Canes complete series sweep of Calhoun by taking two Thursday

Blake Sutton had three hits including a home run and three RBIs in the Canes' doubleheader sweep Thursday at Calhoun.

The Class AAAAA top-ranked Cartersville Purple Hurricanes swept a region doubleheader Thursday at Calhoun, defeating the Yellow Jackets 8-6 and 6-2 to sweep the season series between the two clubs.

Calhoun raced to a 3-0 lead in the first inning of the first game, but Cartersville moved to a 5-3 advantage in the fourth inning and held off the Jackets down the stretch.

In Game 2, the Canes snapped a 2-2 tie in the top of the sixth inning and then added three runs in the seventh to win 6-2.

The Hurricanes’ pitching staff got the job done again.

Caden Carroll (7 IP, 2R, 1ER, 6H, 2BB, 13K) tossed a complete game in the nightcap scattering six hits and two walks. He fanned 13 with only one of the two runs against him earned.

In the opener, pitchers Ryan Johnson (4.2 IP, 6ER, 6H, 2BB, 7K) and Phillip Schiltz (2.1 IP, 0R, 4H, 1BB, 1K) combined to contain Calhoun. The duo combined for eight strikeouts.

Curt Bonner (3 RBIs), Elliott Eastin (double, RBI), Harrison Childers (double), and Jake Brasfield (double) all had two hits each in the Canes’ first win Thursday. Blake Sutton smacked a solo home run in the seventh inning for an important insurance run. Caleb Daniel (sac fly, RBI), Drew Rothschild (RBI), and Hank Smith added one hit each.

In the late game, Easton doubled twice. Sutton (2 RBIs) and Daniel (RBI) also had two hits each. Smith (RBI) and Childers contributed one hit apiece. Rothschild drove in a run with a sacfiice fly.

Calhoun (15-7, 5-4) slips to third place in Region 7-5A. The Yellow Jackets have a three-game series with Woodland next week and three with Blessed Trinity in the final week of the regular season.

Cartersville (15-4, 8-1) has now taken firm control of the Region 7-5A standings. The Hurricanes won two of three with Blessed Trinity and swept Calhoun — winning five of six games against the other Top Ten-ranked teams in the region. The remainder of the region schedule leaves Cartersville with a three game series with both Cass and Hiram. Both of those teams are at the bottom of the region hierarchy.

The Canes will finish out the Spring Break schedule Friday and Saturday in the Battle for Bartow Classic at LakePoint. Cartersville plays Sandy Creek at 1 p.m. Friday; North Paulding at 7 p.m. Friday; and Locust Grove Saturday at 1 p.m.