The Villa Rica High School baseball team got its first big test of the 2013 season, and Cat coach Jay Sneddon was pleased by the way his ball club answered the challenge Thursday evening.

The Wildcats (4-0) busted open a one-run game in the bottom of the sixth inning by putting a five-spot on the board en route to a 10-5 home win over Darlington at the V-Plex.

“We scored four early and they battled back and made it a one-run game. It was a good test. We got up and had to overcome some adversity for the first time this year and we responded with the five-run bottom of the sixth to put it away,” Sneddon said.

Zach Dutton got the win on the hill for VR, working 5.1 innings, allowing four runs on four hits with five strikeouts, while Wade Bailey got the save, tossing 1.2 innings of work.

“Zach pitched a great game. He was in command. Then it was good to see Wade come in and shut the door on them, too,” Sneddon said.

Offensively, Stephen Kegley went 2-for-3 with a double, two runs scored and two RBI, while Mikey Palagano (2-for-4, 2B, 2 runs, 3 RBI), Paul Reeves (2-for-4, RBI) and Bailey (1-for-3, 2 BB, 2 SB, 3 runs) also had productive outings at the plate.

Villa Rica stays home to host county rival Central today at 5:30 p.m.

In other prep baseball action from Thursday:

Bremen 17, Mt. Zion 3 (5 innings): Dylan Nappi tossed all five innings for the Blue Devils (3-1), allowing three runs on six hits and seven walks with three strikeouts. The Bremen senior right-hander also had a busy day at the plate, going 2-for-4 with three RBI, while Trent McClure (2-for-4, RBI) and Taylor Shumake (1-for-3, 2 RBI) also gave solid efforts.

Carrollton Junior High 11, Haralson County 0 (5 innings): Josh McLaughlin got the win on the hill, while Tate Fricks (2 hits, RBI), Mason Dodson (2 hits, 2B, RBI) and Jake Buchanan (2 hits, RBI) led the offensive charge. In Wednesday’s 5-4 win over Bremen, Zach Shockley got the win, while Sam Barge delivered a three-run homer. Andy Smith (3-for-3, 2B) and Dodson (2 hits, RBI) also had solid offensive showings.

Prep Tennis

Carrollton boys 5, Troup 0: The Trojans (1-0, 1-0 Region 5-AAAA) opened their season with a sweep of the Tigers on Thursday, winning in straight sets in all five matches. In singles action, No. 1 Garrett Brown (6-0, 6-0), No. 2 Mark Swindle (6-1, 6-0) and No. 3 Sam Campbell (default) all cruised, as did No. 1 Tayler Ayers/J.T. Grillo (6-0, 6-0) and No. 2 Joseph Hendricks/Conner Mount (6-0, 6-0) in doubles.

Carrollton girls 5, Troup 0: The Lady Trojans (1-0, 1-0) won in similar fashion, not losing a set the entire day.

In singles, No. 1 Kat Burger (6-0, 6-0), No. 2 Sarah Beth Alford (6-1, 6-1) and No. 3 Jamie Bryant (6-0, 6-0) had little trouble, while No. 1 Katey Brooks/Alex Robinson (6-0, 6-0) and No. 2 Jamie Tuggle/Jessica Dewberry (6-0, 6-1) also won in convincing fashion. In exhibition matches, Madison Harris (6-0) and Sydney Butler/Tess Davison (6-0) both won.

Both teams open action at the Jekyll Jam in Jekyll Island today, with the girls facing Union Grove at 4 p.m. and the boys taking on Screven County at 4:30 p.m.

Central boys 5, Callaway 0: The Lions (3-1, 1-0 Region 4-AAA) got wins in singles from No. 1 Aaron Startup (6-0, 6-0), No. 2 Tommy White (6-4, 6-1) and No. 3 James Moye (6-0, 6-0), while No. 1 Jarrett Thomas/Andrew Toney (6-1, 6-1) and No. 2 Jacob Barnes/Alex Stewart (6-3, 6-3) both won at doubles.

Central girls 5, Callaway 0: The Lady Lions (2-2, 1-0) also swept, earning victories in singles from No. 1 Sydney Stone (6-0, 6-0), No. 2 Emily Startup (6-3, 6-3) and No. 3 Denney Meigs (6-1, 6-0). In doubles, No. 1 Emily Bush/Lauren Bush (6-4, 6-1) and No. 2 Mary Kate Sailors/Betty Jo Rounds (6-4, 6-2) both were victorious.

In exhibition matches, Kendall Costley/Elizabeth Minick (6-0) and Anna Schulenburg/Cassie Griffin (6-1) also earned wins.