The DeKalb County High School Tigers baseball team got three whole games in the book last week, splitting games against Livingston Academy then holding off the Community Vikings for a win.

On Monday, April 18, the Tigers were on their home field as they hosted the Livingston Academy Wildcats. The Wildcats would get an early lead, but DeKalb would battle their way back for the win.

The Wildcats got two runs at the top of the first, then DeKalb would go three and out at their first at bats.

Livingston would score two more runs at the top of the second, one on an RBI with another coming home of a wild pitch. Patrick Cantrell would get a single on a line drive to left as DeKalb came to the plate, but would be left standing at third before the end of the inning.

The Tigers would finally get on the board at the bottom of the fourth, after Konner Young singled on a line drive to left. Later, Cantrell would single on a line drive to right field, and would advance to second on the throw, Young taking third. Kolter Kilgore would then ground out to short, but Young would touch home plate. At the end of four DeKalb was on the board 4-1.

The Wildcats were far from just laying down, and would add two more runs at the top of the fifth. With runners at second and third, a ground ball to second baseman Dallas Kirby resulted in a two run score with an error. Livingston extended their lead 6-1.

Finally getting into the game, the Tigers rallied as they stepped to the plate. Grayson Hendrix reached on a grounder to short, then Westin Wright bunted out to the pitcher as Hendrix took second. Kirby was up next and would hit a double on a fly ball to left, sending Hendrix home.

Isaac Knowles was next at bat and hit a single grounder to center as Kirby touched home plate. As Konner Young came to the plate, Knowles would steal second, then take third on a passed ball. Young would get a walk, then Avery South would ground to short, catching Young at second, but allowing Knowles to come home. The Tigers had cut the lead, 6-4.

The Wildcats were far from done, and would again add two runs at the top of the sixth, then keep DeKalb off the board at their turn at bat.

It came down to the seventh inning, and the Wildcats managed to get one runner on base before the Tigers could get off the field. DeKalb was down 8-4.

Knowles lead the batting order at the bottom of the seventh, and singled on a line drive to center. Young would next get a walk, and as South stepped to the plate, Knowles took third on a passed ball. South would hit a pop fly and reach on an error by first, loading the bases.

Patrick Cantrell stepped up next and would double on a fly to center, sending Knowles and Young across the plate. The score was now 8-6.

Kilgore would then ground out to short, with Cantrell held at second, but sending South home. Dexton Emberton would get a walk, then, as Hendrix stepped to the plate, Cantrell took third on a wild pitch as Emberton took second. Cantrell would then score the tying run on a passed ball, as Cam Cabellero, running for Emberton took third.

Hendrix would pop out to second, then Wright got an easy trip to first with a walk. With the winning run on third, Dallas Kirby stepped to the plate. On a 1-2 count, Kirby hit a single fly to center as Cabellero scored. The Tigers took the hard-fought 9-8 victory.

South claimed the win from the mound, going five innings, allowing nine hits and four runs, and striking out three. Knowles started the game from the rubber, allowing four hits and four runs over two innings, striking out four.

The following day the team traveled to Livingston to again face the Wildcats, but the outcome would be much different. Again, Livingston took the early lead, scoring three runs in the first, and another in the third, and were able to hold DeKalb off the board for a 4-0 shutout.

Cantrell would take the loss from the mound, going six innings, allowing four runs on six hits, and striking out five.

On Thursday, April 21, the Tigers were back on their home field, this time taking on the Community Vikings. DeKalb would score all their runs in the first inning and hold on to claim the victory.

The Vikings would strike first, scoring one run at the top of the first, then DeKalb’s Isaac Knowles would step to the plate. After a pitcher’s warning for improper stance, ball 1 was put on the board. Then, on the first real pitch, Knowles knocked it out of the park over left field.

Konner Young and Avery South would each walk, then, as Patrick Cantrell was at the plate, Young took third on a wild pitch with South taking second.  Cantrell would then single on a fly to left, with South held at second and Young touching home.

Kolter Kilgore went down swinging, then South took third on a wild pitch as Dexton Emberton was at the plate. Emberton would walk, loading the bases.

Grayson Hendrix was next, but another stance violation by the pitcher gave South an easy trip across the plate. Hendrix would then double on a grounder to left, sending Cantrell and Emberton home. By the end of one, DeKalb had taken a 5-1 lead.

Unfortunately that would be the only runs in the entire game for the Tigers. The Vikings would try to inch their way back into the game, scoring another two runs at the top of the third, then yet another at the top of the seventh. Community would narrow the score, but the Tigers would hold on for the 5-4 win.

Emberton took the win for the Tigers, going four innings allowing four hits and three runs, striking out five and walking one. Hendrix threw three innings in relief.