By Michael Lindsay
The DeKalb County Tigerettes advanced in the winners’ bracket of the Class 3A state softball tournament Wednesday afternoon as they defeated Unicoi County, 1-0.
“When you come to the state tournament, you know you’re going to face stiff competition,” said DeKalb County head softball coach Ethan Duke. “A shutout doesn’t mean that you’re not; Unicoi played tough and their pitcher is solid.”
DeKalb County senior pitcher Kora Kilgore struck out 17 batters while allowing only one hit and no walks in the win.
“Kora calls her own pitches, so when she sees a sequence she likes she goes with it,” said Duke. “She knows the game so well and studies each batter.”
DeKalb’s winning run came in the bottom of the fourth inning as a Unicoi County error allowed Zayleigh Bain to score from second and give her team a 1-0 lead.
“If we’re struggling at the plate, as long as we’re putting the ball in play, you’re going to have to have a perfect defensive game to get a shutout.”
One run was all the Tigerettes needed as only one Unicoi County runner reached base (via error) in the final three innings. Kilgore struck out the final four batters she saw to secure the Tigerette win.
DeKalb County will take the field next on Thursday at 11 a.m. against the winner of McNairy Central and Unicoi County. A Tigerette win would clinch their berth in the Class 3A state championship game, while a loss would force winner-take-all second game against their Thursday opponent.
