Saturday, May. 30, 2009

Columbus High baseball update: Cartersville beats Devils for state title

Cartersville beat Columbus 10-7 to take the GHSA AAA state baseball title.

It was the second consecutive year the Hurricanes have beaten Columbus in the state playoffs. Last year, Cartersville beat Columbus in the quarterfinals. It was the fourth time in five years, the two teams have met in the playoffs.

It denied Columbus its 10th state title. It was Cartersville's fifth since 2001.

Bottom 6th

Cartersville didn't score in the bottom of the sixth inning.

The Hurricanes take a 10-7 lead over Columbus into the final inning.

The Blue Devils are coming to bat.

Top 6th

Columbus High got a runner to third, but couldn't cut into Cartersville's 10-7 lead midway through the sixth inning.

The Blue Devils are down to their final three outs in the deciding game of the AAA state final series.

Bottom 5th

Cartersville, as it has for two games, answered the Blue Devils, going back on top 10-7.

The tying and go-ahead runs scored on an error by second baseman Bobby Andrews. He misplayed a ball hit by Ben Vinters and Laine Frazier and Adam Thurman scored. Thurman was running from second on the error.

The Hurricanes got a 2-run single from Ben Bridges to make it 10-7.

Top 5th

Columbus scored four times in the top of the fifth inning to take a 7-5 lead over Cartersville in the deciding game of the AAA state final series.

Bryce Dial drove in the go-ahead runs with single that scored Taylor Wolfe and McClendon Hill.

Columbus tied 5-5 it on an RBI single by third baseman J.T. Phillips.

Columbus finally got to see Cartersville's ace pitcher in the top of the fifth inning. And they roughed him up.

Ben Bridges, who beat the Blue Devils twice a year ago in the state playoffs, was brought in with no outs and runners on first and second. It was the first time the Cartersville ace was used in this series.

Bottom 4th

For the third straight inning, Columbus shut down Cartersville.

The Blue Devils trail in the deciding game of the AAA state finals 5-3 with three innings to play.

After Donavan Tate led off with an infield single, the Blue Devils turned a nice 6-4-3 double play. It was a big play because Ben Bridges followed with a double for the Hurricanes that would have scored a run.

The inning ended when clean-up hitter Hank Stewart lined out to left field.

Top 4th

Bryce Dial hit his second home run of the game to cut the Cartersville lead to 5-3.

Dial's home run game with two outs.

Cartersville is now batting in the bottom of the fourth.

Bottom 3rd

Cartersville went quietly in the bottom of the third inning.

The Hurricanes lead 5-2 after three.

Top 3rd

Columbus High failed to score in the top of the third inning.

The Blue Devils stranded two runners. Kyle Carter and Taylor Wolfe both singled, but the Blue Devils could not get the runners home.

Bottom 2nd

Despite a leadoff single by Garison Boston, Cartersville couldn't score in the bottom of the second inning.

The Hurricane leads 5-2 with Columbus coming up in the top of the third.

Blue Devil pitcher Drew Brooks limited the damage with two fly-ball outs and ground out to third baseman J.T. Phillips.

Top 2nd

Columbus High didn't score in the top of the second despite loading the bases with no outs.

The Blue Devils loaded the bases on three consecutive walks to open the inning, but Cartersville's Boling worked out of the jam.

He struck out Phil Wise, got Dial, who homered in his previous at-bat, to pop out to second and struck out Bobby Andrews for the second time in the game.

Cartersville is up 5-2.

Bottom 1st

Cartersville's Cole Payne hit a grand slam home run off Taylor Wolfe as Cartersville took a 5-2 lead after one inning in the deciding game of the AAA title series.

Wolfe was taken out after the home run. He faced five batters and got one out.

Drew Brooks came on in relief, but the Hurricanes still sent 10 batters to the plate.

Top 1st

Columbus High jumped on top 1-0 in the top of the first inning of the GHSA AAA state title game.

Blue Devil first baseman Bryce Dial hit the third pitch of the game over the right-field wall off Cartersville's Boiling. With a 1-1 count on Travis Benn, Columbus' Matt Taylor stole home.

Pregame

Columbus High will start pitcher Taylor Wolfe this afternoon in the deciding game of the GHSA AAA championship game against Cartersville.

Wolfe started the Game 2 loss to Cartersville, but was knocked out in the third inning. He gave up six earned runs and walked five Batters. He threw more than 70 pitches before he was taken out with one out in the third by Coach Bobby Howard. After taking the loss yesterday, he's 9-2.

Cartersville was expected to start its ace, Ben Bridges, who did not pitch in the doubleheader split Friday. Instead, the Hurricanes are starting Patrick Boling. Columbus won the first game 9-4 and got drilled in the second one 18-11.