Caldwell County sophomore Preston Alfred went five strong innings on the mound as he and two relievers combined to one-hit Hopkins County Central Tuesday afternoon in Princeton.
The Tigers used a three-run first inning and a four-run third to roll past the Storm 8-0 in the 7th District contest at the VFW Ballpark.
The two teams will square off again Thursday in Mortons Gap.
Alfred struck out six and did not walk a batter while picking up the pitching decision. He allowed one baserunner on a hit by pitch while three Caldwell errors accounted for three more runners.
It probably should have been a no-hitter for the Tigers, but a grounder off the bat of Eli Earl struck a baserunner who was on his way to second base from first.
The baserunner was out. But, by rule, the hitter was credited with a single.
Collin Whittington faced three batters in the top of the sixth inning before Scott Cortner came in to finish off the shutout for Caldwell. Cortner struck out three and walked one in 1.2 innings.
Offensively, Caldwell jumped on Hopkins Central for three runs in the first while beating the Storm for the 19th straight time and 31 of the last 32 meetings.
Ari Wells drove in a run with a groundout. Another run scored on a wild pitch. The Tigers picked up their third run when Drew Stevens and Paul Fallgreen pulled off a double steal.
Caldwell (4-1 overall, 1-0 district) stretched the margin to 7-0 in the third.
Scott Cortner knocked in two of those runs with a double to right-center. The Tigers pulled off another double steal during the frame while another run came in on a wild pitch.
Caldwell’s eighth run came in the sixth when Mitchell Phelps walked, stole second, took third on a groundout and scored on a wild pitch.
Cortner and Derek Wilson each had doubles for Caldwell. Whittington, Luke Parker, Westin King and Channing Puckett each singled.
Hopkins Central is now 2-4 and 0-1.
