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NATCHEZ — Cathedral High School’s Doug Smith threw a no-hitter and struck out seven batters in a complete-game performance as the Green Wave continued its winning ways with an 11-0 win over the Natchez High School Bulldogs in five innings last Friday night at Chester Willis Field.

Only two hitters for Natchez High reached base safely against winning pitcher Smith as Charles Grant III and Jacori Davis each were walked. Other than that, the Bulldogs had a hard time trying to make contact with Smith’s fastball.

“He threw strikes. That’s what he was doing. His fastball had a lot of run to it. And that made it hard to hit,” Cathedral assistant coach Wright Graning said.

Ahmarrion Fletcher hit a ground ball to Cathedral third baseman Walker Probst, but his throw to first baseman went over the head of first baseman Ethan Keith, allowing Fletcher to reach on an error.

However, as Graning noted, Fletcher started to turn as if he was going to second base and ended up being tagged out in a rundown by catcher Owen Jordan. That was the closest that Natchez High had to actually having a base hit.

“It’s hard to beat anyone with (no) hits,” Bulldogs head coach Dan Smith said. “I was proud of my young kids. Stanley Searcy II, a seventh-grader, he plays second base, and Charles Grant III are growing fast. Fletcher’s still hot. My young guys are improving.”

Yet there is still one area that the Bulldogs need to improve on and quickly if they are to be one of the top teams in MHSAA Region 3-5A and that is their pitchers’ ability to consistently find the strike zone.

Which is something Natchez High starting and losing pitcher Braylon McDaniel could not do. In his five innings on the mound, he gave up 11 runs, eight of them earned, on seven hits with five strikeouts and 12 walks.

“Pitchers still have to focus on throwing strikes,” Smith said.

Unfortunately, the Bulldogs (4-3) did not have a practice day on Monday to get ready to travel to Ellisville to take on South Jones High School. Smith sent a text message that morning that the Bulldogs’ junior varsity and varsity games at South Jones were moved from Tuesday to Monday with the JV game at 4:30 p.m. and the varsity game at 6:30 p.m. because of the threat of severe weather across south Mississippi Tuesday afternoon.

After a scoreless first inning, Cathedral scored three runs in the top of the second inning. The Green Wave added four runs each in the top of the fourth and fifth innings to run-rule Natchez High after five innings.

Probst hit two doubles and went 2-for-2 with two runs batted in, one run scored, was walked twice, and had one stolen base. Smith helped his own cause by going 2-for-4 with a double, two RBIs, and one run scored.

“He (Probst) had a really good game. He came up at some key spots in the game with some big hits,” Graning said. “Houston Edwards had a really good bunt early in the game with runners on.”

As for Smith’s performance at the plate,” Graning said. “He put the ball in play when needed.”

Edwards went 1-for-2 with two RBIs, three runs scored and was walked once. Another player who stepped up for the Green Wave was lead-off hitter Tristan Fondren, who went 1-for-2 with one RBI, two runs scored, and was walked twice.

“Same situation applied. Good baserunning. He put the ball in play when needed,” Graning said about Fondren’s showing at the plate. “Everybody did their job.

Drake Cox was 1-for-3 with one RBI and was walked once. Jordan as well as Andy Keith were each walked twice and each of them scored one run.

The Green Wave improved to 7-3 overall with the win.