Wildcats quickly contain Golden Eagles

Shelbyville senior Drew Turner leads off to begin Friday's game. (T-G Photo by Chad Tracy) [Click to enlarge] [Order this photo]

It was all the Lawrence County Wildcats needed to secure a 4-1 District 8-AAA tournament victory over the Shelbyville Golden Eagles in first round action Friday night at Coffee County High.

The 'Cats used two clutch two-out hits in the bottom of the first to build an early 3-0 advantage.

Cason Sanders' RBI single with bases loaded got Lawrence County on the board before Zach White followed with a two-run double to increase the lead to three.

Shelbyville managed just three total baserunners in each of the first three innings, using two Wildcat errors sandwiched around a Darrell Hardison double in the second.

The Eagles (12-16) scored their lone run in the fourth to draw within 3-1. Chase Dial and Hunter Brothers each cracked a single before Hardison's fielder's choice combined with a 'Cat throwing error plated courtesy runner Will Trice moments later.

Shelbyville's one final shot at a rally came in the sixth when Stephon Ransom led off with an infield single. Two batters later, Jordan Cooper's deep blast to left center into a steady wind was caught against the wall to effectively end the Golden Eagles' hopes of a comeback.

Lawrence County (18-10), which advanced to meet No. 2 seed Franklin County in the winner's bracket on Saturday, added one key insurance run in the sixth on an Andrew Nutt RBI single to close the scoring.

Meanwhile, the Eagles dropped to the losers bracket to face top-seeded Lincoln County or Tullahoma on Saturday evening.

Shelbyville managed just four hits as the 'Cats got solid pitching and defense.

Senior Hunter Bates went the distance on the mound, striking out six and walking four while allowing seven hits in the workmanlike effort.