Canes top Greenbrier to reach Final Four
Cartersville won the rubber game of its best-of-three state quarterfinal series with Greenbrier Tuesday night, 6-4, to advance to the GHSA Class 5A Final Four.
The visiting Wolfpack and Hurricanes split Monday’s doubleheader with Greenbrier winning the first game 3-0 and Cartersville forcing the deciding game with an 11-1 victory.
The two teams traded runs early before a three-run fourth inning built the Canes a 6-2 lead.
That’s where the score remained until the Wolfpack threatened in the top of the seventh with two runs. Reliever Phillip Schiltz got back-to-back fly outs, however, to close out the win.
Colt McKibben started on the mound for Cartersville and left after three innings with the Canes leading 3-2. McKibben gave up a pair of earned runs on five hits with no walks. He recorded one strikeout.
Schiltz took over the pitching duties in the fourth and worked three straight scoreless innings before the late rally attempt by the Wolfpack. Schiltz hit a batter in the fourth inning, but otherwise faced the minimum in his first three frames while registering six of his seven strikeouts. The three hits surrendered by Schiltz all came in the top of the seventh.
Harrison Childers had two hits, was hit by a pitch, and drove in a run for the Canes. Hank Smith produced a two RBI single in the fourth inning and walked twice in three plate appearances. Blake Sutton drove in a run with a sacrifice fly in the second inning and contributed an infield hit in the fifth. Elliott Eastin added the other Cartersville base hit and reached base three times with a pair of walks.
Greenbrier’s season ends with a 23-11 record.
Top-ranked Cartersville (29-6) advances to host Apalachee Saturday at Richard Bell Field in the state semifinal series. It will be the Canes' 13th state semifinal appearance. The two teams will play a doubleheader to open the Final Four series. If a third game is needed, it will be played next Monday — also at the Cartersville Baseball Complex. (Game times TBA)
The Wildcats (23-14) edged Wayne County 10-9 in the third game of their state quarterfinal series. Apalachee defeated Chapel Hill in the opening round in two straight games and won a third game against Whitewater in the second round.
