Canes blank Central, 10-0

With the bases loaded in a scoreless game Tuesday night, Cartersville centerfielder and nine-hole hitter Preston Welchel battled through a ten-pitch at bat in the bottom of the second inning. The junior fouled off multiple two-strike pitches before delivering a clutch three-run double that one-hopped the right field wall and got the Canes’ offense started in an eventual 10-0 win over Central-Carroll.

Welchel finished the night 3-for-3 with four RBI as the Hurricanes won their seventh straight game and remained unbeaten in Region 5-AAAA.

Josh Davis drove in a pair of runs, including a sacrifice fly and two hits. J.P. Martin added two hits and one RBI for the Canes who needed only five innings for their mercy-rule victory.

Jake Gooch, Chandler Tromza, and Gage Morris had one hit each to bring the Cartersville hits total to ten.

Gooch (4.1 IP, 0R, 2H, 2BB, 2K) also picked up the pitching victory by working into the fifth inning. Morris (0.2 IP, 0R, 0H, 0BB) retired the final two outs with a short pop up to centerfield and a comeback groundout to work his way out of a bases loaded jam and preserve the shutout.

The Canes played Tuesday's game without star players Anthony Seigler and Devin Warner. Both were suspended for two games after being ejected in Monday’s win at Cedartown for arguing with an umpire following a called third strike on Warner. The two players were allowed to complete Monday’s game, but sat out Tuesday and will have to miss Friday's game also.

Central-Carroll drops to 10-9 with the loss and is now 2-4 in region play.

Cartersville (17-5, 6-0) faces Sandy Creek Friday at home at 5:55 p.m.