Cartersville Purple reaches final of GRPA 8U Invitational

Teams from both the Cartersville and Bartow County Recreation Departments played in the Georgia Recreation 8-and-under Invitational this weekend hosted by Gordon County Parks and Recreation. Cartersville’s Purple team lost its opener Friday night against Calhoun 8U, but battled all the way back through the loser’s bracket Saturday and Sunday to earn a rematch with Calhoun 8U Monday night in the tournament finals. Calhoun 8U reached the title round unbeaten with additional wins over Bartow 8U, Dalton Red, and Cartersville White. Cartersville Purple needs two wins Monday night to win the double-elimination tournament. Cartersville Purple won six consecutive elimination games to reach the championship game. They won three games Saturday and three more Sunday. Saturday’s wins were over Bremen, Gilmer, and Bartow 7U. Purple then beat Dalton Red, Gordon County 8U, and Cartersville White on Sunday.

Cartersville White had three straight wins to open the tournament before losing back-to-back to Calhoun 8U and Cartersville Purple on Sunday. Cartersville White defeated Dalton White Friday plus Gilmer and Calhoun 7U Saturday. The Cartersville Purple roster includes: Jordan Brinkley, Julian Cline, Cameron Cochran, Casen Cochran, Maddox Frazier, Tristan McKibben, Luke Parker, Thomas Peters, Jekeveon Porter, Logan Shrewsbury, Sawyer Wilson, and Logan Woody. Cartersville Purple is coached by Robin McKibben, Luke Bunce, Geoff Shrewsbury, and Jay Frazier. The Cartersville White roster includes: Logan Buchanan, Owen Dunn, Caleb Freeman, Cooper Graves, Jack Graves, Andrew Lutjens, Brodie McWhorter, Asa Mitcham, Noah Pogue, Preston Sorrells, Andrew Watson, and Brock Wilson. Cartersville White is coached by Darren Wilson, Ty Mitcham, Hans Lutjens, and Joey Pogue. Bartow 7U defeated Gordon County 16-10 Friday night and Pickens County 15-13 on Saturday. Their losses were to Calhoun 7U 12-2 and Cartersville Purple 16-0.

Bartow 8U opened the tournament Friday night with a 9-6 victory over Bremen. They were then sent to the loser’s bracket by finalist Calhoun 8U, 16-0. Bartow 8U bounced back to eliminate Whitfield County 17-7, before falling the Gordon County 14-2.

Bartow 7U consists of Lucas Baker, Issac Burnett, Cayden Cothran, Drew Davey, Reed Ezell, Clayton Blackmon, Gavin Hubbard, Jayden Jinks, Noah King, Jacob McKinnies, Caiden Moore, and Cam’ron Scott. Coaches for Bartow 7U are Mike Ezell, Joe Baker, and Mike Burnett.

Bartow 8U includes Brayden Butler, Brett Good, Reece Heaton, David Jinks, Hunter Lovett, Joshua McBroom, Xavious Nalls, Talen Nix, Jacob Pasley, Kamarion Profit, Trey Winters, and Nicholas Wright.

Coaches for the 8-year-old team are Jason Wright, Kevin Nix, Mike Jinks, and Jody Pasley. Bartow 7U’s next event is the Dizzy Dean District Tournament in Kennesaw that starts June 19. Bartow 7U opens that tournament with a 6pm game against New Georgia.

Bartow 8U plays next in the Dizzy District tournament in Acworth that starts June 16. Bartow 8U is scheduled to open that event with a 7:30pm game against Oregon Park Piranhas.