The DeKalb County Tigers baseball team had a tough week on the diamond last week, going 0-2 against Cumberland, then 0-2 in tourney play.
On Monday, March 20, the Tigers were on their home field as they hosted the Cumberland County Jets. DeKalb would fall despite a late game rally.
The scoreboard didn’t see action until the top of the third inning, when the Jets scored two runs. They would add one more run at the top of the fifth, and it looked as if the Tigers might face a shutout.
It wouldn’t be until the bottom of the sixth that the Tigers would get things going. Ty Webb would hit a double on a line drive to center and take third on the throw. Carter Cook would then double on a fly to center field, and take third on the throw as Webb touched home plate. Dallas Kirby was up next and singled on a hard grounder to center sending Cook home. The Tigers had cut the lead, 3-2.
Unfortunately that would be the last points DeKalb would see. The Jets would pad their lead with another run at the top of the seventh, and hold on for the 4-2 win.
Cook took the loss for the Tigers surrendering three runs on six hits over six and a third innings. He struck out seven and walked one.
The following day, the Tigers were on the road, this time traveling to Cumberland’s home field. It would be a more productive day for the Tigers, but it still would not be enough.
Konner Young would start things off for DeKalb getting a walk, then stealing his way around to third as Ty Webb was at bat. Webb flew out to center, but then Carter Cook singled on a grounder to short as Young scored. The Tigers were on the board, 1-0.
The Jets would score at their first at bat, first on a wild pitch by Evan Prichard, then on sacrifice to short stop Konner Young. The Jets would manage one more run before DeKalb could get off the field.
The Tigers would cut the lead at the top of the second, after Cam Cabellero got an easy trip to first. He would steal second as Ean Jones was up to bat, then take third on a wild pitch as Wesley Kent was at the plate. Cabellero would then steal his way in for a run on a wild pitch as Carson Donnell was batting, and the Tigers had cut the lead 3-2 before the Jets could get off the field.
The Jets’ bats were hot, and Cumberland added three more runs to the board at the bottom of the second, then two more at the bottom of the third.
The Tigers would get back on the board at the top of the fourth after Cabellero, Jones, and Kent each got a walk. Cabellero would again score on a wild pitch as Donnell was up to bat, then Young would hit a single on a hard ground ball to center as Jones came home. DeKalb had cut the lead again, 8-4.
Cumberland would top off their score at the bottom of the fifth with two more runs, then the Tigers would make the game more interesting at the top of the sixth. Donnell singled on a grounder to left, then Young copied with his own ground ball to left. Webb would get a walk, loading the bases. With Andrew Dakas courtesy running for Webb, Cook grounded to fielder’s choice at third, catching Donnell at home plate as Young took third and Dakas second.
Kirby then hit a grounder and reached on an error by short as Young and Dakas scored. Kirby would take second on the error, then third on an error by first base, as Cook scored. The Tigers had cut the lead, 10-7, but that would be the last points they would see. The game would go to the top of the seventh where the Jets would hold on for the 10-7 win.
Prichard took the loss for DeKalb, surrendering three runs on one hit over thro thirds of an inning.
On Thursday, March 23, the Tigers traveled to Wilson County where they took part in the Wilson County Invitational. The Tigers would fall in their first two games.
The first game had the Tigers pitted against Hendersonville, who ran away with the game early on. Hendersonville scored 15 runs at the top of the first inning alone.
The Tigers managed to get on the board at the top of the third, with runs by Young and Dakas, but that would be the only runs the team would see. Hendersonville would add two more as they came to bat in the third and would claim the 17-2 win.
Carson Donnell took the loss for the Tigers, surrendering 13 runs on six hits over two-thirds of an inning, striking out one. Braxton Cantrell came in one and one third of an inning, and Wesley Kent threw one inning.
Things didn’t get much better for the Tigers in their next game, as they took on Wilson Central High School. Once again, DeKalb watched the game slip away early, and they were never able to put points on the board.
Wilson put one run on the board in the first inning, four in the third, one in the fifth and three in the sixth. Brayden Carter took the loss for DeKalb, allowing six hits and four runs over two and a third innings, striking out four.
