Canes blank second straight region foe

Cartersville pitchers Levi Ayers, Jake Gooch, and J.P. Martin combined for a three-hit shutout Friday as the Hurricanes blanked Chapel Hill 6-0 at Richard Bell Field.

The win marked the second straight region shutout and pitching gem for the Cartersville pitching staff.

Ayers (4 IP, 0R, 2H, 1BB, 2K) started on the bump and earned the win. Gooch (2 IP, 0R, 1H, 0BB, 3K) worked middle relief and Martin (1 IP, 0R, 0H, 0BB) needed only five pitches to close out the game.

Gooch singled and later scored on a wild pitch in the second inning to put the Canes on top 1-0 and Anthony Seigler hit a two-run homer in the third inning for a 3-0 advantage.

In the fifth inning, Jordan Wilkie drove in a run with a single to right field and Martin followed with a two-RBI hit to left field and a 6-0 Canes’ lead.

Gooch was the only Cartersville hitter with two hits. Seigler (HR), Mason Barnett (double), Chandler Tromza, Josh Davis, Wilkie, and Martin had the other Canes’ hits.

The loss dropped Chapel Hill to 8-10 overall and 1-3 overall.

Cartersville (12-5, 2-0) plays at Cedartown Tuesday, hosts LaGrange Thursday, and travels to Troup County Friday. All games start at 5:55 p.m.