The DeKalb Middle School Lady Saints softball team was on the diamond last week, playing a series of road games.

On Tuesday, April 8, the team took on South Cumberland, where they took the lead early and never looked back.

In the first inning, Zoie Ashburn reached on a grounder and error at shortstop, and later Paizlee Taylor singled on a line drive to left as Ashburn scored. Aubree Fuson next singled on a ground ball to second, followed by Hailey Moore with a line drive to right as Taylor and Fuson came home. Hannah Tobitt would then single on a fly to right, sending Moore across the plate. Cumberland would get off the field, but the Lady Saints were up 4-0.

Action would pick back up until the top of the third, when Fuson singled on a fly to right, followed by Moore with a single fly to left. Moore would score on an error. Later, Caroline Neal grounded out to second base, but Moore would come home. DeKalb was up, 6-0.

At the top of the fourth, the Lady Saints would continue adding runs. Carleigh Tramel doubled on a fly to left, then Ashburn singled on a grounder to left. Tramel scored as Kennedy Odom was up to bat, then Odom took an HBP, followed by Taylor and Fuson each hit by a pitch with Ashburn walking across the plate. Odom scored on a wild pitch as Moore was up to bat, and DeKalb was up 9-0.

South Cumberland would finally get on the board at the bottom of the fourth with two runs, but the Lady Saints were far from finished. At the top of the fifth. Alexis Graham and Ashburn each scored two runs, while Odom, Taylor, Fuson, Moore, Tobitt, and Tramel each scored one.

Cumberland would add two more runs at the bottom of the fifth, but the Lady Saints claimed the 19-4 victory. Paizlee Taylor earned the win from the circle, giving up four hits and four runs over five innings, striking out six and walking two.

The following Wednesday, the Lady Saints were back on the field, this time playing a doubleheader against Algood. It would be a good outing for DeKalb.

In the first game, the Lady Redskins would get on the board first, scoring one run at the bottom of the second.

DeKalb would take the lead at the top of the third, after Odom scored after tagging up, and Caroline Neal singled, sending Cora Cox and Taylor home.

The Lady Saints did even better at the top of the fourth. Presley Harrington singled on a fly to left, sending Tramel home, then Taylor hit a homerun fly out of left, giving DeKalb the 7-1 lead.

Algood scored two more runs at the bottom of the fourth, but DeKalb would top off their score at the top of the fifth with runs by Caroline Neal and Tobitt.

Algood would attempt a rally at the bottom of the inning, scoring two more runs, but the Lady Saints held on for the 9-5 win.

Kennedy Odom earned the win, surrendering one hit and one run over two innings, striking out two and walking one. Taylor pitched three innings, surrendering four hits and four runs, striking out two and walking one.

The following game would be a nail-biter, with each team battling to the end. Algood got on the board first, scoring two runs at the top of the first. Tramel and Presley Harrington each touched home plate as the Lady Saints, tying the score, 2-2.

The Lady Saints took the lead at the bottom of the third after a walk by Neal, and a single by Tobitt. Later, Ashburn tripled on a fly to right, scoring two runs, then Taylor singled on a grounder to second, sending Ashburn home. DeKalb was up, 5-2.

Algood would not lay down, and scored four runs at their next at bat, taking the 6-5 lead.

DeKalb retook the lead at the bottom of the third, after Moore reached on an error at catcher, then Cox got a walk. Neal would load the based with a walk, then Moore scored on a passed ball as Tobitt was up to bat. Tobitt would fly out with a foul to the catcher, but Tramel was up next. She doubled on a hard grounder to the pitcher as Cox and Neal scored. Later, Presley Harrington doubled on a ground ball to the pitcher as Tramel crossed the plate. The Lady Saints were on top, 9-6.

Once again, the Algood team came to play and scored three runs at the top of the fourth, tying the game 9-9, then scored two more at the top of the fifth, taking the 11-9 lead.

The Lady Saints came ready to play as well, and would match Algood at the bottom of the fifth with runs by Tramel and Ashburn, again tying the game, 11-11.

It would all come down to the seventh inning. Algood scored two more runs, taking the 13-11 lead.

At the bottom of the inning, Tramel reached on an error at third, as Neal scored, and later Taylor hit a hard ground ball and reached on an error by short as Ashburn and Tramel came home. The Lady Saints took the hard-fought 14-13 victory.

Taylor earned the win, giving up nine hits and 12 runs over seven innings, striking out six and walking six.