GAYLESVILLE – The Cedar Bluff Tiger baseball team had been anxiously awaiting their new pinstripe uniforms that were ordered during spring break by head coach Jim Nelson.
They came in Friday morning from FedEx at 11 a.m., just in time for the Tigers’ Class 1A, Area 12 game at Gaylesville.
After their debut in them on Friday afternoon, the Tigers may not want to take them off any time soon.
Junior shortstop Jacob Burleson blasted two home runs to left field, including a three-run shot in the third inning. Senior third baseman Corey Teague went 4-for-4 with a three-run blast in the top of the fifth inning in the Tigers’ 14-2 victory.
“We worked at practice yesterday just keeping through the ball, line drive, thinking oppo (opposite field),” Burleson said. “We just needed to jump on them fast and not let up, and that’s what we did.”
“Coach Nelson and the rest of the guys have been working really hard trying to get into a rhythm with the sticks, and I think it’s really paid off a lot, especially the last week or so,” Teague said. “I’m proud of the guys for how hard we’ve been working.”
The Tigers took the early 1-0 lead in the top of the first on Burleson’s first dinger to left, but Gaylesville tied the game at a run apiece in the bottom half on a RBI-single by first baseman Briley Mitchell.
After a scoreless second, Burleson connected on his second shot as the Tigers sent 13 batters to the plate against Trojan starting pitcher Tyler Bentheimer. Cedar Bluff pushed across eight runs in the inning to take control of the game at 8-1.
After adding another run in the fourth on Trojan reliever DJ Lee, Teague slammed the door with his three-run shot in the top of the fifth.
“As a team, we’re starting to swing the bat a little bit,” Nelson said. “I’m really proud of the guys and the way we’ve overcome some things. We’ve started playing pretty good baseball.”
Freshman Kaden Pack picked up the win for the Tigers. He worked three innings, giving up two runs on four hits with a walk and a pair of strikeouts. Teague finished off the Trojans in the final two innings.
Tiger first baseman Hagen Stallings, catcher Preston Burt, right fielder Hunter Stallings and Pack each had a pair of hits. Second baseman Jared Dasher had a hit and a pair of walks. Left fielder Eli McFry finished with a hit. Burleson also walked.
Designated hitter Braden Sharp doubled and walked for the Trojans. Bentheimer, Mitchell right fielder JJ Yarbrough each had a hit. Mitchell and Yarbrough also drew a walk apiece.
Bentheimer suffered the loss after working three innings. He finished with five strikeouts.
