South squad All-Star Cassie Daniels continued her dominance Thursday, fanning 16 Demopolis batters while helping Dallas County (18-1) pick up a 5-1 win on the road.

“Cassie is getting better and better everyday pitching,” DCHS head coach Ed Miller said.

“She’s good. There’s no question. She’s very good and very talented,” Demopolis head coach Joey Browder said. “She’s got a real good defense backing her up.”

Daniels worked seven innings, issuing three walks along the way. The only hit she surrendered came in the sixth inning when Demopolis senior Carly Latham stroked a double over the head of the left fielder who was playing a little too far up. Demopolis (11-14) managed to get runners on second and third with only one out, but Daniels struck out the next two batters to end the frame unscathed.

The lone run allowed by Daniels came in the fourth inning on senior Samantha Walker’s solo effort. The Demopolis speedster reached on an error and proceeded to steal second and third. After watching another teammate strike out, Walker broke for home on a delayed steal to tie the game at one apiece.

“We feel like if we can score more than one run, we can win. I don’t remember the last time we gave up more than one run,” Miller said. “It may have been since the first or second ball game that we gave up more than one.”

Demopolis put a runner on via a walk with one out in the seventh. Dallas County neutralized the threat with a strike-em-out-throw-em-out double play to end the game.

“We didn’t quit. We didn’t give up,” Browder said. “I like the way that we played aggressive.”

Miller was pleased with the way his team performed in a tight ball game after having watched it run away from opponents all season long.

“It’s been fantastic,” he said. “They work very hard. They take every game serious.”

Demopolis has a date with Bibb County and a rematch with Dallas County left on the docket as well as a trip to a tournament in Orange Beach. The Lady Tigers will use that time to try and get ready for an area tournament that will likely be hosted by Chilton County.

“We’re going to get better hitting. We’re going to bet better fielding,” Browder said. “And we’re continuing to come together.”