Thursday's baseball roundup: Woodland wins at Wheeler, Cartersville splits games at PG Showdown

Cartersville split a pair of games Thursday evening against Alabama opponents at the Perfect Game High School Showdown in Hoover. Meanwhile, the Woodland Wildcats won a high-scoring shootout at Wheeler while Cass was shutout at Sonoraville.

SPARKMAN (ALA) 8, CARTERSVILLE 1

The Sparkman Senators scored six times in the bottom of the third inning Thursday evening to break open a 1-1 game on their way to an 8-1 victory over Cartersville at the Perfect Game Showdown in Hoover.

The Senators used four singles, a pair of walks, and an infield erorr to produce their big inning.

Carter Wells (5.1 IP, 1ER, 2H, 4BB, 4K) picked up the pitching win for Sparkman. David Riggs (1.2 IP, 0R, 0H, 1BB, 1K) retired the final five outs.

Wells (2 RBIs), Ryan Strachan (RBI), Tucker Burns, and Nick Causey had two hits each for the Senators (3-0).

Harrison Childers had both Cartersville hits. Jake Brasfield drove in the Canes’ second inning run with a walk.

Colt McKibben (3 IP, 7R, 6ER, 8H, 2BB, 2K) suffered the pitching loss. Phillip Schiltz (1 IP, 1R, 0ER, 2H, 2K), Collin Eaton (1 IP, 0R, 0H), and Cal Goss (1 IP, 0R, 0H, 2K) also pitched for the Canes.

Sparkman defeated Cherokee County (Ala.) 5-2 earlier in the day, so the win over Cartersville clinched Pool C.

CARTERSVILLE 8, CHEROKEE CO. (ALA) 1

In a matchup to decide second place in Pool C of the PG High School Showdown in Hoover, Canes’ pitcher Ryan Johnson took a no-hitter into the seventh inning before giving up a base hit and being lifted. He struck out ten in earning the win.

Geoffrey Gore finished up the seventh inning on the mound giving up a double and an inherited run before striking out the side.

Caleb Daniel gave the Canes a 3-0 lead in the bottom of the fourth with a three-run, inside-the-park home run. (Editor's Note: The scoring was later changed to a triple with Daniel scoring on a throw, giving him two triples in the game.) He later tripled home a run in the sixth inning for a 4-0 lead before scoring on a Jacob Ray RBI single for a 5-0 lead. Curt Bonner followed with an RBI single putting the Canes up 6-0. Hank Smith forced in another run with a ground out and Cartersville took an 8-0 lead on an infield error by the Warriors.

Cherokee County slipped to 3-6 on the season with their loss.

Cartersville (4-2) plays Class 7A Denmark of Alpharetta Friday at 3:30 p.m. in a consolation game and will play another consolation opponent to be determined on Saturday to conclude the tournament.

WOODLAND 19, WHEELER 14

If high scoring baseball interests you, then the battle of Wildcats Thursday night at Wheeler in Marietta had your attention.

The two teams combined for 33 runs, 21 walks, and 15 hits along with six lead changes before Woodland escaped with a 19-14 win.

Mason Williams (2 IP, 0R, 0H, 2BB, 2K) worked the final two innings and picked up the pitching win for Woodland. Ayden Ray (3 IP, 5ER, 2H, 5BB, 6K) was the game’s starter. Tore Foss (1 IP, 2ER, 1H, 1BB, 1K), Nate Rosser (0.2 IP, 7ER, 4H, 3BB), and Zach Lambert (0.1 IP, 0R, 0H) also pitched. Jacob Gravett doubled with three RBIs for Woodland. Mason Williams also drove in three runs and had one hit. Foss hit a two-run home run in the fifth inning. Chase Carson double with one RBI. Julian Wright (RBI), Jackson Rutledge (RBI), and Conner Stermer (RBI) added one hit apiece. Ray contributed one RBI.

The loss dropped Wheeler to 2-7-1 on the season

Woodland (5-3) returns to action Monday at Sprayberry.

SONORAVILLE 10, CASS 0

Sonoraville pitcher Zach Lyles tossed a five-inning, two-hit shutout blanking visiting Cass Thursday night, 10-0. Lyles struck out eleven.

Lyles, Matthew Parrott, and Kannon England had two hits each for the Phoenix (4-2). Cole Gross and Easton Childs drove in two runs each.

Jesiel Moctezuma and Todd Gaddy had the only Colonels’ base hits.

Cayden Roberts (3 IP, 4R, 3ER, 6H, 1BB, 2K) was the losing pitcher for Cass. Chase Botts (0.2 IP, 6R, 4ER, 3H, 2BB), and Aidan Cottingim (0.1 IP, 0R, 0H, 1K) pitched in relief.

Cass (1-7) plays at Armuchee Saturday at 1:30 p.m.