DECATUR -- Winter weather continued to plague the area with strong winds, low temperatures and abundant rains April 9 when the Decatur Lady Bulldogs' varsity softball team returned to Edmiston softball field for a doubleheader against the Deer Lady Antlers. While Decatur played well during both contests, it was the Lady Antlers that prevailed.
In game one, a series of errors by Deer gave the Lady Bulldogs the advantage, a fact that first year Decatur softball coach Jayme Burden realized early on.
"The two teams went back and forth grappling for the win, Burden said. "Most of our runs were scored on steals or walks."
Senior Mathline Jesse started for Decatur. Late in the game, her arm gave out forcing Burden to put in sophomore Paige Barrett to complete the remainder of the seven-inning contest.
Burden was also forced to make an infield change when first baseman Talor Thompson took a wild pitch to the elbow. She was replaced by Destiny Mejia who finished the contest at first base.
In the seventh inning, with the game tied at 25 each, two runs by the Lady Antlers clinched the win. The Jasper Lady Antlers defeated the Decatur Lady Bulldogs, 27-25.
In game two, Paige Barrett returned to the mound for Decatur.
The Lady Antlers jumped out in front by two in the bottom of the first inning. After a series of walks by Barrett and steals given up by Kaliey Sutherland, Deer took a commanding 16-3 lead by the bottom of the second. The Lady Bulldogs tried to get back into the contest in the top of the third inning, holding Deer scoreless but was only able to score one run by the end of the contest. The Deer Lady Antlers won game two, 20-4.
Burden cites the loss of several key players and the duration of the contest (nearly five hours) as the reason for the losses.
"With key players out due to injuries, and fatigue from playing the earlier game, the loss (second game) came quickly," said Burden.
The Lady Bulldogs traveled to Jasper April 12 to take on the Lady Pirates.
Jasper pulled ahead of Decatur on a grand slam in the third inning. Jasper scored two runs in the bottom of the fifth to seal the conference win, 15-6 over Decatur.
Burden was pleased with the way her team played throughout that contest.
"The girls played really well," Burden said. "They worked well together with Mathline Jesse pitching and Talor Thompson back on first. The two led the team through a close game."
Sports on 04/18/2018