S

The Huntland High School Hornets beat the Skyline Vikings 17-6 at home Monday for their ninth win of the season.

The Hornets scored multiple runs in all but one inning of the contest as they steadily pulled away for a blowout victory.

The Vikings were the first team on the board as they scored a trio of runs in the top of the first.

However, the Hornets countered with an eight-run frame in the bottom of the first as Caleb Maxwell hit a two-run single, Kasen Kildoo and Parker Schultz each contributed RBI singles, Kingston Maxwell recorded a two-run double, Carson Riley drew a bases-loaded walk, and Jed Ashley hit into a sacrifice fly to give Huntland an early 8-3 advantage.

The Vikings scored two runs in the top of the second to cut into the lead, but the Hornets then scored five more runs in the bottom of the second as Kildoo scored on a passed ball, Grant Jernigan hit a two-run single, Kingston Maxwell raced home as part of a double-steal play with Jernigan, and Riley recorded an RBI double to boost the deficit up to 13-5.

The Hornets brought their lead up to double digits with a four-run fourth inning as Caleb Maxwell notched a two-run double before later scoring off of an error on a ball hit by Schultz and Kildoo hit into an RBI groundout to put the overall tally at 17-5.

The Vikings scored one run off of an error in the top of the fifth, but pitcher Eli Fitch struck out the next three batters to end the contest early via the mercy rule as the Hornets won by 11.

Tyler Guess pitched the first four innings for the Hornets with six strikeouts, four hits, three walks and five runs allowed.

Fitch pitched one inning in relief with three strikeouts, one hit and one unearned run allowed.

With the win, the Hornets improved to 9-0 on the season.

They will next play Thursday against Rockford Christian School at Tullahoma in a game for the Viking Classic. First pitch is scheduled for 6 p.m.