Dyer County pulls away from Millington, clinches berth in Class 3A State Tournament

Jason Peevyhouse

Editor, JP Productions Sports

The Dyer County softball team was tested early but their offense proved to be up to it as the Choctaws fought off Millington Central with a trio of runs in the orange and white’s final three times at bat on their home field for a 7-4 win over the Lady Trojans in the Class 3A Sectional Game in Newbern on Saturday afternoon.

“It was definitely a battle for sure,” Dyer County Head Coach Shanna O’Bright said. “We had to battle it out and I am proud of the way my girls handled themselves at the plate.

“We’re just continuing to put runs up, runs up, runs up and it made a difference in the end.”

The Lady Choctaws have averaged almost ten runs a game during the Region 7-3A Tournament and Class 3A Sectional Round.

“One of the things that we talk about is, in a perfect world, you score runs every inning,” O’Bright explained. “You put some up and keep putting them up.

“It’s something we talk about and it’s something we revisit from time to time. The importance of being consistent with your offense and putting runs up all the time – not just here and there. They did a good job of that today.”

Millington struck first, getting on the board in the top of the opening inning with a single from Fowler then a two-run homer from Bell to put the Lady Trojans up 2-0 after the top of the first inning.

Dyer County was quick to answer as Kierstyn Ray bunted her way on with a single then Katie Beth Caldwell tripled her in to cut the Millington lead in half. Rylee Key followed with an RBI single to tie the game at 2-2 after one inning.

Freshman Molly Kate Woody rebounded from her first inning by striking out two of the three Lady Trojans in the top of the second inning to get through the 1-2-3 inning.

The Dyer County bats rewarded Woody in the bottom of the frame. Kennedy Hill drew a walk then Abbie Gibbons was hit by a pitch before Millington’s Hulsey loaded the bases by walking Ray. Caldwell then singled in two runs to put the Choctaws on top 4-2 after two innings.

Millington got back on the board in the top of the third with back-to-back RBI singles from Hulsey and Stevens. Dyer County stopped the bleeding there as the Choctaws got two fly outs and a strikeout to end the Lady Trojan threat with the game tied at 4-4.

The Choctaws retook the lead in the bottom of the fourth inning with a one-out rally. Singles from Ray and Caldwell were followed by an RBI double from Key to put the orange and white on top, 5-4 after four innings.

Dyer County retired Millington in order in the top of the fifth then added to the lead in the bottom of the frame. Designated player Allie Ables walked to lead off the inning then was pinch run for by Woody, who’s spot in the lineup she occupied. Two batters later, senior Abbie Gibbons, just a few hours removed from DCHS Graduation, doubled in Woody to extend the Choctaw lead to 6-4 after five innings.

Dyer County worked around a one-out Washburn double in the top of the sixth then picked up an insurance run in the form of a Caldwell home run on the first pitch of the bottom of the sixth.

In the top of the seventh, Dyer County’s defense sealed the deal as the first batter grounded out then a line out put the Choctaws one out away from the state tournament. With an 0-1 count, Woody got the next batter to pop up to Evie Rogers at third base, who made the catch to seal the win and send the Choctaws to the state tournament for the second straight season.

“It was a total team effort and I am very proud of them,” O’Bright added. “I am proud of the energy they brought out here today. I’m proud of just everything they did.”

Cadwell led the way for the Choctaws, missing the cycle by a double as she had a homer and a triple with four RBI. Key had a big day as well with a double and two singles with two RBI. Ray added two singles in the win.

Woody went the distance for the Choctaws, allowing four runs on five hits with four strikeouts in the state-clinching win.

“I am proud of the job Molly Kate did in the circle,” O’Bright said of the freshman pitcher’s performance. “She just stayed the course and her defense worked hard behind her.

“Like I said, it was a total team effort and I am very proud of them today.”

This marks the seventh time in the last eight TSSAA Class 3A Tournaments that Dyer County has advanced to the final eight in the state.

Dyer County will open the 2025 TSSAA Class 3A State Tournament on Tuesday at 1 p.m. when the Choctaws take on Unicoi County in the opening round of the tournament on McKnight Field No. 2 at the Murfreesboro Sports Complex in Murfreesboro, Tenn.