MONTGOMERY – Though the 29-10 Demopolis High Tigers would out hit the Hokes Bluff Eagles 12-7 in their first of three games in the AHSAA 4A state championship; the Eagles would out score the Tigers 8-6 for the win.

Errors and poor base running would leave the Tigers trailing the Eagles throughout the first four innings of play. But even after tying things up in the fifth at 5-5 and coming within one out of taking the game back from the Eagles, it would another costly error that would leave the Tigers down 1-0 in the best of 3-game series.

“We put ourselves in a situation where we had to play catch up all night,” DHS head coach James Moody said. “But as bad as we played we were still able to keep ourselves in there till the end.”

It was, without a doubt the worst performance of the playoffs for the Tigers as they would give the Eagles five runs off of three errors and lose two guaranteed runs on the bases.

Junior Devin Goodwin (9-3) would get the start for the Tigers, but after throwing five pitches for strikes in the first inning and retiring the side in order, Goodwin would give up two walks, three earned runs and two unearned runs on four hits in the second and third innings.

“I felt really good in the first inning, but then I got to feeling really uncomfortable on the mound and couldn’t hit my spots or even get a good push off the mound to make a decent pitch,” Goodwin said.

Moody would bring in sophomore pitcher Tyler Moody to replace Goodwin in the third inning, who would stop the bleeding in the third and go on to shut down the Eagles hitting attack for three more innings.

“I think Tyler did a great job of keeping us in the game,” Coach Moody said.

Moody would take the loss for the Tigers going 4.2 innings earning 4K’s, while giving up three runs (all unearned) on three hits with three walks.

Mitch Miller (10-3), the Eagles No. 1 starting pitcher would pick up the win going six innings earning 3K’s, while giving up six runs (all earned) on 12 hits with two walks.

Center fielder Chad Schroeder would lead the Tigers at the plate going 2-for-3 with 2RBIs, while shortstop Bart Pettus would also go 2-for-3 with 1RBI. Goodwin would go 2-for-4 along with catcher Clarke Kerby and third basemen Seth Basinger.

“I felt that we did really well at the plate against their No 1,” Coach Moody said. “We out hit them. Judging by what we saw today, they know that they’re going to have to come to the park tomorrow ready to play.”

As for tomorrow, the Tigers will have a chance to do what they do best, sweep. Two games, two wins and the Tigers will be champions. Game one is set for 10 a.m. at Patterson Field