Bartow County Little League Softball advances at state tourney

July 7, 2025

Charles Wilson / BartowSportsZone.com

Leadoff hitter Kallaway Crenshaw reached on a walk in four plate appearances, but also pitched 4-1/3 innings in Bartow's 7-6 state tournament win Sunday in West Point over Dudley Little League of Dublin, Georgia.

Bartow County Little League Softball 12U won a thrilling back-and-forth second-round battle with Dudley Little League on Sunday, 7-6 in extra innings, to advance at the Georgia Little League Softball state tournament in West Point.

Bartow 12U trailed 3-0 in the early going, but scored two runs in the bottom of the second, fourth, and fifth innings to grab a 6-3 lead. Dudley 12U answered with four consecutive hits in the top of the sixth inning to knot the score at 6-6.

Bartow coaxed two walks in the bottom of the sixth inning to threaten, but could not push across a winning run in the final frame of regulation, and the game extended to an international tie-break inning.

Maci Walker was the starting pitcher for Bartow County 12U in their win over Dudley.

With a Dudley baserunner placed at second base to begin the top of the seventh inning, Bartow relief pitcher Remi Sewell induced three straight groundouts to strand the runner and keep the game tied.

In Bartow’s half of the seventh inning, Kynzie Poole was placed at second base to begin the half-inning and scored the locals’ walk-off run on a wild pitch.

Kallaway Crenshaw worked 4-⅓ innings in the pitching circle for Bartow 12U in middle relief. She allowed three earned runs on five hits and one walk, but carried the bulk of the pitching duties. Crenshaw struck out three. Starting pitcher Maci Walker yielded two earned runs (three total) on two hits and three walks with three strikeouts.

Paislee Rooks (RBI) and Poole led the Bartow 12U bats with two hits. Makenzie Baker (RBI), Kaley Nichols, and Sewell (double, two RBI) added one hit.

Bartow County 12U plays Columbus-American Little League on Monday at 4 p.m. in the double-elimination tournament, with the winner advancing to the state tournament’s championship round on Tuesday night. The Bartow/American loser must play an elimination game Tuesday against Monday’s Dudley/West Point survivor. Dudley won an elimination game on Sunday evening, defeating Oconee County 12-2, and West Point eliminated Elbert County 9-4.

The Georgia champion will advance to the Southeast Region Tournament in Warner Robins, competing alongside the state champions from seven other states.

BARTOW 10U SOFTBALL SURVIVES ELIMINATION GAME

Bartow County Little League Softball 10U lost its opening game 16-0 to Dudley Little League on Sunday afternoon and did not get a hit, but bounced back to top host West Point Little League 7-4 in an elimination game. 

Everleigh Gulledge notched eleven strikeouts in the circle as the Bartow County 10U starting pitcher against West Point. She allowed three runs over five innings on four hits and six walks. Makynli Dill gave up a run in the sixth inning on two walks and fanned three.

After trailing 1-0 early, Bartow 10U scored three runs in the second and third innings for a 6-1 lead. West Point scored two runs in the third inning, but Bartow added an insurance run in the top of the sixth to secure the victory.

Olivia Sabans (RBI) had two hits for Bartow, including a triple. Kali Robinson had a double with one RBI. Audrey Benham and Adalynn Reynolds added one hit against West Point.

Bartow 10U plays another elimination game Monday at 6:30 p.m. against Hart County.

CARTERSVILLE LITTLE LEAGUE 10U SPLITS GAMES

Cartersville Little League 10U baseball split two games over the weekend at the Georgia Little League 8-10 year old state tournament at Brinkley Park in Smyrna.

Cartersville 10U fell 2-0 to Smyrna Little League on Saturday afternoon, but survived an elimination game with a 7-6 win over Athens Little League on Sunday.

Cartersville 10U faces Columbus-Northern Little League on Monday at 8 p.m. in an elimination game. The winner will play the Elbert County/Peachtree City survivor in an elimination game on Tuesday night.

Smyrna 10U and Warner Robins American are the two unbeaten teams remaining in the double-elimination tournament.

CARTERSVILLE 11U AND BARTOW COUNTY JUNIOR LEAGUE BASEBALL ELIMINATED

The Cartersville Little League 11U baseball team lost two straight games in Columbus and was eliminated at the Georgia 9-11-year-old state tournament. Cartersville 11U fell to Martinez-Evans Little League 6-5 on Saturday and was shut out by Columbus-American Little League on Sunday, 5-0.

The Bartow County Junior Little League baseball team (13-14 year olds) also was eliminated in two consecutive games at Apalachee High School. Bartow lost 3-1 to Hart County on Saturday and was blanked 21-0 by Vine Ingle Junior Little League on Sunday afternoon.