Hurricanes defeat Locust Grove in Battle for Bartow finale'

Cartersville broke open a 1-1 game in the bottom of the third inning by scoring four times, then added three more in the fourth to grab an 8-1 lead on the Canes’ way to a 9-3 victory Saturday over Locust Grove.

The contest was the third and final game of the 2022 Battle for Bartow Classic at LakePoint for both teams. The Canes and Wildcats both finished 2-1 in the Classic.

Jacob Ray hit a bases loaded triple in the third to give the Hurricanes a 4-1 lead, then Blake Sutton doubled home Ray for a 5-1 advantage.

In the next inning, Hank Smith blasted a three-run home run to left field and Cartersville was cruising 8-1.

The Wildcats posted a pair of runs in the top of the sixth inning narrowing the Canes’ lead to 8-3, but Cartersville’s Drew Rothschild got one of the runs back in the bottom of the inning with a solo home run to lead off the inning.

Cal Goss (5.1 IP, 2R, 0ER, 4H, 2BB, 4K) started on the mound for Cartersville and collected the pitching win. Phillip Schiltz (1.2 IP, 1ER, 5H, 3K) closed out the final five outs on the bump for the Purple Hurricanes.

Jake Brasfield and Caleb Daniel finished with one hit each in addition to the extra base hits by Ray, Sutton, Smith, and Rothschild.

Cartersville, ranked No. 1 in Class 5A, improved to 17-5 on the season. The loss dropped Locust Grove to 17-7.

The Canes return to Region 7-5A action Tuesday at home against Cass at 5:55 p.m. in the first of three games against the Colonels. The series will continue Friday at Cass with a doubleheader scheduled for 5 p.m.