The DCHS Tigerette softball team tasted defeat for the first time this season at the Tennessee Softball Coaches Association Annual High School Softball Tournament in Clarksville last weekend.
It is worth noting that the teams who took DeKalb down were AAA powerhouse squads, however, and both games were one-run fights to the finish.
The Tigerettes concluded pool play in the tourney on Saturday morning with a 2-1 record and the #2 seed in the Gold Division. DeKalb’s first loss came in the tournament opener on Friday afternoon at the hands of the Clarksville High School Lady Wildcats a District 10AAA team with a season record of 19-5-1.
After the 2-1 defeat, DeKalb took control of the situation and handed the Beech Buccaneers a 6-2 loss on Friday night, and pulled out a 3-1 win Saturday morning over Holy Cross from Kentucky to win the final game of pool play.
The Tigerettes scored three runs, all in the first inning, on six hits and committed one error. Holy Cross scored one run in the third on two hits and committed one error.
Lexi Bates and Dani Meadows each hit singles in the game, while Myranda Bailiff slapped two one-baggers. Tyra Graham and Katie Hall doubled. Kayley Caplinger was the winning pitcher.
The Tigerettes met the Riverdale Warriors, currently second in District 7AAA at 17-7-0 on the season, at 2 p.m. on Saturday in the single-elimination leg of the tourney. The team from Murfreesboro edged DeKalb out in a 3-2 game, sending the Tigerettes home with a 20-2-1 season record.
DeKalb scored two runs on nine hits and committed two errors in the contest. Riverdale scored three runs on four hits, committing one error. The Tigerettes scored one run in the first and one in the third. Riverdale scored two runs in the fourth inning and one run in the fifth.
Kayley Caplinger, Myranda Bailiff, Dani Meadows, Allison Maynard, Hannah Walker, and Joni Robinson all hit singles. Tyra Graham, Kayley Caplinger, and Dani Meadows had a double each.
In the days leading up to the tourney, DeKalb faced the Upperman Lady Bees in Smithville on April 7, roasting the team from Baxter in a 12-0 shutout.
The Tigerettes scored ten runs in the first two innings, with Caplinger blasting two home runs and a single, as well as adding another win from the mound with eight strikeouts. The Lady Bees were held to one hit in the game.
DeKalb scored five runs in the first inning and five more in the second, then added one each in the third and fourth innings. The Tigerettes took the win with 12 runs on 14 hits.
Doubles: Katie Hall and Myranda Bailiff put in two doubles each for DeKalb, and Hannah Walker hit a double as well. Singles: Lexi Bates and Dani Meadows recorded two singles each, and Allison Maynard added a one-bagger.
The Tigerettes committed no errors in the game, while Upperman logged two.
The Tigerettes met District border rival Smith County in Carthage on April 5, again passing out a 12-0 beating.
DeKalb put three on the board in the first, then broke loose with eight in the second to take an 11-0 lead going in to the third inning. The Tigerettes put one more run on the board in the third, but with pitcher Kayley Caplinger leading the team to a four-hit shutout, DeKalb took the win.
The Tigerettes put 14 hits on the books, with Tyra Graham swinging for a single, a double and a home run. Myranda Bailiff and Caplinger hit two singles and a double each. Walker tripled, Katie Hall doubled, Hanah Panter hit two singles, and Allison Maynard added one.
The Tigerettes recorded one error, while Smith County committed one.
DeKalb leads District 8AA with a 5-0 record. Coming in second in district play so far this season is Macon County at 2-1, with Cannon County in third at 1-2.
Livingston Academy has a 1-1 district record, Upperman is at 1-0 and Central Magnet has an 0-2 record in the district. Smith County is 0-1 in district play, while York Institute stands at 0-3.
The Tigerettes will host Central Magnet in Smithville on April 14 at 4:30 p.m., then the team will face Macon County in Smithville on April 19 at 5 p.m.
