By Thomas Sellers Jr.
For sixth and half innings, the Dyer County Lady Choctaws and Brighton Lady Cardinals were evenly matched.
But the two runs plated by the Lady Choctaws in the top of the first inning May 10 on the Brighton Softball Field made the difference in the game. Dyer County’s 3-1 victory over Brighton secured its spot in the District 13-3A title game against Hardin County and a spot in Regionals.
Meanwhile Lady Cardinals Head Coach Robin Jacobs and crew saw an early end to a 20-7 season and regular season district championship.
“We’re in a hard division and it’s going to be a harder one next year,” Jacobs said. “I’ve talked all year that we played a hard schedule to try to get these guys. Tonight they were two runs better. Actually in that game it was decided on two pitches. The home run and the one she got us with the bases loaded.”
Trailing 2-0, the Lady Cardinals cut the deficit in half with Brie Howard reaching base on a double and Carley Cook drove Howard home with a hit.
Dyer County added an insurance run in the top of the seventh inning to make the tally 3-1.
“We played really good and they did too,” Jacobs said. “It’s going to happen this way sometimes, you win some and you lose some.”
Jacobs said players like Kelsey Camp, Timily David, Madie Perkins and Howard made tremendous strides in helping the program take a step back toward State.
Sophomore pitcher Katlyn Jones handled the pitching duties leading to 20 wins and triumphs over teams like Tipton-Rosemark Academy, Covington, St. Benedict, Hardin County, Arlington and Dyer County.
Jacobs said the leadership of his seniors Avery Billings and Jade Howard throughout 2021 was the unsung boost his team needed. And he’s proud to have coached quality players like the duo.
“They did a great job for us,” he concluded. “You can’t ask anymore from them. Jade came up in the last inning and got a hit for us. Abby did a great job in the outfield, got on base and got a hit. They’ve done a great job for us all three years. We’ve thankful we’ve got people like that in our senior class. At some points winning at all it is about. We’ve got some good people.”
