Canes fifth tops Lambert; Colonels edged in pitchers' duel
Cartersville scored three runs in the top of the fifth Tuesday night at Lambert to break open a 2-2 game. The Canes then held on over the final two frames for a 5-3 victory over the Class 7A, 7th-ranked Longhorns.
In the fifth, Devin Warner lined a solo homer to center field to make the score 3-2 before a pair of walks to Noah Daniel and J.P. Martin. The walks sandwiched a sacrifice bunt by Jacob Fowler and a passed ball set up two more runs. Jake Gooch followed with a line drive into right field that was misplayed with an error by the Lambert outfielder. The play allowed two more runs to score and the Hurricanes held a 5-2 lead.
Leading by three, Spencer Dickey allowed a run on two hits in the sixth as the Longhorns cut the lead to 5-3. Seigler allowed a hit, but struck out two in closing out a scoreless seventh.
Jacob Fowler (3 IP, 2R, 1ER, 2H, 1BB, 1K) started on the mound for the Canes. Mason Barnett (2 IP, 0R, 0H, 2BB, 5K) pitched the fourth and fifth frames.
Cartersville manufactured runs in the first two innings.
A leadoff triple by Anthony Seigler in the first inning led to a sacrifice fly by Martin and a 1-0 lead.
After Lambert tied the game on Josh McAlister’s home run in the bottom of the first, Brant Smith singled to start the Canes’ second inning. Smith moved up to second on a sacrifice bunt and then an error allowed Tee Webb to reach. Both runners moved up a base and Preston Welchel plated the second Canes’ run of the game with a ground out. That gave Cartersville a 2-1 lead, but the Longhorns scored again in the bottom of the inning to tie the score 2-2.
Lambert falls to 3-5 with the loss.
Cartersville (6-1) hosts Class 4A, 2nd-ranked Buford on Friday at 5:55pm.
SONORAVILLE 2, CASS 1
Cass had the potential tying run on third base and winning run at second in the bottom of the seventh, but could not push them across in a 2-1 home loss to Sonoraville Tuesday night at a rainy Colonels’ baseball diamond.
Sonoraville’s Grant Clark scattered three hits and two walks while allowing only one run. He also struck out 13 on his way to the pitching win in a duel with the Colonels’ Cody Johnson.
The Cass pitcher pitched a gem as well, allowing just two runs on a pair of hits and a walk. Johnson struck out ten.
Avery Hopper picked up a save for the visiting Phoenix. He entered in the seventh inning with one out and runners in scoring position and struck out the only to batters he faced.
The win by Sonoraville evened the series record between the two teams. Cass won 4-1 at Sonoraville on February 21.
The Phoenix took a 1-0 lead in the top of the third.
Chase Kirby was hit by a pitch, advanced to second base on a sacrifice bunt, and scored when Matthew Vincent doubled into right field.
In the fifth, Sonoraville went up 2–0 when Wyatt Castoe walked, stole second, moved over to third and scored on a sacrifice fly by Storm Carnes.
The Colonels posted their only run in the bottom of the sixth.
Jake Collum was hit by a pitch to open the inning and moved to second on a single by Bailey Campbell. The two runners moved up to second and third on a wild pitch and Collum scored on a balk. Clark struck out the next two Colonel hitters to halt the threat and strand a runner at third.
Campbell, Johnson, and Nathan Smith had the three Cass hits.
The win improved Sonoraville’s season mark to 3-2.
Cass (5-3) is scheduled to host River Ridge Wednesday at 5:55pm, Heritage Friday at 5:55pm, and play at Alexander Saturday at noon.
