After winning their first region game of the season against Cherokee Bluff, the Tigers could not finish the series with a victory on Friday, April 1, losing to the team 9-3. 

“We’ve been playing much better,” Tigers head coach Dwayne Sapp said after the game. “We’re still struggling hitting. Kids with a lot of velocity get to us. We didn’t get a lot of practice last year because of COVID.”

The Bears scored four runs in the first inning off of starting pitcher Jacob Poss. Poss threw over three innings, allowing five earned runs with two strikeouts. 

Despite being down 9-2 in the bottom of the final inning, the Tigers loaded the bases and drove in a run to push the final score to 9-3. 

“This park can give up a lot of runs,” Sapp said. “We were in a place where I was thinking if we could just get one or two more, we’re right back in this ball game.” 

Sapp said the Tigers’ first region win on Tuesday, March 30 was greatly in part to the combined shutout by Trey Harvey and Nick Mullinax. Even though the Tigers only got two hits, they won 2-0 against the Bears to give Cherokee Bluff their first region loss of the season. 

“They didn’t hit a lot of balls hard,” Sapp said. “We threw strikes. We had timely hits and played good defense. A lot of things start on the mound and we pitched well.” 

The Tigers (7-11, 1-8 in Region 7-3A) will be the only Dawson County sport happening next week while the school system is on spring break. The team plays a three-game series throughout the week against Gilmer (4-15, 1-8 in Region 7-3A). The two teams are tied for fifth in the region standings, but are six and a half games back from fourth place.

“I don’t want to say we’re out, but we’re about wrapped up,” Sapp said. “We’d need so much help and also need to win out. We’re pretty much out of state playoffs but right now we’re playing for next year and playing to get better.” 

The Tigers host GIlmer on Wednesday, April 7 at 5:55 p.m.