YOUNG CATS COME UP BIG IN BIG AREA WIN

Young Cats stepped up in action against Area rival Cherokee County Monday in a contest that needed extra innings to determine the outcome.  Freshman outfielder Audrey Thomas was unconscious at the plate, going 2 for 3 with a single, a triple, one run scored, and 3 RBI's to lead the Wildcats to a huge, much needed win over the Warriors.  Freshman outfielder Courtney Redington went 1 for 4 with a single, a walk and two runs scored.  Chloe Whitaker (sophomore 2B) went 1 for 3 with a run scored, and junior third baseman Caitlin Stewart added an RBI double and a run scored.

The game was scoreless until the fourth inning when Chloe Whitaker and Courtney Redington stood anxiously at second and third bases.  Audrey Thomas took the next pitch down the right field line to score both of her teammates and gave her team a 2-0 lead.  Caitlin Stewart followed with a double of her own to left center to score Thomas and extend the lead to 3-0. 

Guntersville won the fourth inning and held the Warriors to no hits in the bottom of the 4th.  Senior Ace hurler Amanda Mason didn't have her best stuff tonight, but her youthful teammates had her back.  Signs of a maturing group of young ladies are a sight for sore eyes of the Guntersville faithful.  This bunch has been on the verge of some really good things as of late, but they've had difficulty getting over the hump.  Tonight was a game of true grit.  The Wildcats held a 3-0 lead through four innings, but the Warriors took advantage of the lone Wildcat error of the game in the 5th, scoring 3 to tie the game. The Cats would re-gain the lead and lose the lead once more in the 6th before prevailing in the 8th inning.

Jade Harden walked to start the 6th inning for Guntersville and Audrey Thomas had more firepower in her bat.  The freshman blasted a shot to the right center field fence for her second triple of the season, scoring Harden for her third RBI of the game.  The Cats had re-gained the lead at 4-3 heading into the bottom of the 6th.  Cherokee Co. answered with a pinch hit solo homerun by Ashley Justice to tie the game once more.  Then with 2 outs and a runner at second, Cherokee Co third baseman (L) Rochester blooped a single to right field and (L) Curry got the go ahead to round third for home.  Wildcat sophomore right fielder KeKe Hampton fielded it on the second hop, crow hopped and deliverd a perfect, one-hopping strike to catcher Beverly McDonald who made the tag for out number 3 in the inning.  The go-ahead run was not to be and the game remained tied once more at 4-4.

Neither team could muster a hit in the 7th, but Courtney Redington got the Cats back on track in the 8th with a single up the middle.  After a Jade Harden sac bunt and a wild pitch, Redington represented the go ahead run at third base with two outs.  Caitlin Stewart reached on a Warrior throwing error and Redington scored to give the Cats a 5-4 lead.  KeKe Hampton added a bases loaded walk to score Stewart and give the Cats the 6-4 lead.  The Warriors went down in order in the 7th and 8th inning as the Wildcat defense gave up no hits. 

The 6-4, extra-inning win was a much-needed win for the young Wildcats who started only two seniors in the last few contests.  Guntersville improves to 5-7 and are currently on a two-game win streak.  The breaks that were not to be early in the season, are going the way of the Wildcats in the past two games.  Confidence has been added to the enthusiasm and good attitudes and good things are beginning to happen.  Keep it up Cats!!