Samantha – Four straight wins for the Demopolis High Lady Tigers was impressive enough last week, but to gain four more at the Northside Invitational on Saturday puts the Lady Tigers on a winning streak that favors a catagory 2 hurricane in the Gulf of Mexico. One that gains strength as she moves closer to land, or in this case, one that gains strength as it closer to the state finals.

DHS senior Lauren Roark refused to give up a hit to the Stampede of Paul W. Bryant High School as she earned her second no hitter of the season to give the Lady Tigers a 7-0 win in the Lady Tigers’ first game of the Northside invitational.

The Lady Tiger offense scored three runs in the top of the first inning and never looked back. Sophomore Dorothy Knapp doubled and Brittany McGee was hit by a pitch before Roark doubled in Knapp. Katie Simmons would pick up two RBI’s with a hit that would score both McGee and Roark to give the Lady Tigers the early 3-0 lead. Demopolis would add another run in the second inning as Timie Lee scored on a two-out triple by McGee.

The final three runs of the contest would come in the fourth inning. Heather Wright reached on an error. Knapp then doubled. A sacrifice fly by Roark would score Wright and a double from Simmons allowed Knapp to cross home plate. Simmons then moved up to third on a steal and scored on a single by Kristin Etheridge.

Roark limited Bryant to only two base runners all day. A walk in the fourth inning saw their only scoring threat.

The Lady Tigers domination continued as senior Kelly Keasler took the mound in the second game of the day. Keasler promptly struck out the first nine batters she faced before finishing the game with a total of 12K’s to get the 5-0 win over the American Christian Academy Patriots. Keasler allowed two hits and one walk to earn the win.

Heather Wright put the Tigers ahead in the third inning as she scored on a sacrifice fly by Brittany McGee. The offense tacked on another run in the fourth inning when Kristin Etheridge crossed the plate on a single by Brittany Thorne.

The final three runs of the contest came in the fifth inning, as Dorothy Knapp walked and then moved to second on a sacrifice bunt by McGee. Knapp would then score on a double by Katie Simmons. A double by Etheridge then scored Simmons, and Etheridge would then score as Thorne reached on an error.

Lauren Roark (12-6) continued to dominate as she limited the Lady Wildcats of Hale County to one hit, while earning 13K’s with five walks to earn the 3-1 win for Demopolis.

The Lady Tigers scored two runs in the top of the first, as both Knapp and junior Brittany McGee reached on errors. Both would move up a base after a ground out by Roark, and both would then score on a single by Kristin Etheridge to make it a 2-0 game.

The Lady Tigers added a final run in the sixth inning after a lead off triple by Katie Simmons. Brittany Thorne then double to score Simmons. Hale County scored two runs in the bottom of the sixth inning before the Lady Tigers closed the game out.

The lady Tigers continued to dominate in their 4-1 bruising of Norhtside in the championship game.

Demopolis scored in the first inning to take a 1-0 lead when Brittany McGee singled and scored on a throwing error.

The Lady Rams responded with a run of their own in the first inning after Keasler hit a batter who would score on a triple two batters later, but that would be the only run for the host team.

The Tigers offense would force a pitching change in the sixth inning, but by then it was too late for Northside. Brittany Thorne doubled to left and scored on a double by senior India Chancelor. Timie Lee then walked and both runners moved up on a passed ball. Heather Wright would then single to score a run. The final run would come on a ground out by McGee.

Keasler (11-3) pitched a complete game and gave up two hits and struck out 16 batters to earn the win for Demopolis.

The Lady Tigers (24-9) will host Bibb County on Wednesday April 28, 2004 in their final regular season game. First pitch is scheduled for 6:00.

The Class 4A Area 8 tournament will begin on Friday April 30, 2004 with Demopolis playing host to Greensboro. Three games are slated for that day. The tournament will be played on the campus of Demopolis High School.