When the Warren County Middle School softball team scored six runs in the first inning against the DeKalb County Lady Saints Monday, it looked all but assured the Lady Pioneers would begin the season with a win.
But the final four innings went the other way. Errors and lack of offense caught up with the Lady Pioneers as DeKalb County stormed back to win 7-6.
Coach Gooby Martin was stunned following the game. After watching his team start so well, mistakes seemed to doom the Lady Pioneers.
Warren County looked well on its way to a run-rule victory in the first inning. After Lindsey Cox retired DeKalb County in order to begin the game, she started a rally in the bottom of the first.
Cox singled to start the game, then moved to second on a sacrifice bunt by Bailey Martin.
Livia Walker walked to put two runners on and Madison Mason brought around Cox with a single.
Emily Webb followed with an RBI single of her own to make it 2-0.
An error and fielder’s choice loaded the bases for Bailey Walker and she brought around Webb and Lorren Cannon with a double into the gap.
Ty Ramirez kept the rally going with an RBI single and Cox wrapped up the scoring by bringing Walker around on a groundout to second base.
Everything was downhill for the Lady Pioneers after the first inning. DeKalb County sliced the lead in half with three runs in the second, then drew even closer with one run in the third and fourth inning.
By the time the fifth inning started, Warren County was clinging to a 6-5 lead.
Two base hits and an error loaded the bases with one out and DeKalb County’s Dani Meadows came up with the game-winning hit.
Meadows’ single scored two and put DeKalb County up 7-6.
Warren County tried to force extra innings, but the Lady Pioneers couldn’t put a run across in the bottom of the fifth.
The loss dropped Warren County to a disappointing 0-1 to begin the season.
Warren County tried to bounce back with a win at home last night against White County. Scores were unavailable at press time.
The Lady Pioneers will take the rest of the week off before returning to action Tuesday, March 20, at home against Shelbyville Harris. The game will begin at 5 p.m.