The DeKalb Middle School Lady Saints softball team ended their regular season last week, playing a double header against Avery Trace before taking on Upperman on the road.
On Tuesday, April 22, the Ladies were at home for a doubleheader against longtime rival Avery Trace. It would be a good night for the Lady Saints.
In the first game, Caroline Neal took a base with an HBP, to start things off at the bottom of the first. Later, Aubree Fuson singled on a fly to left, then Paizlee Taylor grounded out to the pitcher but Neal would score.
Things were better at the bottom of the second. Hailey Moore tripled on a line drive to right, and later, Cora Cox got a walk. Moore would score on a wild pitch as Lakelyn Nelson was at the plate, then Nelson took an HBP. Neal grounded into fielder’s choice to short, catching Cox at third, then Kennedy Odom doubled on a line drive to left as Neal and Nelson scored. Fuson then singled on a grounder to left, sending Odom across the plate. Taylor next got a walk, then Hannah Tobitt singled on a hard ground ball to center as Fuson came home. The Lady Saints were up 6-0.
Avery Trace would get on the board at the top of the third with three runs, then the Lady Saints would get back to adding runs at the bottom of the inning. Cox reached on a grounder and error at short, then Nelson sacrificed to third as Cox took second. Neal singled on a line drive to right, sending Cox home, then Odom grounded to fielder’s choice at short, catching Neal at second. Fuson next walked, then Taylor singled on a line drive to second. Odom would score on a wild pitch as Tobitt was up to bat, and DMS was on top 8-3.
Avery Trace scored two more runs at the top of the fifth, but DeKalb would get off the field with the 8-5 victory. Kennedy Odom earned the win from the circle, allowing seven hits and five runs over five innings, striking out five and walking one.
The next game would be even better for DeKalb, with the team scoring two runs in the first inning, two in the second, four in the third, and nine in the fourth. Taylor drove in four runs on three hits, and hit a grand slam on a fly out of right in the fourth inning. The Lady Saints claimed the 17-0 shutout.
Odom earned the win, giving up two hits and zero runs over four innings, striking out five and walking none.
The following Thursday, the Lady Saints would suffer a close loss, on the road taking on Upperman.
Upperman scored on run in the first inning, but Taylor would get the Lady Saints on the board with a homer out of left to start the second inning. Tobitt would later drive home two more runs on a grounder to center, giving the Lady Saints a 3-1 lead. It would be the last points they would see.
Upperman tied the game with two runs at the bottom of the second, then would go up by one at the bottom of the third. The game would go to the top of the fifth, but Upperman would hang on for the narrow 4-3 win.
Odom took the loss going four innings, allowing four runs and seven hits, striking out two and walking none.
The Lady Saints earned the fifth seed in postseason play, with their first game against Stone Memorial as they play in White County.
2025 DeKalb Middle School Lady Saints Softball Roster
1 Zoie Ashburn
2 Aubree Fuson
3 Hillary Walker
4 Kyra Johnson
5 Aubrie Harden
6 Carleigh Tramel
7 Presley Harrington
8 Paizlee Taylor
9 Hannah Tobitt
10 Lakelyn Nelson
11 Kennedy Odom
12 Mekazya Waggoner
13 Hailey Moore
14 Emmaline Hendrix
15 Cora Cox
16 Alexis Graham
17 Carly Fortner
18 Caroline Williams
19 Caroline Neal
Coach Sarah Jacobs, Damien Lattimore
22 Avery Trace* Home 5:00
24 Upperman Away 5:00
April 28 – May 2 Conference Tournament in Sparta
*Double Header
**No JV
