Carroll, Canes earn split to set up winner-take-all title game Monday night

After narrowly dropping Game 1 of Saturday’s doubleheader in the GHSA Class 5A State Championship series to Loganville, Cartersville scored a first inning run on an infield error in Game 2 and right hand pitcher Caden Carroll made it stand up in a 1-0 win.

The doubleheader split means the rubber game of the best-of-three series will be played Monday night back at AdventHealth Stadium in Rome.

Carroll, who stayed undefeated on the mound this season, tossed a gem in a spot the Hurricanes certainly needed it. He scattered four hits and did not walk a batter in earning his 12th win of the year. He needed only 87 pitches and struck out nine in his complete-game shutout.

Curt Bonner opened the Canes’ first inning with a base hit and was replaced on the bag at first when Elliott Eastin bounced into a fielder’s choice. Caleb Daniel followed with a single that moved Eastin into scoring position at second base. Drew Rothschild then hit a hard ground ball that was misplayed by the Red Devils’ third baseman allowing Eastin to cross the plate.

Loganville advanced a baserunner to third with two outs in the top of the sixth for their greatest threat, but Carroll got out of the frame with a comeback groundout he fielded himself.

All five of Cartersville’s hits in Game 2 came from the top three batters in the Hurricane order. Eastin and Daniel had two singles each. Bonner had one.

GAME ONE: LOGANVILLE 5, CARTERSVILLE

Caleb Daniel had two hits in each game of the Canes' doubleheader split with Loganville Saturday night.

Cartersville trailed 4-0 heading into the sixth inning of the series opener before challenging the Red Devils late. The Canes rallied for four runs in the sixth to tie the score 4-4 off starter Dawson Coe (5 IP, 4ER, 5H, 3BB, 4K). Matthew Heard (2 IP, 0R, 0H, 2BB, 2K) picked up the Loganville pitching win by retiring the final six outs. He shut down the Canes’ sixth following a sac bunt with a pair of strikeouts.

Bonner and Eastin coaxed back-to-back walks to open the Purple Hurricanes’ sixth inning. Daniel singled to load the bases before Rothschild doubled into left field. Daniel scored all the way from first when the Loganville left fielder made an error and Rothschild ended up at third base. Three pitches later, Hank Smith reached on an infield single sending Rothschild to the plate for a 4-4 tie.

Loganville scored what would be their game-winning run in the bottom of that same sixth inning. Sherman Johnson singled, Christian Donaldson doubled with one out, and Johnson scored when Jaylen Jones groundout out.

Cartersville starting pitcher Ryan Johnson (5 IP, 5R, 4ER, 8H, 1BB, 4K) suffered the Game 1 pitching loss. Phillip Schiltz (1 IP, 0R, 1H, 1K) retired the final three outs for the Hurricanes.

Daniel finished with two hits in the opening game. Rothschild (double, 2 RBIs), Smith (RBI), and Blake Sutton added one hit apiece.

Cartersville (32-7) and Loganville (31-9) will play a winner-take-all game Monday night with first pitch scheduled for 7 p.m.