The DeKalb County High School Tigerettes softball team opened up their season last week, getting a victory at home before falling in a narrow defeat on the road.

On Tuesday, March 14, the girls were on their home field where they hosted the Stone Memorial Lady Panthers. DeKalb would put points on the board early and hold on defensively late in the game.

Both teams were held to a three and out in the first inning, and things would start moving until the bottom of the second. Aly Griffith singled on a line drive to center, then Aniston Farler reached on a bunt and an error by first as Griffith took third.

Later, Kora Kilgore hit a grounder and reached on another error by first as Griffith took home and Farler took third. Raylie Cowan would then single on a line drive to right as Zayleigh Bain, running for Kilgore, and Farler scored. By the end of two, the Tigerettes were up 3-0.

The Tigerettes would pick back up at the bottom of the third, with Emma Martin reaching on a grounder and an error at short. Bryna Pelham would then reach on a bunt as Martin took second. Madison Martin would then get a walk, loading the bases as Kilgore came back to bat. Kilgore hit a ground ball to right field sending Emma Martin and Pelham across home plate. By the time the Lady Panthers got off the field, DeKalb had increased their lead, 5-0.

Stone Memorial would finally get on the board at the top of the fifth after a single and later a triple on a line drive to center. Pitcher Kora Kilgore would and the inning with a strike out, but the Lady Panthers cut the lead, 5-1.

The game would go into the top of the seventh, where Stone Memorial had one last shot at the plate. Bri Murphy in relief for Kilgore would put away the first two batters, then would send a runner to first after a HBP. The next batter would reach on a grounder and an error by Elaina Turner, leaving runners at third and second. The next batter would reach on a ground ball and an error by third base Griffith as one runner scored. That would be as far as they would get as Murphy put the next batter away, giving DeKalb the 5-2 win.

Kora Kilgore lasted five and a third innings in the circle for the Tigerettes, allowing four hits and one run, while striking out nine. Cowan went 2-3 at the plate for DeKalb at the batter’s box.

The following Thursday, the ladies were on the road, traveling to Watertown to face the Lady Purple Tigers. It would be a tense game right until the end.

The Tigerettes struck first at the top of the first inning. On a 3-2 count, Morgan Walker reached on a dropped third strike. Emma Martin would then ground out to short, as Walker took second. Pelham stepped up next and singled on a grounder to center. Walker would score on the hit while Pelham took second on the throw. DeKalb was on the board 1-0.

Watertown would also score a run at their first time at bat. With one out, a batter singled on a ground ball to pitcher Bri Murphy. The next batter would line out to short, but the first base runner would steal her way around to third. The next at bat hit a grounder and reached on an error by third baseman Griffith as one run scored. By the time DeKalb got off the field, the score was tied at 1.

The action wouldn’t pick back up until the top of the third. Walker singled on a bunt to third, then Emma Martin grounded out to second as Walker took second. Pelham would then get an easy walk to first, followed by Cowan hitting a single line drive to left. Griffith then stepped to the plate, and hit a line drive and reached on an error by center field. Walker and Pelham touched home plate. The Tigerettes had retaken the lead, 3-1.

Neither team would move again until the bottom of the sixth. Watertown would single on a hard ground ball to right fielder Aniston Farler, then another would reach on a grounder to second baseman Elaina Turner. Both runners would advance on a wild pitch, then DeKalb would claim two outs on hits to center field, but one run would score after tagging up. Another single on a line drive to right saw the tying run come home. Before DeKalb could get off the field Watertown had tied it up at 3.

The game would go to the bottom of eight innings. A Watertown batter singled on a line drive to right and advanced to second on an error. The next batter got a walk, then pitcher Kilgore put one down swinging. The next batter decided the game. A ground ball to second ended with a runner scoring on an error. Watertown had claimed the narrow 5-4 win.

Murphy surrendered three runs on seven hits over six innings, striking out two and walking zero. Kilgore threw one and one third innings in relief out of the bullpen.