Purple Hurricanes fall in extra innings, finish as state runner-up

May 22, 2025

The Purple Hurricanes finished the year as the 2025 Class AAAA runner-up with a 32-10 record.

Blessed Trinity rallied for three runs in the bottom of the seventh inning to extend the game Thursday at Coolray Field, and claimed the 2025 Class 4A State Championship on Carson Zagryn’s walk-off RBI single in the eighth to edge Cartersville 7-6.

The two teams split a doubleheader on Wednesday, forcing a winner-take-all title game. The Purrple Hurricanes won the best-of-three series opener 6-3, but Blessed Trinity won the second game on Wednesday 7-3.

On Thursday, Cartersville established a 4-0 lead in the top of the fifth inning.

Although Nolan Elrod's flyout resulted in a double play, courtesy runner Gavin Renegar managed to score, marking the Canes' first run. After a walk, Thomas Peters hit a single, and two errors by the Titans on the play allowed two more Canes' runs to score. The fourth run of the inning scored when Andrew Purdy reached base on an error, permitting Thomas Peters to cross the plate.

Blessed Trinity narrowed the margin to 4-2 in the bottom of the fifth on Terrance Bowen’s home run.

In the top of the sixth, two-out singles by Julez Pratt and Brayden Logan plated another Canes’ run, giving Cartersville a 5-2 advantage before the Titans matched the run in the bottom of the frame.

The Hurricanes added to their lead in the top of the seventh to go ahead 6-3. Purdy doubled into center field and later scored on another Blessed Trinity error — the Titans’ fourth miscue of the night.

However, blessed Trinity responded in the bottom of the seventh with three runs to send the game to an extra frame. A walk and two singles loaded the bases with no outs. Aiden Zagryn lined out to center field to score one run, and Kade Kisz singled home two more runs.

One-out walks to Logan and Elrod enabled the Hurricanes to threaten in the top of the eighth, but reliever and winning pitcher Brayden Loquasto escaped with a ground out and a strikeout to end the inning.

Blessed Trinity did all their damage in the bottom of the eighth after two outs. Quinn Davis singled into center field and advanced to second on an error. Cartersville coach Kyle Tucker then chose to walk Bowen before Zagryn lined his walk-off hit into left field.

Aiden Pack made the pitching start for Blessed Trinity and allowed five runs (three earned) on six hits and two walks while striking out five. Loquasto retired the final seven outs, allowing one unearned run on two hits and two walks. The reliever recorded three strikeouts.

Avery Shiflett started on the mound for Cartersville and yielded three earned runs on three hits and four walks with two strikeouts. Maddox Frazier retired the final two outs of the sixth inning and started the seventh. He was charged with three earned runs on three hits and one walk. He had one strikeout.

Logan Shrewsbury, charged with the pitching loss, retired three outs in the seventh and two in the eighth. He allowed one earned run on three hits and two walks with two strikeouts.

Bowen (home run, two RBI), Kisz (two RBI), and Davis had two hits for the Titans. Bowen also stole three bases. 

Logan (RBI) and Cameron Cochran contributed two hits for Cartersville. Peters (RBI), Elrod (double, RBI), Pratt, and Purdy (double) added one hit.

Blessed Trinity completed the year with a 33-9 record, winning a fourth baseball state championship. The Titans won Class AAA in 2006, 2014, and 2015.

Cartersville finished 32-10 and was the GHSA Class AAAA runner-up.