VALDOSTA — Valdosta’s Wildcats blistered Camden County Tuesday 9-2, picking up their first Region 1-6A victory of the year.

VHS scored seven runs over the fifth and sixth innings to break out of a 2-2 tie. Colton Howell went the distance, striking out four while allowing two earned runs.

Stephen Little doubled twice for the Wildcats. One in the fifth helped get Valdosta in business after Braedon Lampkin singled to lead off the inning. Easton Lehman drove in both, putting the home team ahead 4-2.

Zion Odum scored on an error before Howell helped his own cause on a fielder’s choice to score Noah Roberts.

In the sixth, Matt Bounds delivered Kyler Davis for a 7-2 lead. Little notched his second double in as many innings, scoring Mack Deloach and Bounds.

Camden scored two runs in the top of the first, but Howell and the Wildcats settled down after that.

Two-out lightning tied the game in the third. Bounds stole home and Little came in on a two-base error.

Little finished with three hits and Bounds had two.

Winning the series opener is no doubt a relief for Valdosta after a rough opening 1-6A series against Tift County.

Valdosta fell in both games of last Friday’s doubleheader. The ‘Cats narrowed the game to 4-3 in third inning of the opener, but a late Tift burst resulted in an 11-5 loss.

Bounds had a double in the contest. Both he and Jack Steedley drove in two runs apiece. Lampkin scored twice.

Lampkin had the lone VHS hit in the nightcap, a 7-0 Tift win.

Valdosta is now 8-6 overall and will travel to Camden County on Friday for a doubleheader. The all-Wildcats series continue next week with Valdosta taking on Richmond Hill. The doubleheader for that series will be at VHS.