SPRING GARDEN – Cherokee County High School freshman pitcher Magen Rich made sure the Lady Warriors got off to a good start in defending their county softball crown Thursday.

Rich tossed a no-hitter with six strikeouts against Gaylesville at Spring Garden, a 13-0 Lady Warrior victory in five innings.

“I just try to do what my teammates need me to do,” Rich said. “Having my defense behind me helps so much, and us being able to come out and bat today really helped too. It got me in a good mood knowing we had scored some runs.”

Cherokee County (3-8) advances to meet Cedar Bluff on Friday at 4 p.m.

As Rich said, she had plenty of run support from her teammates.

After a scoreless first inning, senior second baseman Madison Millsaps delivered a two-run double to center in the second to put the Lady Warriors in front 2-0.

Cherokee County loaded the bases in the third with two outs and eighth-grade shortstop Kendal Perry belted a double to center to score three runs, putting they Lady Warriors up 5-0.

Cherokee County put the game out of reach by sending 11 batters to the plate in the fourth. The Lady Warriors scored eight runs, including a two-run double by centerfielder Kayle Moon and run-scoring doubles by first baseman Molly Brewer, catcher Jensen Alexander and right fielder Miranda Miller. Leftfielder Summer Smith added a run-scoring single.

“We had some clutch hits, and that was good for us,” Lady Warrior coach Kayla Ray said. “I think we looked a little better at the plate than we have. We looked a little more calm. They had some good at-bats and adjusted well.”

Third baseman Madelyn Mitchell was the only Lady Trojan to reach base. She walked in the fifth with one out. Rich shook off the walk and struck out Taylor Tomlin and Hali Teague to preserve her no-hitter.

“She had a great game,” Ray said of Rich. “She did a great job of getting ahead and staying ahead of batters. We’re proud of her.”

Sabrina Mayes suffered the loss for the Lady Trojans, who were eliminated from the tournament by Sand Rock in their second game on Thursday.

Spring Garden 7, Sand Rock 3

SPRING GARDEN – Spring Garden second baseman Jessica Smart went 3-for-3 with a two-run homer to left field in the second inning to help propel the Lady Panthers past Sand Rock 7-3 in the Cherokee County Softball Tournament on Thursday.

Smart got things going for the Lady Panthers (5-2-1) in the first inning, reaching base on an error at short. Pitcher Kerstin Bryant followed with a walk. Both Smart and Bryant scored on a single by leftfielder Madison Sides, giving the Lady Panthers a 2-0 lead.

Sand Rock countered with a run in the bottom of the first on a RBI-double by third baseman Madison Smith, cutting Spring Garden’s lead to 2-1.

Smart’s two-run homer stretched the Lady Panther lead to 4-1. Spring Garden extended its lead to 6-1 on run-scoring singles by Kenzie Micha and Smart in the top of the third.

Sand Rock cut its deficit in half at 6-3 in the bottom of the third on a two-run double by Smith. She finished the game going 2-for-2 with a walk and drove in all three Lady Wildcat runs.

Spring Garden tacked on an insurance run in the top of the sixth for the final.

Bryant picked up the win in the circle. She tossed three innings before giving way to Sides, who closed out the game.

Williams suffered the loss for the Lady Wildcats after giving up four runs in the first two innings. She gave way to Kaitlyn Dodd in the third.

Madison McCullough and Brylie St. Clair added a hit apiece for the Lady Wildcats.

Sand Rock 15, Gaylesville 0

SPRING GARDEN – Sand Rock scored six runs in the first, five more in the second and three more in the third to post a 15-0 victory over Gaylesville in four innings in a Cherokee County Softball Tournament elimination game on Thursday at Spring Garden.

Madison Smith hit for the cycle for the Lady Wildcats (5-7). She went 4-for-4 with four runs and two RBIs.

Haley Hulgan went 3-for-3 with two doubles and five RBIs. Madison McCullough was 3-for-4 with a pair of doubles, two runs and two RBIs. Courtney Williams, Paige Norris and Madison Allen all had a pair of hits. Williams also drove in two runs. Norris and Allen scored two runs apiece.

Madalyn Oliver and Brylie St. Clair both had hits. Oliver drove in three runs and St. Clair drove in another.

Williams picked up the win after tossing three innings. She surrendered one hit and two walks with a strikeout. Kaitlyn Dodd tossed a scoreless fourth.

Lauren Hammett had the lone hit for Gaylesville (6-8). Madelyn Mitchell had two walks. Sabrina Mayes suffered the loss for the Lady Trojans.