“Heritage is a new school that has improved every year,” assistant coach Kyle Tucker said. “They have a good team and it showed tonight. They have some dangerous hitters and play well defensively.
“We are just happy to get our sixth region win.”
The Purple Hurricanes led the entire game but Heritage stayed within striking distance.
Ben Venters gave Cartersville its initial lead of the night with a solo home run in the first inning.
Taylor Wilson got into the act in the second with a two-run homer, for a 3-0 lead. Ross got on base in the same frame with a double and then scored when Harris Battle singled to right field, making it 4-0.
Heritage made its first mark on the scoreboard in the third with a run. Cartersville responded with a two-run homer, courtesy of Ross, in the bottom of the inning and the Canes were up 6-1.
Heritage answered with a run in the fourth, to close to 6-2, but Cartersville answered right back when Corey Collum reached on an error and Luke Daniel came in from third for a 7-2 lead.
In the bottom of the fifth Zach Ross scored the team’s 8th run on a sacrifice fly by Connor Justus.
Tucker said Ross gave Cartersville a boost offensively. “He had a pretty good day. Hopefully he’ll just keep doing it.”
Kendall Hawkins was the winning pitcher, going four innings, allowing two earned runs and striking out four. Sam Howard pitched three innings, gave up no runs, no hits and struck out six.
Cartersville improved to 6-2 overall and 6-0 in Region 7-AAA. The Canes visit Murray County today at 5:55 p.m.