Demopolis drills Dallas County in Area 7 tourney; title round awaits

Demopolis remained dominant and stayed in the winner’s bracket of the Class 5A, Area 7 Tournament Tuesday afternoon with a 15-0 victory over Dallas County.

The Tigers scored four runs in the first inning, two in the second and nine in the third for the three-inning win.

Natalie Tatum was almost flawless in the three-inning no-hitter, striking out six Hornet batters and walking one to record the victory.

Courtney Smith opened the bottom of the first with a single to center and advanced to third on an error. Elly Brown then grounded to third and a second Hornet miscue plated Smith for the 1-0 lead. Abbey Latham followed with a double to score Brown to move the advantage to 2-0. After Kendall Hannah took a hit-by-pitch, Bria Brown grounded to short to drive in Latham for the 3-0 lead. Kayla Montz moved it to 4-0 when she singled home Hannah.

Demopolis got back to work in the second as Taylor Smith drew a walk to open the frame. Two batters later, Elly Brown drew a walk of her own. Latham hit a sacrifice fly to center to plate Taylor Smith for the 5-0 lead. Hannah then doubled in Elly Brown to make it 6-0.

Demopolis opened the third with three straight singles from Montz, Alex Abrams and Taylor Smith to load the bases. Courtney Smith made it a fourth consecutive single, scoring Montz and Abrams for the 8-0 lead. After an Elly Brown walk, Latham singled home the Smith sisters for the 10-0 advantage. Tatum drew a walk to load the bases again and Bria Brown made it 11-0 with a single to center to drive in Elly Brown. The score jumped to 12-0 when Montz drew a bases-loaded walk to force home Latham. Abrams followed with a bases-loaded walk of her own to drive in Lane Braeden Burbage and stretch it to 13-0. Taylor Smith then hit a sacrifice fla to left to score Bria Brown. Elly Brown ended the game with a single to plate Montz.

Demopolis (33-11) will play the winner of Dallas County and Central-Tuscaloosa later this evening.