Cartersville Little League 10U reaches state finals

Cartersville Little League 10U scored eight runs in the first two innings to take control and cruised to a 15-6 victory over Northern Little League of Columbus at the Georgia 10U state Little League tournament Friday night.

The victory advanced Cartersville to the state championship round against Smyrna Little League on Saturday at 10am at Sewell Park of East Marietta Little League.

Cartersville needs two wins over Smyrna Saturday to win the state title. Smyrna, who reached the championship round unbeaten, needs only one win to capture the title.

Smyrna also handed Cartersville 10U its only loss of the tournament Thursday night, 15-5.

In Cartersville’s 15-6 win over Northern, Gavin Shrewsbury had a solid performace on the mound and at the plate. He had three hits, including two extra-base hits with a single in the fourth inning and doubles in the second and sixth frames. He had two RBIs.

Ayden Ray, Turner Abernathy, and Caleb Daniel combined with Shrewsbury for nine hits and 11 RBI for the Canes’ offense.

Ray had two hits and two RBI. Abernathy drove in four runs with a pair of doubles and Daniel finished with three RBI on a pair of hits that included a double. Daniel picked up the pitching victory with a five inning performance. He allowed six runs, only three earned, on 14 hits and a pair of walks. He struck out two.

Shrewsbury allowed only one hit and no earned runs in an inning of work to close out the contest. He walked none and struck out three.