DeKalb County High School Tigers baseball team started off strong last week with a blow out against Smith County, but couldn't hold their momentum through their next two games, being shut out in both matches.
On Monday, March 22, the Tigers were on the road, traveling to Smith County to take on the Owls. It would be a very good day for DeKalb County.
In the first inning, the Tigers got their offense going when Patrick Cantrell singled on a 1-0 count, scoring one run. Then, Konnor Young singled on a ground ball to left field scoring another runner.
DeKalb would add to their lead in the fifth inning. After Avery South flies out to center field, Isaac Knowles scored after tagging up. Later, with bases loaded, Jacob Johnson walked to home after Dexton Emberton was hit by a pitch. The next play, Caven Ponder singled on a line drive to left field, bringing home Grayson Hendrix scores and Young.
The Tigers weren't finished yet, scoring two more runs at the top of the sixth inning. After Knowles reached first after being hit by a pitch, and stealing second, Johnson hit a ground ball and reached on an error as Knowles scored. Later, Young singled on a line drive to center field driving home Johnson.
The Owls finally got things going in the sixth, with back to back homeruns out of left field.
DeKalb would cap off the score in the seventh after Ponder scored off of an error by the Owls' left fielder. The Tigers would take the easy victory over Smith County 9-2.
Cantrell pitched for the Tigers, allowing two hits and one run over five innings, striking out seven.
DeKalb racked up 11 hits in the game. Johnson, Ponder, and Young all managed multiple hits, and the Tigers didn't commit a single error. Jordan Crook made the most plays with nine.
It would be a tale of two games however. The following day the two teams met again, this time on the Tigers home field. It would almost be a reverse of the previous game.
The Tigers fell behind early and never were able to get into the game. DeKalb struggled to contain the Owls' offense, giving up nine runs.
Smith County got things started in the first inning when the Owls scored on a steal of home base, then they scored two more on a ground ball to right field. Next, a sacrifice to Pitcher, Avery South, resulted in one more run. DeKalb was down, 4-0.
The Owls would add three more at the top of the fourth inning, and another two runs in the sixth, securing the 9-0 shutout.
South led things off on the pitcher's mound for the Tigers, allowing three hits and six runs over four innings, striking out two. Dexton Emberton threw three innings in relief. South went 2-for-3 at the plate to lead DeKalb in hits. Smith County totaled nine hits, and didn't commit a single error in the field.
It wouldn't be any better the following day when the Tigers were once again on the road, this time facing off against Friendship Christian. Once again DeKalb would fall behind early.
DeKalb would go three and out in the first inning, while Friendship Christian would put two on the board following a homerun to left field.
Once again, the Tigers went three in out in the second inning, while Friendship Christian added one more to the board, after a runner tagged up after an out to left field.
DeKalb would never be able to get things going, while Friendship Christian added five more runs in the fourth, and two more in the fifth.
The pitcher for Friendship Christian allowed zero hits and zero runs over five innings, striking out five and walking one.
Aidan Curtis took the loss for DeKalb, allowing two hits and three runs over one inning, striking out one.
Friendship Christian totaled ten hits in the game, and didn't commit a single error in the field.