Hunter Smith drove in the winning run in the bottom of the seventh, and Adairsville claimed its first victory in the First Pitch Classic on Saturday at Tiger Stadium, 5-4.

Smith’s drive found some vacant real estate in center field, enabling Cody Melton to score from second and give the Tigers their victory over the Marietta Hurricanes in the tournament, being played at Adairsville, Cass, Woodland and at East Paulding.

Even though Smith got the game-winning hit, it was his pitching that caught Eric Bishop’s attention after the game.

Bishop noted the game-winning hitter put in some good work on the mound that included experience in pressure pitching.

“Hunter has a real strong arm and has been playing right field for us,” Bishop said. “He said he wanted to pitch for us, and I told him absolutely he could.”

Bishop said Smith was challenged by Marietta. “Our pitchers handled some tough situations for us, one where the bases were loaded and then when they had runners on second and third with one out.”

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