Canes sweep Chamblee to win first round playoff series

Curt Bonner had four hits in Wednesday's playoff doubleheader sweep of Chamblee including three doubles and one RBI in Game 1.

The top-ranked Cartersville Purple Hurricanes were challenged in the opening game of their first round Class 5A playoff series Wednesday night at Richard Bell Field, but completed a sweep of the visiting Chamblee Bulldogs by winning 4-3 and 14-6 in the best-of-three series.

GAME ONE: CARTERSVILLE 4, CHAMBLEE 3 (8 innings)

To win the opener, the Hurricanes came from behind in extra innings for a 4-3 victory.

Cartersville scored single runs in the first and third innings while Chamblee posted single runs in the third and fifth innings.

The Bulldogs went ahead 3-2 in the top of the eighth with three consecutive hits but Cartersville pulled out the win with an RBI single by Caleb Daniel and a Kaden Stephenson pinch-hit, walk-off RBI single to right field.

Chamblee starter Noah Harkins (7.2 IP, 4R, 3ER, 9H, 2BB, 7K) suffered the pitching loss for the Bulldogs. David Welsh, Zavier Tsai, and Fabian Walker combined for five hits and three RBIs for Chamblee.

Cartersville starting pitcher Ryan Johnson (5 IP, 2R, 1ER, 4H, 2BB, 7K) went five innings in a no-decision effort. Phillip Schiltz (3 IP, 1ER, 4H, 1BB, 5K) picked up the pitching win with three innings of relief.

Curt Bonner had three doubles and one RBI. Jake Brasfield followed with a pair of hits. Daniel (RBI), Drew Rothschild (double), Stephenson (RBI), and Jacob Ray contributed one hit apiece.

GAME TWO: CARTERSVILLE 14, CHAMBLEE 6

Cartersville scored at least one run in each of the first six innings of Game 2 Wednesday night to close out their first round state playoff series with the visiting Chamblee Bulldogs, 14-6.

The second game victory in the doubleheader clinched the best-of-three series and advanced the Hurricanes to next week’s second round Class 5A series where they will host Coffee starting next Tuesday at Richard Bell Field.

The Canes led 4-0 midway through the second inning when Chamblee posted its first three-run inning to make the score 4-3. Cartersville kept adding on, however, and built a 9-3 lead before the Bulldogs narrowed the margin to 9-6 in the bottom of the fifth.

Five more runs by the Hurricanes in the sixth inning put the game away.

Cartersville utilized four pitchers in Game 2.

Caden Carroll (2.1 IP, 3ER, 2H, 6BB, 1K) started on the mound and worked into the third inning. Geoffrey Gore (2.1 IP, 3ER, 4H, 1BB, 4K) followed and was relieved by Phillip Schiltz (1.1 IP, 0R, 0H, 1BB, 1K) with two outs in the fifth inning. Collin Eaton (1 IP, 0R, 0H, 1K) worked a scoreless seventh inning for the Canes.

Caleb Daniel paced the Cartersville offense with three hits including a double and one RBI. Hank Smith had two hits including a double and two RBIs. Harrison Childers also had two hits with a double and one RBI.

Jake Brasfield (2 RBIs), Jacob Ray (2 RBIs), and Curt Bonner (RBI) added one hit each. Drew Rothschild was credited with one RBI.

The season ends for Chamblee with a 15-14 record.

No. 1-ranked Cartersville improves to 25-5.