Softball region playoff roundup: Cartersville eliminated, Adairsville sent to elimination bracket
The 2018 season came to an end for Cartersville softball Monday night at Cedartown with a pair of Region 6-AAA playoff losses to the Lady Bulldogs.
Following a tooth-and-nail, down-to-the wire, ten-inning battle and loss in the opener, Cartersville dropped a second game in the best-of-three series, 10-4.
Cedartown took advantage of a dozen walks and three Canes errors in the nightcap.
The Lady Bulldogs had a trio of three-run innings after taking a 1-0 lead in the first. They needed only three hits to produce their ten runs.
Cartersville scored single runs in the second, third, fifth, and sixth innings in the second loss.
AnnaKate McElhaney had two hits and two RBI. Presley Edwards had two hits, including a sixth inning, solo home run. Lauren McElhaney had two hits and Cio Seigler added a hit.
Colbi Ballard (1 IP, 4ER, 2H, 4BB), who needed 135 pitches in an heroic effort in the first game, was lifted in the second inning of the nightcap for AnnaKate McElhaney (6 IP, 6R, 3ER, 1H, 8BB).
GAME ONE — CEDARTOWN 4, CARTERSVILLE 3 (10 innings)
Marycille Brumby doubled home Cedartown’s winning run in the opening game in the bottom of the tenth inning for a dramatic walk-off victory.
The first game, with Cartersville pitcher Colbi Ballard and Cedartown hurler Madi Reynolds dominating in the circle, went to extra innings tied 1-1.
The Lady Canes scored a run in the second inning to grab an early 1-0 advantage.
Lauren McElhaney reached on a leadoff single and later scored on a sac fly by Rylie Harris.
Cedartown scored its first run in the bottom of the third inning on an RBI double by Madison Wigley.
Cartersville struck first in the extra frames, scoring twice in the top of the ninth.
A second sacrifice fly of the game by Harris took advantage of a walk, Cedartown error, and a sacrifice bunt by Presley Edwards to go ahead 2-1. Brooklyn PIttman then reached on a second Bulldog error of the inning allowing Lauren McElhaney to score.
Cedartown rallied to tie, however, in the bottom of the ninth.
With two outs in the inning, a double by Carlie Holland and walks to Emma Tuck and Jameia Diamond set up a two-RBI single by Kaylee Nikolopoulus and sent the game to the fateful tenth.
Starting with the tenth inning, the international tie-breaker rule is in effect by GHSA rules adoption.
Each team begins the tenth inning and beyond with a baserunner at second base.
Cartersville failed to push a run across in the top of the tenth following a sacrifice that moved the runner to third and an inning-ending double play that culminated with a tag play at home plate.
Reynolds (10 IP, 3R, 1ER, 7H, 1BB) picked up the complete-game pitching win for Cedartown without recording a strikeout. Ballard (9 IP, 3ER, 9H, 4BB, 7K) suffered the hard-fought loss for the Canes despite an outstanding effort.
Nikolopoulus had three hits and two RBI to lead the Bulldogs’ offense. Wigley had two hits and one RBI.
Lauren McElhaney had two hits in the opener for Cartersville. Harris had a hit to go with her two RBI. Emery Jenkins, Ballard, AnnaKate McElhaney, and Hope Short added one hit apiece.
Cedartown (11-11) advances to a single game later this week to determine the third- or fourth-seed from Region 5-AAAA in the state playoffs. Cartersville’s season comes to a close with a 9-14 mark.
NORTH MURRAY 2, ADAIRSVILLE 1
Adairsville softball was edged 2-1 by North Murray in walk-off fashion Monday night at Calhoun in the opening round of the double-elimination Region 6-AAA tournament.
The loss drops the Lady Tigers into an elimination game Tuesday at 5 p.m. at the Calhoun Recreaton Center.
Playing as the visiting team, 7th-seeded Adairsville led 1-0 heading into the bottom of the sixth inning. North Murray scored a run in the sixth and produced a walk-off run with one out in the bottom of the seventh. A single, a sacrifice bunt, and two errors generated the game-winner.
Talli Burgess (7 IP, 1R, 0ER, 4H, 2BB, 11K) was the complete-game pitching winner for the Mountaineers.
Adairsville’s Taylor Rhoades (6 IP, 2R, 1ER, 3H, 1BB, 3K) suffered the loss in the circle. She was relieved in the final inning by Victoria O’Neal (0.1 IP).
Sadye Johnson had two hits for the Tigers. Sierra Tanner and Havyn Isaac had one hit each.
Adairsville (7-20) will play Haralson County Tuesday in an elimination game. The 4th-seeded Rebels fell to Ringgold Monday night, 9-1.
