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Sunbelt Baseball League

Crackers Surge Past Cannons in Game 1 of Championship Series

BUFORD, GA — July 30, 2025: In a high-octane opener to the Sunbelt Baseball League Championship Series, the Atlanta Crackers rallied past the Cartersville Cannons with a 10–8 win. Despite three home runs and several momentum swings from the Cannons, the Cracker's potent offense, timely pitching, and late-game execution secured them a 1–0 series lead. The victory puts the Crackers just one win away from clinching the title.

Crackers Surge Past Cannons in Game 1 of Championship Series
Box Score
July 31, 2025

Back-and-Forth Battle: Inning by Inning

Slow Start Before the Fireworks

Both teams opened the game quietly, with no runs scored in the first inning. The Cannons scratched the first run across in the top of the second with a solo shot from Gavin West. They added another in the third off a groundout RBI from Elliott Eastin after Tyler Phillips' leadoff double. Through three innings, Cartersville led 2–0, and it looked like the Cannons might have the upper hand.

Crackers Explode in the 4th

Atlanta's offense came alive in the bottom of the fourth. Jack Taylor knocked a two-RBI single to tie the game 2–2. Moments later, Connor Hilton broke things wide open with a massive three-run homer to left field, putting the Crackers up 5–2 and energizing the home crowd.

Cannons Answer Right Back

Refusing to go quietly, Cartersville jumped on the opportunity in the top of the fifth for four runs. RBI singles by Eastin and a bases-loaded walk drawn by Larkin tied things up. Mason Moore then capitalized with a two-RBI fielder's choice, swinging the game back in the Cannons' favor, 6–5. Cracker's Jack Taylor responded yet again in the sixth, launching a major two-run homer to give the Crackers a 7–6 lead. It was Taylor's second clutch hit of the game and a turning point in the back-and-forth slugfest.

Seventh-Inning Tension

Kye Keseric tied it up once again in the top of the seventh with a solo rocket to left field, but the Crackers didn't flinch. They loaded the bases in the bottom of the inning, and Taylor drew a walk to force in a run before Hilton added another RBI with a bases-loaded walk of his own, pushing the lead to 9–7. In the eighth, Colby Cather's third hit of the game set the table for Gabe Wuerth, who laced an RBI double to center, scoring Cather and stretching the lead to 10–7. An attempted rally by the Cannons in the top of the ninth lead by Aiden Boileau who homered to cut it to 10–8, but Gavin Zoeller closed the door with two more strikeouts to seal the game.

Top Performers:

Atlanta Crackers:

Jack Taylor – 2-for-4, HR, 5 RBIs, 1 walk.

Kaleb Huffman – 2-for-3, 3 runs, 1 HR, 1 walk. 

Gabe Wuerth – 2-for-3, 2 runs, 1 RBI double, 1 walk. 

Colby Cather – 3-for-4, 1 run. 

 

Cartersville Cannons:

Aiden Boileau – 2-for-4, 1 HR, 2 runs.

Gavin West – Solo HR and a walk. 

Kye Keseric – Pinch-hit homer, 2 runs. 

Tyler Phillips – 2-for-3, 1 double, 2 runs. 

Pitching Recap:

Atlanta Crackers

  • Dylan Holbrook (ND)
    4.1 IP, 5 H, 6 ER, 2 BB, 3 K

  • Trip Barron
    2.2 IP, 1 H, 1 ER, 1 BB, 4 K

  • Gavin Zoeller (W, 1–0)
    2.0 IP, 1 H, 1 ER, 0 BB, 2 K

Cartersville Cannons

 

  • Ethan Carroll (ND)
    5.0 IP, 9 H, 5 ER, 0 BB, 4 K

  • C. Eaton (L, 0–1)
    1.2 IP, 3 H, 4 ER, 3 BB, 2 K

  • R. Moye & Elliott Eastin
    Combined: 1.1 IP, 2 H, 1 ER, 1 BB, 1 K

     

What's Next?

The Crackers now lead the best-of-three series 1–0 and will look to secure the championship on Friday, August 1 at 6:35 PM at Georgia Highlands College. With both team's offenses firing, Game 2 promises another high-scoring thriller. The Cannons must win to stay alive, while the Crackers aim to clinch the title in two straight.