Bartow 9U squares off with Kennesaw for Dizzy Dean district championship

The Bartow County 9-year-old Dizzy Dean team fought its way back through the losers' bracket to earn a third, rubber game with the Kennesaw Generals tonight (June 23) for the District 2 championship.

Kennesaw won the first tournament meeting between the two teams Sunday, 13-10, relegating Bartow to the losers' bracket. Bartow responded by defeating Powder Springs 17-1 in just three innings of their first elimination game to reach the championship round. Bartow scored a dozen runs in the first inning to take a huge advantage against Power Springs early. Cohen Chadwick pitched a 3-inning complete game, allowing only one run with three strikeouts. Ryan Johnson was 2-for-2 on a double and a triple to lead Bartow's offense. Rylam Lewallen (1-for-2, 3 runs scored), Zach Weaver (1-for-2, 2 runs), Aiden Cottinghim (1-for-2, double), and Cohen Chadwick (1-for-2) added to the attack. In the championship round opener and first rematch with Kennesaw, the Bartow offense stayed hot and handled the Generals 18-5 in four innings. Bartow scored four times in the first inning, added two more in the third frame, and then exploded for 12 runs in the fourth inning. Zach Weaver had a pair of doubles at the plate for Bartow. Landon Cole (2-for-2, double, 3 runs scored), and Landon Cole (2-for-2) led the offense against Kennesaw. Cole was the starting and winning pitcher (2 IP). Chadwick closed the game on the mound with 2 innings of work and a pair of strikeouts. The district tournament deciding game is tonight (June 23) at Adams Park in Kennsaw at 6:15pm.