After falling to Gibson County in the opening round of the District 13-AA softball tournament being held at Obion County High School, the DHS Lady Trojan squad was on the brink of elimination.

On Monday the Lady Trojans rebounded from the setback with a hard-fought, heart-thumping win over Dyer County setting up Tuesday's match up with the host Lady Rebel squad.

Showing an amount of determination perhaps not seen during the regular season, Dyersburg continued to play season-enders against Obion County, winning the contest, 1-0, behind a solid, two-hit shutout performance from senior Brandy Hamm.

"Brandy absolutely threw a masterpiece out there tonight and I couldn't be more proud of the way she handled herself," said a relieved Lady Trojan head coach Doug French afterwards. "In an elimination game like this one was, there couldn't have been any more pressure on her and she passed with flying colors.

The lone run of the contest came in the top of the third inning with two outs. Senior Alison Petty laid down a sweet bunt and darted like a bullet to first to barely beat out the throw to get things started.

Petty wasted little time at first, stealing second with teammate Emily Greer at the plate. An errant throw allowed Greer to reach first, while a hustling Petty crossed the plate for a 1-0 lead, one the local squad wouldn't relinquish, but it could have been worse.

In the top of the sixth inning with the bases loaded, Monday's hero Mary Jewels Baker grounded to shortstop. Playing the force, Obion County went to home where Greer was called out despite the ball falling from the catcher's glove. After an intense discussion between French and the two umpires, the play stood as called. One batter later the Lady Rebels got out of the inning unscathed as the Lady Trojans left three runners stranded.

While French was careful not to be critical of the call at the plate, he realized with a 1-0 lead the play could have been crucial had Obion County been able to score.

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"That one play could have been a backbreaker. The fortunate thing for us was that it didn't take the fire out of the kids. It could have, but it didn't," added French. "There were several questionable goes that went both ways, but the play at home plate could have really changed the entire outcome of the game. We are just really fortunate that it didn't come back to haunt us."

While the call prevented the Lady Trojans from adding to their total, Hamm was in a groove that continued through the sixth and seventh innings, evident after the Dyersburg State signee faced six Lady Rebel batters in the final two innings to secure the 1-0 victory.

"We're still alive and it's better than the alternative. I really thought the kids showed a lot of heart today and while we didn't hit the ball very well, we did what we had to do to win the ballgame," said French.

With the win, Dyersburg will face Milan today at 5 p.m. in Troy in its third straight elimination contest.