CARTERSVILLE-The Cartersville Purple Hurricanes hit seven home runs in a two-game sweep of the South Effingham Mustangs in the Class AAA baseball semifinals.

The Hurricanes won the opener 8-4, hitting three consecutive homers in a six-run fourth inning, and hit four more home runs in a 13-0, six-inning victory in the nightcap. Taylor Hightower, one of the state's top prospects, hit a sixth-inning grand slam to put the game out of reach. Donovan Tate, the nation's No.3-ranked junior and son of former University of Georgia football star Lars Tate, hit three-run shots in each game.

The Mustangs were shut out for the first time since a season-opening loss to Statesboro.

For more, see Thursday's edition of the Effingham Herald.