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Carstens shows off ace stuff as Heritage responds against Bruins

Staff Photo by Seth Carpenter/ Heritage's Peyton Wilson (22) celebrates making it to home plate with his teammate Owen Carstens (3) at Heritage High School on Thursday, April 9, 2026.
Staff Photo by Seth Carpenter/ Heritage's Peyton Wilson (22) celebrates making it to home plate with his teammate Owen Carstens (3) at Heritage High School on Thursday, April 9, 2026. Staff Photo by Seth Carpenter/ Heritage's Peyton Wilson (22) celebrates making it to home plate with his teammate Owen Carstens (3) at Heritage High School on Thursday, April 9, 2026.

By Lindsey Young 4 min read

RINGGOLD, Ga. — If David Dinger was even a bit concerned with how his Heritage High School baseball team would react following Tuesday’s 14-2 drubbing in game one of a three-game Region 7-AAA series with Northwest Whitfield, he needn’t have bothered.

The Generals improved to 18-8 overall and, more importantly, 11-3 in Region 7-AAA with a 9-2 home win Thursday that puts the team in prime position to set up a first-place showdown next week with league leader Calhoun.

“Tonight was huge,” Dinger said. “They spanked us good the other night. I’m really proud of our guys that, in a good way, it ticked them off and they responded like they did.”

Heritage scored three runs in the second and four more in the third off Northwest’s Will Wade. Owen Carstens made the early lead stand up with a complete-game win as he scattered seven hits and struck out six in his healthiest start of the season.

Heritage vs. Northwest Whitfield baseball on April 9, 2026

Staff Photo by Seth Carpenter/ Heritage's Ty Hunt (7) makes a run for home plate at Heritage High School on Thursday, April 9, 2026.
Staff Photo by Seth Carpenter/ Heritage’s Ty Hunt (7) makes a run for home plate at Heritage High School on Thursday, April 9, 2026.
Staff Photo by Seth Carpenter/ Northwest Whitfield's Creed Edwards (3) catches a ball from Heritage's Hunter Zanaty (6) at Heritage High School on Thursday, April 9, 2026.
Staff Photo by Seth Carpenter/ Northwest Whitfield’s Creed Edwards (3) catches a ball from Heritage’s Hunter Zanaty (6) at Heritage High School on Thursday, April 9, 2026.
Staff Photo by Seth Carpenter/ Northwest Whitfield's Carter Collins (6) passes to first base ahead of Heritage's batter at Heritage High School on Thursday, April 9, 2026.
Staff Photo by Seth Carpenter/ Northwest Whitfield’s Carter Collins (6) passes to first base ahead of Heritage’s batter at Heritage High School on Thursday, April 9, 2026.
Staff Photo by Seth Carpenter/ Heritage's Owen Carstens (3) pitches to Northwest Whitfield at Heritage High School on Thursday, April 9, 2026.
Staff Photo by Seth Carpenter/ Heritage’s Owen Carstens (3) pitches to Northwest Whitfield at Heritage High School on Thursday, April 9, 2026.
Staff Photo by Seth Carpenter/ Northwest Whitfield's Smith Browning (21) returns to first base before Heritage's Peyton Wilson (22) can get him out at Heritage High School on Thursday, April 9, 2026.
Staff Photo by Seth Carpenter/ Northwest Whitfield’s Smith Browning (21) returns to first base before Heritage’s Peyton Wilson (22) can get him out at Heritage High School on Thursday, April 9, 2026.
Staff Photo by Seth Carpenter/ Northwest Whitfield's Weston Densmore (27) swings at Heritage's pitch at Heritage High School on Thursday, April 9, 2026.
Staff Photo by Seth Carpenter/ Northwest Whitfield’s Weston Densmore (27) swings at Heritage’s pitch at Heritage High School on Thursday, April 9, 2026.
Staff Photo by Seth Carpenter/ Heritage's Judd Mitchell (11) swings for Northwest Whitfield's pitch at Heritage High School on Thursday, April 9, 2026.
Staff Photo by Seth Carpenter/ Heritage’s Judd Mitchell (11) swings for Northwest Whitfield’s pitch at Heritage High School on Thursday, April 9, 2026.
Staff Photo by Seth Carpenter/ Northwest Whitfield's Will Wade (15) pitches to Heritage's batter at Heritage High School on Thursday, April 9, 2026.
Staff Photo by Seth Carpenter/ Northwest Whitfield’s Will Wade (15) pitches to Heritage’s batter at Heritage High School on Thursday, April 9, 2026.
Staff Photo by Seth Carpenter/ Heritage's Peyton Wilson (22) celebrates making it to home plate with his teammate Owen Carstens (3) at Heritage High School on Thursday, April 9, 2026.
Staff Photo by Seth Carpenter/ Heritage’s Peyton Wilson (22) celebrates making it to home plate with his teammate Owen Carstens (3) at Heritage High School on Thursday, April 9, 2026.

“Owen had a little arm problem at the beginning of the year,” said Dinger, who this year will have taken the Generals to the playoffs in each of his three seasons. “He was our No. 1 starter at the start of the year, but he developed some soreness in his elbow, and then he got sick.