Cartersville Little League 12U powers past Rockmart to win district tourney opener

The Cartersville Little League 12U baseball tournament team got off to a rousing start Sunday afternoon in the opening game of the 2021 Georgia District 1 tournament.

The game was originally scheduled for Dean Field in Rockmart, but due to the recent rain was moved to the sports turf playing surface at Hamilton Crossing Park. Cartersville 12U rapped out a dozen hits to go with three walks in the bottom of the first inning against Rockmart. The locals grabbed a 15-0 lead in the opening frame and went on to close out the game 16-1 in just three innings by run rule.

The Cartersville offense totaled 15 hits in just two innings.

Cartersville pitchers Clint Hosea, Noah Cagle, and Zack Parker combined to face just one over the minimum and struck out seven of the ten Rockmart batters faced by the trio. Each pitcher worked just one inning.

Hosea faced the minimum and fanned two. Cagle allowed a leadoff home run in the second inning but then fanned two of the next three he faced. Parker then struck out the side to end the game in the middle of the third inning.

Devon Beavers led the Cartersville offense with three hits including a second inning home run, a double, and three RBIs. Zachary Stiles had two hits including a double and three RBIs. David Vargas and Cagle contributed a pair of hits each. Cooper Reynolds doubled and drove in two runs while Ben Cagle, Dixon Lindsey, and Payton Paul added one hit and one RBI apiece.

Next for Cartersville 12U is a matchup with Bartow County Little League 12U at Rockmart’s Dean Field Monday night at 6 p.m. The winner of that game will move into the championship round needing just one more victory to capture the District 1 championship.

Monday’s Cartersville/Bartow loser must face Rockmart Tuesday and then defeat Monday night’s winner twice in the double-elimination tournament.

The District 1 winner advances to the 2021 Georgia Little League Baseball State Tournament to be hosted by Hamilton Crossing Park July17-23.

Information for local Little League softball and baseball updates along with updates from Georgia Recreation and Parks Association baseball and softball tournaments are provided by the Cartersville and Bartow County Recreation Departments and the respective Little League Baseball and Softball organizations. The updates are presented by CiCi's of Cartersville located in the Cherokee Crossing shopping center.