Staff Reports

CEDAR BLUFF – The Cedar Bluff Tigers appear to have turned things on just at the right time in the 2023 baseball season. They took a thrilling 6-5 victory over area rival Gaylesville on Wednesday to win the series and put themselves in the thick of the playoff hunt.

But just like Tuesday’s game at Gaylesville it wasn’t easy for the Tigers.

Cedar Bluff was up by a run in the top of the seventh inning when starting pitcher Kaden Pack walked Braden Sharp. Dameon Jeter came in to pinch run for Sharp.

With two outs, Tanner Eads doubled to left center field to bring Jeter around third, but the relay throw from Eli McFry to Hunter Stallings to Alex Baty was in time at the plate to retire Jeter and end the game.

“It was a classic Cedar Bluff-Gaylesville game,” Cedar Bluff head coach Jim Nelson said. “It was a good back-and-forth game. We just found a way to win at the end.”

Hagen Stallings led the Tigers (7-12, 2-2) at the plate with a pair of hits, a run and two RBIs. Eli McFry tripled and drove in two runs. Jacob Chambers contributed a hit and drove in a run. Kaden Pack posted a hit and scored a run.

Pack picked up the win after going the distance. He gave up one earned run on five hits with three walks and nine strikeouts.

Tanner Eads doubled and scored a run for the Trojans (11-8, 1-4). Kuper and Kyler Bradley both had a hit and scored a run. Kuper Bradley also drove in a run. Braden Sharp contributed a hit, a walk and a RBI. Hunter Allmond finished with a hit.

Collin Hendon suffered the loss after working six innings. He gave up six earned runs on five hits with four walks and three strikeouts.