Lady Choctaws fall in 13AAA semifinals to Hardin County

Though the runs came early for both Dyer County and the Lady Tigers in the District 13AAA Semifinals on Monday in Savannah, it was a late blast from Hardin County to make the difference as the Lady Choctaws dropped a 4-3 decision to Hardin County.

The loss sent the Lady Choctaws (22-12-1) into Tuesday afternoon consolation action against Brighton. A win in that game would earn Dyer County a rematch with the Lady Tigers but the orange and white would have to win the late game on Tuesday and a second championship game on Wednesday in Savannah to claim the District 13AAA title.

With one out in the top of the first, the Lady Choctaws got a double from Hailey Sipes and a single from Ava Ozment to put two on for Dyer County. Madison Garner followed with an RBI single then Reagan Thompson doubled to plate another run to put the Lady Choctaws up 2-0 after the top of the first.

But, with two outs in the bottom of the inning, a walk loaded the bases then Halle Grace Patton was hit by a pitch to bring home a run. Sarah Stricklin then drew a walk to tie the game at 2-2 before a pop out to short ended the threat with the bases loaded and the game still tied.

The Lady Choctaws got one of the runs back in the top of the second as Brooklyn King and Payton Reasons led off with back-to-back singles. After a strikeout, Ozment joined them on the basepaths before Garner reached on an error by the Lady Tigers shortstop which allowed King to score and give Dyer County a 3-2 lead after an inning and a half.

After the rocky start in the first, Reasons settled down over the next three innings, allowing on leadoff singles in the second and fourth while retiring the other nine batters she face to get into the fifth with the Lady Choctaws’ one-run lead still in tact.

The Lady Tigers also got the leadoff batter on in the fifth but the runner was erased with a double play and it looked like Dyer County was about to get out of another inning with the lead. But, a pop up by Madalynn Payne dropped into right for a single then Melody Morris sent a 1-2 pitch over the centerfield fence for a two-run homer to give the Lady Tigers the lead at 4-3 after five innings.

From then on, the Lady Choctaws went down in order in the sixth and seventh as the Lady Tigers moved into the district title game and sent Dyer County to the consolation round.

Reasons took the loss in the circle, allowing four runs on seven hits with six strikeouts.

Sipes led the way for the Lady Choctaws at the plate with a pair of doubles while Ozment added a pair of singles as the two combined to account for half of Dyer County’s eight hits.

With a win in the semifinals on Tuesday over Brighton, the Lady Choctaws can not only earn the rematch with Hardin County in the title game later in the evening, but can also punch their ticket to the Region 7AAA Tournament next week.