Demopolis (0-3) watched 10 batters strike out over seven innings in a 7-2 loss to Leroy Friday night, spoiling the Tigers’ home opener.

“We’ve got to compete at the plate,” Demopolis High head coach Ben Ramer said. “We’re not making people make plays on us.”

The Tigers got down early when Leroy pushed a run across in the first inning. The scored remained 1-0 until the bottom of the third when junior Chase Cameron roped a two-out, two-RBI single that plated Deonte Washington and Kole Thrasher, putting Demopolis up 2-1. The hit was one of only three Tiger knocks on the night.

The lead proved short-lived as Leroy pushed two runs across the plate in the fourth inning. The Bears added two more runs in each of the fifth and sixth innings.

The struggles at the plate served to squander what Ramer considered a much-improved performance on the part of his pitching staff.

Cameron started the game on the mound, going four and two-thirds innings and allowing no earned runs. He surrendered four hits and four walks and plunked a batter. Despite being eratic at times, Cameron struck out seven Bears before handing the ball over to Bill Holemon with two outs and a runner at third in the fifth inning.

“Big improvement from his first outing on Monday,” Ramer said of Cameron. “He competed tonight. That is what we want out of him. He’s going to give us a chance to win with that effort.”

The change of pace from Cameron’s fastball penchant to Holemon’s breaking action helped the Tigers wiggle out of the jam without any further damage as the latter froze the Leroy batter for a called strike three.

Holemon finished out the game, allowing one hit and one earned run while walking none and striking out three over two and a third innings of work.

“From Monday, a much better performance. Bill is not a guy that can throw it by you. He’s got to do what he does,” Ramer said of Holemon. “I don’t have any problem with our pitching tonight. I thought what they did on the mound gave us a chance to win the ball game.”

Demopolis plays again today at 1:30 and 4 p.m. when it hosts Wetumpka and Jackson respectively.