Cartersville Junior LL wins district series opener
Cartersville Junior Little League (14U) scored six runs in the fifth inning Friday night to pull away and defeat Bartow County Junior Little League (14U) 12-3 in the first game of their Georgia Little League District 1 playoff at the Cartersville Baseball Complex. With the win, Cartersville needs only one more win in the best-of-three series. Cartersville scored four runs in the top of the first Friday night to take a lead they would not relinquish, but Bartow County made it interesting with single runs in the first, third, and fourth frames to make the score 4-3. A six-run fifth inning pushed Cartersville’s lead to 10-3 and they added two more runs down the stretch for their nine-run victory. Cartersville pitcher Colin Genrich (4 IP, 1ER, 3H, 1BB, 5K) picked up the pitching win in relief of starter Tripp Bradley (3 IP, 2ER, 3H, 3BB, 4K).
Landon O’Neal (4 IP, 10R, 9R, 9H, 1BB, 2K) started on the bump for Bartow County with Cadyn Wade (1.2 IP, 0R, 1H, 2BB) and Easton Elrod (1.1 IP, 2R, 1ER, 2H, 2BB) also taking the mound. Bradley drove in three runs for Cartersville with a pair of hits including a double and a sacrifice fly. Luke Altizer (2 RBI), Grant Knight (RBI), Ayden Ray (RBI), and Colt Williams all contributed two hits. Turner Abernathy (RBI) and Geoffrey Gore (RBI) added one hit each. Sawyer Wilson and Genrich (sac fly) drove in one run apiece.
Bartow got two hits each from O’Neal (RBI), Dawson Walters, and Luke Hollis. Caden Goff and Wade added one RBI each.
The two teams are scheduled to return to the diamond Saturday at 9 a.m. at the Cartersville Baseball Complex Field 4. If a third game is needed, it is set for Sunday afternoon at 2 p.m. at the same location. The district winner advances to the Georgia Junior League State Tournament scheduled to begin July 13 in West Point, Georgia.
Little League results are provided to Bartow Sports Zone by Bartow County Little League and Cartersville Little League. The game data is shared by the leagues via GameChanger reports from the respective teams and/or leagues. GRPA tournament team results are also provided by the Cartersville Parks and Recreation Department and the Bartow County Parks and Recreation Department or the Georgia Recreation and Parks Association. Results and capsules are sponsored on Bartow Sports Zone by Play It Again Sports and CiCi's - Beyond Pizza, both located in the Cartersville Main Street - Cherokee Place Shopping Center.
