March 2, 2024 The Cartersville boys placed third to lead all local teams on Saturday at the 15-team Cartersville Purple Hurricane Invitational. The Woodland boys placed sixth. The Cartersville girls were 7th and the Woodland girls finished 11th. Woodstock won the girls' title followed by Cherokee and Allatoona. Carrollton won the boys' championship followed by Kennesaw Mountain and Cartersville. Local Top Four placers in events: Zachary Wiggins - Woodland - 1st - 300m Hurdles - 40.17 Will Feuerbach - Cartersville - 1st - 800m Run - 2:00.54 Kendrick Price - Cartersville - 2nd - 100m Dash - 10.92 Stephen Rowser - Cartersville - 2nd - 200m Dash - 22.30 Kemarie Mitchell, Jaiven Johnson, Tyon Coe, Will Feuerbach - 2nd - Cartersville 4x400m Relay - 3:33.60 Andy Forsyth - Woodland - 3rd - 800m Run - 2:02.13 Leyla Booth - Cartersville - 3rd - 300m Hurdles - 51.29 Jamarion Walker - Woodland - 3rd - 400m Dash - 51.69 Bryson Everett, Khristian Lando, Tyon Coe, Brady Marchese - 3rd - Cartersville 4x200m Relay - 1.31.54 Milena Bihm, Addi Burns, Kori Mandibaya, Leyla Booth - 4th - Cartersville 4x400m Relay - 4.30.46 Malachi Vosburgh - Cartersville - 4th - 1600m Run - 4:32.63 Kemarie Mitchell - Cartersville - 4th - 400m Dash - 51.82 Cartersville competes in the Carrollton Invitational next Saturday. Woodland will be at Calhoun on Tuesday and at the Woodstock Wolverine Invitational on Saturday.

March 2, 2024 The Cass girls finished second and the Adairsville boys were fourth Saturday at the 11th annual Southeast Whitfield Invitational Track and Field Meet. The Adairsville girls and the Cass boys finished seventh. Heritage-Catoosa won the girls' title and the Calhoun boys won the 11-team meet. Locals winning events: Kaitlyn Godwin - Cass - Girls 100m Dash - 12.28 Kaitlyn Godwin - Cass - Girls 400m Dash - 1:00.37 Kaitlyn Godwin - Cass - Girls 200m Dash - 25.87 Aliya McBryde - Adairsville - Girls 100m Hurdles - 16.81 Aliya McBryde - Adairsville - Girls High Jump - 5-00.25 Nicole Perez - Adairsville - Girls Shot Put - 35-02.75 Kenneth Wilkey - Adairsville - Boys High Jump - 6-02.00 Cass girls 4x100m Relay team - Markayla Sanford, Liala Webb, KK Evans, Kaitlyn Godwin - 51.54 Cass boys 4x100m Relay team - Braylon Hill, Colton Cotton, Jordan Powell, Ian Williams - 44.14 The Cass teams will run at Calhoun on Tuesday. The next meet on the Adairsville schedule is at Calhoun on March 19.

March 2, 2024 A pair of Hernando (Miss.) pitchers limited the Purple Hurricanes to just two hits and one walk Saturday at the Tigers blanked Cartersville, 2-0, in their final consolation games of the 2024 Perfect Game High School Showdown. The Canes finished 1-3 in the tournament. Caleb Daniel’s double in the first inning and Cole Crawford’s single in the sixth were the only Cartersville safeties. Tristan McKibben reached on an error in the fifth inning, a pitch hit Luke Miller in the sixth and Daniel drew a sixth-inning walk for the only other Canes’ base runners. Hernando pitchers Meyer Maddox (6 IP, 0R, 2H, 1BB, 2K) and Luke Romine (1 IP, 3K) kept the Hurricanes’ bats silenced for most of the day. The Tigers improved their season mark to 9-1. Jackson Harwell (2 IP, 1R, 0ER, 2H, 1BB, 1K) was tagged with the tough-luck pitching loss despite not allowing an earned run. Maddox Frazier (4 IP, 1R, 0ER, 3H, 1BB) and Nolan Elrod (1 IP, 0R, 0H, 0BB, 1K) also pitched for Cartersville. The Canes (7-3) host Rockmart on Wednesday and Adairsville on Friday. Both games will be at 5:55 p.m. They will play at Adairsville on Saturday at 1 p.m.

March 1, 2024 The 2nd-ranked Jackson-Atlanta Jaguars went on a pair of 9-0 runs in the first half to take control of the game early and went on to eliminate the Cartersville Lady Canes 77-57 Friday afternoon in the Class 5A state semifinals at the University of West Georgia. Shakira Gresham led all scorers with 27 points for Jackson. Teammate Taliah Cornish followed with 21. Taff Bradley scored 12 points for Cartersville. Kaytlin Arnold and Zoie Shiflett added 10 points. Jackson improved to 28-1 on the season and advances to the state championship game at the Macon Coliseum on March 7 against Midtown who defeated Dalton 73-63. The Lady Canes had their season come to a close following an outstanding post-season run with an 18-13 record.

March 2, 2024 Cartersville baseball outhit the Pickens Dragons Friday night, eight to six, but still dropped a 5-4 decision in a consolation game at the Hoover, Alabama Perfect Game High School Showdown. Pickens led 2-0 through the first three innings with a pair of runs in the bottom of the second on two hits, a walk, and a steal of home. The Canes tied the score 2-2 in the top of the fourth by taking advantage of a pair of hits and a Pickens infield error. The Dragons regained the lead for good in the bottom of the fifth on a walk, a double, and a sacrifice fly to make the score 3-2. They added two more runs in the sixth on two more hits, a groundout RBI, and a sacrifice bunt. Cartersville rallied in the top of the seventh with three hits, a walk, and a sac fly for two runs. The Canes had the potential tying and go-ahead runners in scoring position with two outs but failed to push them across. Sawyer Wilson (5.1 IP, 5ER, 6H, 3BB, 3K) was tagged with the pitching loss for the Hurricanes. Dawson Bishop (0.2 IP, 0R, 0H, 1BB) retired the final two outs in the sixth inning. Pickens (6-2) utilized four different pitchers who combined for ten strikeouts. Caleb Daniel had three hits including a pair of doubles to pace the Cartersville offense. Tristan McKibben finished with two hits and one RBI. Cam Cochran contributed two RBIs with one hit. Luke Miller and Aidan Larkins added one hit. Landon Cole drove in a run with a sacrifice fly. Cartersville (7-2) plays a final consolation game Saturday in Hoover against the Hernando (Miss.) Tigers at 11:30 a.m. The Canes have home games next Wednesday and Friday against Rockmart and Adairsville.

March 1, 2024 The Cass boys’ soccer team defeated visiting Cedartown Friday night 3-1 at Cochran Stadium but the Lady Colonels dropped a 1-0 decision to the Lady Bulldogs. Camden Hillhouse fed Christian Villela for a first-half goal and scored a goal himself as the Colonels took a 2-0 lead to the halftime break. Kayden Pineda provided an assist on the Hillhouse goal. In the second half, Villela scored a second goal off an assist from Angel Martinez for a 3-0 lead. The Bulldogs (4-2) scored a late goal for a 3-1 final score. Cass (6-1-1) hosts Dalton on Tuesday at 7:30 p.m. CEDARTOWN 1, CASS GIRLS 0 The Lady Bulldogs improved to 4-2 with their 1-0 win. The Lady Colonels (2-3) will begin Region 7-5A play on Tuesday at home against Dalton at 5:30 p.m.

March 1, 2024 The Woodland Lady Cats soccer team led visiting Adairsville 3-2 at halftime Friday night and matched goals with the Lady Tigers in the second half for a 4-3 non-region victory. The two teams traded scoring strikes through the opening half. Ansley Burns opened the scoring for the Lady Cats off a feed from Reagan Weightman in the 11th minute. Ella Edwards answered for the Lady Tigers in the 22nd minute off an assist from Alivia Joslin. Woodland regained the lead in the 27th minute on a Weightman penalty kick but Adairsville answered again. In the 37th minute, Samantha Gough finished a corner kick assist from Jordyn Hartline. Just 25 seconds later, the Lady Cats scored to take a 3-2 advantage to the intermission. Carlie Forman finished the goal off an assist from Weightman. In the second half, Weightman took a pass from Forman and gave Woodland their only two-goal lead of the night in the 61st minute. Joslin scored for Adairsville in the 72nd minute unassisted, but the Lady Cats held on in the final minutes for their 4-3 win. Adairsville (5-2) hosts LaFayette on Tuesday to begin Region 6-AAA play. Woodland (3-0) plays at Coosa on Wednesday. WOODLAND BOYS 5, ADAIRSVILLE 1 The Woodland boys soccer team stayed unbeaten through five games this season with a 5-1 win Friday night at home over Adairsville. The Wildcats led 1-0 at halftime on a 35th-minute goal by Chris Sanchez off a nice assist from Juan Mendoza. In the 42nd minute of the match, Juan Pineda sent a ball through the defense to Joel Alberto who was taken down in the box. His penalty kick gave Woodland a 2-0 lead. Sanchez scored his second goal of the night in the 49th minute building Woodland a 3-0 advantage. Adairsville narrowed the margin to 3-1 off a corner kick in the 61st minute but would get no closer. Sanchez, once again set up by Mendoza, scored in the 72nd minute and added a fourth goal on the night off an assist from his brother, Deiby Sanchez, in the 75th minute. Woodland goalkeeper, Miguel Pineda, had 7 saves on the night. Adairsville (1-3-2) hosts Lafayette on Tuesday at 7:30 p.m. Woodland (5-0) will entertain Coosa on Wednesday at 7:30 p.m.

March 1, 2024 The Cartersville baseball Hurricanes found themselves on the wrong side of a 4-3 walk-off final Friday in the Red Bracket quarterfinals of the 2024 Perfect Game High School Showdown in Hoover, Alabama. The Canes were tied 3-3 with Bob Jones (Madison, Ala.) in the bottom of the seventh inning when the Patriots scored a run on an RBI single by Zack Johnson. Two walks (one intentional) and a single loaded the bases for the Patriots with one out before the game-winning hit. Nicholas Hruby (1.1 IP, 1ER, 2H, 2BB) was tagged with the Cartersville pitching loss in relief of starter Ryan Johnson (5 IP, 3R, 1ER, 3H, 3BB, 5K) who worked the first five frames and struck out five. Cartersville was limited to four hits in the loss. Cameron Cochran (two RBIs) and Luke Miller (double) both had two hits. Bob Jones (7-2) will play Wesleyan Christian Academy (High Point, NC) in the semifinals on Saturday. The Patriots are ranked No. 3 in Class 7A in Alabama. The Canes (7-1) were scheduled for a consolation game Friday at 10 p.m. ET against the Pickens Dragons and will play a final consolation game (TBD) on Saturday.

March 1, 2024 The Cartersville and Cass soccer teams both swept to Thursday night victories. The Cartersville girls and boys defeated Sonoraville while the Cass girls and boys won at McEachern. CARTERSVILLE GIRLS 10, SONORAVILE 0 Lady Canes story submitted by Alex Farmer via CanesAthletics.com Entering Thursday night’s matchup with Sonoraville, Annabelle Williams was confident her team hadn’t played their best game. She did her part, in taking her six goals for the season and doubling that in one half of play. Lundyn Eubanks and Kiley McMichael also had scores as the Lady Canes raced to an 8-0 halftime lead. The game ended per GHSA rules ten minutes into the second half after Mallory Nicklas scored two more to make it 10-0. With seniors Hattie Williams and Maci Nicklas pacing the team as they have all season, (three and two assists, respectively) all ten goals were scored by sophomores. Anabelle Williams said her teammates played with a purpose in moving to 4-3 on the season. “That’s a good team over there and they’ve beaten really good teams,” she said, nodding to the Sonoraville bench. “We wanted to come out and prove that we’re better than we’ve shown so far. We’ve worked harder these last two games and in practice to change things and be stronger.” Williams’ first goal came in the fifth minute of the game. Following a looping pass over the top of the defense from Maci Nicklas, she began her run from 35 yards out to dribble in and finish with a rocket into the lower right corner. With barely 40 seconds of the game clock elapsed, Williams began another run by passing across the field to her sister. Hattie Williams took the ball down the right side before sending a cross that Eubanks one-touched to the corner for a 2-0 lead. The next five scores came courtesy of Annabelle Williams, the first banging off the left post into the goal from 18 yards out. A Sonoraville defender set up the next by misplaying the ball toward her goal, a punishable mistake Williams seized by shooting between the keeper’s legs to extend the lead to 4-0 and officially earn the hat trick. In the 26th minute, Williams scored goal number four off a pass from her sister, directed into the lower left corner. The fifth came less than a minute later on a penalty kick in the box. Her fifth score was a roller carefully placed beyond the keeper’s reach past the left post. After some nice skill from Elizabeth Villela to beat her defender, Williams received the pass before sending it on to McMichael, who ended the first half scoring. Mallory Nicklas scored to make it 9-0 in the fifth minute of the second half, sending the ball off her dribble from 35 yards out. Five minutes later she ended the game with a shot from the same distance, this time with it hitting the top bar and bouncing down into the goal. Williams credited a recent focus on precision over power when it came to finishing shots on goal. “That’s something I’ve been working on the past week,” she said. “I’ll go into a game with a specific word in mind because I want to have goals, and the word this week was ‘confident.’” The Lady Canes’ (4-3-0) next game comes  March 5, on the road at Johns Creek (5-2-0) for a 6 p.m. start. CARTERSVILLE BOYS 2, SONORAVILLE 0 Canes story via DJ Paradis / CanesAthletics.com Colby Craig’s redirect off his shoulder into the net in the third minute of play was enough for the Canes on Thursday night (Feb. 29), as CHS added another late goal for a 2-0 win over Sonoraville. Eduardo Hernandez factored in both scores, rainbowing the pass to Craig from the left side of the field that was sent bouncing past the keeper. Colby Craig pushes the ball upfield against Sonoraville. Photo/Scott Barkley With just over ten minutes to play, Hernandez again broke loose with the ball after CHS worked a possession past midfield. After collecting a pass, the junior forward streaked toward the left side and was eventually tackled in the box. Yosvanni Pineda made good on the free kick, sending it up and slightly right as the keeper guessed far right and low. “We played with confidence tonight,” said Canes head coach DJ Paradis. “We had a change in attitude and were a lot more aggressive. We started playing the style we’re used to and attacking the wings, playing off each other and committing to the runs. It was a good win for us. “If we keep playing like this, we’re going to have some good results.” Craig’s goal set an early tone, as the Canes kept the ball on the visitors’ side of the pitch for most of the first half. Coming out of the break, though, the Phoenix established more control. Paradis responded by working in substitutes like freshman midfielder Rhett Jacobs to disrupt Sonoraville’s offense. Craig gave a nod to Hernandez for setting up his first varsity goal. “The middle was open and he played a perfect ball,” he said. “I made contact with it and that was it.” Hernandez said the win showed a different team than had been on display so far this season. “For the last couple of games, we came out with no energy. We played with pride in this one and moved the ball very well. We communicated and that brought the team spirit up,” he said. The non-region loss dropped Sonoraville to 4-2 on the season. The Cartersville boys improved to 2-5. The Canes play next at Johns Creek on Tuesday at 8 p.m. CASS GIRLS 1, McEACHERN 0 The Cass girls' soccer team got the game's only goal in the first half when a pair of freshmen combined with an assist and goal. Ryland Piatt found the net off a feed from Zoe Bailey and the score held for a 1-0 final. Lady Colonels' keepers Layla Allgood and Samantha Bradford combined in net for the shutout. The loss dropped the Lady Indians to 2-5 on the season. Cass (3-2) is scheduled to host Cedartown on Friday at 5:30 p.m. CASS BOYS 5, McEACHERN 1 The Cass boys led 2-1 at halftime and exploded for three second-half goals Thursday night in Powder Springs to win 5-1 at McEachern. No individual data was provided. The loss dropped the host Indians to 1-4-1. Cass (5-1-1) hosts Cedartown on Friday at 7:30 p.m.

Elite Stone Supply, in conjunction with WBHF and Bartow Sports Zone, presents the ELITE ATHLETES OF THE MONTH. Each month, local high schools are provided the opportunity to name an Elite Athlete of the Month from their varsity programs and present the information on their honoree through Bartow Sports Zone and on 100.3FM and AM1450, WBHF in Cartersville. The Cartersville High School Elite Athlete of the Month for February 2024 is Ced McClinic. A senior guard on the Canes’ region championship basketball team, he is the son of Kimberly and Cedric McClinic, Sr. “Ced has always been one of the hardest workers in our program,” said Cartersville basketball coach Mike Tobin. “ He has improved tremendously in his four years and has a bright future because of his commitment and work ethic.” McClinic scored 23 points and added seven steals in the Region 7-5A title game. He also won the annual Meet the Hurricanes slam dunk contest and three-point shooting contest. He plans to go to college and study business. Kriecg Roe has been named the February 2024 Elite Athlete of the Month representing Cass High School. A junior member of the Colonels' wrestling team, he is the son of Sanh and Santee Roe. Roe is a three-time state placer — finishing fourth as a freshman, third as a sophomore, and won the 175-pound Class 5A state title this season. He was also an important part of the two most recent team state duals titles for the Colonels. He is a two-time High School All-American and was named to the All-Academic Team for Class 5A wrestling. With a 4.0 grade point average, Roe is in the top 15 percent of his class. He plans to attend one of the service academies following high school to continue his academics and wrestling. “Kriecg has been a great leader and a role model for the team,” said Cass wrestling coach D.L. Koontz. “We look forward to many more great things during his senior season.” The February Elite Athlete of the Month for Adairsville High School is Michael Spinks. A senior member of the Tigers’ tennis and cross country teams, Spinks is the son of Naomi Collins. “Michael is the most improved player in the Tiger Tennis program,” said Adairsville coach Jayme Laney. “His dedication to his sport is impressive and contagious. He is a determined, coachable, and reliable young man.” Spinks plays Line 3 singles for the Tigers. He plans to attend Georgia Tech after graduation. Connor Stermer is the February 2024 Elite Athlete of the Month for Woodland High School. He is a senior shortstop and pitcher on the Wildcats baseball team and is also involved in rodeo. Stermer, a 1st Team All-Region 7-5A selection in 2023, is the son of Danielle and Lance Stermer. “Connor is a leader on and off the field for our baseball program,” said Wildcats baseball coach Todd Eubanks. “He is a tremendous student of the game and a leader for our younger players to follow. In thirty years as a head coach, he may be the best shortstop I have ever coached.” Stermer has a 3.5 grade point average and plans to attend Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College to continue his academic and baseball career. Editors Note: Photos and bios are supplied to Bartow Sports Zone and WBHF by the respective schools and athletic departments. Elite Stone Supply Co., LLC is the monthly sponsor. Athletes receive a plaque along with recognition during a radio feature on WBHF. #EliteAthletesoftheMonth #Cass #Cartersville #Woodland #Adairsville #highschool

March 1, 2024 Cartersville pitchers Logan Shrewsbury, Nicholas Hruby, and Andrew Purdy combined for a two-hit shutout Thursday night in Hoover, to lead the Purple Hurricanes in a 2-0 win over the Calera (Ala.) Eagles in the first round of the 2024 Perfect Game High School Showdown. Shrewsbury made the start and completed five innings on the bump to collect the pitching win. His scoreless outing yielded just two hits and one walk. Hruby and Purdy faced the minimum in the sixth and seventh innings with Purdy recording two strikeouts. Meanwhile, Cameron Cochran drove in a run in the third innings with an RBI single and the Canes scored on an Eagles’ infield error in the sixth to escape with a tightly contested victory. Aidan Larkin had two hits for the Cartersville offense. Cochran (RBI), Caleb Daniel, and Tristan McKibben added one hit for the Canes. Cartersville (7-0) plays Bob Jones (Madison, Ala.) Friday at 5:30 p.m. in the Red Bracket quarterfinal round. A win by the Canes advances them to the semifinals on Saturday morning at the Hoover Met Sports Complex at 10 a.m. ET. The Cartersville/Bob Jones winner will play the Parkview (Ga.)/DeSoto Central (Miss.) winner. Teams not advancing through the single-elimination bracket receive an option for consolation games giving all teams four games in the event.

March 1, 2024 The Adairsville High tennis teams split matches with the visiting Trion Bulldogs Thursday night. The Adairsville boys won 3-2 and the Lady Tigers lost 1-4. There were multiple close matches including a pair that went to tiebreakers. Adairsville results: Boys singles Line 1----Braden Potter lost 7-6, 0-6, 0-1 Line 2----Michael Spinks won 6-0, 6-2 Line 3----Bryson Gooden lost 3-6, 0-6 Boys doubles Line 1-----Camen Teems/Carter Collum won 3-6, 6-3, 1-0 Line 2-----Braden Mathis/Jack Baxter won 6-1, 6-0 Girls singles Line 1-----Madison Abernathy lost 4-6, 6-7 Line 2-----Adysen Garvey lost 3-6, 1-6 Line 3-----Allison Potter lost 1-6, 1-6 Girls doubles Line 1-----Darby Adams/Stella Rood won 6-0, 6-4 Line 2-----Gio Marraquin/Sophie Hovatter lost 3-6, 6-2, 0-1 Next for Adairsville will be matches against Coahulla Creek on Monday at 4 p.m. at the Lakeshore Tennis Center in Dalton.