The DeKalb County High School Tigerettes softball team had their first hiccup of the season last week after dropping a game against White County in a 10-0 shutout. The girls would bounce back in their next game however, taking the win in spectacular fashion.
On Tuesday, March 22, the ladies were on their home field where they hosted the Warriorettes from Sparta. DeKalb would not have their head in the game, making some crucial mistakes early on.
White County would start things off with a double, then a single, followed by the first runner stealing her way home. Another batter would reach on an error, and before the Tigerettes could get off the field the Warriorettes were up, 3-0.
DeKalb would see their first three batters, Morgan Walker, Elaina Turner, and Jacey Hatfield, go down swinging, then White County would threaten again getting one runner all the way to third. With two outs, the runner was caught at the plate by Kennedy Polk.
DeKalb just couldn’t get anything going from the plate as Madison Martin and Anniston Farler each went down swinging at their next at bat. Bryna Pelham would ground out to third.
The Warriorettes would then put even more runs on the board at the top of the third. With two outs on the board, and runners at first and second, White County would reach on a ground ball and an error by first baseman Madison Martin, as two runners scored. A walk by pitcher Bri Murphy added another runner on base, and the next batter for the Warriorettes came away with a home run on a fly to centerfield. White County was up, 8-0.
Ally Griffith and Gracie Randolph would both go down swinging for DeKalb at the bottom of the third. Polk would get on base with a walk, then Annabella Dakas, courtesy running for Polk, would get caught stealing second, ending the inning.
DeKalb would never be able to gain any momentum in the game, and the Warriorettes would score two more runs, one in the fourth and another in the fifth, to gain the 10-0 shutout.
Murphy took the loss from the circle, surrendering 10 runs on eight hits, and striking out four.
The Tigerettes would bounce back in their next game, claiming a shutout of their own. On Thursday, March 24, the girls traveled to Crossville, where they faced off with the Stone Memorial Lady Panthers. It would be a good night for DeKalb.
At the top of the first, Pelham would single on a line drive to center, but would later be called out after Hatfield grounded to fielder’s choice at shortstop. Madison Martin would take a base after being hit by a pitch, then Griffith would get a walk.
With bases loaded, Farler would get a walk, sending Hatfield home, then Emma Martin would single on a grounder to center as Griffith scored, and Madison Martin scored on the throw. Murphy would get a walk, then Polk would hit a double line drive to center, sending Emma Martin, Farler and Murphy home.
With Chloe Lawson courtesy running for Polk, Morgan Walker would double on a line drive to left, and reach third on the throw, sending Lawson home. Pelham would then single on a grounder to center, as Walker crossed the plate. DeKalb had jumped out to an 8-0 lead.
Stone Memorial could do nothing as they came to bat, and then the Tigerettes would continue where they had left off. Madison Martin would take a base after a HBP, then Griffith would single on a line drive to right. Farler would step up next and hit a home run on a line drive to right field.
Emma Martin would take a HBP and later advance to second on a wild pitch, then Murphy would reach on a dropped third strike as Martin took third. Polk would then single on a grounder to left as Martin scored.
Lawson would run for Polk again, as Walker hit a line drive and reached on an error by second base. Murphy would cross home plate as Lawson took second. Lawson would steal third and Murphy second as Pelham was back at the plate, then Pelham hit a fielder’s choice to shortstop, and reached as Lawson scored and Walker took third.
Pelham would get caught trying to steal second base, then Hatfield would single on a grounder to third. Madison Martin would be out on a sacrifice fly to center as Walker came home, then Hatfield would steal her way to third as Griffith was again at the plate. Hatfield would then score on an error by the catcher. The Tigerettes were on top 16-0.
The Lady Panthers would go three up, three down, at their next at bat, then DeKalb would pile on more points.
After Gracie Randolph lined out to left, Raylie Cowan would get an easy trip to first base. Dakas would then single on a grounder to the pitcher, then, as Pelham came to bat, Cowan would steal third and Dakas second. Pelham would single on a grounder to second, as Cowan scored, the Turner would ground out to shortstop as Dakas came home. The Tigerettes commanded an 18-0 lead.
Again, the Lady Panthers would go three up, three down, and DeKalb would ice the cake at the top of the fourth.
Makayla Scales and Farler would each get a walk, then Emma Martin would ground to shortstop with Scales getting caught at third. The bases would be loaded after Randolph was hit by a pitch, then Cowan doubled on a line drive to center, sending Farler and Martin home.
The bases would be loaded again after Dakas singled on a bunt, then Pelham would ground out to first, as Randolph crossed home. Turner would be up next, and would single on a line drive to center, sending Dakas and Cowan home.
Stone Memorial would have one more at bat, but would not be able to avoid the shutout. The Tigerettes would claim the 23-0 victory.
Kora Kilgore claimed the win from the circle, allowing zero runs on two hits over four innings, striking out five and walking zero.
The following day, the girls traveled to Green Hills where they took part in the Green Hills Tournament. The Tigerettes would fall to the Dickson County Lady Cougars 7-0 in their first game on Friday, then fall to the Green Hill Hawks 4-3 later that day.
On Saturday, the Tigerettes lost to the Stewarts Creek Lady Redhawks 9-4, but would come away with a win later that day against the Centennial Cougars, 10-4.
