he DeKalb County High School Tigerettes softball team kept their winning streak alive last week, winning three games in the Sectionals round of post-season play. The Tigerettes have not lost a game since a narrow one-point loss to Stone Memorial on April 8. The team now moves on to the State Tournament in Murfreesboro.

On Monday, May 12, the Tigerettes hosted the Marshall County Tigerettes as both teams battled wet conditions and approaching rain. Marshall would go three up, three down to start the game, then DeKalb would put runs on the board.

Rylee Wilbur started things off reaching on a fly to right and an error, then Tatum Young singled on a bunt to the pitcher, and would take second on an error. Wilbur would score on the same error. Kora Kilgore would next get a walk, then Bryna Pelham would sacrifice to the catcher as Young took third and Chaylea Lunsford, running for Kilgore, took second. Zayleigh Bain stepped up next and sacrificed to the pitcher as Young crossed the plate. Marshall would get off the field, but DeKalb was up 2-0.

The game would then go into a battle from the circle with both pitchers seemingly on fire. Ther action would not pick back up until the bottom of the fifth, after a double line drive to center by Wilbur. Tatum Young next singled on a bunt to the pitcher as Wilbur scored.

A light rain began as the inning went on, and Kilgore was at the plate next. Kora doubled on a line drive to center as Young touched the plate. DeKalb was on top 4-0.

The game would go to the top of the sixth where Kilgore would put Marshall three up, three down. The game would go into delay due to lightning, and would eventually be called with DeKalb taking the 4-0 win.

Kilgore went six innings in the circle, striking out 12 and walking none. She surrendered one hit and zero runs.

The following Wednesday, the Tigerettes traveled to the far away land of Lawrence County where they would dominate once again. DeKalb wouldn’t get moving until the top of the second inning, after Kilgore singled on a line drive to right. Young next singled on a grounder to short, then Sophie Adcock reached on an error at first, loading the bases.

Maggie Hendrixson stepped up and reached on a grounder and an error at short as Lunsford, running for Kilgore stepped on the plate. Brooke Fuson then bunted and reached on an error by third as Young scored. Hannah Brown next grounded into fielder’s choice at short, catching Fuson at second but allowing Fuson to come home. Wilbur was back at the plate and grounded out to shortstop, but drove Hendrixson home. The Tigerettes were on top 4-0.

DeKalb would add another run at the top of the fourth after Hendrixson took a base with an HBP, and later Brown doubled on a fly to center. Bain would later step to the plate and single on a grounder to second, driving Hendrixson home. DeKalb was up 5-0.

The Tigerettes would try to put the game out of reach at the top of the fifth. Kilgore singled on a grounder to center, then Young singled on a ground ball to short. Adcock loaded the bases with a walk, then Hendrixson drove Lunsford home with a single line drive to right. Fuson would then reach on an error by the pitcher as Young came home, and later in the inning Bain singled on a grounder to second as Fuson crossed home. The slugger, Pelham, was back at bat and doubled on a line drive to left sending Wilbur and Brown home. DeKalb held a 10-0 lead.

Lawrence County would avoid the shutout, scoring one run at the bottom of the fifth, but the Tigerettes would top off their score at their next at bat. Young singled on a grounder to third, then Adcock singled on a ground ball to left. Young would score on the throw.

The game would go to the bottom of the sixth, but DeKalb would claim the 11-1 victory. Kilgore earned the win, surrendering three hits and one run over six innings, striking out nine and walking none.

With the victory, the Tigerettes were back on their homefield one last time this season. This time they would be hosting Lenoir City with a trip to the State Tournament on the line.

The scoreboard wouldn’t light up until the bottom of the second after Young got an easy trip to first with a walk. She would take second after a sacrifice to the pitcher by Adcock. Hendrixson stepped up next and singled on a line drive to right, as Young touched the plate. The Tigerettes were up 1-0.

DeKalb would repeat at the bottom of the third, after Pelham singled on a grounder to short, followed by a Kilgore single line drive to right. Young singled on a bunt to third, with Pelham scoring on an error at first. The Tigerettes were up 2-0.

At the bottom of the fifth, the Tigerettes would continue to pull away. Kilgore doubled on a line drive to center, then Young singled on a bunt to short. Adcock sacrificed to third as both runners advanced. Hendrixson stepped up and sacrificed on a fly to right, but Lunsford would make her way home. DeKalb held a 3-0 lead.

At the bottom of the sixth, DeKalb would top off their score. Brown singled on a grounder to center, then Wilbur singled on a bunt to the pitcher. Bain was next and singled on a line drive to right, sending Brown home, and later Kilgore sacrificed on a fly to right as Wilbur touched the plate. Young would next single on a line drive to left sending Bain home and the Tigerettes were ahead 6-0.

Lenoir City would attempt a late rally, scoring two runs at the top of the seventh, but the Tigerettes would hang on for the 6-2 victory. Kilgore had 15 strikeouts in the game, giving up three hits and two runs over seven innings, walking none.

The Tigerettes will take on McNairy Central at the Murfreesboro Sports Com McKnight Field #1 on Tuesday, May 20, in the TSSAA Class 3A State Tournament. This is the 9th state tournament appearance in DCHS Tigerette Softball history.