Cartersville wins PG Showdown opener

Cartersville starting pitcher Mason Barnett struck out eight, scattered two hits and two walks, and did not allow an earned run as the Purple Hurricanes opened the Perfect Game High School Showdown at LakePoint Thursday night with a 7-4 victory over Seminary (MS).

Jordan Wilkie singled home a run and a wild pitch led to a run as the Canes took a 2-0 lead in the bottom of the second inning.

Seminary took advantage of a walk and two errors to claim a 3-2 lead in the top of the fourth, but the Hurricanes bounced right back with two runs in the bottom of the fourth and three more in the fifth inning for a 7-3 lead. The Bulldogs threatened with two outs in the seventh and added one final run.

Back-to-back singles and an RBI double had runners at second and third, but Canes’ coach Kyle Tucker turned to Anthony Seigler who needed only three pitches to induce a groundout to shortstop Devin Warner to end the threat and secure Cartersville's three-run win.

Wilkie drove in three runs with two hits for Cartersville. Josh Davis also had two hits and two RBI. J.P. Martin, Warner, Barnett, and Ian Inaba had the other Canes’ hits.

Gage Morris (0.2 IP, 1ER, 3H, 0BB, 1K) retired the first two outs of the seventh before giving way to Seigler for the final out and a save.

Cartersville (9-3, ranked 2nd in Georgia Class AAAA) will face the Class 7A Grayson Rams at 3:30 p.m. Friday in the championship bracket quarterfinals on LakePoint Field #15. Grayson (5-7) defeated College Station (TX) 2-1 in the first round Thursday night.

In other Red Division bracket games Thursday: Loganville 11, Troup County 0 Providence (FL) 4, North Gwinnett 3 Parkview 10, North Broward Prep (FL) 0 Cullman (AL) 10, Hillgrove 1 Buford 6, Northview (AL) 2 Blessed Trinity 4, Brookwood 1 Friday’s quarterfinals (All games at 3:30 p.m.) Field 16 — Loganville vs. Providence (FL) Field 15 — Cartersville vs. Grayson Field 14 — Parkview vs. Cullman (AL) Field 13 — Buford vs. Blessed Trinity A win Friday puts Cartersville in the tournament semifinals Saturday morning at 10 a.m. against the Loganville/Providence (FL) winner. A loss would mean a second game Friday night at 6 p.m. against the Loganville/Providence loser in a consolation round game.