PREP BASEBALL: ‘Cats roll past Grissom 10-5

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Brennen Norton’s grand slam in the fourth inning helped lead the Bearcats past Grissom 10-5 Tuesday night. (Nick Griffin/The Cullman Tribune)

CULLMAN, Ala. – After splitting a pair of matchups on the road over the weekend, Cullman returned to Bill Shelton Field Tuesday night to host Grissom. Four different arms on the mound and a grand slam off the bat of Brennen Norton helped lead the Bearcats past the Tigers 10-5, improving their record to 8-2 on the season.

Kaleb Heatherly got the start for Cullman and retired the first three batters he faced. Brady Patterson drew a walk, Brennen Norton was hit by a pitch and Nicholas Braswell singled to load the bases for Jaylen Hughey in the bottom half of the first. Hughey lifted one deep to right field and off the wall to clear the bases and make it a 3-0 game going into the second inning.

After a scoreless second inning, the Tigers responded in the top of the third with three runs to tie the game. A.J. Miller drew a walk with the bases loaded to give the ‘Cats a 4-3 lead in the bottom of the third but a pair of RBI doubles put Grissom back in front 5-4 in the top half of the fourth. Cullman reclaimed the lead for good in the bottom half of the inning. After singles from Grant Morrison, Patterson and Matt Brock loaded the bases, Norton put one over the left field fence and on top of the field house to give Cullman an 8-5 lead.

Miller took the mound at the start of the fifth and the Tigers off the board. Brock scored on a fielder’s choice in the sixth to stretch the lead to 9-5 and Austin Hurt drew another walk with the bases loaded to make it a 10-5 game going into the final frame. Miller put away the final three batters in just eight pitches to seal the 10-5 win for the Bearcats.

Norton (grand slam) led Cullman with four RBIs in the win, followed by Hughey (triple) with three. Braswell (one hit), Miller and Hurt each drove in runs as well. Brock added a pair of hits in the win.

The Bearcats will be back in action Thursday at this year’s Perfect Game High School Showdown at the Hoover Met Sports Complex. Cullman will face Northside at 3:30.

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