Bartow County Little League defeats Athens, advances to final three of state tourney
Bartow County Little League (12U) baseball survived a second straight elimination game Wednesday night at Hicks Park in Cartersville and advanced to the final three teams of the 2022 Georgia Little League State Tournament.
Bartow County, now 3-1 in the double-elimination tournament, defeated Athens Little League 12-4 Wednesday.
Playing as the home team, Bartow scored four runs in the bottom of the second inning and added on each frame. The locals added a single run in the third, five in the fourth, and two more in the fifth inning on their way to victory.
Athens scored one run in the top of the third and two more in the top of the fourth to get as close as 5-3, but Bartow’s seven runs over its final two offensive frames took control of the game.
Meanwhile on the mound, a group of six Bartow pitchers limited the Athens offense.
Cade McCorkle (3 IP, 1ER, 2H, 0BB, 4K) worked the first three innings and earned the pitching win. Tate Broom (0.0 IP, 2ER, 3H), Blaine Groce (1 IP, 0R, 0H, 2BB, 1K), Alfredo Romo (1 IP, 1ER, 1H, 1BB, 3K), Noah Rogers (0.2 IP, 3BB, 1K), and Noah Janssen (0.1 IP, 1K).
Rogers hit a three run home run in the second inning to get the Bartow offense started. He finished with two hits and a walk, reaching base in all three plate appearances.
Huck Garlin and Groce both had two hits each including a double and one RBI apiece. Matthew Zander had a pair of RBIs and one double. Gunner Pullen also doubled and drove in a run. McCorkle added a base hit to round out Bartow’s nine hit attack.
Next for Bartow County will be an elimination game Thursday at 6 p.m. on Rudy York Field against Dudley Little League. Dudley (2-1) lost for the first time in the tournament Wednesday, falling to Harris County 2-0.
Harris County (3-0) has reached the championship round and will face the Bartow/Dudley winner Friday at 6 p.m. If a second championship game is needed, it will follow at 8 p.m. Friday night.
JUNIOR LITTLE LEAGUE STATE TOURNAMENT UPDATE The state championship round opponent for Bartow County Junior Little League (14U) was determined Wednesday night in Hartwell with Athens defeating Elbert County, 13-5. Bartow, currently 3-0 in the double-elimination tournament, defeated Athens Tuesday night 23-1. The locals can claim the state championship with a win Thursday night in a 6 p.m. start. If Athens wins Thursday, a winner-take-all game will be played Friday night -- also at 6 p.m.
Little League and GRPA tournament results are provided to Bartow Sports Zone by Cartersville Little League and Bartow County Little League plus the Cartersville and Bartow County Parks and Recreation Departments. The game data is shared by the leagues via GameChanger reports from the respective teams and/or leagues. Results and capsules are sponsored on Bartow Sports Zone by The Benefit Consulting Group of Cartersville and George F. Willis Realty.
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