Choctaw softball wins three of four in Warrior Classic

A busy week for the Choctaws softball team concluded on the road in Murfreesboro as the Dyer County girls traveled east and returned home winners of three of the four games they played in during the Southern Warrior Classic on Friday and Saturday.

Belvidere North 2, Dyer County 1

The Choctaws lost their first game since the opening game of the season on Friday in the first game in Murfreesboro despite holding Belvidere North to just two hits over the seven-inning setback.

Belvidere got on the board in the top of the second inning as Norgard walked then scored on an error later in the inning to take a 1-0 lead after an inning and a half.

Dyer County pulled even in the bottom of the next inning. Kierstyn Ray singled with two outs then scored on Katie Beth Caldwell’s single to tie the game at 1-1 after three innings.

But, Belvidere was able to take the lead in the top of the sixth as Norgard doubled in a run to give her team a 2-1 lead heading into the bottom of the sixth.

Dyer County managed only a two-out single in the seventh from Kennedy Hill before Belvidere North clinched the win with a play at the plate to get Hill trying ot score on an Abbie Gibbons double.

Gibbons and Key had the only extra base hits of the Choctaws’ six, both doubles.

Molly Kate Woody took the loss in relief of starter Ava Hart, allowing a run on one hit with three strikeouts. Hart allowed one run on one hit with three Ks as well over five innings of work.

Dyer County 14, Soddy Daisy 6

The Choctaws’ bats woke up in the second game of the day on Friday, scoring 14 times to win in five innings over the Lady Trojans.

Dyer County scored a trio of runs in the top of the first to take an early lead. Singles from Caldwell and Emma Wray led to a two-run single from Key to put the Choctaws on the board. Two batters later, Natalie Armstrong reached on an error to score a run and put Dyer County on top 3-0 after a half inning.

The Choctaws tacked on a big inning in the top of the second. Gibbons reached on a one-out error then Ray singled to lead to an RBI double from Caldwell. Wray singled in another run then Key followed with a base hit to score another run. Later in the inning, Wray scored on a passed ball then Rylee White scored another on a sacrifice fly to take an 8-0 lead after the top of the second.

Soddy Daisy cut in the Dyer County lead with three runs in the bottom of the inning and further into the lead with three more in the bottom of the fourth to trim the Choctaw lead to 8-6 after four frames.

Dyer County got another big inning in the top of the fifth frame to pull away. Armstrong singled then Hill walked before Allie Ables plated a run to extend the Dyer County lead. Gibbson followed with a single then Ray reached on an error to score two runs. Caldwell singled in a run then scored later in the inning to put the Choctaws on top 14-6 heading into the final half inning.

In the bottom of the fifth, pitcher Woody and the Dyer County defense worked around a two-out walk and a single to seal the win with a groundout.

Caldwell led the way for the Choctaws at the plate with a double and two singles with two RBI while Key had two singles and three runs batted in. Ray and Wray added two singles each for Dyer County in the win.

Key got the win, allowing six runs on six hits with one strikeout. Woody worked the final two innings in relief, allowing just three hits while striking out three.

Dyer County 7, Moline 3

The Choctaws got an early start on Saturday, taking a four-run win over the Lady Maroons in the first of two games on Saturday.

The Lady Maroons scored two in the top of the first but Dyer County went to work quickly cutting the lead in half. Ray singled to lead off the bottom of the frame then scored on when Key reached on an error to cut the Moline lead to 2-1 after one inning.

Dyer County pulled in front in the bottom of the following inning. Armstrong drew a walk then scored on a Hill double to tie the game. Hill scored later in the inning to give the Choctaws a 2-1 lead after two innings.

Moline tied the game in the top of the third when Reynolds drew a walk then pinch runner Goodwin scored on a passed ball to knot the score up at 3-3.

The score didn’t stay tied long as Caldwell homered on the second pitch of the bottom of the third to put Dyer County back on top 4-3 after three innings.

Two innings later, Dyer County padded its lead when Wray singled then scored on an error to put the Choctaws up 5-3 after five innings.

Dyer County tacked on two more in the sixth with an RBI double by Wray who then scored on an error to put the Choctaws up 7-3 after six innings.

The Choctaws then sealed the win in the top of the seventh, working around a one-out single to get a pair of pop outs to end the threat.

Wray and Hill each had a double and a single while Ray added a pair of singles in the win.

Woody picked up the win in relief, allowing one run on two hits with six strikeouts in five innings of work.

Dyer County 2, Benet Academy 1

Though the Lady Redwings scored first, the Choctaws answered with a run in the third to tie and another in the fifth to take the lead on the way to the win.

Dyer County answered the Redwings run in the top of the first with on in the bottom of the third. A two-out single from Wray was followed by an RBI double by Key to tie the game at 1-1 after three innings.

Two innings later, the Choctaws pulled ahead for the rest of the way. Singles from Ray and Wray along with a White walk loaded the bases for Armstrong, who drew a walk to push across the go-head run and give Dyer County a 2-1 lead after five innings.

From there, Woody faced seven batters, striking out four and allowing only one walk over the next two innings to help secure the win.

Key had a double and a single to lead the way for the Choctaws at the plate. Wray added a pair of singles in the win.

Woody picked up the win in relief, allowing one hit and striking out five in the three innings of work. Hart allowed five hits and a run in four innings with five strikeouts as well.

Dyer County returns to action on Monday when the Choctaws travel to Tipton-Rosemark Academy at 6 p.m.

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