When the No. 1 team in the state plays the No. 3 team in the state, you expect that matchup in the semifinals. Today when Cartersville travels to top-ranked Spalding the matchup happens one round early; in the quarterfinals.

Cartersville hasn’t lost in the GHSA 3A State Baseball Tournament, and has won 12 of its last 13 games. The Purple Hurricanes have been beating opponents in the playoffs by an average of 4.25 runs per game.

Spalding isn’t ranked first in the state for no reason. The Jaguars have only lost twice all season and have won 25 of their last 26 games. Spalding has been beating playoff opponents by an average of nine runs per game.

The quarterfinals are a best-of-three series. If the teams split games on Tuesday, a deciding Game 3 will be played Wednesday.

The quarterfinals double-header is the only event on the high school sports schedule for Tuesday:

Baseball

Cartersville at Spalding, 4 p.m. (3A State Quarterfinals)(Game 1)

Cartersville at Spalding, 7 p.m. (3A State Quarterfinals)(Game 2)

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