Dyer County rally comes up short against South Gibson

 

Jason Peevyhouse

Editor, JP Productions Sports

The Choctaw softball team found itself trailing by seven runs heading into the bottom of the fifth inning before a five-run frame got Dyer County back into it before the orange and white fell 9-6 to South Gibson on Monday night in Newbern.

South Gibson got on the board in a big way in the opening frame, as a one-out walk from Whittemore and a walk led to a run on a passed ball. Brooklyn Davidson followed with a two-run homer to put the Lady Hornets on top 3-0 after half an inning.

The Choctaws looked to back on the board as well, getting a leadoff single from Kierstyn Ray and a one-out walk by Rylee Key before a lineout and a fly out ended the Dyer County threat.

South Gibson added to its lead in the top of the second as a Whittemore double got the inning going. But, with one out in the frame, a Teague groundout nearly ended the inning as Dyer County first baseman Katie Beth Caldwell fielded the ball and stepped on the base for the first out. Her throw home beat the runner but the Hornet runner was ruled safe, putting a run on the board with two outs. A Hall single and a walk led to an RBI single by Scott to plate another run and give South Gibson a 5-0 lead after the top of the first inning.

Dyer County was able to get a one-out walk from Natalie Armstrong and Kennedy Hill aboard with an error before a lineout and a fly out again ended the Choctaw threat.

South Gibson responded with a Ballentine homer to lead off the inning and push the Lady Hornet lead to 6-0 after the top of the third.

Dyer County got on the board in the bottom of the inning. Evie Rogers singled to lead off the inning but Rylee Key hit into a fielder’s choice for the first out. After an Emma Wray walk, Caldwell flew out to left to score Key and cut the South Gibson lead to 6-1 after three innings.

The Lady Hornets got that run back in the top of the fourth. A leadoff walk to Scott was followed two batters later by a Ballentine double to plate a run. Jade Reed followed with a sacrifice fly to score another run and give the Lady Hornets an 8-1 lead heading into the bottom of the fourth.

After struggling for much of the game and being limited to two hits through the first four innings, Dyer County’s offense woke up in the bottom of the fifth. Ray led off with a single then Rogers doubled. Key singled to score a run then Rogers scored on a passed ball to cut the South Gibson lead to five. A pair of walks put two on for Armstrong, who doubled them in to cut further into the deficit. Hill followed with a groundout (on which she was initially ruled safe before the call was overturned) to cut the South Gibson lead to 8-6 after five innings.

South Gibson got one run back in the top of the sixth on a Flower RBI single to put the Lady Hornets up 9-6 after the top of the sixth.

The Lady Hornets were able to get out of the sixth with a 1-2-3 inning despite the Choctaws putting it into play all three times.

Dyer County was able to work around a leadoff single and a base hit with two outs to send the game into the bottom of the seventh still trailing by three.

The Choctaws got off to a good start in the bottom of the seventh with a Wray double and a Caldwell walk. But, a well-played double play from Reed at third to Ballentine at first left just one on before the final batter struck out to secure the win for South Gibson.

Rogers led the way for the Choctaws at the plate with a double and a single while Ray added two singles in the loss.

Key took the loss in the circle, allowing five runs on five hits with one strikeout.

Dyer County continues a busy week on Tuesday when the Choctaws travel to Crockett County for another District 13-3A matchup at 5 p.m.

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