SAND ROCK – Walker Pruett worked five innings, giving up two runs on three hits with three walks and seven strikeouts. He also walked twice at the plate in helping the Cherokee County Warriors earn an 8-3 victory over Sand Rock in the Cherokee County Baseball Tournament on Thursday.

The win secured a spot in the tournament championship game against either Spring Garden or Cedar Bluff on Friday at 6:30 p.m.

Connor Wilson led the Warriors at the plate by going 2-for-2. He was also hit by a pitch. Malachi Horton singled, walked and was hit by a pitch. Tristan Whitefield and Jackson Waldrep both singled and drove in a run.

Haden Wheeler delivered a two run single in the bottom of the first to give the Warriors an early 2-0 lead. He also walked and drove in another run on a bunt in the bottom of the fifth.

Cooper Rodgers walked twice, and Jeb Crane also drew a walk.

Morgan Tucker led the Wildcats at the plate by going 2-for-3. Jake Middlebrooks and Caleb Yoder both had a hit and drove in a run. Zach Clanton contributed a hit. Slade StClair walked, was hit by a pitch and scored a run. Brian Giles, Cameron Gifford and Austin Yoder each drew a walk.

Austin Yoder suffered the loss for the Wildcats after working five innings. He gave up three runs on three hits with three walks and six strikeouts.

Cedar Bluff 21, Gaylesville 11

SAND ROCK – It took a little over three hours and 20 minutes, but the Cedar Bluff Tigers were able to win a marathon baseball battle with Gaylesville by the final of 21-11 in the Cherokee County Tournament opener on Thursday at Sand Rock.

The Tigers scored five runs in the bottom of the sixth inning to run-rule the Trojans. Bucky Leek led Cedar Bluff with three hits, a run and five RBIs. Hunter Stallings added a pair of hits, including a double, with a run and two RBIs. Kaden Pack posted a pair of hits, a pair of walks, four runs and two RBIs.

Preston Burt collected a pair of hits, a walk, three runs and a RBI. Jared Dasher delivered two hits, a walk, two runs and two RBIs. Eli McFry managed a hit, two walks, four runs and a RBI. Ashton Young contributed a hit, a walk, a run and three RBIs. Jacob Burleson finished with a hit, a walk and a run.

Kyler Bradley led the Trojans at the plate by going 3-for-4 with a double, a walk and two runs. Brayden Sharp had a pair of hits, including a double, with two runs and three RBIs. Briley Mitchell doubled, scored a pair of runs and drove in three more.

Gaylesville took an early 2-0 lead into the bottom of the second inning before Cedar Bluff took the lead with four runs. The Trojans battled back out in front with five runs in the top of the third to go up 7-4, but the Tigers tied things up at seven with three runs in bottom half of the inning.

Cedar Bluff took its first lead of the game with five runs in the bottom of the fourth to go out in front 12-7, but Gaylesville cut its deficit to 12-11 with four runs in the top of the fifth.

The Tigers tallied four runs in their half of the fifth and walked things off with five runs in the bottom of the sixth.

Cedar Bluff takes on Spring Garden on Friday afternoon at 4 p.m.