CENTRE – That one big hit.

It’s been a trait the Class 4A, No. 4 Cherokee County Warrior baseball team has been known for in the early part of the season. It’s served them well for the past 10 games.

Make that 11.

Against Class 3A, No. 4 Piedmont on Monday, Warrior junior left fielder Brett Burgess connected on a grand slam in the bottom of the second that helped propel Cherokee County to a 13-3 victory in six innings.

The Warriors are now 11-0 on the season, while the Bulldogs fell to 5-3.

“You’ve got to have that one good spark, and that was it,” Warrior coach Jim Garmany said of Burgess’ blast. “We have these sparks in a lot of games, and we’ve been very fortunate with guys coming up with big hits. Brett’s just been on fire, and I hope he continues to stay that way.”

Burgess said the Warrior hitters have a friendly competition of seeing who can come up with the big hits when the team needs them. He said its part of the reason why the Warriors are off to a torrid start on the season.

“It’s in the back of our minds that we’re undefeated, but we just take it one game at a time,” he said. “We’re really not focusing on going undefeated. We’re just focusing on winning the next one.”

Burgess finished the game going 1 for 3. Second baseman Kaleb Kines was also 1 for 3 with a two-run homer to left in the bottom of the fifth.

Those were the biggest hits given up by Bulldog freshman starter Collin Bradley. Bradley was tagged with the loss after five innings. He gave up seven runs on eight hits with a pair of walks and a pair of strikeouts.

“He left a couple of balls out of his spots, and they took advantage of that,” Piedmont coach James Blanchard said of Bradley. “Good teams do that. I think all in all, Collin pitched a very good ball game except for a couple of pitches. He just left them up in the strike zone, and they took advantage of it.”

Warrior third baseman Cole Sterling went 3 for 4, including the game-ending single that plated a run in the sixth. Catcher Nico McElrath went 2 for 2 with a pair of doubles.

Coty Blanchard, Caleb Whorton, Jesse Lemons, Kenny Akin and Za Wood all had a hit each for the Warriors.

Cherokee County got on the board with a run in the bottom of the first. After Burgess reached on an error, he came home on Blanchard’s double to center to put the Warriors up 1-0.

Burgess’ slam to center in the second off Bradley increased the Warrior lead to 5-0, but the Bulldogs fought their way back in the top of the fourth.

Center fielder Matt Craig led off with a walk against Warrior starter Jayde Boatfield. Second baseman Chris Strott then singled to center to give the Bulldogs runners first and second with no outs. A walk to Cade Bradley loaded the bases for Collin Bradley, who popped out to Boatfield for the first out of the inning.

Right fielder Dalton Riffey drew a walk that plated Craig to put the Bulldogs on the board.

After shortstop Landon Pruitt grounded out to Boatfield, senior catcher Chase Childers delivered a two-out double to center that plated two runs, trimming Cherokee County’s lead to 5-3.

Childers led the Bulldogs at the plate by going 2 for 4 with two RBIs.

“That’s all Chase knows to do. He’s that kind of player,” Blanchard said. “He’s one of those seniors I’ve counted on, and he’s coming through.”

Boatfield got out of the inning by striking out Bulldog left fielder Cory Sears.

After Piedmont had worked its way back into the game, the Warriors responded with a pair of runs off Kines’ homer to left to put them in front 7-3.

Devin Rankin came in to relieve Collin Bradley in the bottom of the sixth. The Warriors pounded Rankin by batting around in the inning. He gave up the final six runs on six hits, with the big blow of the inning a two-run single to left by Rucker.

Boatfield earned the win for the Warriors after working four innings. He gave up all three Piedmont runs on five hits with five walks and five strikeouts.

Boatfield was relieved in the fifth by Bradley Byram, who worked the final two innings.