Tatum excels in season-opening victory over Excel

Natalie Tatum was dominant in a 5-0 win over Excel Friday, Demopolis’s first game of the Washington County Mardi Gras Tournament. The senior hurler scattered a hit and two walks over four innings of work while striking out six in a shutout victory.

The lone Excel hit came with one away in the bottom of the fourth inning. With runners on the corners and one out, Tatum proceeded to induce a pair of pop ups to nullify the threat.

Demopolis followed the rally-killing run with a five-spot in the top of the fifth highlighted by back-to-back homers from Abbey Latham and Elly Brown.

Kendall Hannah singled to open the frame before Lane Braeden Burbage absorbed a pitch to put a pair of runners on. Courtney Smith then legged out an infield single to load the bases. Brown drilled the first pitch she saw over the left field fence for a grand slam to put Demopolis up 4-0. Latham followed by hitting the first pitch she saw over the left field fence to set the final margin.

Smith was 3-for-3 with a stolen base and a run scored. Brown finished 2-for-3 with a homer, a run scored and four RBIs. Latham was 1-for-3 with a homer, a run scored and one RBI. Bria Brown finished 1-for-3. Hannah went 1-for-2 with a run scored. Burbage scored a run.

The Lady Tigers play again Friday evening against Fruitdale.