The DeKalb County High School Tigers baseball team began post-season play last week, taking on some familiar foes as they moved through the brackets. The team would end up splitting games with both Macon and Upperman through the TSSAA District 7AAA tournament.

On Monday, May 9, DeKalb faced the Macon Tigers in the first game, which would remain scoreless until the top of the third inning. With two outs on the board and bases loaded, a triple on a line drive to left field drove three runners home. A single by the next batter would put the Macon Tigers up by four.

DeKalb wouldn’t get on the board until the bottom of the fourth. Avery South would get a walk, and advance to second on a passed ball as Patrick Cantrell came to bat. Cantrell would then hit a double on a grounder to right, sending South home. Unfortunately, it would be the only run in the game for DeKalb.

Macon would cap off the game with one more run in the seventh, and would hold on to claim the 5-1 win. Dexton Emberton took the loss for DeKalb, allowing seven hits and five runs over seven innings, striking out seven.

Macon would go on to Face Upperman that same evening with the Bees coming out on top. That set up a rematch between DeKalb and Macon the following evening. This game would remain close and with the tournament in double elimination, it was do or die. The game would have a better outcome.

DeKalb would get on the board at the top of the first after Isaac Knowles singled on a pop fly to the pitcher. Knowles would steal second as Kolter Kilgore was up to bat, then Kilgore grounded out to second as Knowles took third. Avery South would then fly out to right, but Knowles would score after tagging up. DeKalb had the first lead, 1-0.

The Macon Tigers would tie the game at the bottom of the third, with a run of their own, and the game would remain at a stalemate until the top of the seventh.

Cantrell reached on a fly and an error by the shortstop, then Grayson Hendrix grounded out to third as Cantrell took second. Emberton stepped to the plate next and would single on a grounder to center, sending Cantrell home. Macon would get off the field, but DeKalb held the 2-1 lead.

Macon had one more at bat, but DeKalb would hold them three up, three down. The DeKalb County Tigers took the 2-1 victory, ending Macon’s postseason.

Cantrell was the winning pitcher, going seven innings, allowing one run on seven hits and striking out five.

With the win, the Tigers would now have to face the tough Upperman Bees. It would be a battle ending with a third base runner picked off by the catcher.

The Tigers would get on the board at the top of the first inning after Isaac Knowles singled on a line drive to left and Kolter Kilgore got a walk. Avery South would sacrifice to the pitcher as Knowles took third and Kilgore second. Patrick Cantrell stepped up next, and hit a double on a line drive to left field, sending Knowles and Kilgore home. A grounder to second by Grayson Hendrix and a walk for Dexton Emberton would load the bases, but the Bees would leave them standing as they got off the field.

Upperman would take the lead with their turn at bat. With one runner at second, a single grounder to center led to one run coming home. A grounder and an error at third base would lead to another run, then a fly to center would see another runner home after tagging up. The Bees were up, 3-2.

The action wouldn’t pick back up until the top of the fourth when the Tigers would get back on top. Konner Young singled on a line drive to center, but would be caught at second after a bunt by Ty Webb. Webb would take second on a wild pitch as Westin Wright was at the plate, then Wright would go down looking.

Knowles took first after a HBP, then Kilgore singled on a grounder to center. Webb would score on the throw as Knowles took second. South was up again, and would single on a fly to center field, sending Knowles home and Kilgore to second. DeKalb had retaken the lead, 4-3.

The Tigers would add another run at the top of the sixth inning, with Knowles singling on a grounder to third. Knowles would take second on a wild pitch as Kilgore was at the plate, then he would take third as Kilgore grounded out to short.

South stepped to the plate and reached on a ground ball and an error by third base, as Knowles came home. The Tigers increased their lead, 5-3.

The game would come down to the bottom of the seventh. The Bees started with a double on a line drive to right, then, with one out on the board, a single on a grounder to left had a runner at first and third. Another single on a grounder to left saw one runner cross the plate, leaving a tying runner at second, and a winning runner at first.

Upperman would ground out to second, leaving two outs with a runner at second and third. Then trying to catch the runner at third, catcher Kolter Kilgore threw to third baseman Wesley Kent. Kent threw back to Kilgore who caught the runner, ending the game. The Tigers claimed the 5-4 victory.

South claimed the win from the mound, going seven innings, and allowing six hits and four runs, striking out four and walking one.

This set up the main event. On Wednesday both teams would meet again, and with each having one loss, the stakes were high.

In that game, once again it would be a battle with each team keeping the score close. The game would be tied in the seventh and would be decided by a single run.

The scoreboard wouldn’t see any points until the top of the second inning. Grayson Hendrix would single on a fly to center, followed by Dexton Emberton who reached on a bunt and an error by the pitcher. Hendrix would take third. Konner Young was up next and would ground into a double play at short, catching him and Emberton, but allowing Hendrix to come home. DeKalb was up 1-0.

A double, then a single resulted in the Bees tying the game at their turn at the plate, then it looked as if Upperman would pull away at the bottom of the fourth with three more runs.

But the Tigers would bounce back and tie the game again at the top of the fifth. After Young got a walk, Ty Webb singled on a line drive to left, allowing Young to take third. Carson Donnell then singled on a line drive to center, sending Young home and Webb to third.

Isaac Knowles stepped to the plate next and hit a hard grounder, reaching on an error by the shortstop. Webb would cross the plate and Donnell would take second.

Kolter Kilgore would go down swinging, then Avery South singled on a grounder to left. Donnell took third and Knowles second. Patrick Cantrell stepped to the plate and singled on a hard ground ball to center, sending Donnell and Knowles home. The Tigers were back in the game 5-5.

Upperman would score another run at the bottom of the fifth, then DeKalb once again tied the game at the top of the sixth. Young singled on a line drive to left, and later Donnell doubled on a line drive to center, allowing Young to touch home plate. Upperman would get off the field with the score, 6-6.

The Tigers held the Bees off the board at the bottom of the sixth, but would break the stalemate as they came to bat at the top of the seventh.

The Bees were back at the plate, and right off the bat got a single on a line drive to centerfielder Patrick Cantrell. The Tigers would gain two outs with the next two batters, then with Knowles on the mound, a runner was walked. With a full count on the board, the next batter hit a single on a line drive to right fielder Hendrix, allowing the winning run to come home. The Bees had squeaked out the 7-6 win.

Knowles took the loss for the Tigers, allowing four hits and one run over two and two-thirds innings, striking out five. Cam Caballero started the game, allowing one run on three hits over two innings, striking out one and walking none.

The game wrapped up the 2022 DeKalb County Tigers’ season.