Hurricanes drop consolation game at PG Showdown

Cartersville baseball suffered a second straight loss at the 2019 Perfect Game High School Showdown Saturday, falling to host Hoover (AL) 8-4 in a consolation game for the tournament’s Championship Blue Bracket. Hoover went ahead 3-0 through the top of the fourth and led 8-1 heading into the bottom of the fifth on their way to a four-run win. The Buccaneers out hit Cartersville nine to seven in the contest with Hoover hitters connecting for a total of seven doubles.

J.P. Martin, Brant Smith, and Preston Welchel all homered for the Canes. The Hurricanes scored single runs in the fourth through seventh innings to narrow Hoover leads to 3-1, 8-2, 8-3, and 8-4 along the way.

Hoover pitchers Austin Cornelius (1.1 IP, 0R, 0H, 2BB), Jack Henry Milligan (3.2 IP, 3ER, 5H, 1BB, 6K), and Lawrence Hammonds (2 IP, 1ER, 2H, 1BB, 2K) combined to limit the Canes’ offense.

Cartersville utilized four pitchers in the game. Kolby Adams (3 IP, 2R, 0ER, 4H, 0BB, 5K), Davis Williams (1.1 IP, 4ER, 3H, 2BB), Reece Thompson (0.2 IP, 2R, 0ER, 2H), and Hayden Davidson (2 IP, 0R, 0H, 1K) all saw mound time for the Hurricanes. In addition to the three solo shots by Cartersville hitters, Cohen Wilbanks had a double. Welchel, Ian Inaba, and Jordan Wilkie added base hits.

Hoover improved to 12-4 on the season.

Cartersville (9-3) is scheduled to face Sonoraville next Saturday at State Mutual Stadium in Rome.