Canes' hurlers blank Jefferson to sweep first-round state playoff series

Caden Carroll threw a five-inning, two-hitter Monday as the Canes won Game 1 of their playoff series with Jefferson, 11-0.

The Cartersville Purple Hurricanes swept a doubleheader with the visiting Jefferson Dragons Monday night to win their best-of-three Class 5A first-round state playoff series at the Cartersville Baseball Complex.

In Game 1, Kennesaw State commit Caden Carroll tossed a five-inning two-hitter while the Canes offense powered past the Dragons. Carroll walked two and struck out seven in the 11-0 Cartersville win.

The Hurricanes outhit Jefferson eleven to two in the opening game blasting three home runs including a grand slam by Harrison Childers. Kaden Stephenson and Isaac McNair-Seigler also homered.

In Game 2 with Cartersville playing as the visitors and batting first, Canes’ pitchers Ryan Johnson and Phillip Schiltz combined for a one-hitter and outdueled Dragons’ pitcher Jase Peoples to squeeze out a 2-0 win.

University of Georgia commit Ryan Johnson allowed just one hit in six innings to help the Canes shutout Jefferson and complete a first-round playoff sweep.

Johnson and Peoples kept the game scoreless until Cartersville’s Miles Owen drove in the game’s first run in the top of the sixth inning. The Canes tacked on an insurance run in the top of the seventh when Stephenson tripled and Cameron Cochran drove him in with a sacrifice fly.

Paul Gamble's leadoff single in the top of the sixth of Game 2 set up the Canes' first run on an RBI single by Miles Owen.

Johnson allowed just one hit, one walk, and one hit batsman while fanning six in the first six innings. Schiltz struck out the side in the seventh.

Peoples yielded just two runs on three hits, a pair of walks, and two hit batsmen but suffered the pitching loss for the Dragons.

In the doubleheader, Landon Cole, Owen (RBI), Stephenson (triple, solo HR), Childers (grand slam, double), and Cochran (double, RBI) had two hits apiece. Paul Gamble, Luke Miller, Caleb Daniel (sac fly, RBI), and McNair-Seigler (home run, sac fly, three RBIs) added one hit each for the Canes.

The season ends for Jefferson with a 19-10 record.

Cartersville (29-2) advances to the Sweet Sixteen round of the Class 5A state playoffs and will host a doubleheader Saturday against the Cambridge Bears. If a third game is needed in the series, the Canes will host on Monday, May 1.

Cambridge (19-12) swept Jackson-Atlanta in the first round Monday, 7-4 and 18-1.