Cartersville Little League 10U earns a state runner-up finish; Cartersville 11U third at state

July 18, 2026

Charles Wilson / BartowSportsZone.com

CARTERSVILLE LITTLE LEAGUE 10U EARNS STATE RUNNER-UP FINISH

Cartersville Little League 10U extended the state tournament championship round to a final, winner-take-all game on Friday night in Athens, but lost to Columbus-American 6-0 and finished as state runner-up.

Columbus-American pitching limited Cartersville 10U to only three hits in the final game — singles by Jack Burris, Jett Nichols, and Lucas Penland.

Cartersville 10U finished the state tournament with a 4-2 record and wins over Hart County (10-6), Peachtree City (10-0), Smyrna (8-0), and Columbus-American (4-2). Both losses (4-1 and 6-0) were to Columbus-American.

To reach the championship round, Cartersville 10U broke open a 1-0 game on Wednesday with seven runs in the fifth inning to defeat Smyrna 8-0. Penland tossed a six-inning, complete-game shutout to collect the pitching victory. He scattered seven hits and one walk with two strikeouts. Lincoln Ezell (double, two RBI), Cort Wolff (RBI), and Penland (RBI) had hits in the win. Nichols drove in one run with a sacrifice fly.

In Thursday’s win over Columbus-American in the championship round, Cartersville 10U scored four runs in the first inning. Pitchers Brantley Tilley and Burris then combined for six strikeouts on the mound and limited Columbus-American to only two runs on five hits and four walks.

Burris had two hits, including one double. Nichols contributed one double and two RBI. Wolff had the other Cartersville base hit.

CARTERSVILLE 11U THIRD AT STATE TOURNEY

Cartersville Little League 11U finished third at the Georgia Little League state tournament following a 6-4 loss to Smyrna on Thursday night in Toccoa.

Cartersville 11U finished the double-elimination tournament with a 2-2 mark. The locals had wins over Franklin County (12-0) and Columbus-Northern (3-2), before falling to Peachtree City (1-0) and Smyrna (6-4).

Tripp Walker was the top hitter for Cartersville 11U in their final two state tournament games with three hits. Brayden Taylor and Jonah Holder each had two hits and one RBI. Wheeler Arthur had two hits, and Brantley Brossett contributed a double and two RBI.

Walker pitched 4-1/3 innings and had one strikeout in the final two games. Will Moore struck out two in three innings of work. Fin Rogan and Taylor each struck out two in short mound appearances.