Cartersville Little League Rookie Level team wins opener in state sectional tourney

In a high scoring affair, Cartersville Little League’s Rookie level team of seven- and eight-year-olds defeated Smyrna Blue Saturday at the Georgia Little League Northwest Sectional tournament, 17-13.

The tournament is being hosted by Smyrna Little League.

After trailing early, Cartersville broke things open with a seven run third inning, then added four more runs in both the fourth and fifth innings of the five inning contest.

Smyrna Blue did not go quietly, however. The District 2 representatives scored at least one run in every inning and their seven run rally in the final frame came up only a few runs short.

Cartersville took advantage of seven walks and six hits to tally their run total.

JeKeveon Porter (RBI), Tristan Mckibben (2 RBI), Logan Shrewsberry (3 RBI), Julian Cline (RBI), Thomas Peters (2 RBI), and Sawyer Wilson (RBI) had Cartersville’s hits. Maddox Frazier was also credited with a pair of RBI.

Cameron Cochran was the pitcher of record when Cartersville took control of the lead and picked up the pitching victory in only 1/3 inning.

Porter pitched four innings for Cartersville. Logan Woody, Mckibben, and Shrewsbury also pitched for the locals.

Cartersville, now 1-0 in pool play will next face Belvedere Little League of Decatur on Sunday at 3pm.

A Cartersville victory would clinch the top seed for their pool heading into the semifinals on Tuesday.

The opposite, three-team pool in the tournament includes Rockmart LL, Murphy Candler LL Blue of Atlanta, and Peachtree City LL.

In the only other game played in the tournament Saturday, Murphy Candler Blue drubbed Peachtree City, 24-3.

The top two teams from each pool advance to the Northwest Sectional semifinals Tuesday evening (June 9) and the semifinal winners will meet in a championship game Wednesday night (June 10) at 7pm.

The Cartersville roster includes: Jordan Brinkley, Maddox Frazier, Casen Cochran, Cameron Cochran, Logan Shrewsbury, Logan Woody, JeKeveon Porter. Tristan Mckibben, Thomas Peters, Sawyer Wilson, and Julian Cline.

Cartersville’s manager is Robin Mckibben and the assisting coaches are Luke Bunce, Geoffe Shrewsbury, and Jay Frazier.