CEDAR BLUFF – Despite swirling wind conditions, Cedar Bluff pitcher Reece Patterson tossed a one-hit shutout against area rival Gaylesville on Thursday. She had a no-hitter intact with one out in the sixth until Gaylesville’s Sierra Holbrook hammered a single to left, but Patterson rebounded to retire the next two Lady Trojans in Cedar Bluff’s 11-0 victory.
It was the Lady Tigers’ eighth straight victory.
“We’re playing dang good ball, offensively and defensively. It’s all strung together,” Cedar Bluff coach Garrett Crane said. “Every day at practice they’re coming to work. We hope to keep this streak rolling and keep hot the remainder of the year.”
Patterson has been a part of that success of late for the Lady Tigers (15-6-2). She finished Thursday’s game with four walks and six strikeouts.
“We’ve played through harsher conditions,” Patterson said. “Windy days are hard, but the weather was still pretty good. My defense did great. I had to adjust a little bit because I needed to start getting ahead in the count. I fell behind and had a few walks, but whenever I got ahead I started doing better.”
The Lady Trojans put a little pressure on Patterson in the top of the first inning. Leadoff batter Emma Givens earned a walk and shortstop Jayden Dobbins reached on an error at third with two outs, but Patterson got first baseman Peyton Bright to ground out to her for the final out of the inning.
“It was a little tight in the strike zone, but Reece actually threw it extremely well all day long,” Crane said. “She gave our fielders opportunities to field it. She filled it up all day.”
Third baseman Natalie Baty provided all the offense Patterson needed. She blasted a two-run homer to center field in the bottom of the first inning off her former team.
Baty also walked twice and drove in another run in the bottom of the fourth.
“Natalie has been back and forth on her stance, but she comes to work every day,” Crane said. “She’s bought in and made some adjustments on some things we’ve asked of her to do. She got it started today, got our energy rolling.”
Baty said she’s proud to be part of the Lady Tigers’ strong batting lineup.
“When I moved here, I was excited for what we were going to have,” she said. “We know we just can’t leave people stranded. We string along what we can. No matter what part of the lineup we’re in, we still have power hitters. We’re strong top to bottom. I hope we keep going strong. I know we have the players to keep it going.”
Baty’s two-run shot in the first was part of a four-run inning. Shortstop Mattie Payne and first baseman Jordyn Walker both delivered run-scoring doubles before Baty’s blast.
The Lady Tigers kept adding to their lead. They scored a run in the second, two more in the third, and put the game away with four more in the fourth.
“We always talk about not being complacent and just keep adding,” Crane said. “It’s striking first and answering back, and they always answer the call. They always do a great job and understand that one or two is never enough.”
Payne went 2-for-3 for the Lady Tigers. Patterson was 1-for-2 with a walk. Walker went 1-for-3. Haley Allen, Emma Haney and Caitlin Slayton each contributed a hit apiece. Harlie Nelson drew a walk.
Gracie Dawson walked twice for Gaylesville. Sydney Smith also earned a walk. Delaney Coker suffered the loss.
