Wildcats and Canes win region openers

March 12, 2024

The Woodland and Cartersville baseball teams won their Region 7-5A openers on the road on Tuesday night.

WOODLAND 13, DALTON 1

The Wildcats pounded out 14 hits and won their Region 7-5A opener at Dalton on Tuesday, 13-1.

Pitchers Zach Lambert (4.1 IP, 0R, 3H, 0BB, 5K) and Connor Stermer (0.2 IP, 1ER, 1H, 1BB) combined to help close out the Catamounts in just five innings.

Stermer had three hits including a double and one RBI. Ayden Ray (home run, double, four RBIs), Brett Good (home run, four RBIs), and Mason Williams (two RBIs) finished with two hits. Conner Lujan (RBI), Logan Bentley, Joshua Hicks (double), and Cam Williams added one hit.

Woodland (8-3, 1-0) and Dalton (4-6, 0-1) play at Woodland on Thursday at 5:55 p.m. and will conclude the series on Friday at Dalton.

CARTERSVILLE 7, CALHOUN 5

The Canes took the lead in the fifth inning and held on to win at Calhoun on Tuesday in both teams’ Region 7-5A opener.

Cam Cochran gave Cartersville a 3-0 lead in the first inning with a home run to left field but the host Yellow Jackets scored a run in the second inning and four more in the fourth to take a 5-3 advantage.

Cartersville regained the lead in the fifth on Caleb Daniel’s three run homer.

Ryan Johnson struck out 13 to earn the pitching victory. He yielded five runs (three earned) on four hits and no walks. Andrew Purdy, who also had two hits on offense, walked one and struck out three in one inning on the mound.

Luke Miller (RBI), Aidan Larkin, and Tristan McKibben added one hit.

Cartersville (9-3, 1-0) and Calhoun (4-7, 0-1) play Game 2 of their series at Richard Bell Field on Thursday and will wrap up the series on Friday back in Calhoun. Both games are scheduled for 5:55 p.m.

HEARTS ACADEMY 13, EXCEL CHRISTIAN ACADEMY 3

The Eagles produced 11 hits in the game but the Panthers plated runs in four of six frames in a 13-3 Hearts Academy win Tuesday in Powder Springs.

Jacob Jinks (0.2 IP, 6R, 0ER, 4H, 3BB) made the pitching start for Excel and was tagged with the loss. Cameron Adams (5 IP, 7R, 4ER, 6H, 3BB, 7K) pitched in relief. 

Kohl Williams had three hits for the Eagles. Jinks (RBI) and Adams (double) produced two hits. David Jinks (RBI), Kamarion Profit (RBI), McKaden Gentry, and Carter May added one hit.

Hearts Academy improved to 2-6 on the season.

Excel (2-2) hosts the Panthers on Thursday for a doubleheader at Joe Cowan Park.