SAND ROCK – Sometimes a high school baseball team can fool you in warmups.
The Sand Rock coaches were none too impressed with the Wildcats’ pregame workout on the field Friday, but they shook it off when it came to the actual game.
Sand Rock made the routine plays in the field and scored in each inning at the plate against Cedar Bluff, including an eight-run bottom of the fourth that put the exclamation point on a 16-0 win in five innings.
“I told the kids I don’t know what kind of pitching they’re going to have (following Cedar Bluff’s area series against Coosa Christian), but I think we need to score a lot of runs today,” Sand Rock coach Jeff Norris said. “I knew we were down on pitching. I had a lot of people eligible, but I didn’t want to throw them (with area games against Gaston next week).”
Sophomore starting pitcher Bradley Jackson obliged his head coach. He worked all five innings, giving up just four hits with no walks and four strikeouts to record the win for the Wildcats (5-1).
“He held them scoreless because we played defense behind him,” Norris said. “We were making all the routine plays. We gave them no errors. I keep telling them our MO is to throw strikes, play real good defense, and find a way to scratch out some runs. So far they’re buying it.”
Jackson also had plenty of help from the Wildcats at the plate.
Catcher Jacob Cornejo went 2-for-3 with a walk and drove in a run. Third baseman Slade St. Clair tripled, walked and was hit by a pitch. He also drove in a pair of runs. Center fielder Olin Pruitt doubled and had three walks and drove in two runs. First baseman Brian Giles doubled, drove in a run and was hit by a pitch. Second baseman Logan Wood doubled, walked and drove in a run. Right fielder Ethan Clanton singled, walked and drove in a run. Left fielder Austin Yoder singled and drove in three runs.
Jackson also helped himself at the plate with a double, a walk and drove in a run.
Cedar Bluff right fielder and leadoff batter Jared Dasher went 2-for-3 to lead the Tigers at the plate. Third baseman Kaden Pack and center fielder Eli McFry both had a hit apiece.
Preston Burt suffered the loss after working 2 1/3 innings. He gave up seven runs on five hits with four walks and three strikeouts.
The win improved Sand Rock’s record to 5-1 on the season.
“I can’t remember the last time we’ve gotten off to this kind of start,” Norris said. “We’ve got a lot of young kids who’ve got to grow up in a hurry, and so far they have.”