Local Little League 10U softball, baseball teams drop state tourney openers
A pair of local 10U Little League teams suffered opening round losses at their respective state tournaments Saturday.
Bartow County Little League 10U softball girls were shutout 4-0 by Harris County in their first game of the double-elimination tournament at Crawford Creek Park hosted by Martinez-Evans Little League.
Meanwhile at Holland Park in Athens, Cartersville Little League 10U baseball was stopped by Northern Little League of Columbus 7-1 to send the locals to the loser’s bracket of their state tournament.
In the Bartow softball loss, pitcher Lakiaya Banks kept the local team in a scoreless battle until the fifth inning when Harris County plated four runs. Banks allowed just two hits in the contest along with three walks. She fanned ten. Cartersville 10U baseball actually led 1-0 after one inning in their contest.
Clint Hosea walked with one out in the bottom of the first inning and managed to eventually score on three wild pitches.
Northern scored twice in the top of the second inning on three walks, an infield error, and a sacrifice fly to take a 2-1 lead. The score remained that way until the final frame when Northern plated five runs to put the game away.
The five-run Northern sixth inning included three walks, two hits, and a pair of Cartersville miscues.
Carter Callen had the only Cartersville 10U base hit in the game. It came on a second innng single to lead off the frame, but Callen was stranded at second. Cartersville had some opportunities, however. The locals drew a total of eight walks.
Northern managed only three hits off a quartet of Cartersville pitchers. Callan (1.1 IP, 2R, 1ER, 0H, 3BB, 4K) started on the mound and worked into the second inning. Dallen Fuqua (3.2 IP, 2ER, 2H, 2BB, 3K) worked the bulk of the contest with Hosea (0.2 IP, 3R, 1ER, 1H, 2BB, 1K) and Blake Lutjens (0.1 IP) retiring the final three outs in the sixth.
Bartow County 10U softball plays again Sunday at 5:30 p.m. in an elimination game. Cartersville 10U baseball also has an elimination game Sunday at 1 p.m. against Elbert County.
The Georgia Little League 10U state softball tournament continues through Wednesday night. The 10U baseball event continues through Friday.
10U Georgia Little League Softball State Tournament results:
Saturday’s games
Vine Ingle 20, Elbert County 1
Harris County 4, Bartow County 0 Oconee County 12, West Point 0
Sunday’s schedule Hart County v. Vine Ingle, 10am
Harris County v. Oconee County, 12:30pm
Bartow County v. West Point, 5:30pm (elimination game, winner plays at 6pm Monday)
10U Georgia Little League Baseball State Tournament results:
Saturday’s games
Vine Ingle 15, Elbert County 4
Smyrna 35, West Point 1
Northern 7, Cartersville 1
Athens 27, Franklin County 0
Sunday’s schedule
Smyrna v. Athens, 10 am
Vine Ingle v. Northern, 10 am
Cartersville v. Elbert County, 1 pm (elimination game, winner plays at 6pm Monday v. Smyrna/Athens loser)
West Point v. Franklin County, 1 pm (elimination game, winner plays at 6pm Monday v Vine Ingle/Northern loser)
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
