Columbus Game 1
With one of the largest crowds ever at Richard Bell Field, anticipation filled the air as the two most storied high school baseball programs in the state took the field and play got underway at 3:00 PM on schedule. It was sunny and hot at game time with bleachers moved in along the 3B side and in the outfield area. Richard Bell Field almost glowed in the sunshine with the purple wall as a backdrop.
Matt Taylor (LHP) took the hill in Game 1 for the Columbus Blue Devils after pitching a complete game (6.0 Innings) against Carrollton on 5/26/2009 and throwing 102 pitches in that game. If pitching on two days rest had any negative affect on Taylor, it certainly did not show in Game 1 as he went 6-2/3 Innings allowing 4 runs, 7 hits, 1 BB, 3 HPs, and with 9 Ks. With Columbus up 9-4, Taylor was lifted for Drew Brooks (RHP) with 2 outs and Brooks then allowed 0 runs, 0 hits, 1 BB, and had 0 Ks. Matt Taylor threw 108 pitches in Game 1.
Columbus scored 1 in the 1st, 2 in the 2nd, 2 in the 3rd, 2 in the 5th, and 2 in the 7th. In the 1 run 1st after the leadoff Bryce Dial reached on a HP, Dial stole 2B then advanced to 3B on a WP before he was driving in with a SAC Fly by Matt Taylor. In the 2 run 2nd, both Travis Benn and Kyle Carter hit solo HRs (back-to-back). In 2 run 3rd after Dial and Bobby Andrews both singled, they were moved in to scoring position via a SAC bunt by Taylor. Wolfe then drove in Dial with a single then Benn drove in Andrews with a SAC fly. In the 2 run 5th with 1 out, Wolfe reached on a HP, then Carter hit a 2 RBI HR. In the 2 run 7th, Taylor tripled then the Freshman Little League World Series phenom Carter his his 3rd HR on the night to complete the scoring for Columbus.
Cartersville scored all 4 of its runs in the 7th after Matt Taylor allowed singles to the first 3 Canes hitters he faced (Payne, Montgomery, and Sophomore Colin Bennett pinch hitting for Boling). With 1 out, Frasier singled driving in Payne then Tate drove in Montgomery on a SAC Fly. Garison Boston then doubled driving in the pinch runner for Bennett and Frasier to round out the scoring for the Canes.
The Canes starting batting order looked like this: Tate (CF), Boston (2B), Bridges (SS), Stewart (C), Payne (3B), Montgomery (LF), Boling (DH), Thurman (RF), and Frasier (1B) with Boling batting for Clark (P). The Canes scored 4 Runs on 7 hits in this 7 Inning Game. Tate was 0 for 2 (HP,SAC FLY), Boston was 1 for 3 (HP,2B), Bridges was 0 for 3 (BB), Stewart was 1 for 4 (1B), Payne was 1 for 2 (BB,1B), Montgomery was 1 for 3 (1B), Boling was 0 for 1 (HP), Thurman was 0 for 4, Frasier was 2 for 3, and Bennett was 1 for 1.
The 2009 Cartersville Canes are now 29-5, 13-0 and have 48 Home Runs in the 33 Games played to date. The Canes are sporting a 53 consecutive region game win streak which began on May 5, 2005.
The current members of the Cartersville Canes HR (Gone-Song) Club are: Ben Bridges (9), Donavan Tate (9), Justin Croft (5), Adam Thurman (5), Garison Boston (4), Hank Stewart (4), Colton Montgomery (3), Cole Payne (3), Patrick Boling (2), Laine Frasier (2), Colin Bennett (1), and Taylor Greene (1).
Columbus Game 2
The Catersville Canes began Game 2 against the Columbus Blue Devils at 5:50 PM in this best of 3 Championship Series with their backs against the wall since there was no tomorrow down 0-1. Could any other series across all classifications offer a Battle of the Titans billing? In a word, no. So, Game 2 began with everything on the line for the defending State Champion Canes.
It was no surprise that Taylor Wolfe (LHP) took the mound in Game 2 for the Columbus Blue Devils. Taylor was that other lefty from Columbus already signed by Alabama with teammate Matt Taylor. Taylor was also the complete game (5.0 Innings) winning pitcher on 5/26/2009 against Carrollton who pitched an 8-0 shutout against the Trojans. Taylor on this day, however, would be the first of 8 pitchers on the bump for the Blue Devils in the nightcap who appeared in this order: (1) Taylor Wolfe (LHP, 2-1/3), (2) Drew Brooks (RHP, 1-2/3), McLendon Hill (RHP, 1/3), Will Solomon (LHP, 1-1/3), Josh Bricker (RHP, 2/3), Brendon Fox (RHP, 2/3), Bryce Dial (RHP, 1/3), and Brendon Fox (1/3). Blue Devil pitching in this game allowed 18 runs on 9 hits, issued 11 BBs, 3 HPs, and had Ks.
Columbus scored 1 in the 1st, 3 in the 5th, 5 in the 6th, and 2 in the 7th but it was not enough to overtake the Canes juggernaut. In the 1 run 1st with 2 out, Matt Taylor reached on an E3, advanced to 2B on a PB and to 3B on an E1, then scored on an E8. In the 3 run 5th with 2 out, Bryce Dial hit a solo HR, then Bobby Andrews singled, Matt Taylor reached on a HP, then Kyle Carter drove in Andrews with a single. Taylor Wolfe drove in Taylor with a single to round out the scoring in the 5th. In the 5 run 6th, Brad Barto reached on a double then Will Solomon singled, then Dial singled driving in Barto. Andrews then reached on an E4, then Taylor drove in Soloman with a single. Travis Benn drove in Dial on an 5-3 ground out then Wolfe walked. McLendon Hill then drove in Andrews and Taylor with a signle to round out the scoring in the 6th. In the 2 run 7th after a leadoff double by Dial, Taylor drove in Dial on an E9 then Carter drove in Taylor with a ground out.
Cartersville scored 5 in the 2nd, 1 in the 3rd, 3 in the 5th, 4 in the 6th, and 5 in the 7th to answer the Columbus hot bats with Cartersville bats that were inflamed. In the 5 run 2nd after Stewart and Mongomery BBs, Lane Frasier took an 0-2 count deep to the LF power alley for a 3 RBI HR. Ben Venters doubled with the bases clean then Tate walked, then Garison Boston doubled driving in Venters and Tate. In the 1 run 3rd with 1 out, Payne doubled then Montgomery and Frasier both walked before a HP to Thurman scored Payne. In the 3 run 5th, Montgomery started things off with a solo HR, then Frasier and Thurman each doubled and Venters walked. Tate drove in Frasier on a SAC Fly, then Bridges drove in Thurman on a FC. In the 4 run 6th with 1 out, Montgomery reached on an E4, then Frasier and Thurman walked to load the bases before Venters reached on a HP scoring Montgomery. Tate then walked scoring Frasier then Boston singled scoring Thurman and Venters. In the 5 run 7th with 1 out, Montgomery reached on an E6, then Thurman walked before Venters singled scoring Frasier. Tate and Boston then walked to load the bases again. Ben Bridges then sent a shot to RF with hit the wall and Kyle Carter’s glove at the same time for a 3 RBI triple to round out the scoring in the 7th. Once the dust settled, the scoreboard showed that 18 runs crossed the plate for the Canes against Baseball America’s #3 Nationally Ranked Team.
The Canes starting batting order looked like this: Tate (CF), Boston (2B), Bridges (SS), Stewart (C), Payne (3B), Montgomery (LF), Frasier (1B), Thurman (RF), and Venters (DH), with Venters batting for Mauldin (P). The Canes scored 18 Runs on 9 hits in this 7 Inning Game. Tate was 0 for 2 (BB,SAC FLY,BB,BB), Boston was 2 for 5 (2B,1B,BB), Bridges was 1 for 5 (HP,3B), Stewart was 0 for 5 (BB), Payne was 1 for 4 (SAC Bunt,2B), Montgomery was 1 for 3 (BB,BB,HR), Frasier was 2 for 3 (HR,BB,2B,BB), Thurman was 1 for 2 (HP,2B,BB,BB), and Venters was 2 for 3 (2B,BB,HP,1B).
The 2009 Cartersville Canes are now 30-5, 13-0 and have 50 Home Runs in the 34 Games played to date. The Canes are sporting a 53 consecutive region game win streak which began on May 5, 2005.
The current members of the Cartersville Canes HR (Gone-Song) Club are: Ben Bridges (9), Donavan Tate (9), Justin Croft (5), Adam Thurman (5), Garison Boston (4), Colton Montgomery (4), Hank Stewart (4), Laine Frasier (3), Cole Payne (3), Patrick Boling (2), Colin Bennett (1), and Taylor Greene (1).
Columbus Game 3
Some devoted Cartersville Canes fans remembered as play began on time at 5:00 PM in this deciding Game 3 for all the marbles that earlier in the season the Columbus Blue Devils lost a region game to the LaGrange Grangers which spoiled an otherwise perfect region record yet did not give up their #1 state ranking to the defending State Champion Canes then ranked #2 in those same state polls. Cartersville, on the other hand, is still in a consecutive region game winning streak dating back to 5/5/2005 which is currently holding at 53 games. It was dejavu all over again for the Canes faithful who had a similar experience in 2008 until Round 3 on the Columbus home field settled the matter. It would take similar proof in 2009 on the field to convince the pollsters that they had been wrong again….just like in 2008. There was no bigger sporting event anywhere in the state that could compare to this Game 3 meeting.
Rumors were rampant during the day that Columbus would start Game 1 winning pitcher Matt Taylor who had 208 pitches under his belt this week with 2 playoff game wins. Freshman sensation Kyle Carter was also mentioned as a possible starter for the Blue Devils. Carter was remembered as a World Series Little League star but I suspect few remembered or cared that 5 players in the Canes Game 3 stating lineup were 2007 Senior League World Series Champions and several others were on the roster. As it turned out, Taylor Wolfe (LHP) got the ball apparently due to his lower pitch count and innings pitched over the past 5 days. Although Wolfe has a bright future ahead of him at Alabama, the lack of rest did not work in Taylor's favor today as he was lifted after facing just 5 Cartersville batters after pitching 1/3 Inning. Wolfe allowed 4 runs, 2 hits (2B,HR), 1 BB, 1 HP, and with 0 Ks but the monster blow was a Grand Slam by Cole Payne which brought with it the hook. Drew Brooks (RHP) completed the game for the Blue Devils pitching 5-2/3 Innings, allowing 6 runs, 8 hits, 1 BB, 2 HPs, and with 2 Ks.
Columbus scored 2 in the 1st, 1 in the 4th, and 4 in the 5th in this the deciding Championship Game. In the 2 run 1st, Bryce Dial began the game with a leadoff HR then Matt Taylor singled, stole 2B, advanced to 3B on an E1 pickoff attempt then came hole on a squeeze play that looked like a straight steal because the hitter did not offer at the pitch because it sailed over the catcher's head (WP). In the 1 run 4th, it was Bryce Dial again with a solo HR but his slow trip around the bases and glare into the Canes dugout on the way earned him a long overdue dressing down by Columbus Head Coach Bobby Howard. In the 4 run 5th after Taylor and Carter reached on a HP and BB respectively, Wolfe walked to load the bases. McLendon Hill then reached on an E4 then J T Phillips singled scoring Carter. Bryce Dial then singled scoring Wolfe and Hill to round out the scoring for the Blue Devils.
Canes fans were surprised to see Pat Boling (LHP) take the mound to start the game for the Canes. Boling pitched 2.0 Innings allowing 2 runs, 2 hits, 3 BBs, and with 4 Ks. To start off the 2nd, Boling walked the first 3 batters he faced (Wolfe, Hill, and Phillips) to load the bases but then struck out Barto, got Dial out on a FO4, then struck out Andrews to get out of the inning unscathed. Adam Thurman (LHP) then pitched 2.0 Innings but got into trouble in the 5th with a HP to Taylor and a BB to Carter with 0 out. Thurman allowed 3 runs, 3 hits, 1 BB, 1 HP, and had 1 K. Ben Bridges aka Breezy then entered the game in relief of Thurman with the score 5-3 Canes and with runners on 1B and 2B with 0 outs. Most Canes fans did not know that Bridges had been nursing tendonitis in his pitching arm since his R4, G1 start against Perry on 5/25/2009. Bridges pitched the final 3.0 Innings allowing 2 runs (1 unearned), 3 hits, 2 BBs, 1 HP, and had 1K and was credited with the Game 3 win on the mound for the Canes. Bridges was 3-0 with 2 Saves on the mound for the Canes during the 2009 playoffs and was 6-0 with 5 complete game wins during the 2008 playoffs....that's a combined 2008-2009 playoff record of 9-0 with 2 Saves.
Cartersville scored 5 in the 1st and 5 in the 5th in this final State Championship-deciding game. In the 5 run 1st after Tate reached on a HP, Boston doubled and Bridges walked to load the bases. With 1 out, none other than Cole Payne took a 2-0 pitch deep to the RF power alley for a Grand Slam HR. Mongomery then singled and Frasier reached on a HP then Montgomery scored on a single by Venters. In the 5 run 5th with 0 out, Payne reached on an E4, then Mongomery reached on a FC then stole 2B. Laine Frasier then hit a hot shot ruled a single off the glove of the SS which scored Montgomery. Thurman then reached on an E5 then Venters reached on an E4 which scored Frasier and Thurman. Donavan Tate then doubled and Boston was intentionally walked before Ben Bridges stroked a 2 RBI single by 3B scoring Venters and Tate. When the dust settled, the Canes put 10 runs on the board against Baseball America’s #3 Nationally Ranked Team in G3 which increased the total runs scored by the Canes in the 3-Game Championship Series to 32 Runs (and no that is not a misprint).
The Canes starting batting order looked like this: Tate (CF), Boston (2B), Bridges (SS), Stewart (C), Payne (3B), Montgomery (LF), Frasier (1B), Thurman (RF), and Venters (DH), with Venters batting for Boling (P). The Canes scored 10 Runs on 10 hits in this 7 Inning Game. Tate was 1 for 3 (HP,2B), Boston was 2 for 3 (2B,1B,BB), Bridges was 2 for 3 (BB,2B,1B), Stewart was 0 for 4, Payne was 1 for 3 (HR,HP), Montgomery was 2 for 3 (1B,1B,SAC Bunt), Frasier was 1 for 2 (HP,SAC Bunt,1B), Thurman was 0 for 4, and Venters was 1 for 3 (1B).
The 2009 Cartersville Canes are now 31-5, 13-0 and have 51 Home Runs in the 36 Games played during the 2009 baseball season. The Canes are sporting a 53 consecutive region game win streak which began on May 5, 2005 which will they will carry forward to the 2010 season.
The Final 2009 Standings in the Cartersville Canes HR (Gone-Song) Club are: Ben Bridges (9), Donavan Tate (9), Justin Croft (5), Adam Thurman (5), Garison Boston (4), Colton Montgomery (4), Cole Payne (4), Hank Stewart (4), Laine Frasier (3), Patrick Boling (2), Colin Bennett (1), and Taylor Greene (1).
And so it goes. The 2009 Cartersville Canes High School Baseball season is now over much to the chagrin of this writer. What a ride it has been. What will I do now? Like Scarlett O'Hara, I'll worry about that tomorrow.
