The DeKalb County High School Tigers baseball team came away with a couple of wins last week before falling to Central Magnet last Friday. The team played Monday on Senior Night, marking the final game of the regular season.
On Tuesday, April 22, the Tigers were on their home field as they hosted Cumberland County. The game wouldn’t get moving until the third for both teams.
A home run out of left put Cumberland on the board with one run at the top of the third, but that would be the only run they would see.
At the bottom of the third, Ben Driver reached on a dropped third strike, then Andrew Dakas singled on a bunt to the pitcher. Dallas Kirby stepped up next and doubled on a line drive to right as Driver and Dakas came home. Ty Webb then singled on a fly to left, and later Evan Prichard sacrificed with a fly to right as Kirby scored. DeKalb was up 3-1.
At the bottom of the fourth, Kollin Young singled on a line drive to center, and later Driver singled on a hard grounder to left as Morgan Smithson, running for Young, scored on the throw. The Tigers held a 4-1 lead.
The Tigers would top off the score at the bottom of the sixth after a walk for Driver. Kirby would later triple on a fly to right as Driver touched the plate, then Ty Webb grounder into fielder’s choice at short, as Kirby crossed home.
The game would go to the top of the seventh, but DeKalb hung on for the 6-1 victory. Evan Prichard earned the win from the mound, allowing 10 hits and one run over six innings, striking out seven and walking two. Elliott Barnes collected the save.
The following Thursday, the Tigers were on the road, this time taking the Cumberland County Jets on their home turf. DeKalb would go up early and survive a late-game surge by the Jets.
Kirby started things off with a single on a line drive to center, but would later get caught trying to steal second. Ty Webb took a base with an HBP, then brother Tucker Webb got a walk. Later, Luke Johnson reached on a fly and error at left field, as Ty scored. Tucker would steal home as Young was up to bat and the Tigers were up, 2-0.
They would increase their lead in the second inning, after a single by Driver, and a walk by Kirby. Ty singled on a ground ball to short as Driver scored, then Kirby scored on a wild pitch as Tucker was up to bat. Tucker singled on a line drive to center as Anthony Moore, running for Ty, touched home. The Tigers were on top 5-0.
DeKalb topped off their tally in the fourth, after a walk by Kirby, and a hard grounder by Ty as Kirby scored. Luke Johnson singled on a fly to third sending Moore, in for Ty, across the plate. The Tigers held a 7-0 lead.
The Jets would get on the board at the bottom of the sixth with two runs, then score three more before the Tigers could end the game at the bottom of the seventh. DeKalb claimed the 7-5 win.
Porter Hancock claimed the win from the mound, giving up three hits and two runs over five and one third innings, striking out six and walking three. Luke Johnson collected the save and Elliott Barnes came in relief.
On Friday, the Tigers were again on the road, this time facing a tough Central Magnet team. Central Magnet took the early lead, scoring eight in the first innings, and six more in the third.
Silas Kirksey would get DeKalb on the board at the top of the fifth with a two-run double line drive to left. That would be all the Tigers could muster and Central Magnet claimed the 14-2 win.
On Monday, the Tigers hosted Warren County as the celebrated Senior Night. Before the game, Andrew Dakas, Evan Prichard, Ty Webb, and Dallas Kirby were recognized for their commitment to the team.
The game did not go as the Tigers had hoped. The Pioneers scored one run in the first inning, then five in the second.
The Tigers got on the board at the bottom of the third, after a Kirby double fly to right, drove Driver home.
The Pioneers scored another run in the fourth, but Kirby would come home for the Tigers in the sixth after a Prichard hit. Warren would score two more in the seventh and take the 9-2 win.
