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The Adairsville Lady Tigers put nine runs on the board through the first three innings Monday night and then held on for a high-scoring 12-10 victory at Excel Christian Academy. Emily Collum, Morgan Deboard, Bailey Robinson, and Breeana Wilson combined for 10 hits and six RBIs to lead the Adairsville offense. Collum and Wilson (3 RBI) had three hits each. Robinson (2 RBI) and Deboard (RBI) both added a pair of hits. Natalie Burrow (RBI), Havyn Isaac (RBI), and Cortni Jacobs (RBI) added one hit apiece. Loren Harris, who earned the pitching win for the Lady Tigers with a complete game perfornance, contributed one RBI on offense. Harris yielded 16 hits and four walks while striking out seven. Whitney Harris, Brighton McCollum (2 RBI), and Rachel Parrott (3 RBI) had three hits each to lead Excel’s offense. Lindsey Mauldin (RBI) finished with a pair of hits. Taylor Gibson, Hannah Lee (RBI), Aliza Baker (RBI), Landry McCollum, and Kalli Beth Scheff (2 RBI) had one hit each for the Lady Eagles. Gibson (2 IP, 8R, 5ER, 8H, 1BB, 1K) suffered the pitching loss for ECA. Lee (5 IP, 4R, 2ER, 5H, 3BB, 2K) pitched in relief for the Lady Eagles. Adairsville (1-0) plays at Coahulla Creek at 5:30pm Tuesday and will play at Cartersville at 2pm Saturday. Excel Christian (1-3) travels to Gordon Central Tuesday for a 5pm start and will host Model on Monday, August 15 at 4:30pm.

Unfortunately, one of the MiLB players with local connections had his season come to an end this past week with an injury. Dalton Geekie, who pitched locally at Georgia Highlands College, and is a relief pitcher with the Rome Braves, suffered a season-ending elbow injury. Three other players with local ties — Grant DeBruin, Connor Justus, and Sam Howard — continue to toil at the MiLB level. Grant DeBruin — Hagerstown Suns — Class A, South Atlantic League — MLB Parent Club, Washington Nationals -- (Adairsville HS) The former Adairsville High School and University of Alabama-Huntsville standout has continued a steady rise in his batting average and offensive production in July and early August. He has now started nine consecutive games for the Suns and had a 7-for-13 home series against the West Virginia Power August 1-3. He is 11-for-39 over his last ten starts at first base and as a designated hitter. Through 50 games this season, DeBruin is hitting .257 with four home runs and 27 RBIs. DeBruin, 26, spent the first part of the year in extended spring training and was briefly at the Advanced Class A level with the Potomac Nationals. His season stats reflect his time with both clubs. Hagerstown is 25-18 in the SAL second half, currently leading the Northern Division by one-half game over the Hickory Crawdads (Rangers’ affiliate) and by one game over the Greensboro Grasshoppers (Marlins’ affiliate). The Lakewood BlueClaws (Phillies’ affiliate) is only one and one-half games back in a closely contested division race. Hagerstown already clinched a post-season spot by winning the division’s first half. Dalton Geekie — Rome Braves — Class A, South Atlantic League — MLB Parent Club, Atlanta Braves -- (Georgia Highlands College) Geekie has been placed on the disabled list for the remainder of the season by the Braves and was forced to have Tommy John surgery after developing an issue in his elbow August 1. Geekie finished his first pro season with a 2-4 record and had a 5.16 ERA in 31 appearances in 2016. He had one save in his only save opportunity and worked 45 and 1/3 innings. Opponents had a .247 batting average against him. Rome is currently 23-20 in the South Atlantic League’s second half standings, in second place, two and one-half games behind the Southern Division leading Augusta GreenJackets (SF Giants affiliate). Sam Howard — Hartford Yard Goats — Double-A, Eastern League — MLB Parent Club, Colorado Rockies -- (Cartersville HS) Howard has now won three of his last four starts for the Yard Goats with victories July 17, July 27, and August 3. He had a no-decision performance July 22 during that span. August 3, the 6-3 southpaw allowed only one earned run in five innings of work as the Hartford won at Trenton, 4-1. Howard limited the Thunder to only four hits and two walks and recorded six strikeouts. The 23-year-old former Canes and Georgia Southern University pitcher is now 7-8 on year after starting the season 4-3 with the Advanced Class A, Modesto Nuts of the California League. He has a 3.57 ERA in 21 starts and 118 and 1/3 innings. Opponents have a .253 batting average against him. The Yard Goats are 63-49 on the year and in third place in the Eastern League’s Eastern Division. They trail the Reading (PA) Fightin’ Phils by 12 games. Connor Justus — Burlington Bees — Class A, Midwest League — MLB Parent Club, Los Angeles Angels -- (Cartersville HS) After a fast start with the Rookie level Orem Owlz, Justus continued his rapid progress with a fast start with the Class A (full season) Burlington Bees of the Midwest League. Over his last ten games, however, the former Cartersville Purple Hurricanes’ and Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets’ shortstop is only 6-for-33 at the plate. Justus was selected in the fifth round of this year’s June MLB draft by the Los Angeles Angels. Justus’ batting average remains .304 through his 42 games as a professional. He has 11 extra base hits, including one home run and 27 RBIs. Defensively, Justus has a .921 fielding percentage in 163 total chances. He has been part of 20 double plays in 349 innings. The Burlington Bees are 23-20 in the second half standings of the Midwest League’s Western Division and are 55-58 overall in 2016. The Bees are currently six games back of division-leading Clinton LumberKings (Seattle affiliate). Donavan Tate — Rancho Cucamonga Quakes — Advanced Class A — California League — MLB Parent Club, Los Angeles Dodgers (Cartersville HS) Tate played in ten games after coming off the disable list to start the season. He has a .143 batting average in 35 at bats with a home run and four RBIs. He has played defensively at both corner outfield positions and has been utilized as a designated hitter, but has not seen action since July 6. The Quakes are 19-17 in the second half standings of the California League’s South Division. They are currently 5.5 games behind the Lancaster JetHawks (Houston Astros affiliate). To check on these local players any time, use the 'Athletes Beyond Bartow' page of this web site to locate active links to each players statistics, schedules, results, and other team information.

Joe Durant, a member of the PGA Champions Tour and a client of Cartersville Country Club’s Scott Hamilton Golf Academy, fired a 63 Sunday to get into a playoff with 36-hole leader, Miguel Angel Jiminez. Durant then made eagle on the first playoff hole to win the senior Champions Tour's 3M Championship at TPC Twin Cities in Blaine, Minnesota. The win by Durant is his second on the Champions Tour. Durant (70-64-63) and Jiminez (67-63-67) finished the 54-hole event two shots clear of Bernhard Langer and Kevin Sutherland. With the win, Durant moves into second place in the PGA Champions Tour Schwab Cup standings. On the PGA Tour, Russell Knox shot 68 Sunday and held off a hard charging 64 by Jerry Kelly to win The Travelers Championship at TPC River Highlands in Cromwell, Connecticut. The win by Knox was overshadowed in some respects, by a PGA Tour record 58 shot by veteran Jim Furyk. Furyk was also the last player to shoot 59 on the PGA Tour back in 2013. Russell Henley, one of the PGA Tour players affiliated with Cartersville Country Club’s Scott Hamilton Golf Academy, was a co-leader after 36 holes at the Travelers, but slipped to a tie for 11th Sunday after firing a final round 73. Aaron Baddeley, another SHGA player, shot 69 Sunday to finish tied for 34th. Of the SHGA players on the WEB.com Tour, Mark Silvers had the best tournament at this week’s Digital Ally Open at Nucklaus Golf Club at LionsGate in Overland Park, Kansas. Silvers finished tied for 44th at 9-under par (69-65-69-72). The event was won by Wesley Bryan in a playoff. Bryan, Grayson Murray, and JT Poston were 20-under par. __________________________ Scott Hamilton is Director of Golf at Cartersville Country Club and works with many prominent professional golfers on the PGA Tour, PGA Champions Tour, WEB.com Tour, LPGA, and other professional tours through the Scott Hamilton Golf Academy.

Russell Henley, a co-leader after 36 holes at The Travelers Championship in Cromwell, Connecticut, slipped to a three-way tie for second place heading into the tournament’s final round despite another brilliant round. Henley, one of the golf clients of Cartersville Country Club’s Scott Hamilton Golf Academy, fired a second consecutive 65 Saturday including a 30 on his final nine holes. Meanwhile, Daniel Berger fired a 62 Saturday to grab a three shot lead at 15-under par. Russell Knox shot a third round 64 and Tyrone Van Aswegen matched Henley’s 65. Those three players are 12-under par with 18 holes remaining. Aaron Baddeley, another Scott Hamilton Golf Academy player, is 5-under par heading into the final round. SHGA players Boo Weekley, Brendon Todd, and Steven Bowditch missed the cut. The final round of the tournament is Sunday at TPC River Highlands. On the PGA Champions Tour, Joe Durant -- a SHGA affiliated player -- shot 65 Saturday and is tied for sixth place moving into Sunday's final round at the 3M Championship at the TPC Twin Cities in Blaine, Minnesota. Durant is 10-under par and trails leader Miguel Angel Jimenez by four shots. Durant is the No. 5 ranked player on the senior PGA Champions Tour. Mark Silvers of SHGA is also 10-under par and tied for 24th place at the WEB.com Tour's Digital Ally Open in Overland Park, Kansas. Final rounds for the 3M Championship and the Digital Ally Open are also on Sunday. _______________ Scott Hamilton, Director of Golf at CCC, works with many accomplished professional golfers on the PGA Tour, PGA Champions Tour, LPGA, and other professional golf tours.

Hannah Lee drove in three runs on a pair of hits that included a double and tossed a five inning, complete game in the pitching circle as Excel Christian Academy picked up their first win of the 2016 season 4-1 over Chattooga at the Model Invitational Saturday at Rome’s Alto Park. Excel scored single runs in the first two innings and added two more in the fourth. Chattooga’s lone run came in the bottom of the fifth. Lee surrendered only four hits in her five innings of work against the Lady Indians. The run allowed was unearned and she struck out four. The Lady Eagles committed three errors in the game. Taylor Gibson walked and Rachel Parrott singled to set up an RBI single to right field by Lee in the Lady Eagles’ first inning. In the second inning, Brighton McCollum drove in Kalli Beth Scheff to give ECA a 2-0 lead. Lee drove in Excel’s two runs in the fourth inning with a double. Gibson and Brighton McCollum reached on singles to start the inning. Parrott also walked in the frame to load the bases in front of Lee. The Lady Eagles’ second game Saturday was halted in the third inning with Excel leading Southeast Whitfield, 3-2. The rainout will be rescheduled at a later date. Excel (1-2) will host Adairsville Monday and Gordon Central Tuesday. Both games are scheduled for 4:30pm starts.

Excel Christian took a 7-6 lead in the bottom of the fifth on a two-out single to left field by Lindsey Mauldin in their season opener Friday night, but the Lady Dragons scored twice in the top of the sixth for a come-from-behind, 8-7, defeat of the Lady Eagles. The season opener was played at the Model Invitational in Rome. The Lady Eagles also dropped a 10-2 decision to Class 4A Cedartown Friday night. In the opener with Pepperell, Taylor Gibson went the distance in the pitching circle for ECA. All the runs against her were earned on 12 hits and a walk. She struck out four. Gibson also contributed at the plate with a pair of hits and one RBI. She also stole a base. Rachel Parrott hit a 2-run homerun for Excel. Brighton McCollum added a hit and one RBI with two stolen bases. Aliza Baker had an RBI double, Kalli Beth Scheff had an RBI hit, and Landry McCollum added one hit and stole a base. In Friday’s nightcap, the Lady Bulldogs jumped to a 7-0 lead through just three innings while the Lady Eagles’ defense struggled. Excel committed six errors in the game. ECA pitcher, Hannah Lee, suffered the pitching loss despite not allowing an earned run. She yielded six hits in three innings in the circle and struck out one. Whitney Harris, Brighton McCollum, Landry McCollum, and Parrott had the only ECA hits. Gibson and Brighton McCollum collected one RBI each. Excel, 0-2, is scheduled to play Chattooga and Southeast Whitfield on Saturday at the Model Tournament in Rome.

What has been the Cass-Cartersville alumni football game will now take on a new look in 2016. The game will be played Saturday, August 20 at 7:30pm at Earl Cunningham Stadium located at the old Cass campus on Grassdale Road. The new format will be a City vs. County format which makes former players at Adairsville and Woodland eligible to play for the county team. The Cass alumni team won the first two meetings with Cartersville in this event. Administrative control of the game has now transitioned from the schools, to the alumni players themselves. Proceeds from pre-sale tickets will benefit the Bartow County Parks and Recreation Department. Tickets sold on game day will go to Alumni Football USA. Advanced sale tickets are available at Champ’s Barbershop, Jefferson’s Restaurant, and Melissa and Co. Salon. Several other activities for the event are planned, including a car show, barbeque cookoff, recognition of former homecoming queens, military service recognitions, and the teams will have cheerleaders. The teams have already started practices and more information for players is available at alumnifootballusa.com. For additional information on the game, contact Alex Tucker (County) at 770-608-3211 or Adam Williams (City) at 678-986-9027. Cheerleaders may contact Melissa Porter at 770-386-2252.

Russell Henley, one of the golf clients with Cartersville Country Club’s Scott Hamilton Golf Academy, is tied for the lead through two rounds at the Travelers Championship. Henley is tied with last year’s rooke of the year, Daniel Berger, Marc Leishman, and Tyrone Van Aswegen. Seventy-three players made the 36-hole cut on Friday to play the final two rounds this weekend at TPC River Highlands in Cromwell, Connecticut. Henley, playing in this PGA Tour event for the first time, sank a 20-foot putt on No. 9 Friday (his final hole) to join the co-leaders. Henley was the top SHGA player in the field at the PGA Championship last week at Balrusrol and shot a pair of 68s over the final 36 holes to tie for 22nd at 4-under par. Henley was born in Lexington, KY but raised in Macon, GA. The former Georgia Bulldog won the 2010 Haskins Award as the most outstanding collegiate golfer and already has multiple victories on the PGA Tour. _________________________ Scott Hamilton, Director of Golf at CCC, works with many accomplished professional golfers on the PGA Tour, PGA Champions Tour, LPGA, and other professional golf tours.

Cass High School junior placekicker, Anthony Robledo, was named to the Atlanta Journal Constitution’s Pre-Season Class AAAAA All-State football team in a recent release. Robledo (5-7, 155) was a First Team All-Region 7-AAAAA-A selection in 2015 as a sophomore. He was successful on 31 of 32 PATs and made eight of nine field goal attempts with a long kick of 44 yards. “He’s an elite soccer kid,” noted Cass head coach Bobby Hughes, “so we work some of his practice schedule around his travel soccer. He has great leg strength and has improved each year.” While Robledo’s accuracy on place kicks has been obvious, it is his improved leg strength Hughes mentioned that has made him such an important commodity. “He improved so much on putting his kickoffs into the end zone last year,” added Hughes. “That’s such a valuable weapon in high school because it forces your opponent to go 80 yards with the high school touchback rule.” Robledo was joined on the pre-season all-state roster by several other Region 7-AAAAA players that the Colonels will face in 2016. Jalen Browder (WR, East Paulding); Case Cook (OL, Carrollton); Adam Anderson (DL, Rome); Jaquon Griffin (DL, Rome); Jaylen Griffin (LB, Rome); Solon Page, III (LB, Kell); and Sam Barge (P, Carrollton) all made the pre-season all-state roster. Robledo and the Colonels will scrimmage Friday, August 19 in Lindale against the Pepperell Dragons before opening their 2016 campaign at Adairsville on August 26. 2016 AJC Pre-Season All-State Team Offense QB - Bradley Hunnicutt, Jones County RB - Dameon Pierce, Bainbridge RB - Chris Rodriguez, Ola RB - Jalen Holston, Stockbridge TE - Kemari Averett, Grady WR - Nick Singleton, Jones County WR - Jalen Browder, East Paulding OL - Christian Armstrong, Warner Robins OL - Case Cook, Carrollton OL - Christian Glover, Bainbridge OL - James Ohonba, Woodland (Stockbridge) OL - Dean Powell, Buford PK - Anthony Robledo, Cass Defense DL - Adam Anderson, Rome DL - JayQuan Coles, Woodland (Stockbridge) DL - Kelton Dawson, Stockbridge DL - Jaquon Griffin, Rome LB - Jaylen Griffin, Rome LB - Solon Page III, Kell LB - T.D. Roof, Buford LB - Jake Simpson, Buford DB - Zay Brown, Clarke Central DB - Yusuf Corker, Woodland (Stockbridge) DB - Quindarious Hale, Carver (Atlanta) DB - Terrill Hall, Decatur P - Sam Barge, Carrollton

Cartersville Little League Fall baseball registration is now completely online. To register, go to the link below, click 'register here,' and set up your account. Once the account is created, your player may be registered. All registered players must go to Academy for uniform sizing on August 6th (9am-1pm), August 13th (1-4pm), or August 20th (9am-1pm). Parents and guardians may visit the Cartersville Little League website at leagues.bluesombrero.com/cartersvillell to register and pay.

Cartersville High School senior cornerback and multi-purpose offensive player, Trey Creamer, along with highly touted junior quarterback, Trevor Lawrence, were recently named to the Class AAAA Pre-Season All-State team by the Atlanta Journal Constitution. Lawrence, the top rated junior quarterback in the nation, has narrowed his collegiate selections to Clemson and Georgia and has indicated this summer that he would like to have the process completed before the 2016 season begins. The Cartersville quarterback, who helped lead the Canes to the 2015 state title, has offers on the table from dozens of major programs across the nation. Lawrence (6-5, 195) has thrown for 6,697 yards and 69 touchdowns in two seasons with the Purple Hurricanes. The state records are 13,077 and 159 by Gainesville’s DeShaun Watson, who is now at Clemson. Three-star cornerback Trey Creamer (6-0, 175) also helped lead the Canes to the 2015 state title with his diverse talents. In July, Creamer began to trim his list of college choices with Wake Forest apparently among the leaders. Purdue, Georgia Southern, Tulane, West Virginia, Minnesota, Kansas State, Maryland and Colorado State have also perked his interest and he too has multiple offers. The Hurricanes' senior plans to take more visits during his final prep season. Creamer is listed as high as the No. 77-ranked cornerback in the country and the 9th-ranked cornerback in Georgia. Class AAAA Pre-Season All-State Offense QB – Trevor Lawrence, Cartersville RB – Darius Bradford, West Laurens RB – Colby Wood, Jefferson RB/ATH – Grant Holloman, St. Pius WR – Josh Johnson, Woodward Academy WR – Josh Sims, Eastside OL – Chris Andrews, Spalding OL – Caleb Chandler, Jefferson OL – Caleb Etheridge, Mary Persons OL – William Nana-Fabu, Columbus OL – Levi Seabolt, Gilmer ATH – LaPerion Perry, LaGrange PK – Nathan Robertson, Northside (Columbus) Defense DL – William Green, Westover DL – Malik Herring, Mary Persons DL – London Lewis, St. Pius DL – Dontae Wilson, Jefferson LB – J.D. Bertrand, Blessed Trinity LB – De’Morreal Burnam, Salem LB – Walter Grant, Cairo LB – K.J. Phillips, Woodward Academy DB – Trey Creamer, Cartersville DB – Markeith Montgomery, Ridgeland DB – J.R. Pace, Woodward Academy DB – Christian Tutt, Thomson P – Juwan Gibbs, Eastside

Georgia Highlands College officially welcomed Dash O’Neill as the head coach for the Charger baseball team this week. O’Neill joins GHC from Chattahoochee Valley Community College, where he helped lead the baseball program to three consecutive JUCO World Series appearances in 2014, 2015 and 2016. O’Neill has a long and well-established track record with several accolades, including three consecutive Region 22 championships, five ACCC Conference Championships, and a No. 1 ranking in the NJCAA in 2013, 2014 and 2016. He has also been honored as the Region 22 Assistant Coach of the Year for the last three consecutive years and is a five-time ACCC Divisional Assistant Coach of the Year. O’Neill has helped over 140 players advance to four-year institutions, as well as produce 16 players drafted by MLB teams. “We are thrilled to welcome Dash O’Neill to the Charger family,” GHC Athletic Director Phil Gaffney said. “Dash brings a wealth of experience coaching on the NJCAA level. He has a strong commitment to academics, and has worked with a national baseball powerhouse in Chattahoochee Valley Community College. He has been a tremendous recruiter of talent in the state of Georgia and Metro Atlanta, in particular.” O’Neill is originally from Brooklyn, New York. He holds a Master of Science in Sports Management with Athletic Administration Emphasis from Troy University. “Not only is Georgia Highlands located in one of the most talent-laden baseball regions in the entire country, but the enthusiasm and commitment to athletics I see in Phil Gaffney and the rest of his staff is incredible,” O’Neill said. “I grew up not far from here in Woodstock, so coming home to lead this program is a dream come true, and I could not be more excited about the future of Charger Baseball.” O’Neill added that he has big plans for GHC’s baseball program. “My first priority is establishing a baseball culture that the players here are excited about and can buy into,” he said. “I expect us to be very competitive, and we are going to attack our preparation with the intention of competing for a GCAA championship. I also want to make sure we take care of business in the classroom so these young men will leave Georgia Highlands with a degree and a headstart toward their future.” Former GHC Head Baseball Coach Mike Marra started the program in 2013. The Chargers made the Georgia Collegiate Athletic Association playoffs each of the last two years. Marra recently left GHC to take the head coaching position for the baseball program at Hiram High School. O’Neill will assume the GHC head baseball coaching position this month. —This report was provided by Georgia Highlands.