The DeKalb Lady Tigers will look for a trip to the state tournament beginning this week.
DeKalb won their district tournament last week. They face off against Marshall County Monday for a spot in the sectional round. DeKalb Softball Head Coach Ethan Duke said his team has shown grit late in the season.
“If things aren’t going our way, we know that we’re in control of the situation,” Duke said. “We don’t let anything dictate how we play the game. We go out and we do our job and if we do our job well, we come away with a win.”
DeKalb finished 9-1 in the district this season. The record earned the Lady Tigers first place in the district. Duke said he expects his team to make the adjustments necessary to win.
“There’s something different about this group of girls,” Duke said. “The want to, the desire to continue playing, they don’t want the season to end.”
Duke said he has learned a lot about himself this season.
“I’ve learned that, I guess I can perform under pressure a whole lot better than I expected to,” Duke said. “When it comes to having a target on our backs, I feel like as a coach, I try to tell my girls that it is important but we don’t need to let it define us. We just need to keep doing what we’re doing.”
DeKalb defeated Stone Memorial in the district championship game Friday 9-0. A win will see the Lady Tigers remain as hosts of the region tournament. They will continue to host as long as DeKalb wins their next few games.
The Lady Tigers will seek their first appearance in state since the 2016 season.
