It was another good week for the DeKalb County High School Tigerettes softball team, playing a game each day of the week, and narrowly falling in only one.

On Monday, April 15, the Tigerettes were in Cumberland County taking on the Lady Jets. DeKalb went up big in the first inning and sealed the game shut in the fourth. In the first inning, Zayleigh Bain, Bryna Pelham, Kora Kilgore each singled scoring one run, while Raylie Cowan and Gracie Randolph each had a two-run single, and Bri Murphy a one-run double. The Tigerettes came away with 12 runs at the top of the first alone.

Cumberland would manage to get on the board with three runs at the bottom of the third, but DeKalb would put a lot more distance on the board at the top of the fourth.

Tatum Young started things off with a single on a grounder to third, later followed by Hannah Brown with a home run on a line drive to left. The big hitters then got in on the act, with a triple by Rylee Wilbur, a double by Bain, and a triple by Pelham. Pelham would score after Lillie Young flew out to right, then they were back to Young who singled on a grounder to first. Danica Collier singled, then Brown was back at the plate and doubled on a line drive to left. Bain got another double, and Pelham a single. Cumberland got off the field, but DeKalb was up 24-3.

And that is where the score would stay. Murphy started in the circle giving up no hits and zero runs over two innings, striking out five and walking none. Lillie Young threw in relief.

The following day, the Tigerettes were again in enemy territory, this time taking on their old foe Upperman. All the action would come in the third inning, when the Lady Bees would claim a narrow lead.

Wilbur got on base for DeKalb at the top of the third with a single on a line drive to short, later followed by Pelham with a walk. Randolph would reach on a grounder and an error at second as Bain scored. The Tigerettes were on the board, 1-0, but it wouldn’t last long.

The Lady Bees inched ahead with two runs in the third, and that would be all they would need. The game would go into the seventh inning, but Upperman would hold on for the 2-1 win. Kora Kilgore led from the circle, giving up four hits and two runs over six innings, striking out nine and walking four.

It was another road trip for the Tigerettes on Wednesday as they traveled to White County to face off against the Warriorettes. DeKalb would get back to their dominating play in this game.

Bain singled on a grounder to left to start the game, and later Randolph singled on a line drive to right, sending Bain across the plate. DeKalb was on the board, 1-0.

The Warriorettes would manage one run themselves at the bottom of the second, but the Tigerettes would come roaring back. Young would get a walk, later followed by a double line drive to left by Pelham as Young scored. Randolph was next, hitting a double line drive to center, sending Pelham home. Murphy then singled on a ground ball to center, sending Chaylea Lunsford, running for Randolph, home. Elaina Turner doubled on a line drive to center with Murphy scoring, then Cowan doubled on a line drive to center sending Turner home. Brown would get a walk, then Bain singled on a grounder to center, as Cowan crossed the plate. Wilbur would then single on a grounder to left as Brown scored. The Tigerettes were up 10-1.

DeKalb would top off the scoreboard at the top of the fifth, with another single by Bain, and later a Pelham double. White County scored one more run at the bottom of the fifth, but the Tigerettes would claim the 11-2 victory.

Kilgore struck out 13 batters, giving up two hits and two runs, over six innings, walking three.

The long travel week continued on Thursday as the Tigerettes faced Livingston Academy. The Lady Wildcats would get on the board first, but DeKalb would whittle away at the scoreboard throughout and claim a big win.

At the top of the second, Randolph got a walk, followed by Murphy reaching on a bunt. Kilgore then hit a double line drive to center as Lunsford, running for Randolph, crossed home plate. The game was tied 1-1.

DeKalb took its first lead of the game at the top of the third, after a single by Brown and Wilbur, flowed by a single by Pelham, with Brown scoring on the throw.

Livingston would tie the game again at the bottom of the third, but DeKalb would begin to pull away at its next at bat. Turner and Cowan would each get a single, and later Bain singled on a ground ball to second as Turner came home. Wilbur would single on a grounder to center, then Bain would steal home as Pelham was at the plate. The Tigerettes were up 4-2.

The Tigerettes would increase their lead at the top of the fifth, after a single by Randolph, and a double by Murphy. Kilgore would ground out at short, but Randolph would score. Cowan would later double on a line drive to left as Murphy scored, then Brown single on a line drive to right sending Young, running for Cowan, home. DeKalb was up 7-2.

Wilbur would triple on a line drive to center for the Tigerettes at the top of the sixth, followed by a double line drive to right by Pelham. The Tigerettes commanded an 8-2 lead.

Some big hits for the Tigerettes at the top of the seventh would top off their score. Cowan doubled on a line drive to center, then Brown did the same. Bain would then single on a line drive to center, followed by Wilbur reaching on a ground ball and error by third, and Brown scored. Pelham would single on a bunt, followed by a single fly to center for Murphy as Bain touched home. DeKalb was on top 11-2.

Livingston managed one run at the bottom of the seventh, but DeKalb held on for the 11-3 victory.

Murphy struck out 11, surrendering five hits and three runs over seven innings, walking one.

On Friday, the Tigerettes were finally back on their home field, and would battle against Warren County in a close game. Kilgore would pitch five and one third innings in relief, and earn her 100th strike out during the game.

The Lady Pioneers took the early lead, scoring three runs in the first inning. The Tigerettes would stay close thanks to a two-run single by Randolph.

Things looked bleak for DeKalb at the top of the second, with Warren scoring seven more and taking the 10-2 lead, but they would wear away at the scoreboard, starting at the top of the fourth. Pelham started off the inning with an inside the park home run, followed by a single grounder to center by Randolph. Murphy singled on a bunt to short, then Kilgore stepped up and tripled on a line drive to right. Lunsford was running for Kilgore, and would score as Cowan grounded out to third. The Tigerettes were back in the game, 10-6.

The Tigerettes would get even closer at the bottom of the fourth, after singles by Bain and Wilbur, and yet another by Pelham. Bain would score and Wilbur would score on the throw. Pelham would also score on a bunt by Murphy. DeKalb had come to within one, 10-9.

The Lady Pioneers topped off their score at the top of the fifth with one run, but DeKalb would push ahead at their next at bat. After a single by Cowan, and outs by Brown and Young, Bain singled on a fly and error by short, as Cowan scored. Wilbur would then step up and homer on a line drive to center. The Tigerettes took the lead, 12-11.

The game would go to the seventh, but the Tigerettes held on for the victory. Kilgore surrendered zero hits and one run, striking out 12 and walking two. Murphy started the game, giving up six hits and 10 runs, striking out one and walking three.