Seigler's gem moves Canes to quarterfinals of Showdown; Woodland edged by Calhoun
Three different Hurricanes drove in one run each Thursday night to lead the Cartersville Purple Hurricanes past James Clemens High School (Madison, AL) in the opening round of the Perfect Game USA High School Showdown at LakePoint in Emerson, 4-1.
The offensive production was plenty for Canes' starting pitcher Anthony Seigler who limited James Clemens to only two hits and did not allow an earned run.
Cartersville scored twice in the first inning and added a pair of insurance runs in the sixth to upend the Jets.
Seigler (7 IP, 1R, 0ER, 2H, 1BB, 9K) struck out nine in his complete game pitching victory.
Garrett Brown struck out 12 for James Clemens and allowed only one earned run himself, but was saddled with the tough loss.
Cartersville struck first to go ahead in the opening frame.
Seigler tripled to open the inning and Noah Daniel reached on a two-base error that scored Seigler’s courtesy runner, John Reed Evans. After Daniel swiped third, Jacob Fowler lined a single into right field to give the Canes a 2-0 lead.
James Clemens scored a run in the top of the third without benefit of a hit. A hit batsman eventually came around to score on a Canes’ infield, ground ball error.
Cartersville added a pair of insurance runs in the bottom of the sixth inning.
Jake Gooch doubled home Daniel who had singled to start the inning. Brant Smith reached on an infield single and Spencer Dickey reached on an infield error that allowed pinch-runner Evans to score.
Jordan Anderson had the only two Jets’ hits off Seigler.
Cartersville (8-1) advances to the PG High School Showdown quarterfinals Friday at 3:30pm to play Providence (Jacksonville, FL) — a team with a pair of Division I pitching prospects and as many as four Division I prospect infielders.
CALHOUN 2, WOODLAND 1
A low-scoring pitchers’ duel Thursday ironically came down to too many free passes as visiting Calhoun edged Woodland 2-1.
Calhoun scored the go-ahead run in the top of the seventh off only one hit in the inning. A hit batsman and three walks plated the game-winning run.
Both teams struggled to put runs on the board as Woodland starter Trenton Harrison and the combination of Calhoun pitchers Davis Allen and Jackson Braden kept hitters at bay for most of the evening.
Woodland took advantage of two errors and a walk in the bottom of the first inning to take a 1-0 lead. Hunter Reaid singled with one out and that was followed by a pair of infield errors by the Yellow Jackets. After a strikeout, Noah Ludy coaxed a bases loaded walk to drive in the game’s first run.
Calhoun tied the game in the top of the fourth, 1-1.
A hit batsman and a fielder’s choice put a Jackets’ base runner in scoring position. That sequence was followed by a ground ball misplayed by the Wildcats that allowed the runner on second to score.
Allen (4 IP, 1R, 0ER, 2H, 1BB, 7K) started on the mound for the Yellow Jackets. Braden (3 IP, 0R, 0BB, 1H, 4K) picked up the win in relief.
The loss spoiled an outstanding performance by Woodland starting pitcher Trenton Harrison (6.2 IP, 2ER, 4H, 1BB, 8K). Cauy Williams (0.0 IP, 2BB) and Tommy Peed (0.1 IP, 1K) also took the mound for the Wildcats in the seventh inning.
Both teams managed only four hits each. Reaid had two hits for Woodland. Harrison and Jacob Frye had the other Wildcats’ hits.
Calhoun, ranked 7th in Class AAA, improved to 5-3 with their victory.
Woodland (9-2) hosts Cedartown Friday at the Ballpark at Woodland and will travel to Coosa Monday afternoon before opening the region slate Friday, March 17 at Cass.
