Dyer County jumps out to big lead, defeats Lady Trojans in softball action

 

Jason Peevyhouse

Editor, JP Productions Sports

The Dyer County softball team looked to complete its season sweep of Dyersburg on Thursday evening in Newbern and jumped out to a double-figure lead before taking a 12-5 win over the Lady Trojans in District 13-3A action.

The Choctaws held Dyersburg to just a one-out single from Chelby Jordan then put a trio of runs on the board in the bottom of the first. Back-to-back singles from Kierstyn Ray and Kate Beth Caldwell put the first two runners on to lead off the inning then got a run across on an error. A groundout from Rylee Key plated another run before an Evie Rogers sacrifice fly plated another to put Dyer County on top 3-0 after an inning.

Dyersburg looked to answer with back-to-back singles to lead off the top of the second from Kyleigh Littles and Murphy Mae Morgan. But, Choctaw pitcher Ava Hart responded with three straight strikeouts to get out of the inning and keep the lead at 3-0.

Following a 1-2-3 top of the third inning, Dyer County broke the game open. Key singled and Allie Ables was hit by a pitch to open the inning. Both runners moved up on a Rogers groundout then Key scored when Kate Benedetto reached on an error. Ables scored moments later on a passed ball and Rylee White singled in a run to push the Dyer County lead to six. Natalie Armstrong doubled in a run and Caldwell added a one-run double two batters later. Wray followed with an RBI double to put the Choctaws on top 9-0 after three innings.

After Dyer County worked around a leadoff walk in the top of the fourth, Ables led off the bottom of the frame with a solo home run to left field to put the Choctaws up 10-0 after four frames.

Facing the mercy rule in the top of the fifth with one out, Dyersburg got some offense going with a Mallory McCaslin single then an error prevented a double play and left two on with one out. Jordan walked to lad the bases the Jones reached on another error which allowed two runs to score and keep the game going. Little singled in a run before the inning ended on the basepaths with Dyersburg trailing 10-3.

The Choctaws got one of those runs back in the bottom of the frame when Ray reached on a single then scored on a fielder’s choice to put Dyer County on top 11-3 after five innings.

Dyer County tacked on another run in the bottom of the sixth when Ray hit a sacrifice fly to score a run and push the Choctaw lead to 12-3 after six frames.

With two on and two out in the top of the seventh, the Lady Trojans got a two-run single from Izzie Odom to cut the Dyer County lead to seven. But, the Choctaws got the next batter to ground out to short to seal the win, for the orange and white.

Ray went 4-for-4 for the Choctaws with four singles and an RBI while Ables had a single and a homer with one run driven in. Armstrong had a pair of doubles and an RBI with Caldwell picking up a single and a double with one run batted in.

Jordan and Littles each had a pair of singles to lead the Lady Trojans at the plate.

Hart picked up the win in the circle for the Choctaws, allowing three runs on five hits with eight strikeouts in five innings of work. Odom took the loss for the Lady Trojans.

Dyer County travels to Lexington on Saturday while the Lady Trojans travel to Ripley on Monday at 5:30 p.m.

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