A comeback attempt for the Chilton County Tigers fell one-run short against Bibb County during a 9-8 defeat on March 10.

It was a sour ending after the Tigers led 5-2 at one point during the roller coaster game.

However, not long after Chilton County extended its lead to three, Bibb County slowly unraveled it with seven runs in the top of the sixth inning.

In the bottom half of the inning, the heart of CCHS batting order came to life with a sacrifice fly by Keaton Sullivan and a single to center by Dustin Cleckler that drove in runs and cut the deficit to one.

Despite the late-game heroics, the Tigers were not able to find any seventh inning magic.

“In baseball there are a lot of complex things, but if you can throw strikes, make the routine plays and put the ball in play hard, you can give yourself a chance to win,” CCHS head coach Ryan Ellison said. “That’s what we preach, and that’s what we’re trying to get to.”

Cleckler made his presence known at the plate throughout the game and seemed to be at the root of much of Chilton County’s offensive success.

“I’m finally starting to get my timing down on the ball, Cleckler said.

He finished with three hits, including an RBI triple in the fifth inning, and also scored twice.

“I’m seeing it slowly starting to progress as we go along,” Cleckler said. “We’re becoming more of a team.”

Austen Thornton received the start for the Tigers and struck out nine Bibb County batters in five innings of work.

“He is a freshman on a varsity stage, but I’ve got a lot of confidence in him,” Ellison said. “He had a rocky start, but battled back and gave us a chance to win. He just goes about his business.”