The DeKalb West School Bulldogs were back on the diamond last week, adding a couple more games to the win column, but also suffering their first loss of the season.
On Tuesday, March 25, traveled to Algood where they faced off against the Redskins. DeKalb would take the early lead and never look back.
The Bulldogs scored one run at the top of the first inning after Collin Donnell singled on a fly to center. He would steal second as Gavin Frazier was up to bat, then came home after a single ground ball to third by Maddux Pyburn.
DWS would add to their lead in the second after Brantley Brooks singled on a fly to left. He would get caught at second after a single grounder to short by Landon Holmes, then Zayne Thomas got a walk. Keegan Taylor stepped up next and doubled on a fly to left as Holmes and Thomas scored.
Frazier would single on a line drive to center to start the third inning, and would later come home after a single hard grounder to short by Logan Gard. The Bulldogs were up 4-0.
The Bulldogs would ice the cake at the top of the fourth after Holmes reached on a dropped third strike. Taylor later doubled on a fly to center as Holmes scored, then Donnell singled on a line drive to left as Taylor crossed the plate.
Frazier next singled on a ground ball to short, and would steal his way to second as Hayden Quarles was up to bat. Donnell stole home as Frazier took third, then Quarles got a walk. Gard was back up to bat and Frazier stole his way home. Gard then doubled on a fly to right sending Quarles home. DWS was up 9-0.
The game would go through five innings, but the Bulldogs would hang on for the 9-0 victory. Pyburn earned the win, surrendering four hits and zero runs over five innings, striking out three and walking none.
The following Thursday, the Redskins and Bulldogs faced off again, this time on the Bulldogs’ home field. It would be another big win for DeKalb.
DWS got on the board first at the bottom of the first, after Pyburn singled, scoring one run, and Quarles singled scoring two runs. Zander Simpson and Quarles would steal their way home to put the Bulldogs up 5-0.
A Pyburn single sent Frazier across the plate in the second inning, then a Gard grounder sent Pyburn home, giving DWS a 7-0 lead.
The Redskins managed to rally and get on the board at the top of the third with four runs, but the Bulldogs would put some distance on Algood at their next at bat with runs by Quarles, Brooks, Taylor, and Pyburn. DeKalb was on top 12-4.
The Bulldogs would top off their scored in the fourth, with runs by Holmes, Brooks, Taylor, Donnell, and Pyburn.
The game would go to the top of the fifth, but DeKalb would claim the 17-4 win. Donnell earned the win, allowing three hits and four runs over three innings, striking out five and walking four. Gard threw two innings surrendering one hit striking out two and walking none.
On Friday, March 28, the Bulldogs were back on the road, this time traveling to Overton County to take on the Livingston Wildcats. It would be the Bulldogs first defeat of the season.
The Bulldogs got on the board first, scoring one run after walks by Taylor, Donnell and Pyburn. Zander Simpson sacrificed on a fly to right as Taylor touched the plate.
The action wouldn’t start back up until the top of the third, when the Bulldogs added runs to their tally. After Donnell walked, he would steal his way all the way home as Pyburn was up to bat. Pyburn also walked, then Simpson singled on a line drive to left as Pyburn scored. Gard would next single on a fly to center as Ayden Buchanan, running for Simpson, touched the plate. DeKalb was up 4-0.
Unfortunately, that would be the past run DWS would see. The Wildcats rallied in the third, scoring four and tying the game. They would score two more at the bottom of the fourth, taking the 6-4 lead.
The Bulldogs had one more chance at bat, but would not be able to put points on the board. The Wildcats claimed the 6-4 win. Quarles took the loss going three and two-thirds innings, giving up six runs on five hits, striking out three and walking two.
