Canes and Titans will settle the state title on Thursday

May 21, 2025

Cartersville's Maddox Frazier closed out the Canes' win in Game 1 with two strikeouts in a scoreless seventh inning.

Cartersville and Blessed Trinity will play a winner-take-all, State Championship Series-deciding game on Thursday back at Coolray Field in Lawrenceville following their doubleheader split on Wednesday.

Cartersville opened the best-of-three series with a 6-3 win, but the Titans forced a third game by topping the Canes 7-3 in Game 2.

GAME 1: CARTERSVILLE 6, BLESSED TRINITY 3

David Vargas had one hit for the Canes in Game 2.

The Hurricanes trailed in Game 1 until scoring four runs in the top of the fifth for a 4-1 lead. A one-out sacrifice fly by Thomas Peters tied the score 1-1, then Andrew Purdy was intentionally walked. Tristan McKibben followed with a run-scoring single, and Cole Crawford drove home Purdy and McKibben with a two-out double.

Blessed Trinity narrowed the Canes’ lead to 4-3 in the bottom of the sixth, but Cameron Cochran doubled home two runs in the top of the seventh to add insurance runs.

Nate Russell struck out nine in his six-inning start during Game 1.

Nate Russell collected the pitching win with a six-inning start. He allowed three earned runs on five hits and three walks while striking out nine. Maddox Frazier closed out the final frame, allowing no runs or hits with one walk and two strikeouts.

Brayden Logan had two hits for Cartersville. Crawford (two RBI), Cochran (two RBI), Peters (RBI), McKibben (RBI), and David Vargas finished with one hit.

Caden Dawson had two hits for the Titans. Carson Zagryn, Kade Kisz (RBI), and Wesley Bass (RBI) added one hit. Aidan Zagryn drove in one run for Blessed Trinity.

GAME 2: BLESSED TRINITY 7, CARTERSVILLE 3

Andrew Purdy led off Game 2 with an opposite-field double.

The Titans scored six runs in the third inning and added one more in the fourth to build a 7-0 lead in Game 2. 

Cartersville posted three runs in the fifth without the benefit of a hit to make the score 7-3, but got no closer. The Canes took advantage of four walks, an error, and a wild pitch to score their runs.

Joseph Contreras made the pitching start for Blessed Trinity and was credited with the win. He allowed one earned run (three total) on three hits and six walks while fanning eight. Brayden Loquasto retired the final six outs and did not allow a run over two innings with two strikeouts.

Cole Crawford had two hits and two RBI in the Canes' 6-3 victory. He added a double in Game 2.

Purdy (3 IP, 6R, 4ER, 3H, 4BB, 4K) made the pitching start for Cartersville and was saddled with the loss. Logan Shrewsbury (4 IP, 1ER, 3H, 1BB, 5K) pitched the final four innings for the Canes.

Bass (two RBI) and Aidan Zagryn (double, RBI) had two hits for the Titans in their victory. Carson Zagryn (RBI) and Dawson (triple, RBI) added one hit.

Purdy and Crawford doubled for Cartersville. Nolan Elrod and Vargas added one hit.

The Purple Hurricanes (32-9) and Titans (32-9) will settle the championship series Thursday at 6 p.m. at Coolray Field in Lawrenceville.