Woodland and Cartersville picked up region wins Thursday night while Cass suffered a region loss and Adairsville fell in non-region action. WOODLAND 15, HIRAM 0 The Lady Cats made short work of the visiting Hornets Thursday evening defeating Hiram 15-0 in just three innings. Woodland pounded out a dozen hits in the run-rule-shortened game. Lady Cats’ pitcher Haley Collum gave up just one hit with no walks — facing just one over the minimum. Collum struck out one. Alana Carnes led the Woodland attack with three hits including a pair of doubles and six RBIs. Mackenzie Araya had two hits including one double and two RBIs. Kamryn Smith also had two hits. Harley Hannah, Ashlynn Baines (two RBIs), Elizabeth Hartsfield (RBI), and Peyton Dorn added one hit each. Bailey Ryan and Karmen Zeferino contributed one RBI apiece. With the loss, Hiram drops to 0-3 on the season and 0-2 in region play. Woodland (6-1, 1-1) returns to action Monday at Adairsville at 5:30 p.m. The Lady Cats also host Cartersville Tuesday and Dalton Thursday. CARTERSVILLE 9, DALTON 1 The Lady Canes scored in four of five frames Thursday evening and pulled away from visiting Dalton to win a Region 7-5A matchup, 9-1, in five innings. Cartersville had 13 hits in the abbreviated contest. Addi Burns (RBI) and Kenedy Crenshaw (double, three RBIs) had three hits each for the Hurricanes. Jordan Bishop followed with two hits including a double and two RBIs. Layne Callan (two RBIs), Reese Dumas, Erin McCrary, Miley Jo Williams, and Jaycee Blackwell added one hit apiece. The loss dropped Dalton to 0-4 on the season and 0-2 in region play. Cartersville (4-2, 2-0) plays at Sonoraville Monday at 5:30 p.m. in a non-region game before traveling to region opponents Woodland on Tuesday and Cass on Thursday. CALHOUN 14, CASS 4 Fourth-ranked Calhoun won at Cass Thursday night 14-4 with a seven-run outburst in the top of the seventh inning. The Yellow Jackets outhit the Lady Colonels in the contest, 13 to five and Cass committed seven errors. As a result, only three of Calhoun’s 14 runs were earned. Bailey York (6.2 IP, 14R, 3ER, 13H, 2BB, 2K) took the pitching loss for the Colonels. Lily Powell (0.1 IP) retired the final out in the seventh. Calhoun led 3-0 through 2-½ innings but Cass tied the score in the bottom of the third. The Yellow Jackets responded with four runs in the top of the fourth and added seven in the seventh to pull away. Cass scored a single run in the bottom of the seventh for a 14-4 final score. Cayce Brown had two hits for Cass including a solo home run in the third inning. Harlee Thomason had one hit and two RBIs. Braelyn Franklin and Darianna Sosa added one hit apiece in the loss. Maggy Abernathy had three hits including a triple and four RBIs to lead Calhoun’s offense. Breanna Baker added three hits including a pair of doubles and two RBIs. Calhoun improved to 4-0 overall and 2-0 in Region 7-5A play. Cass (3-6, 1-1) plays at Hiram Tuesday at 5:30 p.m. and hosts Cartersville Thursday at 5:30 p.m. SONORAVILLE 10, ADAIRSVILLE 1 Sonoraville pitcher Lila Mullinax struck out 15 and limited the Tigers to just four hits Thursday evening as the Phoenix topped Adairsville, 10-1. The game was a nail-biter for the first five innings with Sonoraville taking a 1-0 lead in the fourth. The Phoenix then struck for four runs in the sixth and five more in the seventh inning to pull away. McKenzie Pullam had two hits for Adairsville including one double. Taylor Evans and Alissa Winters added one hit each. Sonoraville improved to 3-3 with their victory. Adairsville (1-4) hosts Woodland Monday at 5:30 p.m. and has a doubleheader Tuesday at Bremen starting at 4:30 p.m.

Cartersville softball scored seven runs in the top of the first inning Wednesday night and cruised to a 10-1 Region 7-5A win in five innings at Hiram. Zoie Shiflett (5 IP, 1ER, 4H, 0BB, 6K) worked all five innings in the circle for the Hurricanes and earned the pitching win. Jordan Bishop had a pair of triples and one RBI while Kennedy Crenshaw also had two hits and one RBI to lead the Cartersville offense. Addi Burns, Layne Callan, Reese Dumas (two RBIs), Erin McCrary (RBI), LaKiaya Banks, and Miley Jo Williams (double, two RBIs) had one hit each. Shiflett and Ashlynn Petix contributed one RBI each. The loss drops Hiram to 0-2 on the season and 0-1 in Region 7-5A. Cartersville (3-2, 1-0) entertains region-foe Dalton Thursday at 6 p.m.

Woodland softball bounced back from Tuesday’s loss to 4th-ranked Calhoun by blowing out Pace Academy Wednesday evening in Atlanta, 19-1, in three innings. The Lady Cats needed only three base hits and took advantage of 17 walks by the Knights’ pitchers. Pace also committed a pair of errors. Peyton Dorn (3 IP, 1R, 0ER, 1H, 0BB, 3K) picked up the pitching win. She allowed just one, unearned run on one hit. Dorn fanned three. Mackenzie Araya (three RBIs), Karmen Zeferino (RBI), and Harley Hannah (three RBIs) had one hit each for Woodland. Taylor Adcock, Bailey Gerstner, Rhiah Morse, Kamryn Smith, Bella Turner, Bailey Ryan, and Lainey Calhoun added one RBI apiece. Woodland (5-1, 0-1) hosts Hiram in a Region 7-5A game Thursday at 5:55 p.m. CASS 10, WHEELER 2 Cass softball trailed in the early innings but powered past visiting Wheeler in innings three through six Wednesday evening to defeat the Wildcats 10-2 in six innings. Wheeler scored single runs in the second and third frames to lead 2-0 before the Lady Colonels offense unleashed a 13-hit attack over the final four innings and pulled away. Braelyn Franklin and Bailey York (RBI) had three hits each to pace the Cass offense at the top of the order. Darianna Sosa finished with two hits and four RBIs including a two-run homer in the fifth. Cayce Brown also had two hits. Reese Howard (RBI), KK Evans, and Autumn Smith (double, RBI) added one hit apiece in the win. Lily Powell (6 IP, 2ER, 6H, 1BB, 7K) pitched all six innings for the Colonels and collected the pitching win facing 25 batters. Cass (3-5, 1-0 Region 7-5A) returns to region play Thursday hosting 4th-ranked Calhoun at 5:30 p.m.

Tuesday, August 15 Woodland earns split at South Paulding Woodland volleyball split a pair of matches Tuesday night at South Paulding High School falling to Alexander in three sets before collecting a straight sets victory over the host Spartans. The Lady Cats beat Alexander 25-19 in the first set but then dropped the second set by an identical 25-19 score. The Cougars then won the deciding set 15-6. Woodland defeated South Paulding 25-21 and 25-19. Kendall Condon had 26 assists and 11 digs on the night. Megan Schultz had 11 kills and six digs. Anastyn Jones finished with nine kills and 12 digs. Bailee Motes contributed 7 kills and three digs while Lili Womack finished with 14 digs and five aces. Woodland (2-4) travels to Temple on Thursday. Cass volleyball drops two The Cass volleyball team dropped a pair of close matches Tuesday night in Lindale falling to Heard County 27-25, 25-19 and host Pepperell 25-20, 25-21. Caidence Woolridge had 32 digs for the Colonels. Carson Brannon finished the night with 11 assists. Jada Zimmerman had six kills and Harlee Davis added five service aces. Cass (1-5) plays at Armuchee on Thursday at 5 p.m. Tigers fall at home The Adairsville volleyball team lost a pair of matches Tuesday night in Paulding County losing to North Paulding and Hiram. Host North Paulding defeated the Tigers 25-10 and 25-10. Adairsville won the first set with Hiram 25-18, but lost the final two sets 25-20 and 15-11. Addie Pearson finished the night with 10 assists and seven kills. Makenzie Harris totaled six blocks and four kills. Jordyn Harline contributed eight kills. Cara Harp had 10 assists and Jayna Wilson added four blocks. “We were down due to some injuries and a little out of our normal rotation,” said Adairsville coach Kaylie Martin. “Adysen Garvey stepped in as libero and held her own. Emma Ridley and Jayna Wilson had an effective night offensively.” Adairsville (1-3) hosts Coosa and Calhoun Thursday starting at 5 p.m. Canes fall twice in home opener Cartersville volleyball lost a pair of matches Tuesday night at the Storm Center. Heritage-Catoosa defeated the Lady Canes 25-16 and 25-19. Allatoona topped Cartersville 25-14 and 28-26. Cartersville (4-3) visits Greater Atlanta Christian Thursday where they will also face North Cobb Christian.

Woodland softball lost for the first time this season Tuesday night, falling at 4th-ranked Calhoun 7-4. The No. 8 Lady Cats led 1-0 early but fell behind in the bottom of the fourth inning and never regained the lead. Calhoun scored twice in the fourth inning; added a run in the fifth; and scored four more in the sixth inning. Woodland added a single run in the sixth that made the score 3-2 at the time and added two more in the seventh after falling behind 7-2. Haley Collum (6 IP, 7R, 4ER, 8H, 1BB, 6K) suffered the pitching loss. Bailey Ryan led the Lady Cats’ offense with a pair of hits. Ashlyn Baines (two RBIs), Alana Carnes, Mackenzie Araya, Kamryn Smith. Harley Hannah added one RBI. Calhoun improved to 2-0 on the season and 1-0 in Region 7-5A. Woodland (4-1, 0-1) visits Pace Academy Wednesday at 5:30 p.m. and will host region rival Hiram Thursday at 5:55 p.m. CASS 6, DALTON 4 Cass softball scored five of its six runs in the final three innings to pull out a 6-4 Region 7-5A win Tuesday night at Dalton. The Colonels led 1-0 after one inning but trailed 2-1 heading to the fifth inning. Cass went up 3-2 in the fifth, led 4-3 after six innings, and added two more runs in the top of the seventh. Darianna Sosa (double) and Bailey York (RBI) led the Lady Colonels’ offense with two hits each. Braelyn Franklin (RBI), Reese Howard (RBI), Autumn Smith (RBI), Payton Mize, and Harlee Thomason added one hit apiece. York (7 IP, 4R, 3ER, 6H, 5BB, 2K) went the distance in the circle for Cass to pick up the pitching victory. The Colonels (2-5, 1-0) step outside region play Wednesday by hosting Wheeler then return to region action Thursday at home against 4th-ranked Calhoun.

The Cartersville Purple Hurricanes and the Cass Colonels will open the 2023 season this Friday night ranked in the Top Ten in Class 5A by the Atlanta Journal-Constitution. Cartersville is ranked as the No. 6 team in the classification with Cass ranked No. 9. Two other teams in Region 7-5A are also included in the opening Top Ten. Calhoun is ranked No. 4 and Hiram starts the season ranked No. 10. Ware County opens the season as the top team in Class 5A, followed by Creekside and Warner Robins. Cartersville opens the season Friday at home against Cherokee. Cass will play Class 6A’s No. 7 ranked team, the Rome Wolves, Friday night at Barron Stadium in Rome.

Cartersville High’s volleyball team opened the 2023 season Friday and Saturday at the Sandy Creek High School Invitational winning four of five matches. The Hurricanes had straight sets wins over Trinity Christian and Elite Scholars Academy Friday evening and beat Jonesboro and Kell in straight sets on Saturday before falling to host Sandy Creek in two sets. Cartersville (4-1) is scheduled to host Heritage-Catoosa and Allatoona Tuesday at the Storm Center.

Adairsville softball dropped a 17-10 decision Monday to visiting Cedartown. The two teams combined for 29 hits in the slugfest. Gabi Becerra had four hits to lead Adairsville including two doubles, a triple, and four RBIs. Madison Baker (three RBIs), Riley Mounger, Ashlyn Carlton, and Chelsea Bates (RBI) followed with two hits each. The non-region loss dropped the Lady Tigers to 1-3 on the season. Adairsville hosts Sonoraville Thursday at 5 p.m.

Charles Wilson / Bartow Sports Zone August 14, 2023 With just five weeks remaining in the 2023 MiLB regular season schedule, the two local prospects at the Double-A level look to finish the season strong. Anthony Seigler and the Somerset Patriots have already secured a playoff spot in the Eastern League while Mason Barnett and the Northwest Arkansas Naturals are in a battle with Springfield (Missouri) to win a spot in the Texas League post-season. The NFL preseason is now in full stride and three local athletes all saw action this past weekend with their respective teams. Cleveland tight end Miller Forristall had four receptions in a home loss to the Washington Commanders. Jacksonville quarterback Trevor Lawrence threw a touchdown pass in the Jags win at the Dallas Cowboys and Pittsburgh defensive end Manny Jones was in action in the Steelers win at Tampa Bay. MiLB MASON BARNETT — Northwest Arkansas Naturals (KC Royals Double-A affiliate; 2nd-yr. pro; Auburn; Cartersville HS) … made his first start for his new team last Tuesday night facing 20 batters in a 5-2 home loss to the Wichita Wind Surge. Barnett allowed two earned runs on four hits and struck out seven in five innings of work. The loss dropped his season mark to 4-7 in 17 starts. The 22-year-old right-hander has a 3.21 ERA and 101 strikeouts in 87 innings. The Naturals went 2-4 at home this past week against Wichita and currently trail Springfield by one game in the Texas League North Division second-half standings. Northwest Arkansas is 19-19 in the current half and 48-59 for the year. They play six games this Tuesday through Sunday at the Corpus Christi Hooks. ANTHONY SEIGLER — Somerset Patriots (NY Yankees Double-A affiliate; 6th-yr. pro; Cartersville HS) … saw action in three games this past week and was 3-for-10 at the plate with a solo home run and three RBIs. The home run was his second of the season. Seigler has a .172 batting average in 163 official at-bats this season with 21 RBIs. The Patriots, who won the first half race in the Eastern League’s Northeast Division, were 3-3 at home last week against the Binghamton Rumble Ponies. They currently lead the second-half race by two games over the Ponies and are 63-43 overall. Somerset has seven games Tuesday through Sunday at the Reading Fightin Phils. NFL MILLER FORRISTALL — Cleveland Browns (NFL; 3rd-yr. pro; TE; Alabama; Cartersville HS) … the Browns announced the reacquisition of Forristall on August 4 for their 90-man roster. Over the course of his career, he has spent time on the Tennessee Titans (2021) and Cleveland Browns' practice squad (2021-22). He appeared in six games during his stints with the Browns (two in 2021 and four in 2022), recording one special teams stop. The 6-4, 250-pound 25-year-old is wearing no. 86. In last Friday’s preseason home loss to the Washington Commanders, Forristall was targeted four times and had four catches for 66 yards. His longest reception was 27 yards. The Browns play another preseason game this Thursday night at Philadelphia. MANNY JONES — Pittsburgh Steelers (NFL; 2nd-yr. pro; DE; Colorado State; Woodland HS) … saw action in the Steelers’ 27-17 win at Tampa Bay last Friday night but did not record a stat line. Pittsburgh hosts the Buffalo Bills Saturday night for their second preseason game. TREVOR LAWRENCE — Jacksonville Jaguars (NFL; 3rd-yr. pro; QB; Clemson; Cartersville HS) … started and played two series Sunday as Jacksonville won at Dallas 28-23. In his second drive, Lawrence led a 4-minute, 40-second scoring drive that covered 42 yards in six plays and culminated with a 9-yard touchdown pass to Christian Kirk. He then connected with Zay Jones for a two-point conversion pass giving the Jaguars an 8-0 lead. In all, the 23-year-old signal caller was 5-for-6 for 36 yards. Jacksonville visits the Detroit Lions Saturday afternoon for their next preseason game. PRO GOLF JASON BOHN — PGA Tour Champions (Acworth resident; Cartersville Country Club member) … playing in his tenth event since turning 50 years old, the Pennsylvania native carded rounds of 73-70-72 (1-under-par) and tied for 41st place this past weekend at the Boeing Classic played at the par-72, 7,217-yard Club at Snoqualmie Ridge in Snoqualmie, Washington. The senior tour event was won by Stephen Ames with a 19-under-par total. Bohn is currently 77th in the season-long Schwab Cup ranking.

What was planned as a busy weekend tournament for both Woodland and Adairsville, the Dalton Invitational Tournament struggled with the rain disruption and severe weather Friday and Saturday. Both local teams only played one game each as a result. Woodland stayed unbeaten on the season Saturday with a victory over Dade County and Calhoun shut out Adairsville. WOODLAND 12, DADE COUNTY 4 The Wildcats surged for a dozen runs on eleven hits Saturday to beat Dade County at the Dalton Invitational, 12-4. Pitchers Peyton Dorn (2 IP, 0R, 1H, 1BB) and Ashlynn Baines (3 IP, 4ER, 3H, 1BB, 1K) combined in the circle, limiting the Wolverines to four earned runs on four hits and two walks. All the Dade County runs came after Woodland had built an early 9-0 lead. Elizabeth Hartsfield had two hits including a three-run home run in the second inning to give the Lady Cats a 9-0 advantage. Jordan Hammonds (double, three RBIs) and Ashlynn Baines also finished with two hits. Kamryn Smith and Taylor Adcock both doubled while Bailey Ryan, Haley Collum, and Harley Hannah contributed one hit and one RBI apiece in the win. KK Castleberry hit a three-run homer for Dade in the fifth inning. Woodland (4-0) is scheduled for a busy week. The Lady Cats host Southeast Whitfield Monday at 5:30 p.m. They visit Calhoun Tuesday, and Pace Academy Wednesday, before entertaining Hiram on Thursday. CALHOUN 8, ADAIRSVILLE 0 The Yellow Jackets used a big fourth inning Saturday, aided by a pair of Adairsville miscues, to defeat the Lady Tigers 8-0 in five innings at the Dalton High Invitational. Calhoun was up 1-0 before adding seven more runs in the decisive frame. Meanwhile, Calhoun pitchers Athens Hudson and Avery Greeson combined for a no-hitter and three strikeouts. Adairsville utilized three hurlers — Chelsea Bates (3 IP, 1ER, 1H, 2BB, 2K), Jordan Clay (0.1 IP, 7R, 2ER, 3H, 1BB), and Ashlyn Carlton (0.2 IP, 0R, 0H) in the loss. Adairsville (1-3) has three home games scheduled for the upcoming week. The Lady Tigers host Cedartown Monday at 5 p.m., Armuchee Tuesday, and Sonoraville on Thursday.

Woodland volleyball earned a split of matches Thursday night at home defeating Southeast Whitfield 25-23, 18-25, 15-12 and losing to Chattooga 25-16, 17-25, 11-15. Kendall Condon had 33 assists on the night and added 14 digs and three aces. Anastyn Jones totaled 11 kills with six digs. Megan Schultz also had 11 kills with six digs and two aces. Kiera Pedigo contributed five kills, four blocks, and four aces. Lili Womack finished with 17 digs, four assists, and three aces. Woodland (1-3) travels to South Paulding on Tuesday.

The Adairsville volleyball team opened the season Thursday night at home with a split of two matches. Adairsville fell to Temple in three sets after winning the opening set 26-24. Temple won the second set 25-17 and the deciding set 15-6. Adairsville then defeated Christian Heritage in straight sets 25-23 and 25-13. In the three-set loss, Jayna Wilson had six kills and seven aces. Addie Pearson totaled eight assists with four aces. Jordyn Hartline had four kills and Sherry Wells contributed eight digs. In the win over Christian Heritage, Addie Pearson finished with ten assists. Makenzie Harris had a pair of kills and two blocks. Jordyn Hartline had two kills and Adysen Garvey added four service aces. Adairsville (1-1) hosts a tournament Saturday that will include Southeast Whitfield, Temple, Pickens, Sonoraville, Oakwood Christian Academy, Paulding County, and Christian Heritage.