By Shannon Fagan, WEIS Sports Director
CENTRE – The Spring Garden Panthers pulled away late to take a 15-5 win over Sand Rock in six innings in the Cherokee County Baseball Tournament on Thursday evening.
Trailing 5-4 into the bottom of the third inning, the Panthers (6-5) scored a pair of runs in the third, three more in the fifth, and closed out the game with six runs in the sixth.
Brady Ruark turned in a 4-for-4 performance at the plate with four runs and three RBIs. Joel Hunter homered to right field to spark the Panthers’ four-run first inning. He also had a bunt single and scored two runs.
Ben Baker collected a pair of hits, a pair of walks, four runs, and two RBIs. Dawson Ellzey delivered two hits and three RBIs. Clayton Sadler also contributed two hits, two runs, and a RBI.
Zane Edwards added a hit, a walk, and two runs. Zack Scogin had a hit, a walk, and a RBI. Hayes Guthrie finished with a hit, a walk, a run, and a RBI.
Baker earned the win on the mound for the Panthers. He tossed 5 1/3 innings and allowed an earned run on two hits with three walks and 11 strikeouts. Ellzey worked 2/3 of an inning and walked two batters.
Morgan Tucker doubled, walked, scored two runs, and drove in one for the Wildcats (3-10). Bailey Martin managed a hit and three RBIs. Brycen Murphy and Lathan Amos both walked and scored a run.
Gaven Glenn suffered the loss in relief of starter Lucas Morgan. Glenn tossed four innings and finished with three strikeouts before giving way to Grayson Lane in the sixth.
Spring Garden advances to face the winner of Friday’s Cedar Bluff-Cherokee County game in the tournament championship at 7 p.m.
Cedar Bluff 13, Gaylesville 2
CENTRE – After spotting the Gaylesville Trojans an early run, the Cedar Bluff Tigers scored four runs in the bottom of the first inning, four more in the second, a run in the third, and four in the fourth to take a 13-2 victory in the Cherokee County Baseball Tournament on Thursday.
Sam Payne, Kadien Tracy, and Hunter Mobbs each belted three hits at the plate for the Tigers (5-8). Payne had a double, two runs, and four RBIs. Tracy scored three times and drove in three runs. Mobbs also scored three times and drove in a run.
Bubba Chadwick delivered a pair of triples, drove in two runs, and scored another. Kuper Bradley had a pair of hits and scored a pair of runs. Bryson Teague doubled and scored a run.
Fischer Young earned the win for the Tigers. He pitched all five innings and gave up two unearned runs on three hits with two walks and seven strikeouts.
Bradley Smith, Cole Hendon, and Jack Sentell each delivered a hit for the Trojans (2-5). Smith drove in both Trojan runs. Hendon also walked and scored a run. Mason Hall walked and scored a run.
Hayden Dodd suffered the loss for Gaylesville. He finished with eight strikeouts.
Cedar Bluff advances to face Cherokee County at 4:30 p.m. on Friday.
