Cartersville Little League 12U eliminated at Southeast Region Tourney with loss to Virginia

Staff
Aug 1, 2025
2 min read

August 1, 2025 Charles Wilson / BartowSportsZone.com

Cartersville manager, Andy Burris, confers with his battery and infielders during Friday's extra-innings loss to Front Royal, Virginia.

Cartersville Little League 12U battled Virginia into extra innings on Friday afternoon, but fell to Front Royal Little League, 8-7.

The loss eliminated Cartersville in the double-elimination Southeast Region Tournament in Warner Robins.

The two teams battled back and forth for eight innings. Cartersville led 3-1 after two frames, but Front Royal knotted the score 3-3 through the fourth. Cartersville regained the advantage, 5-3, with two runs in the top of the fifth, but single runs by Virginia in the bottom of the fifth and sixth sent the game to extra innings tied 5-5. Cartersville 12U posted single runs in the top of the seventh and eighth, but Virginia pulled the game out with a run in the seventh and two more in the eighth to walk off with the victory.

The Cartersville defense got out of the fifth inning by retiring the final out of the frame in a run-down between third base and home plate.

Cartersville utilized four pitchers in its loss. Hayden Stewart made a two-inning start, allowing one earned run on three hits and two walks with two strikeouts. Grayson Dean allowed one run on two walks in the third inning and was relieved by Hayes Burris, who gave up three runs (two earned) on eight hits and four walks. Burris fanned six of 23 batters faced. Sawyer Ezell suffered the tough-luck pitching loss, working the final 1-⅓ innings. Ezell allowed one earned run on two hits and one walk with two strikeouts.

“I’m proud of my boys,” said manager Andy Burris following the game. “We saw a lot of growth this spring and summer. This is a great group of kids, parents, and coaches, and we received incredible support from the Cartersville community.”

Virginia out-hit Cartersville thirteen to eleven, with Remi Wines (two RBI), Titus Good (RBI), Miles Henry, and TJ Cook pacing Front Royal with two hits each.

Emory Harris (double, RBI), Sawyer White, and Dean had two hits for Cartersville. Harris Pressley (RBI), Carter Harris (RBI), Gavin Ham (RBI), Connor Murphy, and Messiah Carter added one hit. Burris walked twice and produced one RBI.

“We appreciate all the well wishes,” added Burris. “I wish we could have won a few games and advanced to Williamsport, but so proud to be a part of this incredible experience. Little League did a great job. It was first class all the way.”

Cartersville Little League 12U finishes the year with an 8-2 mark in tournament play. Cartersville won District 1 with four straight wins and followed that with four consecutive victories to win the Georgia title.

“We are excited for the future age groups coming through Cartersville Little League,” added Burris. “We’re in a good spot moving forward with lots of good young talent that can make it back to Regionals.”