeKalb at the plate.

Winning that game sent the Tigerettes immediately to their next game, this time once again taking on Macon County. This game would be decided early.

The Tigerettes got on the board first, with Morgan Walker scoring after Emma Martin doubled on a hard ground ball to leftfield. DeKalb was up 1-0.

But as Macon came to bat, the bottom fell out of the game for the Tigerettes. The Macon bats were hot and they would come away with seven runs in the inning.

At the top of the second, Cripps added another point to the board for the Tigerettes, after Farler singled on a line drive to left. But again Macon’s bats were hard to stop. The Lady Cats put three more on the board, taking a 10-2 lead.

Emma Martin touched home plate for the Tigerettes in the third, after Murphy singled on a hard grounder to left, but once again Macon added three runs of their own, taking a 13-3 lead.

Morgan Walker and Hatfield each had a run for DeKalb in the fourth, after a Madison Martin single grounder to right field.

The Tigerettes would manage only one more run in the game, with Cripps walking home in the seventh. In the end, the score was too much to overcome. Macon took the 13-6 win, ending the Tigerettes’ season.

Murphy started the game for the Tigerettes, allowing six hits and seven runs over two thirds of an inning, striking out one and walking zero. Cripps took the loss, going five and a third innings, allowing six runs on seven hits and striking out five.

The Tigerettes went 16-13 on the season.