Fast start launches Purple Hurricanes to win over Cedartown

Harrison Childers launched a first inning grand slam home run Thursday afternoon and the Purple Hurricanes stormed to an 8-3 win over Class 4A 3rd-ranked Cedartown in both teams’ opening game of the 2023 Battle for Bartow at Richard Bell Field.

Cedartown scored a single run in the top of the second to narrow the margin to 4-1, but the Canes added two runs in the fourth to make the score 6-1. Another run by the Bulldogs in the fifth narrowed the margin to 6-2 before Cartersville scored twice in the fifth for an 8-2 advantage. The visitors added a run in the next inning to close out the scoring.

Ryan Johnson (4 IP, 1ER, 3H, 3BB, 5K) made the pitching start for the Hurricanes and collected the win. Geoffrey Gore (1.2 IP, 2ER, 3H, 3BB, 2K) and Nicholas Hruby (1.1 IP, 0R, 0H, 1BB, 1K) closed out the final three innings.

Childers had one other hit to go with his first inning slam. Paul Gamble hit a two-run home run in the fourth inning that gave Cartersville a 6-1 lead at the time. Caleb Daniel had the only other Canes’ base hit.

The Bulldogs’ loss ended a 10-game win streak for Cedartown (15-4).

Cartersville, ranked No. 1 in Class 5A, improved to 19-2. The Hurricanes will play two more games in the Battle for Bartow at LakePoint on Friday. They will face Sandy Creek at 4 p.m. and Class 5A 8th-ranked Decatur at 7 p.m.