Win or lose, Cartersville baseball’s last game is on Tuesday.
After dropping Game 1 of Saturday’s doubleheader in the GHSA Class 5A State Championship series to Loganville 5-4, Cartersville scored a first-inning run on an infield error in Game 2 and right-hand pitcher Caden Carroll made it stand up in a 1-0 win.
The doubleheader split means the teams will play the championship-deciding game of the best-of-three series at 5:00 at AdventHealth Stadium in Rome.
In Game 1, Cartersville trailed 4-0 heading into the sixth inning of the series opener before tying the Red Devils. Drew Rothschild hit a bases-loaded double that turned into an extra-base with an error. Hank Smith’s infield single sent Rothschild home for a 4-4 tie.
Loganville scored what would be their game-winning run in the bottom of that same sixth inning on a groundball out.
In Game 2, Caden Carroll tossed a gem, scattering four hits and not issuing a walk, earning his 12th win of the year to remain undefeated. He needed only 87 pitches and struck out nine in his complete-game shutout.
The only run in Game 2 happened when the Red Devils’ third baseman misplayed a hard ground ball Drew Rothschild hit, allowing Elliott Eastin to cross the plate.
Remember, you can catch tonight’s game on AM 1450, 100.3 FM, and wbhfradio.org. Coverage will begin at around 4:45.