By Kevin Eckleberry

kevin.eckleberry@lagrangenews.com

CARTERSVILLE – The Troup Lady Tigers staged a dramatic late-game rally to beat Cartersville 10-9 on Saturday in the opening game of their best-of-three Region 5-AAAA playoff series.

Cartersville won the second game of the doubleheader 12-6, so there will be a winner-take-all game on Tuesday, with the winner advancing to the state playoffs.

The game will be played in Cartersville.

In Game 1 on Saturday, Troup came into the seventh and final inning trailing 8-5, but it scored five runs to take the lead.

Cartersville scored a single run in the bottom of the seventh, but Cartersville hung on for the win.

Kayla Lane had a monster day for Troup.

In Game 1, Lane had three hits and a home run, and she had six RBIs with three runs scored, and she hit a grand slam in Game 2.

Makenzie Miller had a hit, a walk, and two RBIs, and Maddie Livingston drove in a run.

Abby Taylor, Maddie Weathers, Olivia McInvale and Christina Garcia each had a hit.

Taylor got the complete-game win.

In Game 2, Troup led 6-5 after four innings, but Cartersville scored the final seven runs.

Troup took the lead on Lane’s grand slam in the bottom of the fourth.

Cartersville tied it in the fifth inning before surging ahead with six runs in the sixth.

Lane led the way with her four RBIs, and McInvale had a hit and three RBIs.

Taylor and Livingston both had hits, and Miller walked three times.

LaGrange Lady Grangers, after putting together a terrific regular season, will be at home today as they look to earn an invitation to the state tournament.

LaGrange will host Cedartown in a best-of-three Region 5-AAAA playoff series.

The teams will play a doubleheader beginning at 5 p.m., and if one of the teams wins both games, the series is over.

If they split, a third and deciding game would be on Tuesday.

The series winner will advance to state, while the loser will see its season end.

LaGrange (16-9 overall) went 8-4 in the region to earn the number three spot behind Chapel Hill and Central-Carroll.

Cedartown (8-14) finished sixth in the region with a 4-8 record.

LaGrange got the best of Cedartown in both regular-season meetings.

In the first meeting, freshman Camden Smith threw a shutout as LaGrange won 3-0 at home.

In the rematch, Cedartown led 4-0, but LaGrange scored four runs in each of the final two innings to take the 8-4 road victory.

A year ago, LaGrange finished 7-21, and its season ended with a loss to Cartersville in the region playoffs.

With the infusion of some talented freshmen mixed in with the veterans, LaGrange has had a big season.

LaGrange entered its final region game with an opportunity to still finish first or second, but it lost to Central-Carroll.