Choctaw softball shuts out South Gibson, clinches top seed

 

Jason Peevyhouse

Editor, JP Productions Sports

Just four days after the two teams combined for 15 runs in Newbern, runs came a lot harder to come by on Friday in Medina as Dyer County scored early then held off the Lady Hornets for a 2-0 victory at South Gibson to clinch the top seed in next week’s District 13-3A Tournament.

Dyer County got things going early as Kierstyn Ray singled then advanced to second on an Evie Rogers sacrifice bunt. Choctaw Rylee Key then doubled her in to put the orange and white on top 1-0 after the top of the first inning.

After South Gibson worked around a leadoff error and a one-out single in the top of the second, the Lady Hornets looked to pull even. Davidson led off with a single then Flowers added a base hit two batters later. But, a fly out and a ground out got Dyer County out of the frame with its lead still intact.

The Choctaws caught a break to open the top of the fourth inning. A long fly ball from Katie Beth Caldwell was dropped by the Lady Hornet left fielder near the outfield wall, allowing the sophomore to advance to second to open the frame. After advancing to third, Caldwell scored on a sacrifice fly by Natalie Armstrong to put Dyer County on top 2-0 heading into the bottom of the fourth.

After 1-2-3 bottom of the fourth inning, the Lady Hornets again looked to get on the board after Whittemore and Cannon drew back-to-back walks. But, freshman hurler Molly Kate Woody, having only allowed two hits to that point, settled down. Woody struck out the next batter then got a fly out to end the threat and the frame with the Choctaws still ahead by two runs.

Dyer County was able to get a leadoff single from Emma Wray and a Caldwell walk but both were stranded to send the game to the bottom of the sixth.

The Lady Hornets got a two-out single from Davidson and a double from Ballentine off the wall to put runners at second and third. But, a groundout ended the frame and kept Dyer County on top by two heading into the final inning.

Gibbons reached on a leadoff bunt to open the frame but Dyer County was unable to cash in as the game moved to the bottom of the seventh.

Whittemore and Cannon each singled to lead off the frame but Woody again settled down with a strikeout. Dyer County then got a lineout to Gibbons in left before a grounder to Rogers at third ended the threat and sealed the win for the Choctaws as well as the regular season district title.

Gibbons had a pair of singles to lead the way for the Choctaws at the plate while Key’s double was the only extra base hit of the day for the orange and white.

Woody needed 91 pitches for the six-hit shutout, striking out two.

The win means Dyer County will host the District 13-3A Tournament which will begin next week in Newbern.

Dyer County will await the winner of the play-in game between Obion County Central and Dyersburg.

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