The DeKalb County High School Tigerettes finished out their regular season last week, then moved on to the district tournament in Baxter. The team ended the season with their first district loss, but managed to squeak by Upperman as regular season champs.
On April 29, the Tigerettes were on the road in Baxter to face the formidable Lady Bees in the final regular season game of the year. The outcome of the game would decide the top seed in the upcoming district tournament. DeKalb had beat Upperman earlier in the season, so Upperman would not only have to win the game, but beat DeKalb by more than five points to claim the regular season championship.
The game was a battle from the start, with neither team able to get on the scoreboard. The game would go to the fifth inning, when Upperman was able to touch home plate. The Lady Bees struck again in the sixth inning, putting up four more points. It was the seventh inning before DeKalb saw its one and only run of the game. The match ended with the Tigerettes first district loss of the year, 5-1, but keeping within five points, DeKalb saved the regular season title.
The Tigerettes had four hits for one run, and zero errors, while Upperman had four hits, five runs, and zero errors. Kayley Caplinger was the losing pitcher.
Danielle Tyson had two singles in the game, while Tyra Graham and Dani Meadows each had one.
On May 1, the Tigerettes were back at Upperman, this time taking on York Institute in the first round of the district tournament. This match would be more decisive for DeKalb as they coasted to an easy win.
The Tigerettes jumped out to a big lead in the first inning and never looked back. They scored six in the first inning, six in the second, and tacked on three more in the third, all while keeping York away from home plate. The Tigerettes took the win in only three innings, 15-0.
DeKalb had 14 hits, with 15 runs and zero errors, while York had four hits for zero runs, and zero errors. Lauren Colwell was the winning pitcher.
Graham, Colwell, and Meadows each had two singles, while Tyson, Chelsey Brannon, and Loren Cripps each had one. Shauna Taylor had a single and a double, while Katie Hall had two doubles. Caplinger also had a double.
On May 2, the team was again at Upperman, this time facing Cannon County. Again, it would be an easy win for the Tigerettes.
DeKalb jumped out to a 4-1 lead in the first inning, then put two more on the board in the second. The Tigerettes scored another run in the fourth inning, and three more in the third. DeKalb took the win, 10-1.
The Tigerettes had 11 hits for 10 runs, and zero errors, while Cannon had four hits, with one run and two errors. Caplinger was the winning pitcher.
Graham had a single and a triple in the game, while Tyson had a single and a double. Meadows had a double, and Brannon and Caplinger each had two doubles.
On May 5, the Tigerettes were on the field at Uppermam, this time facing the home team, the Lady Bees, in the third round of the district tournament.
As before, the game between the two softball powers started out slow. Neither team would see points through the first three innings, but DeKalb would finally get on the board in the fourth with one run.
The Tigerettes scored two more times in the fifth inning, but also allowed Upperman to come in with a run. The score would be the Lady Bees’ only run of the night, as DeKalb sealed the win with five more runs in the sixth. The Tigerettes took the third victory in the district tournament, 8-1.
DeKalb had nine hits for eight runs, with two errors, while Upperman had two hits with one run, and one error. Caplinger was the winning pitcher with 11 strikeouts.
Graham had one single in the game, while Tyson and Colwell each had two. Meadows had a single and a triple, while Hall had a triple of her own. Brannon had a homerun.