Local softball, baseball teams battle in GRPA tournament action

June 9, 2025

Several local youth softball and baseball teams representing the Cartersville and Bartow County Recreation Departments played over the weekend in District Five Georgia Recreation and Parks Association tournaments.

In the 8U Coach Pitch Softball tournament at Westside Park in Whitfield County, Cartersville and Bartow County teams split their two games. They will continue in the double-elimination event on Monday night. Cartersville fell in the opening round to Rome 23-9, but bounced back for a 22-1 win in the loser’s bracket. Bartow County defeated Calhoun 28-13 in the first round last Friday, but lost an 18-6 decision in the second round on Saturday. Cartersville will face Cedartown on Monday in an elimination game, with the winner advancing to play Rockmart. Bartow County will play the Murray County/Trion winner on Monday, with the winner to meet Rome. The 10-team 8U softball tournament continues through Wednesday.

The Bartow County 10U Machine Pitch softball team finished fourth at the District Five tournament in Trion. Bartow lost to eventual champion Murray County 20-10 in the second round last Thursday, defeated Trion 4-1 in an elimination game on Friday, but was eliminated in a 13-5 loss to Whitfield County on Saturday.

Bartow’s 12U softball team begins play on Monday night against host Trion in their five-team double-elimination district tournament. The Bartow/Trion winner will square off with Murray County in a second game on Monday. The loser will play either Summerville or Rome in an elimination game. The 12U tournament continues in Trion through Thursday.

Three local 8U Coach Pitch baseball teams have advanced to Monday action in the District Five tournament at Westside Park in Whitfield County. Cartersville Purple 8U and Cartersville Gold 8U remain unbeaten through the weekend, while Bartow County Green 8U remains in contention in the loser’s bracket. 

Cartersville Purple 8U received a first-round bye and edged Summerville 3-0 in the second round on Saturday. Cartersville Gold 8U had a 21-5 win over Rome Red last Friday and defeated Cedartown 9-5 on Saturday. On Monday night, Cartersville Purple faces Trion, and Cartersville Gold will take on Gordon County.

Adairsville 8U Green: (L-R) Front Row: Levi Wilson, LD Ward, Wilder Summerville, Kyler Lemons, Steel Hooper, Jep Hayes. Middle Row: Bo Brittian, Tate Deams, Lawton Elrod, Easton New, Hoke Hamby, Finn Baker. Back Row Coaches: Clint Summerville, Drew Elrod, Brad Wilson, Thomas Baker, Cody Hooper, Blake Hamby. Bartow County 8U Blue: (L-R) Front: Laine Sewell, Maverick Cole, Ryder Jace Moon, Austin Terry, EJ Ackies, Cooper McFarland, Memphis Evans, Tyson Chastain, Lucas Rittenhouse, Hayden Watkins, Riley Mulkey. Coaches: Justin Cole, Robert Rittenhouse, Matt Chastain, Josh Sewell.

Bartow County Green 8U defeated Calhoun 14-10 last Friday before splitting two games on Saturday in the 15-team double-elimination tournament. Bartow Green, who has an elimination game Monday night against Summerville, dropped a 13-2 decision against Trion but eliminated Rome Red with a 16-8 victory in the loser’s bracket. 

Bartow County Blue 8U finished ninth in the tournament with a 1-2 record. Bartow Blue lost its opening game to Dalton 6-3 last Friday, defeated Murray County 18-6 on Saturday, but fell 20-7 to Summerville later in the day.

At the 11-team District Five 12U baseball tournament in Dalton, Bartow County is one of two teams remaining without a loss. Cartersville remains in contention for the district title with three wins in four games. 

Bartow 12U has wins over Dalton (16-2), Whitfield County (5-3), and Murray County (12-6) in the first three rounds. Bartow is scheduled to tangle with Summerville Monday night at Heritage Point Park, with the winner earning a spot in the championship round on Tuesday.

Cartersville 12U blanked LaFayette 15-0 last Thursday in the first round, but lost to Summerville 18-3 in Round 2. To advance, Cartersville won two elimination games last Friday — 16-1 over Cedartown and 16-4 over Calhoun. They face Murray County in an elimination game on Monday, with the winner playing another elimination game against the Rome/Trion survivor. 

The 14-team 10U baseball tournament gets fully underway on Monday at Lower Alto Park in Rome. Bartow County lost an 8-3 decision to Summerville last Friday in the only game completed before Monday. On Tuesday, Bartow will play either Gordon County or Rome Red in an elimination game. 

Cartersville 10U opens the tournament on Monday with two games. They play Rome Blue in the first round and will follow against either Murray County or Cedartown. The winners of those two games will meet in the second round. The losers must play an elimination game. 

The GRPA District Five 10U tournament continues through Friday in Rome.