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ELLAVILLE – Thanks in part to a three-run home run by third baseman Trenton Stubbs in the bottom of the first inning, the Schley County Wildcats baseball team (SCHS) was able to defeat the Upson-Lee Knights (ULH) by the score of 5-2 on Thursday, March 14, at Wildcat Park.

“I like the offensive part of the game,” SCHS Head Coach Chuck Cheek said. “We started off really strong, scoring four runs in the first inning. Rylan (Conner) had a lead off double in the second. We executed a bunt, got the ground ball, got him in. I loved the fact that we were able to execute the small ball part of the game. That was the good. The negative was that we put up four zeros after that.”

The Wildcats were able to score their final run of the game in the bottom of the second inning. Rylan Conner led off the inning with a double and he would later score when Jay Kanazawa hit into a fielder’s choice.

SCHS starting pitcher Brody Smith pitched extremely well in this game for the Wildcats. In seven innings of work, Smith gave up two runs on six hits, walked a batter and struck out eight.

“Brody was exceptional,” Cheek said. “He got a lot of first pitch swings, weak contact. He kept his pitch count down. We played an hour and 20 minute baseball game and I think he only threw 70 something pitches. He was commanding the strike zone, changing speeds. He looked really good. I’m proud of him.”

In addition to Stubbs’ three-run homer and Smith’s outstanding performance on the mound, first baseman Jack Clark went 2 for 3 at the plate with an RBI and scored a run. Both Jay Kanazawa and Rylan Conner each had a hit in the game. Conner had the leadoff double in the second and Kanazawa led off the bottom of the first inning with a single.

The Wildcats (10-1) will travel up to Butler to take on region foe Taylor County on Tuesday. First pitch is scheduled for 5:30 p.m.