Late rally not enough, Bartow County Little League drops second round game at state tourney

Bartow County Little League (12U) made a late inning charge but came up a pair of runs short Sunday afternoon in an 8-6 state tournament second round loss to Harris County Little League at Hicks Park in Cartersville.

Harris County scored five runs in the top of the first inning and added on three more in the fourth inning for an 8-1 lead. Bartow then rallied for five runs in the bottom of the fifth but could get no closer.

Five of Bartow’s six hits in the game came in their fifth inning rally.

Huck Garlin (2 RBIs) and Alfredo Romo had doubles. Noah Rogers (RBI), Elijah Bryant, Noah Janssen, and Matt Zander added one hit apiece. Blaine Groce contributed one RBI.

Romo (0.0 IP, 3R, 2ER, 0H, 2BB) made the pitching start for Bartow County and suffered the loss. Bryant (5.1 IP, 6ER, 10H, 3BB) entered in the first inning a worked into the sixth. Cade McCorkle (0.2 IP, 0R, 1H) closed out the game for the locals.

With the win, Harris County is now one of two remaining unbeaten teams in the double-elimination state tournament. Harris will have Monday night off and will play Dudley Little League Tuesday. The loss drops Bartow County to an elimination game Monday night at 8 p.m. against Peachtree City Little League on Rudy York Field.

In other results Sunday, Dudley defeated Martinez-Evans 18-7. Athens eliminated Smyrna 5-4 and Peachtree City eliminated Toccoa, 10-5.

Remaining Georgia Little League State Tournament schedule: (all games on Rudy York Field)

Mon. July 18 — 6pm — Martinez-Evans v. Athens (elimination game)

Mon. July 18 — 8pm — Peachtree City v. Bartow County (elimination game)

Tue. July 19 — 6pm — Harris County v. Dudley

Tue. July 19 — 8pm — Martinez-Evans/Athens winner v. Peachtree City/Bartow winner (elimination game)

Wed. July 20 — 6pm — Harris Co./Dudley loser v. Martinez-Evans/Athens/PTC/Bartow (elimination game) Thur. July 21 — 6pm — Harris/Dudley winner v. Wednesday winner Thur. July 21 — 8pm — “if necessary game”

Little League and GRPA tournament results are provided to Bartow Sports Zone by Cartersville Little League and Bartow County Little League plus the Cartersville and Bartow County Parks and Recreation Departments. The game data is shared by the leagues via GameChanger reports from the respective teams and/or leagues. Results and capsules are sponsored on Bartow Sports Zone by The Benefit Consulting Group of Cartersville and George F. Willis Realty.