The DeKalb County Tigers baseball team opened up their season last week with a couple of wins against White County. DeKalb traveled to Sparta on Monday, March 14, then hosted the Warriors the following day at home. Both games saw victory for the Tigers.

In the first game, the Tigers would score three runs at the top of the first inning. Konner Young would reach on a single, and later Avery South would drive Young home after a single line drive to center.

Grayson Hendrix would reach on a ground ball and an error by third, then Dexton Emberton would be hit by a pitch, loading the bases. Next, Ty Webb would single on a grounder to centerfield, sending Hendrix and South home.

As White County came to bat, the Warriors would only see one batter reach, off of a dropped third strike passed ball. At the end of one, DeKalb was up, 3-0.

White County would finally get on the board in the bottom of the second, then would tie the game at the bottom of the third with two more runs.

But DeKalb would begin to put the game out of reach as they came to bat at the top of the fourth inning. Kolter Kilgore would single on a line drive to center, then Young would single on a grounder to left. As Isaac Knowles came up to bat, both runners would advance on a passed ball, then Kilgore would score on a wild pitch as Young took third. Knowles would get an easy trip to first with a walk.

Young would then score on a passed ball as Knowles took second. South would take first after being hit by a pitch, but would be out at second after a fielder’s choice by Hendrix. Knowles would advance to third.

Emberton would be up next and would single on a line drive to center, sending Knowles across home plate, while Hendrix took third. Dallas Kirby would come in as a courtesy runner for Emberton, and would take second on a passed ball.

Webb was up next and would hit a double to left field, sending Hendrix and Kirby home. Carson Vincent would courtesy run for Webb, and would score after tagging up on a fly out to center by Westin Wright. By the time White County got off the field, DeKalb was up, 9-3.

The Warriors would manage three runs at the bottom of the fourth, but the Tigers would pile it on again at the top of the fifth.

After Kilgore reached on an error by first base, he would steal his way around to third. Young would walk, then steal second as Knowles came to bat.

Knowles would go down swinging, but not before Kilgore stole home on a wild pitch. South would single on a pop fly, then take second on an error by third as Young scored. 

Hendrix would walk, then steal second as Emberton came to bat. Emberton would single on a ground ball to right field, sending Hendrix home. Kirby would again run for Emberton, and make his way to third on a wild pitch. Webb would then walk, and White County would change pitchers.

Wright was up next, singling on a grounder to right, as Kirby scored and Webb took third. Carson Donnell would then single on a ground ball to second, as Webb scored. Wright would then score after tagging up on a Young fly to centerfield. As the top of the fifth ended, the Tigers were up, 16-6.

And that is where the score would stay. Emberton was the winning pitcher, going five innings, allowing seven hits and six runs, and striking out seven with no walks.

The following day, the Tigers held their home opener, once again facing White County. It would be much the same for the home team.

The scoreboard wouldn’t see any numbers until the bottom of the second, when Hendrix bunted and reached on an error by the pitcher. After Webb popped out to second, Hendrix would then steal his way to third, as Wright came to bat. Wright would single on a line drive to center, with Hendrix touching home plate. At the end of two, DeKalb was up 1-0.

The action wouldn’t pick back up until the bottom of the fourth. Emberton would double on a fly to center, then advance to third on a wild pitch. Webb would walk, then Emberton would score on a passed ball as Wright came to bat. Kirby would run for Webb and would advance to second on the same pitch, then steal third on a passed ball. Wright would get an easy walk to first.

Wright would steal second as Donnell came to bat, then Donnell would hit a grounder and reach on an error by third base as Kirby came home.

Kilgore would go down swinging, then Wright and Donnell each advanced on a wild pitch. Young would walk, loading the bases.

As Knowles came to bat, Wright scored on a passed ball, then Knowles singled on a ground ball to shortstop as Donnell scored. By the end of four, the Tigers were on top, 5-0.

White would go three up, three down at the top of the fifth, then DeKalb would add another run as they came to bat. Hendrix would reach after an error by the shortstop, then steal his way to second. Emberton would bunt, and reach on an error by first, as Hendrix scored. A bunt by Webb resulted in a single off of an error by first, as Emberton touched home plate. At the end of five, the Tigers were up, 7-0.

White County would get a man on base at the top of the sixth, but a double play by Shortstop Young and first baseman Emberton, made quick work in the inning. The Warriors would avoid the shutout at the top of the seventh inning, managing one run. DeKalb would take the 7-1 victory.

Cantrell would get the win for the Tigers, going five innings and allowing three hits and zero runs, while striking out 12. South threw two innings in relief. Knowles led the Tigers at the plate with two hits in three at bats. He also had two of the Tigers’ seven stolen bases in the game.