By Shannon Fagan, WEIS Sports Director

CEDAR BLUFF – Cherokee County High School senior Carson Tittle was told by head baseball coach Josh Decker earlier in the week he would be getting the ball on the mound if the Warriors were playing in the Cherokee County Tournament championship game at Cedar Bluff.

Tittle relished the opportunity and didn’t disappoint.

He shrugged off two unearned runs in the top of the first inning against Spring Garden and held the Panthers scoreless the rest of the way, scattering four hits, a pair of walks and 11 strikeouts in a 3-2 victory that clinched the Warriors’ second straight county title on Friday night.

“To know my team depends on me to come pitch in this championship game means something,” Tittle said. “I couldn’t be more pumped about it.”

Tittle also led the Warriors (8-7) at the plate, going 2-for-2 with a double, two runs and a RBI.

Decker said Tittle had earned the right to start on the mound for the Warriors in Friday’s county championship game after battling back from two knee surgeries.

“I can’t say enough about the kid, coming back from what he’s dealt with in football and this being his last hurrah here,” Decker said. “He’s a gem. This is twice he’s proved to us throughout his career in big-time situations he wants the rock in his hand. He threw the ball great. He’s a competitor on the mound. I just can’t say enough about his toughness, his perseverance and his grit.”

Spring Garden coach Kyle Garmon said “that kid can sling it.”

“We stranded a lot of guys. We struck out too much. When we put it in play, they kicked it around a little bit and gave us an opportunity, but we never could get that hit to just plate a couple of more across,” Garmon said. “A 3-2 ball game, I’m proud of how my guys responded after they beat us 12-2 last Saturday. We bounced back and competed with them today.”

“They’re scrappy,” Tittle said. “They put up good at-bats throughout the game. I had to make a few adjustments.”

Giving the Panthers (2-6) that opportunity to compete was their own starting pitcher, Zane Edwards. He too went the distance, allowing just three earned runs on six hits with four walks and four strikeouts.

“Zane comes in and really didn’t have his best stuff, but he got better as the game went along,” Garmons said. “About the third inning he hit his groove. He was pitching some pretty good baseball.”

Decker agreed.

“He threw a very good game,” he said. “He was in the strike zone. His breaking balls were good. He kept us off-balance a little bit. Hats off to that guy. He did a great job.”

After Spring Garden took a 2-0 lead in the top of the first, the Warriors battled back with a pair of run in the bottom half. Following a lead off single to left by Adam Griffith, Tittle delivered a double to left for the Warriors’ first run. He later scored on a ground out double play to tie the game.

It remained a 2-2 game until the bottom of the fifth. The Warriors rallied for a run with two outs. Tittle was hit by a pitch, bringing sophomore right fielder Nate Black to the plate. Black blasted a triple to right center field to score Tittle for the go-ahead run.

“I had get something done, especially with two outs,” said Black, who also drew a walk. “I hit it as hard as I could and as far as I could. It didn’t go out, but it did something to change the game.”

“He’s caught fire the past couple of weeks and had some really big at-bats for us,” Decker said. “He’s been driving in a lot of runs. He’s proven time and time again that he can do that. He helped out tremendously at the plate tonight.”

Tittle made the Warriors’ final run stand. He recorded four of his 11 strikeouts over the final two innings.

Griffith finished 1-for-3 with a run for the Warriors. He’s had seven hits in his last 10 at-bats. James Hunter and Luke Young both contributed a hit and a walk. Parker Wilson also walked.

Hayes Garmon, Joel Hunter, Clayton Sadler and Jonathan Baker each had a hit for the Panthers. Garmon and Carson Bostick also drew a walk.

Cherokee County 18, Sand Rock 2 (5 innings)

CEDAR BLUFF – The Warriors were thrown a curve ball about three hours before game time of their first contest on Friday. They were told Cedar Bluff had forfeited its county tournament game from Thursday against Sand Rock after the use of an ineligible player, meaning the Wildcats were their opponent in the semifinals on Friday.

Ben Elsberry and Parker Wilson combined to throw a one-hitter in an 18-2 rout. Elsberry had six strikeouts while Wilson fanned five.

The Warriors struck for 10 runs in the first inning after sending 14 batters to the plate. Adam Griffith went 3-for-3 with two runs and a RBI. Carson Tittle delivered a double, a bloop single, a walk and five RBIs. Nate Black contributed a pair of hits, including a double, with a walk, two runs and three RBIs. Cameron Mayo managed a pair of hits and a pair of runs. Wilson also contributed a pair of hits, a run and two RBIs.

James Hunter and Luke Young both collected a hit, two runs and a RBI. Young also drew a walk. Case Hill had a hit, a walk and two runs. Aiden Bobbitt finished with a hit, a run and two RBIs.

Kane Robison had the lone hit for the Wildcats, an RBI-double to left off Wilson in the fifth inning. He also reached on an error in the fourth. Nick Clanton walked and scored a run. Morgan Tucker suffered the loss.