CEDAR BLUFF - Cedar Bluff gave baseball fans a possible preview of the upcoming Cherokee County Tournament on Saturday by taking on county rivals Spring Garden and Sand Rock on Saturday. The Tigers swept both games, defeating Spring Garden 8-6 and Sand Rock 11-3 to improve to 7-2 on the season.
In the first of three games, Tiger first baseman Ross Johnson roughed up the Panthers (6-2) for six RBIs in leading Cedar Bluff to the win.
“I was proud of Ross today at the plate,†Tiger head coach Andrew Kinney said. “HeÐÔÊӽ紫ý been injured throughout the season, and this is just his second game back. HeÐÔÊӽ紫ý been kind of down on himself, but today he came up with two big hits for us. Spring Garden versus Cedar Bluff is always going to be good baseball, and it was a great game today.â€
Johnson took a base on balls in his first at-bat. In his second, he cleared the bases with a double to right center. In his third, he blasted a three-run home run.
The Panthers would wisely issue an intentional walk to the first baseman in his fourth at bat.
Dakota Dobbins would also collect a RBI and reach base in each of his four at-bats for the Tigers.
Anthony Dingler earned the win on the mound for the Tigers, collecting three strikeouts in his 4 1/3 innings of work.
For the Panthers, Dawson Broome went 2-for-4 with a RBI. Ben Ivey, Joe Rogers, Christian Crider and Riley Austin also collected RBIs.
The Panthers bounced back in game two, winning 4-1 over the Wildcats (2-5).
Crider went the distance for Spring Garden, earning eight strikeouts and allowing just five hits in seven innings on his way to the win.
At the plate, Crider went 2-for-3 with a double and a RBI.
Broome launched a solo shot for the Panthers and went 2-for-3 in the game.
Carson Carver earned the Wildcats’ only RBI of the game.
“It was good to end the day with a win,†Panther head coach Barrett Ragsdale said.
“Crider was huge for us. He wasn’t on his best stuff, but he managed to give us seven innings. Batting-wise, Dawson Broome came through with a big home run to give us some security. I don’t think we’re playing our best ball right now, so hopefully we can get some things cleaned up before area play starts.â€
Wildcat head coach Tyler Driskell thought the Wildcats played well, but “Spring Garden had a few timely hits that we didn’t.â€
In the final game of the day, the Tigers cruised to an 11-3 victory over Sand Rock.
Keaton Kilgro earned the win for the Tigers, striking out 11 and surrendering just three runs.
Dingler, Johnson, and Kilgro each contributed a pair of hits and a RBI for the Tigers.
For Sand Rock, Perry Stevens went 2-for-4 with a pair of RBIs. Seth Justice went 1-for-3 with a RBI.
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Keep it Clean. Please avoid obscene, vulgar, lewd, racist or sexually-oriented language.
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