Dawson County saw its season come to an end with a 5-4 loss to Banks County in the Region 7-AAA tournament at Lanier Pointe in Gainesville Oct. 8.

What once was a promising season came to an end with the Lady Leopards scoring four runs in the fourth inning to come away the victory.

The deciding game was tied at 1-1 after one inning of play.

Banks scored first but the Lady Tigers answered with a run of its own. Emily Hunsucker led off the inning with a single to center. Tabitha Morrison was hit by a pitch from Banks pitcher Savannah Denton to put runners on first and second. Joy Lewis followed with a single that loaded the bases. Senior Martie Rogers drove in the run with an infield single.

Head coach Jimmy Pruett's team seemed to put the game away in the second inning. The Lady Tigers crossed the plate three times to take a commanding 4-1 advantage.

Hunsucker, Natalie Glass and Brittany Phillips all scored for Dawson County in the inning.

Walks and errors did the Lady Tigers in during the fourth inning. Banks County plated four runs to take a 5-4 lead that the Lady Leopards would not relinquish.

Hunsucker, Lewis and Rogers each had a double and an RBI in the final game of the season. Morrison and Glass added singles to the Lady Tigers offensive attack.

Lewis pitched the complete game loss going seven innings while giving up five hits. The junior had 8 strikeouts in the game.

Lewis finished the season with a 6-3 record.

"I thought when we went up 4-1 that we would be ok," Pruett said. "But when we start playing poorly in the field things just seem to fall apart for us."

Dawson began the tournament on Oct. 7 with a game against White County.

The Lady Tigers had defeated White twice during the regular season, 5-0 and 3-2, but this time the tables were turned as the Lady Warriors came away with a 4-2 win.

Senior pitcher Martie Rogers went seven innings in the loss. Rogers gave up seven hits, but only two earned runs, while striking out seven batters. Rogers finished the season with a 9-7 record.

White County took a 3-0 lead after three innings of play.

Dawson County bounced back with two runs in the sixth inning.

With one out, Hunsucker singled to left field. Morrison worked a walk that put runners on second and third base. Leadoff hitter Lewis doubled down the left field line on a 1-0 pitch that drove in Hunsucker and Morrison.

That was all the offense the Lady Tigers could muster in the loss.

The Lady Warriors added one more run in the seventh inning to increase their lead.

Dawson County only managed five hits. Heather Hensley led the Lady Tigers with two hits. Hunsucker, Lewis and Rogers added a hit each.

The Lady Tigers picked up their only win of the tournament in the second game on Monday night over North Hall.

Pruett's team scored a run in the first inning after Hunsucker led off the game with a single. Morrison also reached first on a bunt single followed by a walk to Lewis that loaded the bases. A sacrifice fly to right field scored Hunsucker giving Dawson a 1-0 lead.

Dawson erupted in the second inning with seven runs. Brooke Wende singled to begin the inning. Glass reached first on an error by Lady Trojan pitcher Hannah Meeler. After an out was made, Hensley singled to centerfield loading the bases. Walks to Hunsucker and Morrison forced Wende and Glass in to score. The big blow in the inning was a double by Lewis that cleared the bases.

Before the dust could settle Dawson County led 8-0.

North Hall scored two runs in the fourth, but the Lady Tigers came away with the 8-2 win.

Lewis got the win on the mound. She went seven innings while giving up just one hit. The junior also recorded 15 strikeouts. Lewis was also productive at the plate going 2-for-4 with two doubles and three RBIs.

Also picking up hits were Hunsucker, Morrison, Rogers, Wende and Hensley.

Joy Lewis led the Lady Tigers in hitting this season. Lewis finished the season with a .423 batting average. She scored 18 runs on 33 hits, which included seven doubles and a home run. In an amazing stat, the junior only had three strikeouts all season.

Dawson County finished the season with a 15-10 record.