The DeKalb County High School Tigers baseball team held off a late game surge by the Indians last week, to claim a spot to the Region 4AA Tournament Championship game in Watertown on May 19. It was a pitcher’s game through most of the matchup, until things got interesting in the final inning.

On Monday, May 17, the Tigers traveled to the mountain valley town of Dunlap, TN, where they faced the Sequatchie County Indians in the regional tournament. If you liked pitching, this was the game for you, as both teams were held off the board until the top of the fifth.

Both teams went three and out in the first inning, then Patrick Cantrell managed a single on a line drive to left field in the second, but the Indians would get them off the field before the Tigers could take advantage. Sequatchie went three and out again at the bottom of the second.

Kolter Kilgore got on base for the Tigers after a grounder to right field at the top of the third, but with two outs on the board, Isaac Knowles hit a double on a grounder to left field, but was caught at second. Once again, it was an opportunity missed for DeKalb. The Indians once again went one, two, and three at the bottom of the third inning,

The Tigers certainly had more chances to score than Sequatchie, and at the top of the fourth the Tigers once again got men on base. Jacob Johnson singled on a ground ball to short, and would later advance to second on a passed ball, then Avery South reached on a grounder and an error by third base. Neither would reach home however, as DeKalb fell one, two, and three at their next at bats. The Indians could not get anything going at the bottom of the fourth, once again falling three and out.

DeKalb seemed to wear Sequatchie County down as the game progressed, and at the top of the fifth the Tigers would finally get on the scoreboard. Aiden Curtis singled on a line drive to center field, then Grayson Hendrix reached on a bunt and an error by first base. Later, Knowles hit a grounder and reached on an error by the catcher, then Curtis touched home plate. Johnson grounded out to the pitcher next, but allowed Hendrix to come home. By the time the Indians got off the field, the Tigers were up, 2-0.

The Indians would finally get a man on base at the bottom of the fifth, not by a hit, but after a controversial call that the batter was hit by a pitch. Many, including catcher Curtis and pitcher Cantrell argued that the ball actually hit home plate, but the call was made. Nevertheless, Cantrell made quick work of the next two batters, one out on a foul tip, the other flying out to center.

Cantrell singled on a grounder to second base as the Tigers came to bat at the top of the sixth, but DeKalb would fail to convert it into a point before Sequatchie got off the field. Then, once again, the Indians fell to a three and out.

At the top of the seventh, it looked as if the Tigers had the game well in hand. With one out on the board, Knowles hit a ground ball and reached on an error by first base, then he would steal second. Next, Johnson reached on a grounder and an error by third, as Knowles scored. South would sacrifice next, out at first as Johnson moved to third. Afterward, after Konner Young was walked, Cantrell hit a ground ball and reached on an error by third, as Johnson crossed home. As the Tigers took the field with half an inning left to play, DeKalb was up, 4-0.

But the Tigers are not known to make it easy for fans. With what seemed like a comfortable lead, in a game that seemed as if points were premium, the Indians would suddenly come to life.

The first at bat for Sequatchie hit a pop fly and reached on an error by first basemen Dexton Emberton. Cantrell would walk the next batter, then the runners would advance to third and second on a wild pitch. The next at bat would fly out to right fielder Johnson, then a batter hit a grounder to left fielder Nathaniel Dace and reached on an error as two runners came home. The Indians had cut the lead in half.

It was then that Isaac Knowles came in relief for Cantrell. After a wild pitch a runner advanced to third, and with the tying run at the plate, Knowles calmed himself. The first batter would go down swinging, then Knowles threw a ball, then another ball, then another wild pitch saw the runner at third steal home. The Indians cut the lead, 4-3.

With two outs on the board, and a 2-0 count, Knowles gathered himself and threw three strikes in a row, the batter going down swinging. The Tigers had held on to claim the 4-3 victory.

Patrick Cantrell led the Tigers on the pitcher's mound allowing no hits and three runs over six and a third innings, striking out five and walking one. Knowles threw two-thirds of an inning in relief out of the bullpen. Knowles recorded the last two outs to earn the save for DeKalb. Cantrell also led DeKalb with two hits in four at bats.

On Wednesday, May 19, the Tigers were back in familiar territory as they traveled to their old rival, Watertown, for the Region 4AA Baseball Tournament Championship game. DeKalb had beat the Purple Tigers twice during the regular season, but lost to Watertown, 8-3, in the District Tournament Championship game. It would be another close game.

It was a stalemate through most of the game, but the Purple Tigers went up by one in the fifth and DeKalb would never be able to get a run on the board. Watertown’s Kendal Bayse shut out the Tigers, going six innings, allowing four hits and striking out seven. Watertown is 26-5 on the season.

Grayson Hendrix, Patrick Cantrell, and Kolter Kilgore each singled, while Aiden Curtis had a double late in the game, but DeKalb could never get a man home. Avery South went six innings for the Tigers, giving up one run and striking out two.

With the loss, DeKalb next traveled to Signal Mountain for a Friday night sub-state game against the 25-8 Eagles. The winner of that game would move on to the state tournament, while a loss would end the season.

The game would go scoreless until the third inning. The Eagles got a man on base during the bottom of the second inning, but a line drive to pitcher Patrick Cantrell resulted in a double play to get the Tigers off the field.

At the top of the third, Emberton walked on after being hit by a pitch, then a sacrifice bunt by Curtis put Emberton at second. Next, Grayson Hendrix struck out looking ojn a full count, then Kotler Kilgore reached on a single to third, as Emberton came home.

Up next, Isaac Knowles singled on a hit to center, as Kilgore took second, but then Johnson would hit a pop fly to center to end the inning. DeKalb took the first lead, 1-0.

The Tigers may have struck first, but the Eagles weren’t far behind. After Cantrell struck two out, a batter reached with a hit to center, then a single out to left had runners at first and second. Then, a hit struck Cantrell in the ankle and bounced to the outfield, as the first runner came home. The score was tied 1-1. Cantrell, limping, was able to recover and on a 3-1 count the batter popped out to second to end the inning.

After South popped out with a fly to left at the top of the fourth, Young walked, then took second on a wild pitch. Cantrell was then walked, then Emberton hit a sacrifice bunt, putting runners at second and third base. Curtis was up next, but with two outs he popped out to centerfield. The score remained 1-1.

Cantrell retook the mound, but was clearly having issues with his ankle. The Eagles first batter singled on a high fly to second, then Cantrell struck the next batter out. Next, a single to right had runners on first and second, then a sacrifice bunt moved the runners at second and third. The Eagles were poised to scored, but a pop fly to Young ended the inning.

At the top of the fifth, the Tigers just couldn’t get things going. After Hendrix and Knowles go down at first, Knowles singled on a fly to center. That would be as far as they would get, as Johnson would also be out at first.

As DeKalb took the field, Dexton Emberton came in for Cantrell. The first batter went down swinging, then Emberton walked one. The next batter hit into fielder's choice to short and there were two outs. Then, a hit to right resulted in a double. With runners at third and second, a hit deep to right field resulted in a two-run double. The Eagles took their first lead, 3-1.

At the top of sixth, DeKalb had a chance to get back into the game. After South struck out, and Young flew out to left, Cantrell Walked. Then, Emberton took a base after being hit by a pitch. With runners at first and second, Curtis was also hit by pitch, loading the bases. Hendrix was up next, but with two outs on the board, he grounded out to second to end the inning.

As the Tigers took the field, Knowles came in for Emberton on the mound, and soon DeKalb had one more chance at bat. Kilgore would get on base after being hit by a pitch, but that would be as far as they would go. Signal Mountain took the 3-2 sub-state win, ending the Tigers’ season.

DeKalb County ends its season at 16-13-2, while Signal Mountain improves to 26-8 and will be heading to the state tournament.