Cartersville Little League 12U drops state tourney opener in extra innings

July 18, 2026

Charles Wilson / BartowSportsZone.com

The Cartersville Little League 12U baseball team lost its first game at the double-elimination Georgia state tournament in Bogart on Saturday, falling 5-4 to Franklin County in extra innings.

Franklin County led 2-0 entering the third inning when Cartersville 12U struck for three runs on four hits to take a 3-2 advantage. Franklin County knotted the score again in the bottom of the third with a single run, and the game remained that way until extra innings.

Cartersville 12U scored in the top of the seventh for a 4-3 lead, but Franklin County tied it again in the bottom of the inning. After Cartersville was retired in order in the top of the eighth, Franklin County got a one-out single, moved the baserunner into scoring position on a strikeout and defensive indifference, and scored the walk-off run on a two-out single into centerfield.

Four pitchers were utilized by Cartersville 12U in the loss. Jaxon Tardy (1.1 IP, 0R, 0H, 0BB, 4K), Sam Evans (2.1 IP, 3R, 2ER, 3H, 2BB), Josh Villarreal (3.1 IP, 2R, 0ER, 2H, 3BB, 3K), and Gray Womack (0.2 IP, 0R, 2H, 2K) worked from the mound for the locals.

Everett Sutton had three hits for Cartersville 12U. Evan Blankenberger and Evans each produced two hits. Villarreal (triple, two RBI), Womack (double), and James Williams provided one hit each. Tardy added one RBI.

The loss sent Cartersville 12U to the elimination bracket in the seven-team state tournament, where they will next play Smyrna on Sunday at 3 p.m. Smyrna lost 6-4 to Columbus-American on Saturday.