Carthage Baseball Handles Madisonville In Game 1 Of Series

GARY -- Carthage jumped on Madisonville early and took Game 1 of the two sides' Class 4A area-round series with a 5-0 win Thursday at Gary.

Starting Bulldogs pitcher Blaine Tomlin threw a complete-game shutout. He allowed five hits and a walk while striking out four batters through seven innings of work.

Cagan Baldree got Carthage (16-10) going in the first inning with a two-run base hit.

The Bulldogs added three runs in the fourth inning. K.J. Harkrider, Troy Davis and Seth Ballenger all recorded RBIs. Harkrider's hit was a triple to right field.

Game 2 and a potential Game 3 will be played Saturday in Gary, but the times are currently in flux.

If the Beckville-Grapeland series is resolved after a double-header Friday in Gary, Carthage will face Madisonville at 3 p.m. Saturday. If Beckville and Grapeland require a third game, the Bulldogs' Game 2 will begin at 5:30 p.m. Saturday.