Erratic Tigers fall to Bibb County in season opener

It was not the prettiest of season openers for Demopolis during a Monday evening trip to Centreville. Demopolis surrendered eight runs over a three-inning stretch on the way to an 8-4 loss to Bibb County.

The Choctaws spotted Demopolis a run in the top of the first inning for the early deficit. Henry Overmyer drew a one-out walk ahead of a Davis Petrey single. Charles Casper followed with a double to center to plate Overmyer for the 1-0 advantage.

That score stuck until the bottom of the third when Bibb used three hits to score three runs and establish a lead it would not lose. The proverbial wheels fell off for Demopolis in the bottom of the fourth when Tiger hurlers walked four batters and hit two others to hand the Choctaws four runs without the benefit of a single base hit. Bibb tacked on one more run in the fifth for the 8-1 lead.

Demopolis pushed the game toward respectability in the top of the sixth when Davis reached on a hit-by-pitch ahead of an Overmyer walk to start the inning. Petrey followed with a double to plate Davis. Casper then plated Overmyer on an RBI grounder to narrow it to 8-3. Petrey scored the final run of the game on a passed ball.

Five Tiger pitchers combined for 10 strikeouts over six innings of work while limiting Bibb to five hits. But 10 walks and two hit batsmen along with an error by the Demopolis defense allowed for six unearned Choctaw runs in the loss.

Demopolis (0-1) is scheduled to play again Friday when it hosts Sipsey Valley.