On Monday night the Tigers played host to the Upperman Bees in a district match-up. The Tigers came away with the victory, winning 2-1.
In the top of the first, Cody Puckett took the mound to show the Bees what he could do. The first batter reached first on a walk. Puckett struck out the next batter in three pitches. The next batter for the Bees was looking at a 2-1 count. Just before the next pitch, the runner on first broke away and stole second base. Following the stolen base, the batter was struck out. The fourth batter of the inning would hit a low chopper to short for an RBI and reach first base on an error, making the score 1-0. Puckett faced the next batter with a full count, zipping in  a fastball down the middle of the plate as the batter watched it called for a strike to ending the top of the inning.
In the bottom of the first, Steven Howell was set to lead things off for the Tigers. Howell would ground out down the third-base line. Evan Curtis was up next, but was struck out. Hunter Graham was the third and final batter of the inning as he would go on to ground out to centerfield.
In the top of the second, DeKalb’s pitcher Puckett had shown what he could do, striking out three straight batters and ending the top of the inning.
In the bottom of the  second, Andy Atnip led off but came up short as he was struck out. The pitcher Puckett was next at bat and blasted a ball to deep left field only to be run down by a Upperman fielder. Seth Stanley was the next batter and would reach base on a walk. Devin Summmers was up after Stanley and would get the same result, being walked. With runners on first and second, Daniel Stanley blasted a line drive only to be stopped with a great play from the diving short stop for the inning-ending out.
In the top of the third, the first batter was walked off of a 3-2 count. The next batter would play to strategy as he would lay down a bunt, advancing the runner on first for a sac-bunt. With the third batter up, before the pitch from Puckett, play was stopped and the runner on second was allowed to advance, as a “balk” was called by the umpire. With the runner now at third, the Tigers had to play mistake-free baseball to keep Upperman from scoring. The Tigers did so, catching the runner in a pickle and throwing him out at home as he crashed into the catcher in an attempt to dislodge the ball.
In the bottom of the third, Dustin Cook led off for the Tigers with a deep fly ball to centerfield that was good for a double. Next up, Howell would hit a high fly ball in foul territory down the first-base line which was caught for an out. Brother Braxton Howell would hit a line drive down the third-base line good for a double. The runner advanced to home for a scoring opportunity but was thrown out. Graham was the next batter up for the Tigers and dropped in a single to put runners on the corners. Andy Atnip was set to take his next at bat but Braxton Howell was caught with too big a lead off third base and would be tagged out after he was run down.
In the top of the fourth, Puckett’s first batter hit a ground ball down the third-base line and was fielded by Summers for the first out. The second batter would drop in a single to left field. The next two batters for Upperman were both sat down by striking out at the hands of Puckett.
In the bottom of the fourth, Atnip was up to bat, and would fly out to centerfield. Puckett was up next to bat and was walked. Daniel Stanley followed with a ground ball to third and was thrown out, while Puckett made it  to second base.  Summers was the next batter, but before his first pitch Puckett stole third base to put a runner in scoring position. Summer would go on to face a 2-2 count. His next pitch was a wild pitch called for ball three and Puckett came around to score. Summers would  go on to fly out to centerfield.
In the top of the fifth, Puckett would strike out his first batter. The next batter would blast a ground ball right back to the pitcher but was fielded for an out. The third batter for Upperman found first base on an error in the outfield. The next batter would  ground out to second base.
In the bottom of the fifth, Daniel Stanley led the Tigers off at bat by striking out. Cook would have better success, hitting a line drive through the alley for a single. Steven Howell was up for his third at bat but would ground out into a double play to end the inning.
In the top of the sixth, Puckett again had a quick inning, striking out his first batter. Puckett’s second batter flew out to right field. His third  batter was struck out as well.
In the bottom of the sixth, Braxton Howell was first to take the plate and was struck out. Graham  would follow by grounding out to third base. Atnip was up for his third batting attempt, looking for his first hit of the night. Atnip found what he was looking for in the form of a double. With a man on second, Puckett looked to put the Tigers over the Bees in the at bat. Puckett hit a deep ball to right field for an RBI single, giving the Tigers their first lead of the game. Seth Stanley was up next and would ground out to end the inning.
In the top of the seventh, the first batter ripped a single past the first baseman. The second batter was walked. Now, with runners on first and second and no outs, it appeared that Upperman had the momentum. Puckett would answer back strong, striking out two batters in a row. Needing one more out for the win, DeKalb was hit by a penalty on Coach Odom for making too many trips to the pitcher’s mound that required the pitcher Puckett to come out of the game. Steven Howell would replace Puckett at the mound. Howell would walk his first batter, loading the bases for Upperman. Howell proved to be clutch, striking out the batter to keep the win.