The DeKalb West Bulldogs finished their season last week, finishing in 2nd place in their first season in the Upper Cumberland Conference. The team ended the year with an impressive record of 20-3 overall.

On Monday, April 29, the Bulldogs traveled to Southside where they would come away with another big win. DWS took the lead only to see the game tied in the sixth. The Bulldogs would put the game away in the seventh.

Action wouldn’t get going until the top of the third inning when Cooper Odom singled on a grounder to center. Anthony Moore would follow with a single ground ball to short, then as Preston Taylor was at bat, Odom would steal third, then steal home. DWS was on the board 1-0.

The Bulldogs would add to the lead at the top of the fourth after a single ground ball to short by Porter Hancock. Hancock would steal second as Elliot Barnes was at the plate, then Gavin Frazier, running for catcher Hancock took third on an error by second base. Barnes would ground out to short, but Frazier would come home. DWS was up, 2-0.

Southside would manage to get on the board with one run at the bottom of the fourth, but DWS would add another run at their next turn at bat. After a single fly to left by Carson Davis, Moore would later single on a fly to left sending Davis home. DeKalb was on top 3-1.

Southside would get hot at the bottom of the sixth, scoring two runs and tying the game, but the Bulldogs would strike back and put some more distance on the game at the top of the seventh.

After a single by Davis and a walk for Fortner, Moore would later hit a double fly to right sending Davis home. Taylor would single on a grounder to short sending Andrew Cathey, running for Fortner, in for the score. Moore would get caught stealing home, but Hancock would single on a ground ball to second as Taylor scored. The Bulldogs had a 6-3 lead.

Southside had one more at bat but DeKalb put them three up, three down, giving the Bulldogs the win.

The following day, the Bulldogs took on Macon County for Eighth Grade Night. It would be another good night for the home team.

DWS went up 3-0 at the bottom of the third, with runs by Odom, Taylor, and Frazier. Hancock hit a single, Reed Midgett a double, and Barnes grounded out with an RBI to short.

The Bulldogs added to their lead at the bottom of the third, after a double fly to left by Taylor, and later a single line drive to short by Midgett with Taylor scoring.

Macon would bounce back and tie the game at 4 at the top of the fifth, but the Bulldogs’ bats came to life at the top of the fifth. Hancock, Midgett, Frazier, Davis, and Cathey would all have RBIs, with Moore, Taylor, Hancock, Midgett, and Barnes each touching the plate.  DeKalb held a 9-4 lead.

The Bulldogs iced the cake at the bottom of the sixth with runs by Taylor and Barnes. The game would go to the top of the seventh, but DWS would claim the 11-4 win.

Midgett earned the win from the mound, surrendering one hit and zero runs over two and a third innings, striking out four and walking none. Barnes began the game, while Collin Donnell appeared in relief.

On the following Thursday, the Bulldogs were in tourney play as they faced a tough Upperman team. The game would go back and forth, with Upperman coming out on top in the end.

Upperman would strike first, scoring two runs at the top of the first. The Bulldogs would score one run at their first at bat, after Moore singled on a fly to left. Hancock would later single on a fly to center sending one run home.

The Bulldogs would take the lead at the bottom of the second. Right off the bat, Frazier hit a triple fly to right, followed by Davis reaching on a grounder and error by third as Frazier scored. Odom would later single on a fly to center as Davis scored. DWS was ahead, 3-2.

The lead wouldn’t last long however, with Upperman scoring two runs at the top of the third on an error at shortstop. DeKalb would come back and tie the game at 4-4, at the bottom of the third after a triple by Hancock, followed by a single by Midgett.

Upperman would gain the upper hand at the top of the fourth, aided by a double and later a balk by the pitcher. The Bulldogs got off the field, but Upperman was up 8-4.

Upperman scored another two runs at the top of the fifth, but the Bulldogs would keep chipping away and gain some ground at the bottom of the sixth. Davis singled on a fly to left, and later would score after a single by Fortner. Moore would then single on a fly to left, followed by a HBP for Taylor. Hancock would single on a grounder to short sending Moore and Odom home. DWS cut the lead, 10-7.

Unfortunately, that would be as far as they would get. The game would go through seven with Upperman taking the win.

The Bulldogs Baseball team finished the season with a record of 20-3 and 2nd place in their first season in the Upper Cumberland Conference. All-Conference team from DeKalb was Elliot Barnes, Porter Hancock, and Reed Midgett. Honorable mention Anthony Moore, Cooper Odom, and Preston Taylor.