NATCHEZ — Natchez High School senior pitcher Tre Davis is a man of few words.

Coach Dan Smith said Davis is the Bulldogs’ “quiet storm” — meaning whatever Smith asks of him, he does it without any fuss. With that attitude, Smith said he believes Davis has become one of the most reliable pitchers in Natchez’s district.

“Without a doubt,” Smith said.

Whenever Smith and the Bulldogs need a strong performance on the mound, they look to Davis. And he showed exactly why in the most crucial game of the year so far against Brookhaven High School this past Tuesday.

Natchez took on Brookhaven for the Region 6-5A district championship. On that night, Davis pitched 6.2 innings against the Panthers, striking out five batters while only allowing six hits — four of which came in the first inning.

“The proof is in the pudding,” Smith said. “He has been my workhorse all year. That’s why we gave him the ball (against Brookhaven for a district championship).”

Although Davis delivered when Natchez called his number, he has been dealing all year on the mound for the Bulldogs as he has won all eight of his starts this season.

“8-0 on the season,” Smith said. “He has been great all year.”

While being undefeated is impressive nonetheless, Smith believes the way Davis pitches is even more striking.

Smith said Davis knows how to work the zone. He throws a lot of strikes and rarely walks batters. Plus, the statistics backs up Smith’s claim.

Out of the 638 pitches Davis has thrown this season, 445 of them have been strikes — which equates to 69.7 percent. Also, he has struck out 48 batters and has only walked seven in the 11 games he has partaken in as a pitcher for Natchez. That gives Davis nearly a 7-to-1 strikeout to walk ratio.

“He throws a lot of strikes,” Smith said. “If we have the defensive behind him, he is going to get us a win. He won’t walk a batter. He will stay in the zone. As long as we are in the game, we have a chance with Tre.”

Davis credits his success to the work he has put in during practice.

“Just come to the field and put in work,” Davis said. “Just dedication. That’s it. It starts in practice.”

The senior is a player who believes practice makes perfect. Whenever he can, even from a young age, Davis would go out to a baseball field and train.

He would work on fielding, batting and so on. While he worked out all over the diamond, the mound has always been his calling.

“There’s just something about pitching that connects with me,” Davis said.

Although Davis has been such a dominant pitcher for the Bulldogs, he has had his struggles. Earlier this year against McComb, Davis allowed 11 hits and eight runs. He would follow that performance letting up eight hits and five runs against West Lincoln.

Even though Davis has experienced some downs, he doesn’t let them affect him.

“Just keep my head in the game,” Davis said. “Look over the negativity.”

While Davis was pleased in helping Natchez clinch a district title, he is ready to hit the practice field.

He is ready to continue being perfect when the Bulldogs play at 7 p.m. Tuesday against Jefferson County.

“Practice makes perfect,” Davis said.