DEMOPOLIS – After a grueling night of softball on Friday, the Lady Hornets bat went dead Saturday afternoon in their area championship game.

They were shut out by the Demopolis Lady Tigers 7-0.

Dallas County managed only one hit the entire game.

“We’ve been held scoreless only three times during the season,” said Lady Hornet coach Ed Miller, once by a 6A team and now twice by Demopolis. We were kept off balance by their pitching.”

Kelly Keasler of the Lady Tigers moved the ball well as she retired 21 of 23 batters she faced. The Lady Hornets only hit was a two-out triple by Chelsea Chamberlain in the sixth.

“We just couldn’t find the spark today,” added coach Miller.

Demopolis scored two runs in the third on two singles, two stolen bases, a passed ball, a walk and a batter that was hit by the pitch.

They put across insurance runs in the fourth that included a three-run double to deep left field by Lauren Roark. And also two runs in the fifth with a double, a single and a base on balls.

“I thought we played a great team game from one thru nine,” said Demopolis coach Wayne Harris, “and Keasler pitched another great game for us. We were relaxed and confident this afternoon.”

The Lady Hornets (23 – 11), 4A Area 8 runner-up, go on the road to start state tournament play on Tuesday. Their opponent will be named by Monday.