Canes take opener at LakePoint Rawlings tourney
Cartersville fell behind early, but scored four runs in the top of the fourth to take a lead that launched the Canes to a 10-2 victory over Walnut Grove in an opening round game at the 2017 Perfect Game Rawilings Select Classic at LakePoint in Emerson.
Cartersville pitcher Anthony Seigler (5 IP, 2R, 1ER, 6H, 2BB, 8K) limited the Warriors’ offense through the first five innings. Levi Ayers worked a scoreless sixth and Harrison Osborn tossed a scoreless seventh to close out the Canes’ win.
Jake Gooch started Cartersville’s decisive fourth inning when he was hit by a pitch. Jacob Fowler (photo left) followed with an RBI drive that scored Gooch. Spencer Dickey walked and the baserunners moved up when Brant Smith sacrificed, but also reached on an infield error.
Preston Welchel then coaxed a base on balls to push across a second run that tied the score 2-2. Seigler followed with a sacrifice fly that gave the Canes a 3-2 lead before Devin Warner singled through the right side for a 4-2 Cartersville advantage.
Cartersville went up 5-2 in the fifth with some help from the Warriors and some small ball.
A Walnut Grove error, single by Fowler, sacrifice by Dickey, a walk, and a hit batsman expanded the Canes’ lead to three runs. Welchel got the RBI with the hit by pitch.
In the top of the sixth, Cartersville — playing as the visiting team — put the game away with five more runs.
Warner, Noah Daniel, J.P. Martin, Fowler, Dickey, and Jordan Wilkie all had hits in the inning to go with two more walks.
Fowler finished with three hits, two RBIs, and scored two runs. Warner was 2-for-3, including a double, two RBIs, a stolen base, and a run. Daniel was 2-for-4, scored a run and drove in one.
Martin (RBI triple), Dickey, Wilkie (RBI), and Welchel (2 RBIs, photo right) had the other Canes’ hits. Seigler added one RBI with a sac fly.
Cody Lewis had two hits and one RBI for Walnut Grove.
Walnut Grove, who had defeated Dunwoody earlier in the day 9-2, slipped to 13-9 on the season.
Cartersville (16-6) plays Dunwoody Friday at 3:30pm on Field 9 at LakePoint. The results from that game will help determine the remainder of the tournament schedule for the Hurricanes.
PHOTO CREDIT: Tonsmeire Studios / Louis Tonsmeire
