Canes complete sweep of Cass; Woodland falls in doubleheader at Calhoun

In Region 7-5A action Friday night, Cartersville swept a doubleheader at Cass while Calhoun took a pair of games from Woodland in Gordon County.

Drew Rothschild

CARTERSVILLE 3, CASS 1

Drew Rothschild hit a three-run home run in the top of the fourth inning of Friday’s first game of a doubleheader at Cass and Canes’ pitcher Caden Caroll held off the Colonels for a 3-1 win.

Carroll tossed a complete game, five-hitter. He issued a pair of walks and struck out nine.

The only Cass run came in the bottom of the seventh on a pair of doubles by Andrew Middleton and Aidan Larkin.

Blake Sutton had two hits for Cartersville. Jake Brasfield, Caleb Daniel, Elliott Eastin, and Curt Bonner contributed one hit each for the Hurricanes.

Larkin had three of the Colonels’ five hits. Cayden Roberts and Middleton had the other Cass safeties.

Roberts (5 IP, 3R, 2ER, 3H, 2BB, 1K) suffered the Cass pitching loss. Devan Hutchinson (2 IP, 0R, 4H, 2BB) pitched in relief for the Colonels.

CARTERSVILLE 6, CASS 0

Cartersville starting pitcher Colt McKibbon tossed a complete game, four-hitter in Friday’s nightcap to blank host Cass 6-0.

The Canes’ win completed a three-game sweep of the Colonels in the week long series.

McKibbon scattered the four Cass base hits, walked one, hit two batters, and struck out ten in earning the victory.

The Cartersville offense produced a run in the first inning and three more in the second to take a 4-0 lead. The Hurricanes later added single insurance runs in the fifth and sixth innings.

Bentley Markley had two hits including a double for Cass. Todd Gaddy and Jesiel Moctezuma added one hit each for the Colonels.

Cass starter Hayden Cole (2 IP, 4R, 3ER, 5H, 2BB, 2K) suffered the pitching loss. Carson Hill (1 IP, 0R, 0H, 1BB, 1K), Chase Botts (2 IP, 1R, 0ER, 0H, 2BB, 1K), and Aidan Larkin (1 IP, 1R, 0ER, 0H, 1BB) also pitched for the Colonels.

No. 1-ranked Cartersville (20-5, 11-1) closes out the regular season next week with a three game series against Hiram. The Canes will host Tuesday at 5:55 p.m. and play at the Hornets’ home field in a doubleheader Thursday at 5 p.m.

Cass (5-22, 4-8) will play a three game series with Woodland with the series winner securing the final playoff spot in the state playoffs from Region 7-5A.

Cass will host Woodland Tuesday at 5:55 p.m. and play a doubleheader at Woodland Thursday starting at 5 p.m.

CALHOUN 5, WOODLAND 1

The Wildcats matched first inning runs with the Yellow Jackets, but a three-run fourth inning by Calhoun built a 4-1 lead on the way to an eventual 5-1 victory.

Calhoun out hit Woodland eight to five with five different Wildcats producing one hit each.

Jakiyon Porter had a double. Ayden Ray, Jacob Gravett (RBI), Rowan Billings, and Mason Williams contributed one hit each for Woodland.

Woodland starter, Hunter Shirley (3.1 IP, 4R, 3ER, 6H, 4BB, 5K), suffered the pitching loss. Conner Stermer (2.1 IP, 1ER, 1H, 1BB, 3K) and Tore Foss (0.1 IP, 0R, 1H, 1K) also pitched for the Wildcats.

CALHOUN 13, WOODLAND 2

In Friday night’s second game, Calhoun took a 7-0 lead by the end of the second inning and cruised to a 13-2 victory.

The doubleheader sweep secured the series win for the Yellow Jackets who lost at Woodland last Tuesday, 7-4.

Woodland got on the scoreboard in the third with an RBI single by Jakiyon Porter, but Calhoun answered with three more runs in the third and fourth innings to put the game away.

Wildcats’ starting pitcher Austin Sanders (1.2 IP, 7R, 3ER, 4H, 4BB, 2K) was tagged with the loss. Logan Bentley (0.1 IP) and Julian Wright (2 IP, 6R, 4ER, 4H, 3BB, 5K) pitched in relief for Woodland.

In addition to Porter’s RBI hit, Jacob Gravett and Conner Stermer had doubles. Chase Carson and Rowan Billings contributed one hit apiece.

Calhoun improved to 17-9 on the year and 7-5 in Region 7-5A.

Woodland (11-16, 4-8) starts a three-game series with Cass on the Colonels’ home field Tuesday with a single game at 5:55 p.m. The series will then conclude with a doubleheader Thursday. The series winner will secure a state playoff berth.