Three-run 11th lifts Stallions past Canes in Showdown semifinals

Cartersville baseball and the Providence School out of Jacksonville, Florida went toe-to-toe for 11 innings Saturday before the Stallions pulled out a 7-4 tournament semifinal win in the Perfect Game High School Showdown at LakePoint in Emerson.

Cartersville, ranked No. 2 in Georgia’s Class 4A, held a 1-0 lead after one inning, but had to battle from behind to send the game into extra innings at 4-4 with a single run in sixth and two more in the seventh inning.

From there, both teams went scoreless in the eighth, ninth, and tenth innings before Providence took advantage of a leadoff walk, a pop fly error, and a two-run single by Tyler Calihan to go up 6-4. Nathaniel Hickey followed with another line drive hit that drove in the Stallions’ final run.

Jake Gooch reached on an error to start the Hurricanes’ half of the 11th inning, but they did no further damage.

Providence (7-0) scored three runs in the fifth inning to take a 3-1 lead and led 4-2 prior to the Canes’ two-run rally in the bottom of the seventh.

The Stallions used five pitchers with Ben Weeks (2.2 IP, 0R, 3H, 0BB, 1K) entering in the ninth to complete the game and pick up the win.

Jake Gooch (5 IP, 4R, 0ER, 3H, 3BB, 3K) suffered the pitching loss for the Canes. He took the mound in the seventh inning and was the fourth Cartersville pitcher employed. Levi Ayers (4 IP, 1ER, 2H, 4BB, 2K) started the game. Gage Morris (1 IP, 2ER, 4H, 1BB) and Cohen Wilbanks (1 IP, 0R, 0H, 0BB) both pitched in middle relief.

Nathan Hickey led the Providence offense with a 3-for-5 performance that included a walk, two RBI, and two runs scored. Carson Black had two hits and three RBI. Tyler Johnson also had two hits for the Stallions.

Anthony Seigler led Cartersville with three hits. Gooch finished with two hits including a double, a walk, and two RBI. Devin Warner and Jordan Wilkie both added two hits and one RBI. Ian Inaba, Josh Davis, and Chandler Tromza each contributed one hit.

The win advanced Providence to the championship game against Blessed Trinity. The Titans defeated Parkview 4-2 in the other semifinal game Saturday.

Cartersville (10-4) plays Parkview (9-3) Saturday afternoon for third place.