NATCHEZ — Less than 24 hours after Javon Washington couldn’t play in his team’s 12-2 win Friday night against Wingfield, Washington was on the mound for the Bulldogs against in-town rival Cathedral School.

And if there were any question whether a minor eye injury from the day before would hamper Washington’s performance, he quickly erased any doubt.

Washington gave up just one hit, one walk and one hit batsman as the Bulldogs cruised to a 9-1 win against the Green Wave.

“I was feeling the same way I feel in other games,” Washington said. “I was confident.

“My slider and my curveball were working, and I just felt good out there (on the mound). I pitched today just like I do any other game.”

Washington finished the game with eight strikeouts, and the only Cathedral run came in the top of the first inning after Washington hit Kyle Bradley and Bradley scored on a base hit. Washington didn’t allow a baserunner in innings two through five, and retired the side in the seventh.

“We got some outstanding pitching today,” NHS head coach Charlie Williams said. “I’ll put my No. 1 pitcher against anyone’s. His last three games have been a no-hitter and two one-hitters.

“He had good command, and his slider was working great. He used it to keep (Cathedral) off balance, along with his curve and changeup. He did a good job today.”

After the one-run top of the first, the Bulldogs quickly erased Cathedral’s lead when Trevon Chatman scored on a throwing error by Green Wave starter Tyler Morrison. Later in the inning, a double by Brian Isaac plated Washington and Adrian Fleming, giving NHS a 3-1 lead.

The Bulldogs added a run in the bottom of the second, when Quinton Logan scored on a sacrifice fly by Washington. They scored two more runs in the fourth when Logan came in on a fielder’s choice and Chatman scored on a bloop single by Fleming.

In the bottom of the fifth, NHS extended its lead to 7-1 when Derrian Johnson came home on a single up the middle by Chatman.

The Bulldogs scored their final two runs of the day when Isaac connected on a two-run home run over the left field wall, scoring Washington in the bottom of the sixth.

“I felt like I had to come through for the team and keep the game more intense,” Isaac said.

The Green Wave committed seven errors and yielded 12 hits, drawing Cathedral head coach Craig Beesley’s ire after the game.

“I was very disappointed in our competitiveness today,” Beesley said. “I’d like to see us compete more and have a little more competitiveness on the field.

“I told them (after the game) how disappointed I was in the way they showed up. That’s not to take anything away from Javon, who’s one of the better pitchers we’ve faced this season, but I’d like to see us compete more.”

Chatman went 4-for-4 for the Bulldogs, while Isaac finished 3-for-4. Jonson, Logan and Banks all hit 2-for-4.

Morrison lasted five innings for Cathedral, giving up seven runs. Cathedral fell to 10-5 on the season. They remain 3-1 in regional play.

Natchez High 9, Forest Hill 3

Prior to its game against the Green Wave, Johnson got the win for Natchez High as the Bulldogs took care of business against Forest Hill.

Brian Isaac finished 2-for-3 with a home run, giving him two total for Saturday. The Bulldogs are now 10-5 on the season, and sit at 3-1 in regional play.

Despite scoring nine runs in game one, Williams said he was much more pleased with his team’s play against Cathedral.

“I was pleasantly pleased with the hitting (against Cathedral),” Williams said. “We were kind of sluggish in the first game, but we came out swinging well in the second game. I don’t think it’s too hard for these guys to get up for Cathedral.”

Isaac agreed with his coach, saying he enjoyed playing against an in-town rival.

“I feels good playing against a couple of my friends, like Caleb (Upton), Daniel (Huffines) and a lot more,” Isaac said.

But Washington said he wanted to be consistent with his pitching, no matter the opponent.

“I just pitch. I don’t care who we play against, I just pitch the way I pitch every time,” Washington said.