Wednesday, April 17, 2024

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Demopolis falls one win shy of making state tourney

Jeremy D. Smith , , , , , , ,
Taylor Smith drives in Bria Brown for a run during Demopolis's 4-3 over Shelby County Friday.
Taylor Smith drives in Bria Brown for a run during Demopolis’s 4-3 over Shelby County Friday.

TROY — Demopolis (25-14) mounted a late-inning comeback against Helena Friday but fell just short en route to a 3-1 loss that ended its season one win shy of the Class 5A state tournament.

The Lady Tigers fell behind Helena 2-0 before Abbey Latham ripped a two-out double in the bottom of the sixth. Demopolis could not cash in on the opportunity and gave up another run in the ensuing half inning to fall behind 3-0.

Eighth-grader Bria Brown singled with one away to start the rally in the bottom of the seventh. Taylor Smith followed with a double to put runners on second and third. Kendall Hannah then drove in Bria Brown.

Hannah went 1-for-3 in the game with one RBI. Brown was 1-for-2 with a run scored. Smith finished 1-for-3 with a double. Latham was 2-for-3 with a double and a stolen base.

Demopolis 4, Shelby County 3 

Natalie Tatum attempts to field a comebacker against Shelby County.
Natalie Tatum attempts to field a comebacker against Shelby County.

Demopolis pushed itself to the final three of the South Central Regional Class 5A bracket Friday morning with a 4-3 win over Shelby County. The Lady Tigers gave up a run in the first inning before responding in the bottom of the second. Brown singled before Elly Brown dropped a sacrifice bunt to move her to second. Smith then drove the run home with a RBI fielder’s choice.

Shelby County took the lead again in the top of the third by plating a run to make it 2-1. In the bottom of the frame, L.B. Burbage and Courtney Smith led off with back-to-back walks. Latham later drove Courtney Smith home with a RBI fielder’s choice to tie it at 2-2.

Shelby County used an error in the fourth to take the lead again at 3-2 before Demopolis rallied to tie it once more. Elly Brown singled and moved to third on a Hannah base hit before an error allowed her to score.

Latham put her team in position for the win in the bottom of the fifth when she took the only pitch she saw over the right field fence for a solo homer to set the game at its final tally.

Natalie Tatum worked the full seven innings, striking out seven and scattering six hits. Courtney Smith walked in the game. Latham was 1-for-3 with a home run. Bria Brown finished 1-for-2. Elly Brown was 1-for-1 with a pair of sacrifice bunts. Taylor Smith drove in a run. Hannah finished 1-for-3. Burbage drew a walk.

Demoplis 8, Brewbaker Tech 3

Demopolis earned its first win in the losers bracket late Thursday night with an 8-3 win over Brewbaker Tech in a game that started after 9 p.m. Demopolis took a 1-0 lead in the top of the first when Tatum singled to drive in Jessica Adams.

Demopolis stretched the lead to 2-0 in the third when Courtney Smith singled and then scored on a Latham RBI grounder.

After Brewbaker rallied to tie it in the third, Demopolis flipped a switch and hung four runs on the board in the fourth inning. Taylor Smith singled and then scored on an error. Elly Brown reached on an error and then scored on another. Courtney Smith reached on an error and Adams dropped down a bunt single before Latham plated both with a double for the 6-2 lead.

Demopolis capped the scoring in the fifth when Taylor Smith singled and scored on a Kayla Montz RBI single. Hannah reached on an error before scoring an an Elly Brown RBI grounder.

Courtney Smith was 1-for-5. Adams went 2-for-4. Latham was 1-for-3 with a double, two RBIs and two stolen bases.

Tatum was 1-for-2 with one RBI and a pair of walks. Taylor Smith was 2-for-4. Hannah stole a base. Month went 1-for-4 with one RBI. Anna Katherine Aldridge walked in her lone at-bat. Elly Brown went 1-for-3 with a single and one RBI.

Marbury 4, Demopolis 3

Kendall Hannah pitched three scoreless innings against Marbury.
Kendall Hannah pitched three scoreless innings against Marbury.

Demopolis fell into the losers bracket Thursday afternoon with a 4-3 loss to Marbury. The Lady Tigers took a 3-0 lead in the fourth inning. Courtney Smith started with a single and later scored on a RBI grounder by Tatum. Adams reached on a bunt single and scored on a bases-loaded hit-by-pitch taken by Elly Brown. Latham reached on an error and scored on a single by Taylor Smith.

Marbury scored a run in each of the fourth, fifth and sixth innings before plating the game-winner on a walk-off single in the seventh.

Courtney Smith was 1-for-4. Adams went 2-for-4. Latham was 1-for-4. Tatum and Elly Brown each had one RBI. Taylor Smith was 2-for-3 with one RBI. Hannah was 1-for-3.

Demopolis opened the tournament with a 9-8 win over Jemison.