Choctaw Softball swats Lady Hornets to take Region 7-3A crown

 


Dyer County’s 30th win of the season proved to be one of its biggest as Choctaw Softball’s 9-3 win over South Gibson in Medina on Wednesday secured the orange and white its first Region 7-3A Championship since 2021 as well as the program’s first 30-win season in its history.

The Choctaws took the lead early with a pair of runs in the top of the first inning. With two outs in the top of the first following a double play, Rylee Key singled then Emma Wray began what would turn into a big day for the junior catcher, sending a ball over the centerfield fence for a two-run home run to give Dyer County a 2-0 lead after a half inning.

South Gibson cut the lead in half in the bottom of the first with a Hall homer to lead off the bottom of the first and cut the Dyer County lead to 2-1 after one inning.

Dyer County answered in the top of the second. Molly Kate Woody helped her own cause in the circle with a leadoff double. Two batters later, Kennedy Hill doubled in a run to put Dyer County on top 3-1 after the top of the second.

South Gibson answered with an RBI single in the bottom of the frame from Hall to cut the Choctaw lead to 3-2 after two innings.

Dyer County kept its slim lead until the fifth – when the Choctaws added to it. A one-out single from Key was followed by a second two-run homer to center from Wray to put the Choctaws up 5-2 heading into the bottom of the fifth.

A Ballentine solo homer to lead off the bottom of the fifth cut into the Dyer County lead. The Choctaws then got the next three batters to get out of the frame with a 5-3 lead.

The Choctaw offense continued to put runs on the board as Natalie Armstrong singled then scored when Hill bunted and reached on an error to give Dyer County a 6-3 lead after five and a half innings.

Dyer County worked out of a two-on, two-out jam in the sixth then pulled away in the seventh. Key, Wray and Evie Rogers opened the seventh with three straight singles then Armstrong drove in two runs two batters later. A Hill flyout resulted in another run to give the Choctaws a commanding 9-3 lead heading into the bottom of the seventh.

In the frame, three straight fly outs sealed the win for the Choctaws as well as the Region 7-3A Championship.

Freshman hurler Woody allowed three runs on seven hits with two strikeouts in the complete-game win.

It was a bid day for Wray at the plate, going 4-for-4 with a pair of homers and a double while driving in four runs. Key had a double and two singles while Armstrong added a trio of singles. Ray added a double and a single in the win.

Dyer County will host the Class 3A Sectional Game later this week as the Choctaws will take on Millington for a spot in next week’s TSSAA Class 3A State Tournament.

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