Choctaw softball holds off late rally from Dyersburg

 






Jason Peevyhouse

Editor, JP Productions Sports


Though the Choctaws scored  five runs early in the quarterfinals of the District 13-3A Tournament winner’s bracket on Thursday night in Newbern, Dyer County had to fend off a late surge from rival Dyersburg before claiming a 5-3 win over the Lady Trojans.


After a 1-2-3 top of the first inning, the Choctaws struck early against Dyersburg in the bottom of the first inning. Kierstyn Ray singled to lead off the frame then Rylee Key doubled in a run two batters later. Later in the inning, Allie Ables drew a walk then Evie Rogers singled to score a run and push the Dyer County lead to 2-0 after one inning.

Dyer County’s defense and pitcher Key worked around a two-out walk in the top of the second then looked to add to the orange and white lead in the bottom of the frame. Back-to-back singles from Kennedy Hill and Abbie Gibbons opened the inning then Katie Beth Caldwell singled to load the bases two batters later. Key followed to help her own cause with a sacrifice fly then Emma Wray singled in two runs to put Dyer County on top 5-0 after two frames.

From there, Dyersburg’s defense and pitcher Addie Gatlin settled down, working around a one-out Hill single in the third and an error in the fourth with one out to hold the Choctaws in place. But, in the meantime, Dyersburg was unable to get much going offensively either, getting a leadoff single from Murphy Morgan and a walk by Jones before a sacrifice bunt, strikeout and a groundout ended the threat in the fourth.


Dyersburg was able to put together another threat in the top of the fifth inning. Odom singled to lead off the inning, then Jordan reached on an error with two outs two batters later. Morgan drew a walk to load the bases before a pop-up ended the top of the fifth.

After both teams managed minimal baserunners through the sixth inning, the Lady Trojans made one last surge at the Dyer County defense. Gatlin was hit by a pitch then Jordan reached on an error. Two batters later, Lily Kate Jones doubled in a run then Avery Hicks reached on a sacrifice bunt which was initially ruled an out before being overturned. With the bases loaded, Gatlin followed with a double to score two runs but also resulted in an out at third base. Still, Kyleigh Littles came up with Gatlin at second and represented the tying run before popping out to end the game as Dyer County advanced in the winner’s bracket.


Rogers had a double and two singles in the win while Ray had a double and a single. Hill also had a pair of singles.

Gatlin and Jones had doubles to lead the way for Dyersburg, accounting for two of the Lady Trojans four hits.

Key picked up the win, allowing one hit while striking out two in four innings of work.

Gatlin took the loss, allowing five runs on 11 hits with two strikeouts.

Dyer County will face South Gibson in the winner’s bracket semifinals on Friday. Dyersburg will be in action again on Monday at 5 p.m. against the winner of Friday’s elimination game between Crockett County and Obion County Central.

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