Woodland tops Wheeler; Canes drop third straight

In a matchup of Wildcats Saturday in Marietta, Woodland pounded out 16 hits on their way to an easy 15-1 win at Wheeler. Woodland pitcher Trent Porter (4 IP, 0R, 1H, 2BB, 4K) started on the mound and earned the victory with four innings of shutout work. Drew Billings (3 IP, 1ER, 2H, 1BB, 2K) closed out the final two frames.

Woodland led 7-0 through two innings, added two more runs in the fourth inning for a 9-0 lead, and posted a six-run seventh inning. The lone Wheeler run came in the fifth inning on a single, a double, and a ground out. Eleven different Woodland players had at least one hit.

Scotty Smith had two hits including a home run and three RBI. Jackson Rutledge and Jacob Gravett had two hits and two RBI each. Carter Heath and Fisher Davis also finished the day with a pair of hits. Zach Wilson (double, 2 RBI); Peyton Posey and Jakiyon Porter (double, RBI each); J.T. Hampton (RBI), Brycen Stephens, and Phoenix Cramer had one hit each. Billings drove in a run.

The loss drops Wheeler to 1-5 on the season. Woodland (3-2) plays at Kennesaw Mountain Monday afternoon.

RINGGOLD 5, CARTERSVILLE 2

Ringgold scored five runs across the first three innings and held off Cartersville down the stretch for a 5-2 non-region win Saturday at Richard Bell Field.

The Tigers took a 1-0 lead in the first inning on a hit batsman, double, and a sacrifice fly. They added three more in the second inning for a 4-0 lead on a walk, three singles, and a pair of infield errors.

Ringgold extended its lead to 5-0 in the third on a single and a three-base throwing error.

The Canes scored in the fourth inning with three singles and a Tigers’ infield error to narrow the margin to 5-1. Cartersville then added a run in the seventh and had the bases loaded but Ringgold pitcher Mason Parker induced a groundout to end the Hurricanes’ threat.

Starting pitcher Chase Ghomley (3.2 IP, 1R, 0ER, 7H, 1BB, 2K) earned the pitching win for Ringgold. McCain Mangum (2.2 IP, 1ER, 1H, 3BB, 1K) worked into the seventh inning in middle relief.

Sam Mills had two hits including a double and two RBI to pace the Tigers’ offense as Ringgold improved to 2-4 on the season.

Cartersville utilized three pitchers in the loss. Mason McBee (1.2 IP, 4R, 2ER, 4H, 1BB) started and was saddled with the loss. Hayden Davidson (3.1 IP, 1R, 0ER, 1H, 2K) entered in the second inning and Drew Rothschild (2 IP, 0R, 0H, 2K) recorded the final six outs.

Parker McPherson had two hits for Cartersville including a double. Hank Smith also contributed a pair of hits. Elliott Eastin, Clay Ross, Rothschild (RBI), Karson Hornberger, and Jack Carter added one hit each for the Canes.

ROCKMART 3, CARTERSVILLE 0

Four Rockmart pitchers, led by LSU-commit Ty Floyd, combined for a no-hitter Saturday evening at Richard Bell Field as the Yellow Jackets blanked the Hurricanes, 3-0.

Floyd struck out eight of the nine batters he faced across the first three innings. Javin Whatley fanned all three batters he faced in the fourth inning. Trevor Caldwell struck out the side in the fifth inning and Brayden Cole closed out the final two innings with a pair of strikeouts. Cole did issue three walks.

Cartersville pitchers kept the Canes within striking distance.

Micah Earwood (4 IP, 2R, 0ER, 3H, 2BB, 8K) took the loss without allowing an earned run. Silas Freeman (1.1 IP, 1ER, 2H, 2BB, 4K), and Davis Williams (1.2 IP, 0R, 2H, 1BB, 4K) pitched in relief for the Hurricanes.

Rockmart (2-0) scored twice in the top of the third by taking advantage of a pair of singles that sandwiched an infield error.

The Yellow Jackets added a run in the sixth inning on a dropped third strike, a walk, and back-to-back singles.

Floyd (RBI) and Cooper Yanzetich had two hits each for Rockmart. Cole Deems, C.J. Culver, and Andruw Morris (RBI) added one hit apiece.

Cartersville (1-3) has now dropped three straight and will look to get back on track Wednesday when the Canes travel to Sonoraville for a 5:55 p.m. start.