The Cathedral Academy baseball team stormed out of the gate Thursday with a 3-0 victory over Evangel Christian Academy.

The Lions rode the arm of Junior Wil Tipton who was solid on the mound.

Tipton threw five innings and recorded 10 strikeouts to keep Evangel off balance all day.

Tipton’s performance, Lion head coach Jamie Tellier said, does not surprise him.

“He has really stepped up and become a team leader for us this year,” he said. “For him to do that as a junior is big.”

Tipton, Tellier said, has a lot of raw talent that has been evident since he first joined the squad.

“When he takes the field he is one of the best players I have seen,” he said. “He was all conference for us last year as a 10th grader and led the league in strikeouts. He has just been solid.”

Tipton turned the ball over to teammate Drew Ross who pitched the final two innings securing the save and keeping the shutout intact.

Both Tiptons carried big bats on the day for the Lions as well. Wes was 1-for-3 with an RBI and a double, while Wil helped his own cause with a 1-for-3 performnce and an RBI of his own.

Devontae Moore was also 1-for-2 with a triple.

The program, Tellier said, has grown in leaps and bounds from when it started.

“We have only been playing ball for three years, so to come out and start with a win today is huge,” he said. “We have come a long way since that first season.”

Cathedral will take the field again Saturday in Alabaster against the same Evangel team.