July 9, 2023 Charles Wilson / Bartow Sports Zone The Cartersville Little League Intermediate 50/70 baseball team defeated Martinez Evans Little League in two straight games Saturday just outside of Augusta to win a best-of-three series and capture the 2023 Georgia state championship. The two teams reached the state title series by winning their respective Georgia districts. Cartersville represented District 1 and Martinez Evans was the District 6 representative. The Intermediate (50/70) Division of Little League is for 11 to 13-year-olds on a field with a 50-foot pitching distance and 70-foot base paths. Cartersville 13U dominated the series with a 16-1 win in four innings to take the opener and an 18-0 blanking of MELL in Game 2 to clinch the series. Brant Rutledge struck out 11 in the first game and allowed just a single, unearned run on one hit and three walks. In Game 2 a trio of Cartersville hurlers — Luke Thompson, Cam Kachinsky, and Colton Dunagan — combined for a no-hitter and totaled eight strikeouts. The Cartersville offense rattled off 23 hits in the doubleheader sweep. Aiden Turner paced the attack with four hits including a triple and five RBIs while Dunagan followed with three hits that included a triple, two home runs, and six RBIs. River Wade had three hits including a pair of doubles and one RBI. Noah Kearney also finished with three hits in the doubleheader. Kachinsky contributed a pair of hits including a triple and three RBIs. Rutledge had two hits and one RBI with a sacrifice fly. Easton Lee drove in two runs with two hits while Steven Tumlin also finished with a pair of hits. Caden McMullin (two RBIs) and Thompson added one hit each. Cartersville 13U advances to the Intermediate Southeast Regional tournament July 15-18 in Kernersville, North Carolina to compete against teams from seven other states including Alabama, Florida, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, Virginia, and West Virginia. The Southeast Regional winner will advance to the Little League Intermediate Baseball World Series from July 30 through August 6 in Livermore, California.

A pair of local Little League softball teams and four teams representing local Little League baseball organizations will represent District 1 beginning this Saturday, July 8 at Little League state tournaments across Georgia. Bartow County Little League’s 12U softball team and 16U softball team will be in state tournament action as will the Bartow County 16U baseball team. Cartersville Little League also has three baseball teams (10U, 11U, and 13U) in action starting Saturday. The state tournament for two other local Little League baseball teams — Cartersville Little League 12U and Bartow County Little League 14U — will begin on Saturday, July 15. The eight-team 12U tournament will be at Brinkley Park in Smyrna through Friday, July 21 and the five-team Junior League state tournament will be at Psalmond Road Park in Columbus through Wednesday, July 19. Georgia Little League 12U Softball Saturday, July 8 - Thursday, July 13 Host: Rabun County Little League (Clayton, GA) Bartow County faces Martinez-Evans Little League in the first round Saturday at 11 a.m. Six-team double-elimination tournament Georgia Little League 16U Softball Saturday, July 8 - Thursday, July 13 Host: Rabun County Little League (Clayton, GA) Bartow County plays West Point Little League in the first round Saturday at 4 p.m. Six-team double-elimination tournament Georgia Little League 8-10-year-old Baseball Saturday, July 8 - Thursday, July 13 Host: Rockmart Little League (Rockmart, GA) Cartersville plays Oconee County Little League in the first round Saturday at 12 noon. Eight-team double-elimination tournament Georgia Little League 9-11-year-old Baseball Saturday, July 8 - Wednesday, July 12 Host: Chatham County Little League (Savannah, GA) Cartersville plays Chatham County Little League in the first round Saturday at 10 a.m. Seven-team double-elimination tournament Georgia Little League Intermediate 50/70 Baseball Saturday, July 8 - Sunday, July 9 Host: Martinez Little League (Martinez, GA) Cartersville 13U plays a best-of-three series vs. Martinez. The first two games are Saturday starting at 10:30 a.m. If a third game is needed, it is scheduled for Sunday at 1:30 p.m. Only District 1 and District 6 are represented Georgia Little League Senior Baseball Saturday, July 8 - Wednesday, July 12 Host: Toccoa Little League (Toccoa, GA) Bartow County 16U plays Oconee County Little League in the first round Saturday at 2 p.m. Four-team double-elimination tournament

July 4, 2023 Charles Wilson / BartowSportsZone.com This week's edition of 'Athletes Beyond Bartow' provides an update on the two local Minor League Baseball prospects. MASON BARNETT — Quad Cities River Bandits (KC Royals High A affiliate; 2nd-yr. pro; Auburn; Cartersville HS) … made one of his best starts of the season but was the pitcher of record in a 3-2 home loss last Thursday to the Wisconsin Timber Rattlers. He allowed just one earned run on three hits and one walk facing 25 batters. He left the game after seven innings with the Bandits trailing 1-0. Barnett is now 2-4 on the season in a dozen starts and 58 innings. He has recorded 68 strikeouts and has a 3.72 ERA. Quad Cities is 2-5 in the second half standings of the Midwest League’s West Division. ANTHONY SEIGLER — Somerset Patriots (NY Yankees Double-A affiliate; 6th-yr. pro; Cartersville HS) … was placed on the Injured 7-Day list by the Patriots on June 29. The catcher/DH has not seen action since June 25. Somerset was 4-2 last week in games at the Bowie BaySox to begin the second half standings. The Patriots (46-28) won the Eastern League’s Northeast Division first half with a 42-26 record and have secured a post-season berth.

The Cartersville Little League 8U Rookie League team won the Northwest Section championship at Smyrna Little League June 3-7 (see story here — https://www.bartowsportszone.com/single-post/cartersville-8u-rookie-league-team-wins-northwest-sectional-title) and advanced to win the state tournament at Warner Robins Little League June 16-18. Three districts were represented at the state tournament. Cartersville defeated Martinez Evans (14-5) in their opening game on June 16 before falling to Warner Robins (7-1) in their second game on June 17. The locals then defeated Warner Robins 11-2 on June 18 to win the state championship. The 8U Cartersville team includes Wheeler Arthur, Tyson Botts, Caleb Cox, Will Geldhauser, Jonah Holder, Caswell McFarland, Will Porter, Jayden Rodriguez, Finley Rogan, Jackson Taylor, Josh Villarreal, and Tripp Walker. Manager: Bryan Villarreal. Coaches: Clayton Porter and Blake Arthur.

The Cartersville Little League 7U Coach Pitch team hosted and won the Northwest Section Tournament June 3-4 with three straight wins over East Marietta (7-2), Smyrna Blue (12-1), and Smyrna Blue again (10-6). At the state tournament June 9-11 at Sewell Mill Park in Marietta, the Cartersville 7U team finished as state runner-up. The locals had wins over Martinez Evans (13-2) and Jones County (12-8) but lost to Jones County in the state title game, 9-3. Roster: Jack Burris, Ace England, Lincoln Ezell, Wes Gelhauser, River Hicks, Ames Marrow, Jett Nichols, Lucas Penland, Marshall Pressley, Jackson Steele, Brantley Tilley, and Cort Wolff. Manager: Mike Ezell. Coaches: Brad Penland, Jason Marrow, and John England.

Cartersville Little League Baseball has already collected one state championship and one state runner-up this year with the Cartersville 8U Rookie team winning state and the 7U Coach Pitch team finishing second. The local league also has four other teams vying for state championships in early July including the 12U team (See earlier story -- https://www.bartowsportszone.com/single-post/cartersville-little-league-12u-wins-district-1-title) plus the Cartersville 10U, 11U, and 13-year-old 50/70 Intermediate teams. Georgia Little League 8-10 State Tournament The Cartersville 10U team has advanced to the Georgia 8-10 State Tournament hosted by Rockmart Little League July 8-13 at Nathan Dean Field. Cartersville 10U, who defeated Rockmart Little League to advance, is slated to open the eight-team, double-elimination tournament on July 8 against the District 10 champion (to be determined). Cartersville team members include Harry Baker, Hayes Burris, Jordan Cooley, Henry Culverhouse, Sawyer Ezell, Carter Harris, Emory Harris, Maddox Henderson, Micah Mitcham, Connor Murphy, Harris Pressley, and Sawyer White. Manager: Andy Burris. Coaches: Charlie Culverhouse and Mike Ezell. Georgia Little League 9-11 State Tournament Cartersville 11U has advanced to the Georgia 9-11 State Tournament to be hosted in Savannah by Chatham County Little League July 8-13. Cartersville, who defeated Bartow County and Rockmart to win District 1, is scheduled to open play in the 10-team, double-elimination state tournament on July 8 against the District 9 champion (to be determined). The tournament is being played at Ambuc Park. The Cartersville 11U team members include Will Fultz, Trent Glover, Micah Henderson, Alek Higgins, Anthony Hunt, Jack McCurry, Jack Mroczko, Brock Morris, Cade Rogan, Tanner Sammons, Easton Stephens, and Liam Turner. Manager: Russ Hunt. Coaches: Josh Morris and Tyler McCurry. Georgia Little League Intermediate 50/70 Baseball Championship The Cartersville Little League 13U team swept a best-of-three series with Rockmart to win the District 1 championship on June 19. With only two Georgia districts fielding teams for the state tournament, Cartersville will play a best-of-three series against the District 6 representative July 8-9 at Paradise Field. The series is being hosted by Martinez Evans Little League near Augusta. The winner will advance to the Southeast Region Tournament that begins July 14 in Kernersville, North Carolina. The Cartersville team roster includes Colton Dunagan, Brooks Fulton, Blake Genrich, Cam Kachinsky, Noah Kearney, Easton Lee, Caden McMullin, Brant Rutledge, Luke Thompson, Aiden Turner, and River Wade. Manager: Jeff Fulton. Coaches: Nick Wade and Ben Genrich.

Cartersville Little League (12U) won the District 1 title Tuesday night (June 27) by defeating Bartow County Little League in the championship round, 11-7. The Cartersville team defeated Dalton in the opening round and then beat Bartow County twice to secure the title. The district tournament was hosted by Cedartown Little League. Tournament game results: Cartersville 20, Dalton 0 Cartersville 9, Bartow County 6 Bartow County 20, Dalton 0 Cartersville 11, Bartow County 7 Cartersville advances to the Georgia Little League State Tournament beginning July 15 hosted by Smyrna Little League. Team members: Brock Crawford, Jackson Crawford, Will Groce, Bowen Hardy, Tyler Hickman, Parker Huth, Noah Leffew, Braxton Lemon, Everett Owen, Trey Smith, Mattox Stepp, and Demetrius Wynn.

The Bartow County Junior Little League baseball team won the Georgia Little League District 1 championship Monday by sweeping a best-of-three series with Cartersville Junior Little League, 26-4 and 21-11. The championship series was played at Cedartown Parks and Recreation. Zaylen Cochran struck out three in three innings to earn the Game 1 pitching win. Jayce Little was the winning pitcher in Game 2 and also fanned three. In the opening game, Cochran and Hilton Wade finished 4-for-4 at the plate. Connor Cobin was 2-for-2. Kasey Jacobs also had two hits while Dakota Keane, Kason Miller, Trey Blackmon, Landon Farmer, and Little added one hit apiece. In the series-clinching win, Little was 3-for-3 and Nick Robinson was 3-for-4 to pace the Bartow attack. Farmer, Jacobs, and D.J. Vigil contributed two hits each. Miller and Wade added one hit apiece. Bartow County Junior Little League advances to the Georgia State Junior League Tournament hosted by Northern Little League in Columbus starting July 15. The Bartow roster includes Trey Blackmon, Zaylen Cochran, Connor Corbin, Landon Farmer, Kasey Jacobs, Dakota Keane, Jayce Little, Kason Miller, Nicholas Robinson, DJ Vigil, Hilton Wade, and Clayton Wilkes. The same group won the GRPA District 5 championship and placed fourth in the Georgia Recreation and Parks Association State Tournament June 20-23 at Morgan Park in Effingham County. The Bartow 14U team finished 2-2 at the GRPA tournament. Wayne County won that tournament.

6/26/2023 Charles Wilson - BartowSportsZone.com Updates on Bartow County's two current Minor League Baseball athletes -- former Cartersville High Hurricanes Mason Barnett and Anthony Seigler -- for the week ending Sunday, April 25. MASON BARNETT — Quad Cities River Bandits (KC Royals High A affiliate; 2nd-yr. pro; Auburn; Cartersville HS) … allowed just one earned run on four hits, a pair of walks, and one hit batsman in a six inning start at home last Tuesday (June 20). The 22-year-old right-handed hurler was tagged with the loss as the River Bandits lost to the Peoria Chiefs, 3-2. Barnett fanned six in the start and faced 24 batters. He has a 2-3 record for the season in 11 starts and 51 innings pitched. The Royals’ third round pick in 2022 has a 4.06 ERA and 64 strikeouts. Quad Cities finished the Midwest League’s first half schedule with a 32-34 mark and finished third in the West Division. The Bandits have started the second half schedule 0-3 and begin a six-game home series Wednesday with the Wisconsin Timber Rattlers. ANTHONY SEIGLER — Somerset Patriots (NY Yankees Double-A affiliate; 6th-yr. pro; Cartersville HS) … made four starts last week for the Patriots in a six-game series with the New Hampshire Fisher Cats. Two of his starts were at DH and two as catcher. The 24-year-old was 1-for-13 at the plate with four walks and one RBI. He scored a pair of runs as Somerset split the six-game set. For the season, the Yankees’ 2018 first round selection is 23-for-133 (.173) with one home run and 16 RBIs. The Patriots (42-26) lead the Eastern League’s Northeast Division by 2-½ games over the Portland Sea Dogs. They have a six-game series starting Wednesday through Monday July 3 at the Bowie BaySox.

June 22, 2023 The Bartow County 8U coach pitch softball team captured the 2023 Georgia Recreation and Parks Association State Championship Thursday by completing a three-game sweep of the competition at the double-elimination tournament at the Sonoraville Recreation Complex in Gordon County. Bartow received a first-round bye before beating Rome 16-0 and Jackson County 7-1 on Wednesday to reach Thursday’s championship round. Bartow 8U then outlasted Jackson County 13-12 Thursday evening to earn their state title rings. Bartow County 8U roster: Audrey Benham, Sariah Daniel, Evie Privett, Dallas Hutcheson, Hallie Bell, Brinley Weaver, Bella Rogers, Madi Foster, Charlotte Crumley, Livi Caverly, Lily Ragsdale, Addi Jo Reynolds. Manager: Aubrey Caverly. Coaches: Austin Reynolds, Travis Hutcheson, and Eric Crumley.

The Bartow County 10-and-under softball (live pitching) team won the Georgia Recreation and Parks Association state championship Thursday by going unbeaten in the double-elimination bracket that began this past Tuesday at Sammy Haggard Park in Madison County. Bartow 10U defeated Jefferson 13-2, Carroll County 22-3, and the host team Madison County 17-0 in the first three rounds to reach the championship needing only one win in the finals. The locals then beat Baldwin County 9-1 to claim the GRPA State Championship. Madison Evans collected three of the four pitching wins for Bartow. Sarah White had the other pitching victory in the circle. Team members include Mia Benitez, Kora Black, Rylee English, Quinn Eppers, Madison Evans, Addalyn Johnson, Emmy King, Caroline Owen, Harper Swancy, Linleigh Wade, Sarah White, and Lillian Wilson. Thomas Johnson is the manager. Assistant coaches include Brad Wilson and Zeke Owen.

6/20/2023 Charles Wilson - BartowSportsZone.com The two local MiLB players continued to toil with their respective teams this past week. Former Cartersville High and Auburn University pitcher Mason Barnett collected his second pitching victory of the season with the Quad Cities River Bandits while former Canes' catcher Anthony Seigler made three starts for the division-leading Somerset Patriots in Class Double-A. MASON BARNETT — Quad Cities River Bandits (KC Royals High A affiliate; 2nd-yr. pro; Auburn; Cartersville HS) … picked up his second pitching win of the season last Wednesday with a 5-⅓ inning start at the Beloit Sky Carp. The Bandits won the game 10-4 as the second-year pro yielded a pair of earned runs on four hits and four walks. Barnett struck out six but he also hit two of the 25 batters he faced in the victory. The Royals’ 2022 third-round selection is now 2-2 on the season in 10 starts (45 innings pitched). The 22-year-old has a 4.40 ERA with 58 strikeouts. Quad Cities was 3-3 last week in their series with Beloit. The River Bandits (31-32, third place in the Midwest League’s Midwest Division) host the Peoria Chiefs in a six-game series this Tuesday through Sunday. ANTHONY SEIGLER — Somerset Patriots (NY Yankees Double-A affiliate; 6th-yr. pro; Cartersville HS) …made two starts at catcher and one start as his team’s designated hitter last week while the Patriots went 5-1 in a home series with the Altoona Curve. Seigler was 1-for-9 at the plate with three walks. He scored three runs. The 2018 first-rounder is now hitting .183 in 120 official at-bats for the season. The 24-year-old has one homer and 15 RBIs with an on-base percentage of .333. Somerset (39-23) is in first place in the Eastern League’s Northeast Division. The Patriots play a six-game home series this week against the New Hampshire Fisher Cats.