Down but not out, Purple Hurricanes strike late to force a Saturday quarterfinal showdown

May 8, 2026

Charles Wilson / BartowSportsZone.com

After losing Game 1 of their Class 4A state quarterfinal series against St. Pius X on Friday afternoon at Richard Bell Field, 7-1, the Purple Hurricanes rallied late to win Game 2, 3-1, setting up a decisive winner-take-all game on Saturday afternoon.

Nolan Elrod struck out six and tossed a seven-inning complete game Friday night, sending Cartersville to a Game 3 showdown with St. Pius X in their Class 4A state quarterfinal series.

Down a game in the series, the Canes trailed 1-0 heading into the seventh inning. Singles by David Vargas, Nolan Elrod, and Cooper Reynolds plated a run, and an error by the Golden Lions’ catcher allowed two more runs to score on the play.

That was all Elrod needed on the mound. He struck out the side in the bottom of the seventh to finish off a 3-1 win. Elrod scattered four hits and three walks while striking out six in his complete-game effort.

Vargas had three hits for the Hurricanes. Elrod contributed two. Reynolds (RBI), Harris Turner, and Gianni Gandy each added one hit in the victory.

Cartersville (28-9) and St. Pius X (22-14) will play a deciding Game 3 in the series on Saturday at 3 p.m.

Kell awaits the series winner in the Class 4A semifinals starting next Thursday. The Longhorns defeated East Forsyth 10-0 and 2-1 in their quarterfinal series.

ST. PIUS X  7, CARTERSVILLE 1

David Vargas had four hits in the first two games of the Canes' series with St. Pius X.

The visiting Golden Lions rallied for seven runs in the top of the sixth inning on Friday afternoon to win Game 1 of their state quarterfinal at Cartersville, 7-1.

The Canes took a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the third inning on an RBI single by David Vargas, but St. Pius X sent thirteen men to the plate in the top of the sixth inning to score seven runs. The Golden Lions’ big inning included an infield error, an intentional walk, a hit batter, and six singles.

Colton Sumpter (6 IP, 1ER, 4H, 0BB, 9K) struck out nine in collecting the pitching win for St. Pius X. Connor Tysver closed out the final inning for the Lions on the mound and had one strikeout.

Wyatt Earwood (0.0 IP, 4R, 3ER, 5H) was charged with the Canes’ pitching loss in relief of starter Nate Russell (5.1 IP, 3R, 2ER, 4H, 5BB, 7K). Collier Jordan (1.2 IP, 0R, 1H, 2K) pitched in the sixth and seventh innings.

Vargas (RBI), Brayden Logan, Cooper Reynolds, and Parker Lively each had one hit for Cartersville in the loss.