By Shannon Fagan, WEIS Sports Director

SAND ROCK – By his own admission, Cedar Bluff senior pitcher Hunter Stallings didn’t have his best stuff pitching at Class 2A, Area 13 rival Sand Rock on Monday. He said he struggled getting a grip on his curve ball.

But the Tiger offense had his back while he figured things out on the mound.

Cedar Bluff scored eight first-inning runs and added at least a run in every inning thereafter. Stallings got stronger as the game progressed in a 15-3 victory in five innings.

“I didn’t have it to start out with, but scoring all those runs really helped me just relax,” said Stallings, who allowed just four hits. “The first two innings I didn’t have my curve ball, but I stuck with it. I ended up finishing the last two innings pretty good. Our offense helped me out a lot.”

Not only did the Tiger offense help Stallings out, but head coach Colby Coursey did as well. He challenged Stallings to dig deep.

“He said ‘Coach, I haven’t got it.’ I said ‘Find it’ and he did,” Coursey said. “He did what had to do to get us a win. I commend him for that. He battled. He’s also been a bulldog at the plate all season long.”

As Coursey said, Stallings helped himself at the plate by going 2-for-2 with a double and three RBIs. He was also hit by a pitch and intentionally walked.

Stallings drove in the Tigers’ first run in the first on a single to right field. Cedar Bluff (9-2) sent 14 batters to the plate in the inning. They added another run in the second to take a 9-0 lead.

Sand Rock tried to rally in the bottom of the second and third innings. Ryker Woodall doubled and later scored to lead off the bottom of the second. The Wildcats added two more runs in the bottom of the third, with one coming on a RBI-double to left by Kane Robison. Sand Rock loaded the bases in the bottom of the fifth with one out, but Stallings struck out Spencer Holland and Isaiah Lewis to end the game.

Kuper Bradley singled twice and drove in a run for the Tigers. Isaac Bishop doubled, walked and was hit by a pitch. Samson Mallett singled, walked, was hit by a pair of pitches and drove in a pair of runs.

Bubba Chadwick walked, was hit by a pitch and drove in three runs. Caleb Edmondson and Bryson Teague both walked twice. Kolwyn Morrison walked once.

Woodall, Robison and Cam Gifford each went 1-for-2 for the Wildcats. Woodall and Robison both doubled. Woodall also walked. Morgan Tucker added a hit and a pair of walks.

Caiden Bullard suffered the loss.

The two teams wrap up their area series at Cedar Bluff on Tuesday beginning at 4:30 p.m. They’ll also face each other in the Cherokee County Tournament on Thursday at 4:30 p.m.