By Michael Lindsay
After splitting their regular season series, Stone Memorial and Dekalb County softball’s rubber match in the District 7-3A tournament took 13 innings to decide a winner as DeKalb won via walk-off, 2-1.
“These girls fought hard like they have all season long,” said DeKalb County head coach Ethan Duke. “You have to give it up to Stone; they’re a really good team and it took 13 innings to beat them.
Tigerette freshman Maggie Hendrixson delivered the game-winning single to score one run in the bottom of the 13th.
“I could see her hands in box after I had told her to choke up and just put the ball in play,” said Duke. “To see her do what we asked and to trust us was huge. As soon as she hit it, I knew it was there.”
Wednesday’s pitcher’s duel saw Dekalb County senior Kora Kilgore strike out 16 batters while surrendering only 5 hits and 2 walks on 161 pitches. Stone Memorial freshman Kenzie Jackson struck out 13 batters with 6 hits and 5 walks on 191 pitches.
“It doesn’t matter if Kora throws 50 pitches or 200 pitches, her effort is there,” said Duke. “She’s a one-of-a-kind talent and we’re thankful to have her not only as an athlete, but as a person.”
Neither team scored a run in regulation, sending it to extras tied at 0-0 despite DeKalb County loading the bases in the bottom of the fourth, fifth and sixth innings.
The Tigerette loaded the bases again in the bottom of the 10th before Jackson forced a ground-out, sending the game to the 11th.
Stone Memorial broke through and scored in the top of the 12th inning as catcher Cadence Cox hit a line-drive single to center, scoring Ashley Whittenburg to give the Lady Panthers a 1-0 lead.
DeKalb County answered in the bottom of the frame via a Rylee Wilbur sacrifice fly to score Hannah Brown, tying the game at 1-1.
After back-to-back strikeouts to end the top of the 13th, the Tigerettes broke through in the bottom as a 1-out single to right field scored Chaylea Lunsford, sealing the 2-1 win for Dekalb County.
Up next for the Tigerettes is the District 7-3A championship game on Thursday at 6 p.m. weather permitting. DeKalb will face the winner of the 4 p.m. game between Stone Memorial and Livingston Academy.
“These girls want it,” said Duke. “It doesn’t matter if it took 7 or 13 innings, we’re ready to go and hopefully the weather allows us to play.”
