By Noah McKay
The DeKalb County Tigerettes finished as runner ups in the Class 3A state softball tournament, falling 1-0 to defending champion Gibbs in 10 innings.
The best season in program history saw the Tigerettes reach the state championship game for the first time, ultimately falling on a walkoff RBI single in the bottom of the 10th inning.
“I didn’t expect anything less. I knew it was going to be a dogfight from the beginning,” said DCHS head coach Ethan Duke “We would have loved to come out on the other end of it, but I couldn’t be any prouder of my girls for the way they battled all season”
Senior DCHS pitcher Kora Kilgore held the Lady Eagles in check throughout the game, starting by retiring the first seven batters she faced, and forcing popouts and strikeouts when runners reached.
GHS pitcher Lacey Keck also limited the Tigerettes, as she threw just 58 pitches in the first seven innings, pushing the game into extra innings.
International tie break rules were implemented in the 10th inning, with a runner starting on second base. The Tigerettes got runners at second and third with no outs, but two strikeouts and a fielders choice at home after a bunt ended the threat.
The Lady Eagles then capitalized with a sacrifice fly, single, and game winning RBI single by Keck to win the state title.
“This game is just another visible testament of the fight and grit this team has,” said Duke. “I couldn’t be prouder to be apart of it. They just got a couple more hits than we had.”
Kilgore struck out eight batters with two walks and five hits in 9.1 innings. The run was unearned.
Two hits by Brooklyn Fuson paced the DCHS offense along with base hits by Kilgore, Zayleigh Bain, Tatum Young and Sophie Adcock.
The Tigerettes finished the season 26-6-1. They won 14 straight games ahead of the championship game. It was the first championship game appearance in program history.
