The rain kept the DeKalb County High School Tigerettes softball team off the field for most of last week, but they did play on April 4, and April 8. They would get a big win against Stone Memorial, but later fall to a Cookeville team.
On Thursday, April 4, the Tigerettes were on their home field where they would once again dominate visitors from Stone Memorial. Pitcher Kora Kilgore would lead the team from the circle with 13 strikeouts in the game, surrendering five hits and three runs over five innings.
The Lady Panthers would go three up, three down to start the game, then DeKalb would go up by one as they came to bat. Zayleigh Bain would get a walk, and would then take second after a single ground ball to right by Bryna Pelham. Bain would steal her way home as Gracie Randolph was up to bat. The Tigerettes were up 1-0.
Kilgore retired three more batters at the start of the second, then the Tigerettes would add more runs. Elaina Turner singled on a line drive to right, and later Tatum Young singled on a bunt to third as Turner took second. Rylee Wilbur would then single on a line drive to right as Turner scored, then Young scored as Bain was back at the plate. Bain would single on a but to third, but would be left standing as Pelham grounded out to third. DeKalb was up 3-0.
DeKalb would add two more at the bottom of the third. Randolph singled on a line drive to center, followed by Bri Murphy singling on a bunt to third. Lillie Young would run for Randolph, but would be caught at second as Kilgore grounded to fielder’s choice at short. Turner was back at the plate and would single on a grounder to right as Murphy came home. Chaylea Lunsford, running for Kilgore would score as Raylie Cowan flew out to second. DeKalb commanded a 5-0 lead.
The Lady Panthers would finally get on the board at the top of the fourth, following a single, double, then a triple. They would score two runs before the Tigerettes got off the field.
The Tigerettes were not finished putting numbers on the scoreboard. At the bottom of the fourth, Bain would reach on a hard grounder and an error at second, then the slugger Pelham doubled on a line drive to left. Bain would steal home as Young was at bat, then Young would double also on a line drive to center, sending Pelham home.
Later, Kilgore hit a double line drive to right as Young touched the plate, then Turner doubled on a line drive to center as Kilgore scored. Cowan then singled on a grounder to short, sending Turner home. DeKalb was up 10-2.
Stone Memorial would score one last run at the top of the fifth, but the Tigerettes would get off the field with the 10-3 victory.
The following Monday, the Tigerettes were on the road, this time traveling to Cookeville to take on the Lady Cavaliers. Cookeville would go up early and DeKalb would never recover.
The Lady Cavs scored two runs at the bottom of the first, but the Tigerettes would get on the board at the top of the second. Murphy singled on a grounder to short, and would then take second as Kilgore singled on a ground ball to center. Turner then singled on a bunt to third, loading the bases. Raylie Cowan would then single on a grounder to left as Murphy scored. That would be all they would reach as the Cavs got off the field.
Cookeville score three more runs in the second, then one more in the third, taking the 6-1 lead.
The Tigerettes would score only one more run, at the top of the sixth. Pelham would get a walk, then would advance all the way to third as Randolph sacrificed to the catcher. Pelham would score as Murphy hit a sacrifice fly to center. Cookeville would hold on to take the 6-2 win.
Murphy took the loss, going three innings, surrendering six runs on four hits, striking out two and walking three.
