The Bainbridge High School Bearcats junior varsity and varsity baseball teams are taking part in a very competitive tournament this week at Bearcat Field.

The junior varsity Bearcats defeated the Liberty County High School junior varsity Bulldogs 9-8 Monday in the opening round of the Bearcats annual varsity and junior varsity wood bat tournament.

The winning pitcher was right-hander Dustin Strickland, and right-hander Tyler Braswell came on to pick up the save.

Among the Bearcats contributing key hits in the victory were first baseman Reid Willis, second baseman Cole Thomas, shortstop Ben Day and third baseman Cabe Rathel.

Also coming up with key hits were catcher Blake Merchant, left fielder Grayson Heard, center fielder Shawon Gardner and right fielder Hayden Godwin.

The junior varsity Bearcats and junior varsity Bulldogs met again Tuesday night in the final junior varsity tournament game.

The varsity portion of the tournament begins today with coach Scott Miller’s Bearcats playing the Sneads, Fla., High School Pirates at 9 a.m.

It will continue with an 11:30 a.m. game between Sneads and the Miller County High School Pirates and a 2 p.m. game between Miller County and Liberty County.

The Coosa Valley Academy Rebels from Harpersville, Ala., will play Liberty County at 4:30 p.m. and take on the Bearcats at 7 p.m.

Thursday’s final day of tournament varsity action will feature the Bearcats against the Thomasville High School Bulldogs at 9 a.m. Coosa Valley against Thomasville at 11:30 a.m. and the Bearcats against Coosa Valley at 2 p.m.

The Liberty County teams are coached by former Bearcats coach Donnie Lee Coxwell.