Tigers drop first-round playoff series with Mary Persons

April 25, 2025

The Adairsville Tigers lost their opening-round playoff series with the visiting Mary Persons Bulldogs, falling 7-0 and 10-0 in the best-of-three Class AAA playoff.

Mary Persons won the first game behind the strong pitching performances of Cole Carr and Shivan Patel. The Bulldogs' pitching duo limited the Tigers to four hits and did not allow a run.

Mary Persons led 1-0 through four innings and added single runs in the fifth and sixth to go up 3-0. The visitors put the game away in the seventh inning with four additional runs.

Gavin Barr hit two home runs for Mary Persons, including a solo shot in the sixth inning and a three-run homer in the seventh. He finished with four RBI. Carr added three hits and one RBI. Brady Christman (double), Nic Arnold (RBI), and Andrew Snow contributed two hits.

Jack Nelson made the pitching start for Adairsville and worked six innings. He allowed three runs (two earned) on ten hits and two walks. Nelson struck out six. McCayden Hufstetler retired three outs in the seventh inning, allowing four earned runs on four hits.

Harrison Cole had two hits for the Tigers, including one double. Isaac Burnett and Westin Barfield added one hit.

Game 2 began on Friday night with Mary Persons racing to an early 8-0 lead through three innings. Weather concerns and unplayable field conditions delayed the contest's completion until Saturday and forced the game to be shifted to Northwest Whitfield in Tunnel Hill. 

The Bulldogs, playing as the home team in the second game, scored two runs in the bottom of the first inning on Friday night and added four in the second and two in the third. The game was paused in the top of the fifth inning with the Tigers batting with one out.

When the game resumed on Saturday, Adairsville managed to load the bases with a walk and two singles in the fifth, but a double play ended the Tigers' scoring opportunity. The hosts loaded the bases again with one out in the sixth inning, but failed to score.

Mary Persons closed the contest with two runs in the bottom of the sixth on three hits and an Adairsville error.

Andrew Snow collected the Game 2 pitching win for the Bulldogs with a 4-1/3 inning start. He struck out three and allowed only two hits. Patel retired the final five outs and had one strikeout.

Jarrett Scott (1 IP, 4ER, 3H, 3BB, 1K) started on the bump for Adairsville in Game 2 and was charged with the pitching loss. Kaiden Coker (2 IP, 4R, 1ER, 5H, 1BB) and Hudson Parr (2.1 IP, 2R, 1ER, 4H, 0BB, 4K) pitched in relief for the Tigers.

Ethan Long had two hits in the final game. Peyton Bowen, Braxton Ryan, Brody Varner, Scott, and Cole added one hit.

Mary Persons improved to 17-14 and will host Upson-Lee in the second round.

The Tigers' season ended with a 17-10 record.

The game was paused in the top of the fifth inning with one out.

A win by Mary Persons would clinch the series.

Adairsville needs a come-from-behind win in Game 2 and an additional win in Game 3.