The DeKalb County High School Tigerettes softball team scored some big wins against some tough competition early last week, then fell to Macon County later on.

On Tuesday, April 26, the girls were on their home field as they hosted the Lady Bees of Upperman. The game would remain close, but in the end it would be a good day for the Tigerettes.

The Bees would get on the board with one run in the first inning, but the Tigerettes would jump ahead at their first at bats with two runners coming home. Jacey Hatfield reached on a bunt to the catcher, then Emma Martin singled on a grounder to second.

Ally Griffith would bunt out to the catcher, then Morgan Walker grounded out to second, but Hatfield was able to touch the plate. Next, Bryna Pelham reached on a ground ball and an error by short, as Martin scored. DeKalb was up, 2-1.

Upperman would go three and out at the top of the second, then the Tigerettes would add to their lead. Madison Martin hit a double on a line drive to left field, then Kennedy Polk sacrificed to the catcher as Martin took third. Hatfield was up again and would ground out to short, but Martin would come home. The Tigerettes were ahead 3-1.

The Lady Bees would stay within striking distance at the top of the third, scoring yet another run, then DeKalb would go three and out.

The Tigerettes would add another run at the bottom of the fourth, after Bri Murphy doubled on a line drive to center field, then advanced to third on an error. Madison Martin would then sacrifice out to right field as Murphy made her way home. DeKalb was up 4-2.

Upperman was not about to just go away, and scored three more points at the top of the fifth, taking a 5-4 lead. DeKalb would go three up, three down at the bottom of the inning, but would hold the Lady Bees to the same as they came to bat again.

The game would be decided at the bottom of the sixth, when the Tigerettes’ bats came to life. Walker doubled on a line drive to center, followed by a single ground ball to the pitcher by Pelham as Walker took third. Anniston Farler stepped to the plate next and would hit a triple line drive to right as both Walker and Pelham scored.

DeKalb wasn’t done. Murphy was up next, and singled on a line drive to center as Farler scored. Murphy took second on an error, then Madison Martin hit a pop fly and reached on an error by second. Murphy was held at second.

Polk would strike out looking, then Hatfield lined out to center, but Emma Martin then stepped up and doubled on a hard grounder to right, sending Madison Martin home, and Murphy touching the plate on the throw. The Tigerettes commanded a 9-5 lead.

Upperman had one last at bat, but would go three and out, giving DeKalb the hard-earned victory.

Murphy was credited with the win from the circle, going three innings, allowing no runs on one hit, while striking out four and walking none. Kora Kilgore started the game, surrendering five runs on five hits over four innings, striking out four.

On Wednesday, April 27, the Tigerettes were on the road, traveling to Livingston to face the Lady Wildcats. It would be another good day for DeKalb.

The Tigerettes would take the lead at the top of the first and never look back. Right off the bat, Jacey Hatfield would take a base after a HBP, and later Ally Griffith would do the same. Morgan Walker would get a walk, loading the bases, then Bryna Pelham hit a single grounder to center as Hatfield scored. Griffith would also touch home on the throw. Aniston Farler would then ground to fielder’s choice at short, allowing Walker to come home. DeKalb was up, 3-0.

The action would pick back up at the top of the fourth. Farler hit a fly ball and reached on an error by shortstop, then Bri Murphy got an easy trip with a walk. Madison Martin was up next and hit a double on a line drive to left as Farler scored.

Raylie Cowan stepped up next, and hit a line drive to right, reaching on an error. Elaina Turner, running for Murphy, would come home and Madison Martin took third. Hatfield stepped to the plate next, and would single on a hard grounder to left, sending Martin home. DeKalb took a 6-0 lead.

DeKalb would seal the game shut at the top of the fifth with five more runs. Ally Griffith singled on a grounder to right, then Walker grounded out to the pitcher, but Griffith would score on an error. Pelham would take a HBP, then Farler would get a walk. Murphy would also take a HBP, loading the bases, then Madison Martin singled on a grounder to left as Farler and Pelham scored.

Cowan would ground to third, catching Turner, running for Murphy, at third. Hatfield would walk, then Emma Martin singled on a line drive to center, allowing Madison Martin to touch the plate. DeKalb took the 11-0 lead.

The Lady Wildcats would have one more at bat, but would go three and out. The Tigerettes took the 11-0 shutout.

Bri Murphy took the win not allowing a single run. She went five innings, allowing three hits, striking out three and walking one.

The following day, the Tigerettes were back at home, this time hosting the Lady Tigers of Macon County. DeKalb would fall behind early and mount a comeback late in the game.

The Lady Tigers would get on the board first, scoring one run in the first, another in the third, and three in the fourth.

DeKalb would finally get on the board at the bottom of the fifth, after Kennedy Polk hit a single line drive to center. Hatfield was up next and hit a double line drive to left, sending Chloe Lawson, running for catcher Polk, across home plate. The Tigerettes were down 5-1.

The Tigerettes held Macon scoreless at the top of the sixth, then continued to cut into the Lady Tigers’ lead at their next at bat. Griffith took a HBP, then Walker singled on a line drive to right. Pelham stepped up and hit a double grounder to center as Walker and Griffith scored. Unfortunately that would be the last points of the game. It would go through seven innings, but Macon would hold on for the 5-3 win.

Kora Kilgore took the loss, going three and two-thirds innings, allowing zero runs on two hits, striking out six and walking one.

On Friday, the ladies traveled to Knoxville for tournament play at the BSN Region 2 Challenge, hosted by Farragut. The Tigerettes fell in their first game, against the Karns Beavers, going to the eighth inning with the game tied at two, when the Beavers scored one run.

That same day, DeKalb would gain a victory against the HVA Hawks by going up by three in the first inning and never looking back. The Tigerettes added one run in the second, and another in the third, with the Hawks only avoiding a shutout late in the game with one run in the sixth. DeKalb claimed the 5-1 victory.

On Saturday, April 30, the Tigerettes faced Union County in a close game. Union would take the early lead with one run in the first, but DeKalb pulled away in the second with three runs. Union would stay close with another run in the second, but the Tigerettes held on for the 3-2 win.

Later that day, Kora Kilgore would pitch a no hitter as the team faced the Halls Lady Devils. Kilgore allowed zero runs on zero hits over six innings, striking out eight. The Tigerettes claimed a 2-0 victory.

The Tigerettes moved on the championship game later that day, facing the host team, the Farragut Lady Admirals. It would be a pitcher’s game, with the Admirals able to get on the board with a run in the third, and another in the fourth. It would be enough for the 2-0 win.