Seven-run fifth propels Lady Tigers

DSC_0242

TROY — Demopolis (16-14-1) used a seven-run fifth to overcome an early deficit and down Chilton County 13-11 in an elimination game at the Class 5A, South Central Regional Tournament.

The Lady Tigers sent 11 batters to the plate in the pivotal fifth inning and scored six of their runs with two outs to take a 12-10 lead.

“They battled. That’s what we’ve got to do,” head coach Joey Browder said of his team. “I mentioned last week that what it took to be successful here was attitude and effort. And that’s what we got tonight was attitude and effort.”

Riley King opened the inning by reaching on an error and later scored on a RBI single by Jade Montgomery.

Olivia Brame reached on a bunt single before Victoria Washburn went from the batter’s box to second on a fielder’s choice. Zoe Lewis followed with a two-RBI single to score Brame and Washburn to cut the deficit to 10-8.

Victoria Washburn drops down the first hit of the game against Chilton County Friday evening.
Victoria Washburn drops down the first hit of the game against Chilton County Friday evening.

Sydney Colyar then stroked her third homer of the season to knot the game at 10. Alexis Jones ripped a single up the middle to keep the hit parade going before giving way to courtesy runner Jessica Adams. Danielle Tatum singled and left courtesy runner Zarquashia Taylor at first in her stead before King hits a two-RBI double in her second at-bat of the inning to put DHS up 12-10.

Demopolis added an insurance run in the top of the sixth when Montgomery singled, moved to second on a Brame sacrifice bunt, took third on a Washburn single and scored on a RBI infield single by Colyar.

Chilton County loaded the biased with only one out in the sixth before Tatum induced a pop out fanned the CCHS leadoff hitter looking to end the threat.

Chilton tacked a run on in the seventh and placed the tying runners aboard before Tatum buckled down and recorded a strikeout to end the game.

Demopolis opened the scoring in the first when Washburn reached on an infield single and scored on an RBI infield hit by Jones.

Chilton promptly answered by sending nine batters to the plate, tallying six hits and scoring four runs in the home half of the first.

Demopolis showed its resiliency in the top of the second when Montgomery drew a leadoff walk to ignite a four-run rally. Brame followed with a bunt single before Washburn loaded the bases with an infield single. Lewis dropped in a two-RBI single to Montgomery and Brame. Washburn then scored on an error before Jones picked up a RBI on a sacrifice fly that plated Taylor, who was serving as Lewis’ courtesy runner.

Chilton repeated its first-inning performance in the second frame by again sending nine to the plate and hanging four more runs on the board.

Two free passes and an error proved costly for Demopolis in the third as Chilton County managed two runs without the benefit of the hit to move to 10-5, its largest lead of the game.

The Lady Tigers are scheduled to play Valley at 11 a.m. Saturday in an elimination game.