Staff Reports

SPRING GARDEN – Sand Rock’s Kailee Patterson doubled and scored the game’s only run on an infield single by Emma Thompson. Emma Sipsy made that run stand in the circle in the Lady Wildcats’ 1-0 win over Cedar Bluff in the Cherokee County Softball Tournament on Wednesday.

Thompson went 2-for-2 at the plate with a RBI. Patterson was 1-for-2 with a double and a run. Sipsy and Bailee Kilgore also both finished 1-for-2 at the plate for Sand Rock.

Sipsy tossed innings, allowing just three hits and a walk with seven strikeouts. She ran into a little trouble in the top of the sixth. Cedar Bluff’s Za’Niya Kyle belted a hit to the right field fence and wound up at third base with two outs, but Sipsy dug in and struck out Kindal Grace to preserve the win.

Grace went 1-for-2 at the plate for Cedar Bluff. Kyle was 1-for-3. Kaylyn Vadon was also 1-for-3 with a double.

Blakelea Hall was the tough-luck loser in the circle. She tossed five innings, allowing an earned run on five hits with no walks and no strikeouts.

Sand Rock advances to face defending tournament champion Cherokee County on Thursday at 3 p.m. Cedar Bluff faces Spring Garden at 4:30 p.m.

The following is a roundup of Wednesday’s other tournament action.

Spring Garden 16, Gaylesville 2

Spring Garden’s Lilly McCain homered, singled and walked at the plate. She also picked up the win in the circle, allowing two earned runs on five hits with five walks and a pair of strikeouts in the Lady Panthers’ 16-2 softball season-opening victory over Gaylesville in the Cherokee County Tournament on Wednesday.

Helena Ingram belted a pair of doubles and drove in three runs for the Lady Panthers. Maggie Reedy registered a pair of hits and a walk. Rylie Ham also had two hits and drove in three runs. Avery Steward added a hit and walked three times. Maggie Jarrett and Layla Ingram both finished with a hit. Jarrett drove in a run and Layla Ingram drove in three runs.

Emma Givens led the Lady Trojans at the plate by going 2-for-2 with a walk. Gracie Dawson also delivered a pair of hits. Lydia Reynolds had a single and drove in a run. Karley Ray walked twice.

Reynolds suffered the loss.

Cherokee County 12, Spring Garden 3

Grayson Tucker held Spring Garden without a hit through three innings. She allowed three earned runs on six hits with a walk and 12 strikeouts in leading the Cherokee County Lady Warriors to a 12-3 victory.

Tucker also drew three walks at the plate. Emma Hill doubled and walked. Bristol Bass and Audrey Haygood both delivered two-run singles. Bass also walked and Haygood walked twice. Raechel Russell singled and was hit by a pitch. Anna Walker walked three times and Lanie Williams was hit by pitches twice. Abby Lea walked twice and was hit by a pitch.

Avery Steward and Helena Ingram led the Lady Panthers at the plate with a pair of hits apiece. Jarrett had a hit and drove in two runs. McCain and Layla Ingram both singled.

Steward suffered the loss for the Lady Panthers.

Cedar Bluff 13, Gaylesville 2

Cedar Bluff rebounded from its earlier loss to Sand Rock with a 13-2 victory over Gaylesville in the losers bracket of the Cherokee County Softball Tournament on Wednesday.

The Lady Tigers scored five runs in the top of the second, four in the third and four more in the fourth.

That proved to be more than enough run support for Mackenzie Kimmons. She held Gaylesville to just one hit through four innings. Kimmons gave up two unearned runs in the bottom of the third. She walked six and had four strikeouts.

Kaylyn and Kylie Vadon and Rylie Walker each had a pair of hits to lead the Lady Tigers at the plate. Kaylyn Vadon and Walker both drove in a pair of runs. Kaylyn Vadon also walked and scored a run. Kylie Vadon walked, scored three runs and drove in one.

Anna Henderson doubled, walked, scored a run and had two RBIs. Jacie Clowdis added a hit and scored a run. Grace walked twice and scored two runs. Anslee Evans scored twice. Kyle and Janaya Higgins both walked and scored a run.

Gracelyn Drake had the lone hit for the Lady Trojans. Givens and Jayden Dobbins both walked and scored a run. Reynolds walked twice and Aubree Colbert walked once.

Cedar Bluff takes on Spring Garden on Thursday at 4:30 p.m.