The DeKalb County High School Tigers baseball team advanced through the TSSAA District Tournament last week, taking a with over the Macon County Tigers in the third round. Macon would jump out with the early lead, but then in would be all DeKalb County as the game progressed.

On Monday, May 10, the Tigers were again on their home field as the team battled their way through district play. The team had already beat Macon in the second round of play, albeit by a narrow one-point victory, and Macon looked confident as play began.

The Macon Tigers got on the board first. After their first batter reached on a grounder and an error by shortstop Konner Young, a sacrifice fly to right field resulted in the runner coming home. Before DeKalb could get off the field, Macon was up 1-0.

DeKalb couldn’t do much at their first at bats. Kilgore grounded out to third, then Isaac Knowles would reach on a grounder and an error to short. Jacob Johnson would then fly out to left field, followed by Avery South flying out to right.

Macon wasted no time as they came up, with the first batter reaching on a fly to left field and an error by Patrick Cantrell, with the runner reaching second. Next, a bunt set the Macon Tigers up on first and third. South would strike out the next batter, but then a sacrifice to South resulted in another run. DeKalb would get them off the field, but Macon was up, 2-0.

Finally, DeKalb got into the game as they started the bottom of the second. Konner Young would walk to start things off, then Cantrell bunted and reached on an error by third. Dexton Emberton would bunt next, reaching first on an error by the pitcher, and allowing Young and Cantrell to touch home plate. Levi Cantrell had a sacrifice bunt next, allowing Emberton to take third, then Aiden Curtis reached on a bunt and an error by the pitcher as Emberton came home. By the end of the second, the DeKalb Tigers had taken the lead, 3-2.

The action would continue at the bottom of the fourth inning, when Levi Cantrell doubled on a grounder to left field. Curtis would sacrifice next and reach on an error by the pitcher, as Jordan Crook, in for Cantrell, advanced to third. Kilgore would then reach on a bunt to the pitcher, loading the bases. Up next, Knowles hit a grounder to centerfield, allowing Crook and Nathaniel Dace, courtesy running for Curtis, to cross the plate. Johnson came up next and bunted out to the pitcher, but drove Kilgore to third base. South would be walked next, then, as Young came to bat, Kilgore, always a dangerous runner, scored off of a passed ball. Young would then single on a grounder to left field, driving Knowles home. Grayson Hendrix would courtesy run for South and would touch home plate after Cantrell hit a line drive and reached on an error by the pitcher. By the end of the inning, DeKalb was up, 8-2.

Macon would manage one more run at the top of the fifth inning, but DeKalb would add three more runs in the sixth. After South walked, Grayson Hendrix would step as a courtesy runner and steal second on a passed ball. Later, Patrick Cantrell doubled on a fly ball to left, sending Hendrix home. After that, Emberton sacrificed and reached on an error by the pitcher, then Levi Cantrell was out on a sacrifice to the pitcher, but Patrick Cantrell was able to touch home plate. Next, Curtis hit a grounder and reached on an error by first base, as Emberton scored. DeKalb was up, 11-3.

Macon was able to add a run in the seventh, but DeKalb’s lead was too strong. The DeKalb Tigers took the 11-4 victory.

Avery South took the win from the mound going six innings, allowing six hits and four runs while striking out six and walking zero. Knowles threw one inning in relief out of the bullpen recording the last three outs to earn the save. Young, Levi Cantrell, Kilgore, Knowles, and Patrick Cantrell each managed one hit to lead DeKalb in hits.

On Wednesday, May 12, the Tigers were at home where they faced off with the Purple Tigers of Watertown in the District 8AA Baseball Tournament Championship Game.

The game started off slow with the first points coming at the top of the third inning. With two outs on the board, a line drive to leftfield sent one run in for Watertown, then a line drive to center resulted in another run. Watertown took the first lead, 2-0.

DeKalb went three and out at their next at bat, then Watertown added three more runs to the scoreboard at the top of the fourth. The Tigers were falling into a hole that they would find hard to climb out of.

The Tigers finally got on the board at the bottom of the fourth. Jacob Johnson singled on a grounder to short, then a bunt by South put runners at first and second. Konner Young bunted next, out to the pitcher but advancing the two runners. Cantrell was up next, and grounded out to second, but allowed Johnson to touch home plate. DeKalb was on the board, 6-1.

It seemed as if the Tigers had some momentum going into the fifth. They quickly got off the field, and Levi Cantrell walked right away. Running for Cantrell, Jordan Crook advanced to second after a sacrifice by Aiden Curtis to the pitcher. After that, Kolter Kilgore singled on a line drive to right field, sending Crook to third. Then, Isaac Knowles reached on a ground ball and an error by first base. Crook and Kilgore came home, cutting Watertown’s lead, 6-3.

DeKalb held Watertown to a three and out at the top of the sixth, but though Patrick Cantrell got on base after a walk, and would eventually advance to third, the Tigers were unable to take advantage. Watertown got off the field, then proceeded to add nails to the coffin. They added two more runs to their lead, giving the Tigers only one more shot in the game.

South would manage to get on base on a line drive to left, but he would be the last. The Purple Tigers of Watertown would hold on to take the win and the championship.

Patrick Cantrell took the loss for DeKalb surrendering four runs on seven hits over three and two-thirds innings, striking out three. Jacob Johnson and Kolter Kilgore each racked up two hits for the Tigers.

The Tigers will travel for the first round of the Region baseball tournament on Monday, May 17, in Sequatchie County.

DeKalb County is 15-11-2 on the season, including a regular season 8-2 district record. Watertown is 24-5.