Canes defeat IMG Academy to finish 3-1 at PG High School Showdown

The Cartersville Purple Hurricanes baseball team wrapped up play in the 2016 edition of the Perfect Game High School Showdown at LakePoint in Emerson by defeating the IMG Ascenders, 7-4.

The Canes finished with a 3-1 record in the national event, defeating Montverde Academy (Fla.) in the first round and picking up consolation round victories over McEachern (Ga.) and IMG Academy. The Hurricanes’ only loss in the tournament was to eventual finalists, Gulliver Prep (Fla.) in the quarterfinals of the championship bracket.

In the win over IMG Academy, Cartersville scored in the bottom of the first inning to take a lead the Canes would not relinquish. Noah Daniel reached on an error, Elliott Anderson walked, Zach Yancey bunted the runners over, and Cole Jamieson walked to load the bases. Parker Tidwell then singled home a run to give the Canes a 1-0 lead.

Cartersville added two more runs in the second inning to go ahead 3-0.

Spencer Dickey walked and scored on a double by Daniel. Anderson followed with a double to drive home Daniel.

Cartersville’s three-run, third inning started when Jamieson walked and Tidwell doubled him home. After Dickey drew a base on balls, Tidwell scored on J. P. Martin’s sacrifice fly and Dickey moved up a base. Daniel then drove hom Dickey with a hard ground ball single to right field and the Canes were up 6-0.

IMG Academy (Bradenton, FL) scored three runs in the top of the fifth to make the score 6-3.

A pair of singles, a walk, and a double in the inning led to the runs. Two more walks loaded the bases with two outs, prompting Canes’ coach Stuart Chester to lift starting pitcher Mason Barnett for Yancey. He was able to strike out the next batter to squelch the Ascenders’ rally.

Both teams added one more run in the fifth inning. The Canes scored on a sacrifice fly by Tidwell that drove home Anderson who had started the inning with a single.

Barnett (4.2 IP, 3ER, 3H, 3BB, 4K) picked up the pitching victory for the Canes. Yancey (2.1 IP, 1R, 0ER, 1H, 0BB, 1K) closed out the game on the mound after getting out of the fifth inning trouble.

Daniel had a three hit day for the Hurricanes with two RBI. Tidwell's two hits drove in two runs also. Anderson (RBI) and Jamieson also collected two hits. Austin Lunde added a hit for the Canes.

Cartersville (4-4) plays at Collins Hill Monday at 5:30pm and will travel to Mill Creek Thursday for a 5:30pm start.