The DeKalb County High School Tigers baseball team ended regular season play last week at home against Watertown, then on the road against Warren County, falling in both games. The team will begin the post-season in Baxter with a five-game slump, with their last win on April 21 against Community.
The Tigers would fall behind early in the game against Watertown and not be able to claw their way back. The Purple Tigers scored two runs in the first inning, another in the second, and yet another in the third.
DeKalb would finally get on the board at the bottom of the third after Kolter Kilgore hit a grounder and reached on an error by the pitcher. Avery South was up next and doubled on a fly to left field as Kilgore took third. Patrick Cantrell was up next and would hit a single line drive to left. Kilgore would score, but South would be caught at the plate.
Watertown would score another run at the top of the fourth, then DeKalb would get another point on the board. With two outs, Grayson Hendrix doubled on a hard grounder to right. Hendrix would take third on a wild pitch, then Ty Webb stepped to the plate and would single on a fly ball to left as Hendrix scored.
Unfortunately that would be all the Tigers would muster in the game. Watertown would add six more runs in the fifth and hold on to claim the 11-2 win.
Cantrell took the loss for DeKalb, allowing three hits and two runs over one inning, striking out one and walking one. Hendrix, South and Dexton Emberton each threw in relief.
The following day, the Tigers were on the road, finishing their regular season in Warren County where they faced the Pioneers. It would be another tough game.
Warren would get on the board first, scoring three runs at the bottom of the second inning. DeKalb would get things going next, as they began the third.
Avery South hit a double on a fly to left, followed by Patrick Cantrell with a double of his own on a line drive to center. South would come home.
Grayson Hendrix would ground out to second, but it would also send Cantrell to third. Dexton Emberton was up next and singled on a fly to left as Cantrell scored. The Tigers would cut the lead, 3-2.
The Tigers would tie the game as they came to bat at the top of the fourth. Isaac Knowles hit a double on a fly to right, then Kolter Kilgore grounded out to second as Knowles took third. South would ground out to third, keeping Knowles at third, then Cantrell hit a line drive and reached on an error by left field as Knowles touched the plate. The Pioneers would get off the field, but the Tigers had tied the game 3-3.
The Pioneers would retake the lead at the bottom of the fourth, scoring one run on an error by the catcher, but DeKalb would come back with a vengeance at the top of the fifth.
Konner Young got an easy trip to first with a walk, and later Dallas Kirby would take a base with a HBP. Knowles would load the bases with a walk of his own, then Kilgore hit a single grounder to short as Young scored.
Later, Cantrell stepped to the plate and singled on a line drive to center, as Westin Wright, running for Kirby, and Knowles each came home. Hendrix was next and hit a single on a line drive to right as Kilgore touched the plate. Cantrell would score on the throw as Hendrix took second. DeKalb had claimed the lead, 8-4.
Unfortunately, that would be the last points of the game for DeKalb. The Pioneers would inch closer, scoring one run at the bottom of the fifth, then hold the Tigers off the board at the top of the sixth. Warren’s bats came to life, with the Pioneers scoring seven points and retaking the lead, 12-8.
The Tigers would have one more at bat, but it was too much. Warren County took the 12-8 win.
Carson Donnell took the loss for DeKalb. He went one-third of an inning, allowing four hits and five runs, while walking none. Cam Cabellero started the game, going five innings, allowing five hits and five runs.
