It would be another rough week for the Tigers, but they would end on a high note with a win over an old border rival team.

To start the week, the Tigers would play a series against the Livingston Academy Wildcats. On Monday, April 17, DeKalb was on the road where they would play the first game in the series. It would not be a good night.

The Wildcats would put one run on the board at the bottom of the first and never look back. They would add another run at the bottom of the fifth, then six at the bottom of the sixth.

Carter Cook took the loss from the mound, going five and two-third innings, allowing eight runs on four hits and striking out eight. Konner Young came in in relief.

The following day, the Tigers were on their home field where they would once again face the Wildcats. The Tigers would take the lead at the bottom of the first inning, but would watch the game slip away late.

Livingston got on the board first with one run at the top of the first.

DeKalb would take the lead as they came to bat at the bottom of the inning. Ty Webb would walk to first, then Cook would hit a fly ball over the left field fence. DeKalb was up 2-1.

The Wildcats would take the lead at the top of the third with two more runs, then two more at the top of the fifth and one run in the sixth.

Cook would get his second home run of the evening at the bottom of the sixth, but that would be the last run DeKalb would see.

The Wildcats padded their lead at the top of the seventh with seven more runs and would hold on for the 13-3 win. Brayden Carter took the loss from the mound, surrendering five runs on nine hits over five innings. He struck out eight and walked one.

The following Thursday, the Tigers would face off with the Smith County Owls. DeKalb took a two-run lead at the bottom of the first, but would watch the game again fall away late.

Konner Young doubled on a line drive to left, then Ty Webb got a walk. As Cook was up to bat, Young took third on a wild pitch as Webb took second. Cook would go down swinging, then Westin Wright singled on a grounder to left as Young scored. Dallas Kirby would then single on a line drive to left as Andrew Dakas, running for Webb, scored. The Tigers were up 2-0.

The Owls would tie up the game with two runs in the second, then DeKalb would go up one as they came to bat. Braxton Cantrell doubled on a line drive to left, and would later take third after Young reached on a ground ball and an error by third. Webb would take a HBP, then Cook would get a walk as Cantrell touched home. The Tigers were up 3-2.

Their lead wouldn’t last long though. With walks, hits, and a pair of homers, the Owls would score 11 points and take a 13-3 lead. They would score two more runs at the top of the fourth, going up 15-3.

DeKalb would score three more runs at the bottom of the fourth, after Young got a walk and Cook singled on a line drive to left. Wright would later double on a line drive to center as Cook and Young scored. Kirby would be up next and double on a fly to center as Wright scored. The Tigers had cut the lead, 15-6.

Smith would add three more runs in the sixth inning and DeKalb would have one last at bat. Wright took a HBP, and later Cantrell reached on a dropped third strike.  Wesley Kent would get a walk, followed by a walk for Young as Wright scored. Webb singled on a hard grounder to center as Cantrell scored. That would be all the runs the Tigers would see. Smith took the 18-8 win.

Carson Donnell took the loss from the mound, going two and a third innings, allowing seven runs on seven hits, striking out three and walking one.

The following day the Tigers hosted Cannon County in what would be a high scoring game. The Lions took a 4-0 lead at the top of the first, followed by two runs for the Tigers at their at bat. Young would single on a line drive to left, and would later take second after a walk for Webb. Young stole third on a wild pitch as Cook was at bat, then score on yet another wild throw. Carter would then single on a line drive to left as Dakas, running for Webb, touched home plate. DeKalb cut the lead, 4-2.

Cannon would add another run at the top of the second, then the Tigers would jump ahead as they came to bat. Kirby reached on a grounder and error by third, then Ean Jones reached on a bunt to first. Cantrell loaded the bases with a HBP, then Carson Donnell singled on a line drive to left as Kirby scored. Webb would walk as Jones touched the plate, then Cantrell would score on a wild pitch. Cook would ground out to the pitcher, but Donnell would cross home.

Then Carter tripled on a line drive to right, sending Dakas, in for Webb, home. Wright would walk, then Kirby singled on a line drive to left as Carter scored. The Tigers took the 8-5 lead.

The lead wouldn’t last long however, as the Lions came away with four runs at the top of the third, thanks in part to a three run homer.

DeKalb reclaimed the lead at the bottom of the fourth, with six more runs. After a Cook triple, Wright took a HBP. Kirby reached on an error as Carter scored, then Jones singled on a bunt to short as Wright touched the plate. Cantrell and Dakas would each walk, then Young singled on a line drive to left as Cantrell and Jones came home. The Tigers were back on top, 14-9.

The Lions would cut that lead with two runs at the top of the fifth, but the Tigers would see wright score on a throw at the bottom of the fifth. DeKalb was up, 15-12.

The Lions would not go away and cut the lead to within one at the top of the sixth, but the Tigers would storm back. Webb singled on a fly to center, then Cook got a walk. Carter would then single on a line drive to right, followed by Wright taking a HBP as Webb touched home. Kirby was up next and singled on a grounder to left as Carter and Cook crossed home, then Jones sacrificed to third as Wright took third, and Kirby second. Wright would score on a wild pitch, and later Young singled on a line drive to left, as Cantrell and Kirby scored. The Tigers held a 21-14 lead.

Cannon would score four more runs at the top of the seventh, but DeKalb held on for the 21-18 victory. Evan Prichard was the winning pitcher, going two innings, allowing six hits and seven runs while striking out one.