July 8, 2024 Charles Wilson / BartowSportsZone.com MiLB MASON BARNETT — Northwest Arkansas Naturals (3rd-yr. pro; Kansas City Royals Double-A affiliate; Texas League; Auburn; Cartersville HS) … received no decision in a five-inning pitching start last Friday that was an eventual 4-3 win for Northwest Arkansas at the Springfield Cardinals. The 23-year-old right-hander allowed two earned runs on six hits and two walks. He struck out eight of the 24 batters he faced. Barnett is 3-5 this season with a 5.79 ERA in 16 appearances covering 74-⅔ innings. He has made 15 starts and has recorded 90 strikeouts. The Naturals were 1-5 against Springfield last week and have a 5-7 record in the Texas League’s second-half schedule. Northwest Arkansas plays six games at the Frisco Rough Riders through Sunday. LOGAN MARTIN — Columbia Fireflies (2nd-yr. pro; Kansas City Royals Single-A affiliate; Carolina League; Kentucky; Cartersville HS) … made a five-inning pitching start last Monday (July 1) and received no decision in an eventual 10-2 home loss to the Augusta GreenJackets. The 22-year-old righty allowed six earned runs (seven total) on eight hits and one walk. He fanned three. Martin is 1-2 with three saves this season in 15 appearances (10 starts) covering 59 innings. He has 54 strikeouts and a 3.66 ERA. The Fireflies have a 9-5 record in the Carolina League’s second half and play six games this week at the Charleston RiverDogs. ANTHONY SEIGLER — Somerset Patriots (7th-yr. pro; NY Yankees Double-A affiliate; Eastern League; Cartersville HS) … in five starts last week against the Reading Fightin’ Phils, the second baseman was 7-for-17 at the plate including three walks, three doubles, and three RBI. He also stole three bases as Somerset went 4-2 for the week. Seigler has a .222 batting average this season in 207 official at-bats. The 25-year-old has seven homers, 29 RBI, and 16 stolen bases. Through the first dozen games of the Eastern League’s second half, the Patriots are 9-3 and leading the Northeast Division. They play a six-game series this week at the Erie SeaWolves.

July 2, 2024 Christina Surcey of Cartersville carded a 2-under-par 70 on Monday at The Farm in Rocky Face and survived a four-player playoff to earn one of three spots in the 2024 U.S. Woman’s Amateur Championship. The qualifier was conducted on The Farm’s 6,304-yard, par-72 layout near Dalton.   Siuue Wu shot 68 to capture medalist honors in the 67-player field. Four players — Surcey, Ga Eun Athena Yoo, Ava Merrill, and Madison Holmes shot 70 and went to a playoff for the final two qualifying spots. Surcey and Yoo earned the qualifying spots in the playoff. Merrill and Holmes collected alternate spots.  The three qualifiers advance to the 2024 U.S. Women’s Amateur Championship on August 5-11 at Southern Hills Country Club in Tulsa, Oklahoma.

July 1, 2024 Charles Wilson / BartowSportsZone.com MiLB MASON BARNETT — Northwest Arkansas Naturals (3rd-yr. pro; Kansas City Royals Double-A affiliate; Texas League; Auburn; Cartersville HS) … made two pitching starts last week but received no decision in either. On Tuesday (June 25) the righty allowed three runs (two earned) on five hits and two walks. He struck out four in an eventual 8-6 win at the Wichita Wind Surge. On Sunday at Wichita, he went five innings allowing just one unearned run on five hits and two walks. The Naturals eventually lost 7-3. Barnett is 3-5 this season in 15 appearances (14 starts) covering 69-⅔ innings. He has 82 strikeouts. Northwest Arkansas finished the first half of the Texas League schedule with a 35-34 record and finished third in the North Division. The Naturals were 4-2 last week as the second-half schedule began. It continues through September 15. Northwest has three home games with the Springfield Cardinals on Monday through Wednesday before playing three more at Springfield on Thursday through Saturday. LOGAN MARTIN — Columbia Fireflies (2nd-yr. pro; Kansas City Royals Single-A affiliate; Carolina League; Kentucky; Cartersville HS) … made a brief pitching start last Wednesday (June 26) and worked two scoreless frames but received no decision. The right-hand hurler allowed two hits, no walks, and struck out three of the nine batters he faced. Columbia won 7-2 at the Kannapolis Cannon Ballers and five of six games in the series. Martin is 1-1 this season with three saves. He has appeared in 14 games (nine starts) covering 54 innings. He has recorded 51 strikeouts. The Fireflies have started the second half of the Carolina League slate with a 6-3 record after finishing the first half with a 35-30 record. They were second in the South Division. Columbia hosts six games this week with the Augusta GreenJackets. ANTHONY SEIGLER — Somerset Patriots (7th-yr. pro; NY Yankees Double-A affiliate; Eastern League; Cartersville HS) … made five starts last week at the Richmond Flying Squirrels and went 6-for-19 at the plate as the Patriots won five of six games to begin the second half of the Eastern League slate. Seigler had two doubles, walked three times, scored six runs, drove in seven runs, and stole two bases. The 25-year-old lifted his season batting average to .205 in 190 official at-bats. He has seven homers and 26 RBI. Somerset finished the first half with a 32-37 record and was fourth in the Northeast Division. The Patriots play three games this week at the Bowie Baysox and will host Bowie on Thursday through Saturday.

June 30, 2024 Charles Wilson / BartowSportsZone.com Cartersville resident and Cartersville Country Club member, Christina Surcey, finished fourth this past weekend (June 28-30) at the 95th GSGA Georgia Women’s Amateur Championship held at Country Club of Columbus. Already a GHSA Class 2A champion this year competing for North Cobb Christian, Surcey carded rounds of 70-69-77— 216 (Even par) to finish four shots behind 2020 champion Sara Im of Duluth. Im shot 69-69-74—212 (4-under-par) in her victory on the par-72, 6,188-yard layout. Loralie Cowart of Douglasville finished second with rounds of 69-71-73—213 (3-under-par). Mary Miller of Savannah (71-70-74—215) finished third in the 93-player field.

June 25, 2024 R.B. Clyburn of Cartersville won the 2024 Coosa Country Club Invitational this past weekend carding rounds of 69-70 (5-under-par) on the 6,770-yard, par-72 layout. He finished two shots ahead of Toby Green (72-69). Other locals finishing in the top ten --- Greg Johnson (75-71) finished third; Lee Bowman tied for fourth (72-75); and Chanc Willis placed eighth (80-70).

June 25, 2024 Charles Wilson / BartowSportsZone.com MiLB MASON BARNETT — Northwest Arkansas Naturals (3rd-yr. pro; Kansas City Royals Double-A affiliate; Texas League; Auburn; Cartersville HS) … struggled in a rough start last Wednesday (June 19) as the Naturals lost 8-5 at home to the Tulsa Drillers. The 23-year-old only recorded five outs while allowing six earned runs on four hits and three walks. He left the game trailing 6-1. The pitching loss dropped his season mark to 3-5 in 13 appearances and 12 starts. He has 73 strikeouts and 48 walks in 59-⅔ innings with a 6.64 ERA. Northwest Arkansas (35-34) went 4-2 last week against Tulsa and has six games this week at the Wichita Wind Surge. LOGAN MARTIN — Columbia Fireflies (2nd-yr. pro; Kansas City Royals Single-A affiliate; Carolina League; Kentucky; Cartersville HS) … made a five-inning start last Thursday and was tagged with the pitching loss in the Fireflies’ 9-5 home loss to the Carolina Mudcats. The 22-year-old righty allowed three earned runs on four hits and two walks. He left the game with his team trailing 3-0. Martin is 1-1 for the season with a 3.12 ERA in 13 appearances (eight starts) covering 52 innings pitched. He has recorded three saves as a reliever and has 48 strikeouts and only 19 walks. Columbia (35-30) plays six games this week at the Kannapolis Cannon Ballers. ANTHONY SEIGLER — Somerset Patriots (7th-yr. pro; NY Yankees Double-A affiliate; Eastern League; Cartersville HS) … went 2-for-11 with four walks in four starts last week as the Patriots went 1-5 at home against the Erie Sea Wolves. The second baseman’s hits were last Thursday when he doubled and homered for three RBI. The 25-year-old has a .193 batting average in 171 official at-bats this season. He has seven homers and 19 RBI with 11 stolen bases. Somerset (32-37) plays six games this week at the Richmond Flying Squirrels.

June 25, 2024 Seven local high school baseball players received 2024 All-State recognition this week from the Georgia Dugout Club. Cartersville’s Caleb Daniel, Ryan Johnson, Luke Miller, Andrew Purdy, and Sawyer Wilson were named Class 5A First Team All-State.  Aiden Ray of Woodland and Chase Tatum of Cass were named to the Class 5A Second Team. Top (L-R), Aiden Ray, Chase Tatum, Luke Miller, Caleb Daniel Bottom (L-R), Andrew Purdy, Ryan Johnson, Sawyer Wilson The complete Class 5A First and Second Team is listed below: First Team Pitchers: Conrad Cason, Greater Atlanta Christian; Eli Hanna, Greater Atlanta Christian; Tucker Segars, Loganville; Kyle Adamec, Flowery Branch; Eston Simpson, Jefferson; Ty Beck, McIntosh; Evan Joiner, Ware County; Ryan Johnson, Cartersville; Sawyer Wilson, Cartersville; Catchers: Payton Bryant, Coffee; Chase Fralick, McIntosh; Jackson Freeman, Flowery Branch; Infielders: Jaylen Jones, Loganville; Seth Suess, Ware County; Jase Peeples, Jefferson; Johnson DuBose, Greater Atlanta Christian; Kane Moye, Union Grove; Andrew Purdy, Cartersville; Bryce Clavon, Kell; Tyler Bradford, Kell; Outfielders: Bruce Wyche, Union Grove; Logan Kimberl, Greater Atlanta Christian; David Ojeda, Flowery Branch; Jamie Daly, Greenbrier; Luke Miller, Cartersville; Caleb Daniel, Cartersville; Utility: Cole Cox, Ware County Second Team Pitchers: Michael Strickland, Coffee; Zach Grow, Jefferson; Ben Fussell, Coffee; Braden Pouron, Ola; Maddux Earls, Union Grove; Brady Cunningham, Ola; Catchers: James McGee, Ola; Nolan Keener, Loganville; Infielders: Landon Smallwood, Ware County; Maddux Earls, Union Grove; Ben Fussell, Coffee; Cannon Jones, Coffee; Aiden Ray, Woodland-Bartow; Outfielders: Chase Tatum, Cass; Noah Bunch, Ware County; Bryce Dixon, Ware County; Mason Olivarez, McIntosh; Rett Hemphill, Jefferson; Utility: Kanious Davis, Maynard Jackson

June 23, 2024 Charles Wilson / BartowSportsZone.com Owen Wiggins of Cartersville High School and Bill Gaines of Woodland High School placed fourth on Saturday, June 22, in the 2024 High School Fishing World Finals on Lake Hartwell in South Carolina near Anderson. The Student Angler Federation presented the 398-team event on June 19-22. The two locals represented the local Amateur High School Bass Anglers organization. After missing the two-day cut, the Wiggins and Gaines earned a spot in the World Finals by placing sixth in the third day’s Second Chance Round. Their Friday catch was 8 pounds and 14 ounces. The three fish haul by the local duo in Saturday’s 31-team World Finals weighed-in at 10 pounds and 13 ounces. The largemouth, smallmouth, spotted, and redeye were required to be 12 inches or more. The local team finished behind two-person teams from Central Kentucky (13 pounds), Port Barre-Louisiana (12-14), and Lanier High School-GA (11-14). Other local competitors included in the National Championship Team Tournament Standings: Cooper Moon and Hayden West — Cartersville High School — 27th first two days / 83rd in 2nd Chance Round. Tucker Ivester and Caiden Moore — Cass High School and Woodland High School — 39th first two days / 63rd in 2nd Chance Round Garrett Hewlett and Dallen Fuqua — Cartersville High School — 44th in 2nd Chance Round Brandon Willard and Bryan Gayton — Woodland High School — 51st in 2nd Chance Round Trenton Mealer and Bentley Bagley — Adairsville High School — 75th (first two days) Will Altizer and Kadin West — Adairsville High School — 104th (first two days) Kip Mayfield and Gannon Bonds — Cass High School — 156th (first two days)

June 22, 2024 Charles Wilson / BartowSportsZone.com The 2023-24 high school athletic year has concluded and the Georgia Athletic Directors Association has released the final results of the Regions Bank Directors Cup. The GADA has presented this award annually since the 1999-2000 school year. Cartersville High won the Class AA Directors Cup in back-to-back school years in 2000-01 and 2001-02. The winning schools in each classification plus the top female and male programs receive a Directors Cup trophy and a wall banner. Schools receive points for their top eight scoring sports in each gender based on their final position in the GHSA state playoffs. In Class AAAAA this year, Jefferson High won the 2023-24 Directors Cup with 1166 points. The Dragons edged out runner-up Cambridge High (1159) by only seven points. Chattahoochee (1106), McIntosh (1100), and Decatur (995) rounded out the top five finishers. Greenbrier, Harris County, Greater Atlanta Christian, and Northgate finished in sixth through ninth place in Class 5A with Cartersville tying region-foe Dalton for the highest finish in Region 7-5A at tenth place and 839 points. The other schools in Region 7-5A include Calhoun (13th place, 685), Woodland (30th, 379), Cass (32nd, 372), and Hiram (38th, 170). Class AAA, which included Adairsville, was won by Wesleyan (1450). Oconee County (1214) was runner-up followed by Hebron Christian (1123), Mary Persons (982), and Morgan County (957). Dawson County, Savannah Christian, Lumpkin County, Sandy Creek, and Hart County rounded out the Class 3A top ten. None of the schools in Region 6-AAA participated in the statewide competition. Each school must maintain a membership with the GADA to be eligible. Non-member schools' point totals are not maintained. Overall winners for 2023-24 in the other classifications: Class 7A — Walton Class 6A — Marist Class 4A — Westminster Class 2A — Mt. Paran Christian Class A-DI — Mount Vernon Class A-D2 — Georgia Military College Local Class 5A scoring: Cartersville (839 total / 427 male / 412 female) By sport: (Baseball 2nd, 90 points; Competition Cheer 3rd, 85; Football 3rd, 84; Girls Basketball 3rd, 84; Boys Golf 5th, 75; Softball 7th, 69; Girls Golf 12th, 54; Boys XC 14th, 48; Girls XC 15th, 45; Boys Track 16th, 42; Volleyball 17th, 25; Boys Basketball 17th, 25; Girls Soccer 17th, 25; Girls Tennis 17th, 25; Wrestling 18th, 38; Girls Track 32nd, 10. Woodland (379 total / 266 male / 113 female) By sport: Wrestling Duals 3rd, 85 points (also placed third traditional); Baseball 9th, 53; Boys XC 16th, 42; Softball 17th, 25; Volleyball 17th, 25; Girls Soccer 17th, 25; Boys Soccer 17th, 25; Boys Tennis 17th, 25; Girls XC 18th, 38; Boys Track 24th, 26; Boys Swim 32nd, 10. Cass (372 total / 279 male / 93 female) By sport: Wrestling Duals, State Champs, 100 points (also placed sixth traditional); Boys Soccer 3rd, 84; Football 5th, 70; Competition Cheer 9th, 63; Baseball 17th, 25; Girls Track 22nd, 30. NOTE:  Sports with elimination tournament brackets are scored differently from non-bracketed sports. Wrestling points may only be acquired in either duals or traditional.   SOURCE: gadaonline.net

June 17, 2024 Charles Wilson / BartowSportsZone.com MiLB MASON BARNETT — Northwest Arkansas Naturals (3rd-yr. pro; Kansas City Royals Double-A affiliate; Texas League; Auburn; Cartersville HS) … improved his season pitching record to 3-4 last Thursday in a 14-3 win at the Springfield Cardinals. The right-hander made a 6-⅔ innings start allowing three earned runs on five hits and one walk. He struck out two departing with a 10-2 lead. The 23-year-old has a 5.90 ERA in 12 appearances (11 starts) this season covering 58 innings. His WHIP is 1.40 and he has recorded 70 strikeouts. The Naturals (31-32) have won seven straight and moved to just 3-½ games behind Texas League North Division first-half leader Arkansas. Northwest has a six-game series at home Tuesday through Sunday against the Tulsa Drillers. LOGAN MARTIN — Columbia Fireflies (2nd-yr. pro; Kansas City Royals Single-A affiliate; Carolina League; Kentucky; Cartersville HS) … made a five-inning start last Friday but received no pitching decision in an eventual 7-2 win at the Myrtle Beach Pelicans. The 22-year-old righty yielded two earned runs on three hits and three walks while fanning five. Martin (1-0) has a 3.00 ERA in 11 appearances this season (six starts) covering 45 innings. He has a 1.09 WHIP with 39 strikeouts. Columbia (34-27) is 4-½ games behind Kannapolis in the first-half standings in the Carolina League’s South Division. The Fireflies have eight games this Tuesday through Sunday at home against the Carolina Mudcats. ANTHONY SEIGLER — Somerset Patriots (7th-yr. pro; NY Yankees Double-A affiliate; Eastern League; Cartersville HS) … went 1-for-16 at the plate with five walks and two stolen bases in five games last week at the Binghampton Rumble Ponies. Somerset went 3-3 for the week. Siegler, 24, has a .194 batting average in 160 official at-bats this season. He has six homers and 16 RBIs. The Patriots (31-32 first half) trail Hartford by 3-½ games in the Eastern League’s Northeast Division. They host the Erie Sea Wolves for six games this Tuesday through Sunday.

June 14, 2024 In an article by Demetrius Harvey of the Jacksonville Florida Times-Union, former Cartersville High School quarterback Trevor Lawrence has been made the NFL’s highest-paid player following his contract extension with the Jacksonville Jaguars. The Lawrence deal with Jacksonville begins in 2026 and includes a total of $275 million over five years, with $200 million in practical guaranteed money. That amounts to $55 million per year over the final five years of the deal. The deal is for seven years through the 2030 season. The former Clemson QB stands to make $306 million in total value, including the 2024 and 2025 seasons, or $43.7 million per year over the course of the deal. Including the fifth-year option, Lawrence was originally set to make $31,341,293 over the next two seasons, according to OverTheCap. Lawrence will also receive a $37.5 million signing bonus when he signs the deal. Source: ProFootballTalk When Lawrence signs his name on the dotted line, he will be set to take up just 21.5% of this year's salary cap, which is $255.4 million. For reference, when Burrow signed his deal in 2023, he was set to take up 24.4% of the salary cap. According to Spotrac, Lawrence ranks 10th in this category behind Cowboys QB Dak Prescott, who took up 21.9% of the salary cap when he signed his deal in 2021. In addition to the money, Lawrence's deal also protects against being traded to another team. For Lawrence to lose his no-trade clause, according to PFT, he would have to hold out, get suspended by the team or commit a forfeitable breach of the contract. The new deal also includes $1.5 million in incentives from 2026 through 2030. Lawrence will get $500,000 if he takes at least 60% of the team's snaps and if the Jaguars win the AFC Championship game. He gets $1 million if he takes at least 60% of the team's snaps and the Jaguars win the Super Bowl for a total of $6 million. For Lawrence to receive the full incentives built into the contract, the Jaguars will have to win four straight Super Bowls. ~~ Data from Pro Football Talk, OverTheCap, Spotrac, and compiled by Demetrius Harvey of the Jacksonville Times Union

June 10, 2024 Charles Wilson / BartowSportsZone.com Former Cartersville High pitcher Logan Martin picked up his third save of the 2024 season this past weekend with a four-inning relief shutout performance in Class-A Carolina League action. In the Double-A Eastern League, former Cartersville Hurricane Anthony Seigler has hit six home runs in his past eight games. MiLB MASON BARNETT — Northwest Arkansas Naturals (3rd-yr. pro; Kansas City Royals Double-A affiliate; Texas League; Auburn; Cartersville HS) … was saddled with a second straight pitching loss last Thursday in a 3-2 home loss to the Wichita Wind Surge. The right-hander made the start and went 4-⅔ innings surrendering three earned runs on seven hits with no walks. He fanned six. Barnett, now 2-4 on the season, has a 6.14 ERA in 11 appearances covering 51-⅓ innings. He has 68 strikeouts. The Naturals (25-32) are eight games back and in fourth place in the Texas League’s North Division. Northwest Arkansas visits the Springfield Cardinals for a six-game series this Tuesday through Sunday. LOGAN MARTIN — Columbia Fireflies (2nd-yr. pro; Kansas City Royals Single-A affiliate; Carolina League; Kentucky; Cartersville HS) …  collected his third save this past Saturday with a four-inning relief appearance as the Fireflies beat the visiting Fayetteville Woodpeckers 2-1. The righty entered in the sixth inning and finished the game with four shutout innings. He yielded just one hit and struck out three dropping his season ERA to 2.93. He has appeared in 10 games this season (five starts) and recorded 34 strikeouts in 40 innings. Columbia (30-25) trails Carolina League South Division-leading Kannapolis by 5-½ games. The Fireflies play a six-game series Tuesday through Sunday at the Myrtle Beach Pelicans. ANTHONY SEIGLER — Somerset Patriots (7th-yr. pro; NY Yankees Double-A affiliate; Eastern League; Cartersville HS) … hit home runs in three more games this past week during a home series with the Hartford Yard Goats. Seigler, who has transitioned to second base this season, has homered six times in his past eight games since May 30. The 24-year-old Round 1 pick by the Yankees in 2018 has a .208 batting average in 144 official at-bats this season with 16 RBI. In this recent eight-game stretch, he is 9-for-29 including six homers, one double, one walk, nine runs scored, and 10 RBI. Somerset (28-29) is in fourth place and three games behind Portland in the Eastern League’s Northeast Division. The Patriots play a six-game series at the Binghamton Rumble Ponies on Tuesday through Sunday.