Choctaws answer with three-run fifth to get win

Jason Peevyhouse

Editor, JP Productions Sports

Though the Lady Tigers broke up a scoreless game with a run in the top of the fourth, Dyer County answered with a three-run fifth inning then held off a late Arlington rally for a 3-2 win in Newbern on Monday night.

In the bottom of the second, Dyer County threatened to get on the board as singles from Allie Ables and Kennedy Hill along with a walk from Natalie Armstrong loaded the bases with one out. But, a fielder’s choice saw a force out at the plate for the second out then a grounder to short ended the Choctaw threat with the game still scoreless.

Sophomore Ava Hart had good stuff early, holding the Lady Tigers hitless through three innings and retired the first nine Arlington batters she faced.

But, a pair of walks in the top of the fourth proved costly as a fielder’s choice without an out loaded the bases with no outs. An Edwards sacrifice fly plated a run for the Lady Tigers. But, the defense continued to help get the Choctaws out of the jam as a grounder to short resulted in a force out at third base for the second out. Hart struck out the final batter to get out of the inning trailing 1-0.

The Lady Tigers were able to work around a Key single to lead off the fourth, then a one-out Armstrong walk, to get a strikeout and a groundout, sending the game to the fifth.

After a 1-2-3 top of the fifth for the Lady Tigers, it was Dyer County’s turn to benefit from a pair of walks – these drawn by Kierstyn Ray and Evie Rogers. Passed balls came in handy as well as Ray advanced to second on one, stole third and scored on another passed ball with Rogers trailing her to get to third on the second passed ball. Katie Beth Caldwell then drove her in to put Dyer County on top. Later in the inning, Caldwell scored on a Key groundout to give the Choctaws a 3-1 lead after five innings.

The Lady Tigers finally got their first hit of the game with a two-out Layton single in the sixth off of Key before a flyout ended the inning with Dyer County still up 3-1.

Arlington was able to keep it interesting in the seventh as a leadoff double from Bunker led to a two-out RBI base hit from Roberts to cut the Dyer County lead in half. But, a grounder back to Key in the circle sealed the win for the Choctaws.

Caldwell’s RBI double in the fifth was the lone extra-base hit of the day for the Choctaws as the team’s five hits came from five different players.

Hart picked up the win, allowing one run but no hits with four strikeouts. Key got the six-out save, allowing a run on three hits with two strikeouts.

The win came on a night when the Choctaw softball program honored its lone senior, Abbie Gibbons. 

Dyer County has a quick turnaround as Choctaw softball hosts Dyersburg on Tuesday at 6:15 p.m. in the first of three days of District 13-3A action.

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