The DeKalb County High School Tigerettes softball team was back in action last week, taking on several teams including Upperman in what would be a battle for first place in the district.

On Tuesday, April 23, the Tigerettes were on their homefield as they hosted the visiting Lady Bees. In their first meeting with Upperman, DeKalb fell by just a single run. This game would also be a close battle.

Action at the plate would not start until the bottom of the third inning. With two outs on the board, Rylee Wilbur singled on a grounder to center, followed by Bryna Pelham reaching on a ground ball and an error at third. Wilbur would advance to third on the play. Gracie Randolph would then step to the plate and single on a fly to right, sending Wilbur home. Upperman would get off the field with the Tigerettes ahead 1-0.

The game would move to the top of the fifth, before the Lady Bees got on the board. A double, followed by a single on a bunt, saw two on base. Upperman would tie the game with a steal of home, and later, with bases loaded, a Lady Bee would walk across home putting them up 2-1.

Upperman would have one more RBI at the top of the sixth, going up 3-1. The game would go to the bottom of the seventh, but Upperman would come away with the win.

Kora Kilgore started in the circle, giving up four hits and three runs over seven innings, striking out 10 and walking three.

The following day, the Tigerettes traveled to Warren County to take on the Lady Pioneers. They would have another off night.

Warren County would go up 1-0 at the bottom of the first, then add two more runs late at the bottom of the sixth. DeKalb would end up being shut out in the game, despite out hitting Warren seven to three.

Bri Murphy started for the Tigerettes in the circle, allowing three hits and three runs, over six innings, striking out nine and walking two.

On Friday and Saturday, the Tigerettes were on the road in East Tennessee as they participated in the BSN Region II Challenge Farragut Tournament. DeKalb would be shutout in their first game, then go 1-2 on Saturday.

In their first game, the Tigerettes faced off against the Clinton Lady Dragons. DeKalb would never be able to get moving in the game. An error at the bottom of the second, got the Dragons on the board 1-0. Clinton would go on to ad another run in the third, and fourth, holding on to take the 3-0 win.

Raylie Cowan and Kilgore each had one hit in the game, while Kilgore threw from the circle. She allowed six hits and three runs over four and one-third innings, striking out five and walking one.

On Saturday, the Tigerettes would get back to the winner’s column after they took on the Hardin Valley Lady Hawks. It would be a close game.

Hardin would get on the board first, scoring on a two-run homer at the top of the second innings.

DeKalb would get on the board at the bottom of the inning, after Randolph took an HBP. Murphy would bunt out to third, but Chaylea Lunsford, running for Randolph, would score on an error at first. DeKalb was on the board, 2-1.

Hardin would go up big at the top of the third, scoring three more runs, but the Tigerettes would come right back at their next at bat and tie the game. Zayleigh Bain singled on a bunt, then Wilbur singled on a bunt to third. Bain would score on a passed ball as Pelham was up to bat, then Pelham hit a triple on a line drive to left, sending Wilbur home.

Pelham would also score on a passed ball as Chaylea Lunsford was at the plate, then Lunsford would get a walk. Murphy also walked, and later Danica Collier loaded the bases with an HBP. Cowan next lined out to left, but Lunsford scored after tagging up. The Tigerettes had tied the game, 5-5.

DeKalb would take the lead at the bottom of the fourth with two more runs. Wilbur reached on a grounder and an error at third, and would make her way all the way to third base. Pelham would then single on a line drive to left as Wilbur scored. Pelham would score on an error at first as Lunsford was up to bat, then Lunsford got a walk. DeKalb was up 7-5.

The game would go to the top of the fifth, and Hardin would gain one more run, but DeKalb held on for the 7-6 win.

Murphy led from the circle, surrendering five hits and six runs over five innings, striking out six and walking one.

Unfortunately, that would be the last victory the Tigerettes would see that day.

Later, the Tigerettes took on the Grace Christian Academy Lady Rams. DeKalb would get on the board first, but the Lady Rams would soon take the lead and never look back.

Bain started the game off with a double on a line drive to center, later followed by a single fly to right by Randolph as Bain crossed the plate. DeKalb was up 1-0.

The lead wouldn’t last long, however, as the Lady Rams came away with three runs at their first turn at the plate.

At the top of the third, Bain would reach on a fly and error by the pitcher, and later would score following a single line drive to left by Pelham. The Tigerettes had cut the lead, 3-2. That would be as far as they would go.

Grace scored once more in the fourth and would hold on to claim the 4-2 win. Kilgore started in the circle, giving up eight hits and four runs over four innings, striking out six and walking one.

The Tigerettes would play one more game that Saturday, this time against the White House Blue Devils. DeKalb would go up with a big lead early, but let it get away late in the game.

DeKalb scored one run at the bottom of the first after a double by Wilbur, then scoring after tagging up on a Pelham line out to left.

White House would match the run at the top of the second, but the Tigerettes reclaimed the lead at the bottom of the inning. Murphy singled on a grounder to short, then Kilgore homered on a line drive to center. DeKalb was up 3-1.

DeKalb extended its lead at the bottom of the third, after a double by Pelham, then a single by Randolph. Murphy would then double on a line drive to center, with two runners touching home. The Tigerettes were up 5-1.

The Blue Devils kept chipping away, and would score two runs at the top of the fourth, then five at the top of the fifth, taking an 8-5 lead. Bain would single for the Tigerettes as DeKalb came to bat, and would then score after a double on a line drive to center by Wilbur. It was the last run DeKalb would see. White House got off the field with the 8-6 win.

Murphy started the game from the circle, allowing five hits and three runs over four innings, striking out four and walking none.