Cartersville 10U Purple reaches state finals

Drake Carver and Isaac McNair-Seigler combined to shut down the Clayton County A’s offense as the Cartersville 10U Purple all stars won their way into the 2015 GRPA 10U state championship game. Cartersville defeated Clayton County 6-1 and remains undefeated in the double elimination tournament and needs only one more win to secure the state GRPA title.

Carver (4.1 IP, 2 H, 0 ER, 9 K, 4 BB) and McNair-Seigler (1.1 IP, 0 H, 0 ER, 1 K, 1 BB) allowed only one, unearned run and kept the Clayton County offense in check most of the game. Other than the fourth inning run, no other Clayton County baserunner even reached third.

The Cartersville Purple offense only produced five hits, but made the most of those hits and took advantage of five walks.

Cartersville put up four runs in the first two innings and added single runs in the fourth and fifth innings to secure the outcome. Avery Higgins and Trip Bradley both had doubles. Carver added a hit and an RBI. Thomas Norris and Will Litton had the other Cartersville hits.

JaKiyon Porter had 2 RBI, Paul Gamble, McNair-Seigler, and Hunter Kelly added an RBI each. Porter and Carver each stole a base.

After losing their opening game in the tournament, Cartersville Gray made an impressive run through the losers’ bracket before succumbing to Sumter County Friday night, 14-2.

Cartersville Gray strung together four straight wins between the opening loss to Savannah Thunder and the loss on Friday. They had victories over Long County, Clayton County Orioles, Savannah Hot Rods, and a 6-5 win over Savannah Thunder to finish fourth.

Cartersville Purple will play Saturday at 11:30am against the survivor of the losers’ bracket. If needed, a second championship game would immediately follow. The tournament is being played at Savannah’s Paulson Park.