Canes Split Playoff Doubleheader

GRIFFIN— split a baseball doubleheader on the road against Spalding on Tuesday and will play the deciding game in the Georgia High School Association AAA state quarterfinal series today.

Cartersville won Game 1, 6-3, but lost Game 2, 5-2.

“It was a 100 percent playoff atmosphere,” Cartersville Coach Stuart Chester said. “This is two good programs going at it, and probably the one that makes the fewest mistakes will come out on top.”

The visiting Purple Hurricanes won Game 1 despite a complete game by Spalding starting pitcher Casey Moody and a solo home run by Dylan Griffin.

Michael Willard, Harris Battle, Connor Justus and Luke Daniel each knocked in runs for the Canes in the victory.

Canes starting pitcher Sam Howard tossed six innings to earn the win for Cartersville, and as he did in both games of , Kendall Hawkins sealed the deal by pitching the seventh inning.

The Jaguars, ranked No. 1 in the state, won the second game 5-2 as Griffin pitched six innings of two-run ball. Austin Hurt led the game off with a solo homer for Spalding, which jumped out to a 4-0 lead. Moody and Powell Krepps each knocked in runs in Game 2 for the Jaguars.

Colin Bennett provided the offense for the Canes with a two-run home run.