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 April 2023 Elite Athlete of the Month representing Cartersville High School is Anna Grace Boone. A senior member of the Lady Canes’ track and field team, Boone is Region 7-5A champion and Bartow County champion in the 800 meter and 1600 meter run. She is also a key member of the 4x400 meter relay team that also won the Region 7-5A and Bartow County titles. Boone has won eight of ten races this season in the 800 meter and 1600 meter runs. She also placed fifth in the 1600 meter run at Friday Night Lights in Rome — a premier track and field meet for high school athletes. “Anna Grace possesses all the qualities coaches look for in their athletes. She remains coachable, hardworkings, competitive, disciplined, and unselfishly puts her team above herself,” noted Cartersville coach Shannon Suarez. “She will face any challenge head on with gusto and strength. She strives for excellence on the track and in the classroom.” “She’s a ferocious competitor,” added distance coach Kevin Paulk. “There’s no feat too great for Anna Grace.” Boone’s academic achievements include a 4.6 overall GPA. She is an AP Scholar, Senior Superlative, a completer of the Cartersville High School Healthcare Pathway, an intern at Piedmont Cartersville Hospital, and a member of Beta Club, National Honor Society, and Mu Alpha Theta. The daughter of Ted and Karen Boone, Anna Grace plans to attend the University of Georgia as a pre-med student majoring in biology. She plans to pursue a career as a neurologist. The Cass High School Elite Athlete of the Month for April 2023 is Kaitlyn Godwin. A junior two-sport athlete, Godwin is a member of the Lady Colonels’ basketball team and a track standout. Godwin won the Region 7-5A championship in the 100 meter, 200 meter, and 400 meter sprints for the third year in a row. She also anchored the Lady Colonels’ region champion 4x100 meter relay team. Last season, she finished just outside the Georgia Class 5A finals in the 200 meters, placing ninth in the state. This season Godwin has already qualified for the state sectional meet at Jefferson High School and seeks to qualify for the state finals. The daughter of James and Megan Godwin, Kaitlyn was also a big contributor for the Lady Colonels’ basketball team and will be expected to take on a leadership role next season. Godwin also excels in the classroom with a 3.95 GPA. She is currently ranked in the top 20 percent of her junior class. The Woodland High School Elite Athlete of the Month for April 2023 is Peter Heins. The Line One singles player for the Wildcats’ tennis team, Heins is a fierce competitor and a positive leader for his team. “Peter has been a strong leader for us,” said Woodland tennis coach Levi Hibbard. “He won a long, two-hour match at Jefferson in the first round of the state playoffs. That victory was ultimately the deciding match that advanced our team to the Sweet Sixteen round. No matter the score, Peter battles and has persevered on the court playing our opponents’ best player. Heins is a junior and the son of Philip and Allyson Heins. He excels in the classroom taking college level courses. Coach Hibbard added, “Peter’s commitment to success in both academics and athletics is what makes him the perfect example of a student-athlete.” Aliya McBryde represents Adairsville High School as an April 2023 Elite Athlete of the Month. A junior and member of the Lady Tigers’ basketball and track and field teams, McBryde is the daughter of Nicole Collins. “Aliya is the only person I’ve coached in the hurdles who 3-stepped on her first day,” commented Adairsville track and field coach Terry Gough. “She has a great work ethic, has excellent athleticism, takes pride in how she performs, and has an outstanding personality.” McBryde competes in the 100 meter high hurdles, the 300 meter low hurdles, and is a high jumper. She had qualified for the state sectionals three times in the 100 meter hurdles, won the region title three times, and twice qualified for the state final meet. McBryde broke the 100 meter high hurdle record this season with a time of 15.68. The record had previously stood at the school since 2009. With a 4.0 GPA taking Honors and Advanced Placement courses, McBryde is a member of the AHS Magnet Program and BETA club. She plans to attend college to study Zoology. Editors Note: Photos and bios are supplied to Bartow Sports Zone and WBHF by the respective schools and their 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

Registration is now available for Adairsville High School's co-ed youth soccer camp June 19-21.

Charles Wilson, Bartow Sports Zone This week's report on local professional and collegiate athletes across the country includes updates on 27 contributors in professional baseball, pro basketball, and collegiate softball, baseball, track and field, tennis, and golf. MiLB MASON BARNETT — Quad Cities River Bandits (Kansas City Royals High-A affiliate; 2nd yr. pro; Auburn University; Cartersville HS) … made a 4-⅓ inning start Sunday yielding a pair of earned runs on four hits and three walks. He struck out seven and received no decision but the Bandits eventually won the game 6-2. Quad Cities was 4-2 for the week against the Lansing Lugnuts. The Bandits (9-11) play a six-game series Tuesday through Sunday at the Great Lakes Loons — an L.A. Dodgers affiliate in Midland, Michigan. ANTHONY SEIGLER — Somerset Patriots (NY Yankees Double-A affiliate; 6th-yr. pro; Cartersville HS) … in his only appearance of the week, the switch-hitting catcher was 1-for-4 and scored a run Saturday in a 9-5 loss at the Harrisburg Senators. Somerset (12-8) was 4-1 for the week. The Patriots are at home this week for a six-game series Tuesday through Sunday with the Binghamton Rumble Ponies. PRO BASKETBALL A.J. MOSBY — Sudbury Five (National Basketball League of Canada; 6th yr. pro; Alcorn State; Cartersville HS) … in a pair of road losses this past Friday and Saturday, Mosby totaled 26 points, 16 rebounds, 11 assists, and three steals as The Five lost at the Windsor Express and 100-78 in Kitchener to the KW Titans. Sudbury (22-8) closes out the regular season Tuesday at home agaist the first place London Lightning. SOFTBALL LAINEY BAKER — Samford University (Fr., Woodland HS) …. in her first pitching appearance in three weeks, Baker started and went four innings with no decision in an eventual 13 inning 8-4 home loss last Wednesday to Kennesaw State. Baker allowed three earned runs on seven hits with one walk and one strikeout. The Bulldogs (20-28, 9-6 Southern Conference) host Jacksonville State Tuesday and Mississippi State Thursday before visiting Chattanooga for a three-game conference series with the Mocs Saturday and Sunday. COLBI BALLARD — Shorter University (Sr., Cartersville HS) … went 2-for-7 at the plate as the Hawks won two of three games Friday and Saturday at Lee University. Ballard also walked twice and had one RBI. Shorter (8-42, 3-26) did not qualify for the Gulf South Conference post season tournament. Ballard hit .231 with 14 RBIs in 58 games (48 starts) during her career with the Hawks. PRESLY EDWARDS — Wesleyan College (Sr., Cartersville HS) … the Wolves beat Berea College but then lost to Belhaven and Covenant and was eliminated at the Collegiate Conference of the South tournament in Jackson, Mississippi. Edwards was 2-for-8 at the plate and scored one run in those three games. Edwards hit .261 with two home runs and 39 RBIs in four seasons at Wesleyan seeing action in 96 games. She had a .968 fielding percentage at catcher over her career in 408 total chances. Wesleyan finished the year with a 5-29 mark. ANSLEY EVANS — Reinhardt University (So., Woodland HS) … seeing action in five of the Eagles’ six games last week, Evans was 5-for-12 at the plate with three walks, a double ,and two RBIs. She also added one stolen base. Reinhardt was 4-2 at the Appalachian Athletic Conference Championship Tournament in Kingsport, Tennessee with both losses coming to tournament champion Tennessee Wesleyan. The Eagles (35-11) have earned an NAIA national tournament bid by winning the AAC regular season title. Opening round pairings and sites will be announced this week. ERYN LEE — Reinhardt University (Fr., Cass HS) … went 2-for-12, scored one run, and drove in one run in five Appalachian Athletic Conference tournament games last week in Kingsport, Tennessee. The Eagles finished 4-2 in the tournament and were runner-up to Tennessee Wesleyan. Reinhardt (35-11) awaits its NAIA National Tournament Opening Round assignment. RACHAEL LEE — Gulf Coast State CC (Fr., Cass HS) … went 0-for-2 last Tuesday in the Commodores’ only game last week — a 9-2 home loss to Chipola CC. Gulf Coast State finished 29-21 overall and 10-10 in the Panhandle Conference but did not qualify for the FCSAA post-season tournament. LAUREN McELHANEY — University of West Georgia (Jr., Cartersville HS) … in three home losses Friday and Saturday to Montevallo, McElhaney was 0-for-4 with a walk and one sac fly RBI. The Wolves’ season ends without qualifying for the Gulf South Conference tournament and with a 13-40 record. ALEXA VARNER — Shorter University (Jr., Adairsville HS) … started twice and appeared in all three games as the Hawks won two of three games Friday and Saturday at Lee University. Varner was 2-for-5 at the plate and scored one run utilized as a pinch runner and a left fielder. Shorter (8-42, 3-26) did not qualify for the Gulf South Conference post season tournament. BASEBALL CURT BONNER — LaGrange College (Fr., Cartersville HS) … in four games last week, the Panthers’ catcher/outfielder was 8-for-17 at the plate and has now hit safely in eight straight games and 16 of his last 17 games. LaGrange lost at Emory and won two of three at home against Huntingdon College. Bonner’s week included a home run, two walks, and five RBIs as he raised his season batting average to .426. LaGrange will host the Collegiate Conference of the South tournament Wednesday through Sunday. The 19th-ranked Panthers (27-13) are the No. 1 seed and will play the Maryville College/Berea College winner in their first tournament game Thursday at 11 a.m. KENNY JINKS — Wheeling University (Sr., Woodland HS) … made a five inning start and was saddled with the loss as the Cardinals fell 5-4 Saturday at Alderson Broaddus University. Jinks allowed three earned runs on seven hits and one walk. He struck out six facing 24 batters. Wheeling (24-19, 13-13) visits Salem University Wednesday and plays home-and-home doubleheaders Friday and Sunday with West Liberty University. COLT McKIBBEN — Lee University (Fr., Cartersville HS) … made a two inning start and was saddled with the pitching loss last Tuesday in a 6-4 loss at Young Harris College despite not allowing an earned run. The southpaw allowed two unearned runs on three hits and had one strikeout. The Flames also dropped two of three games Friday and Saturday to visiting Shorter. Lee is the No. 7 seed in the eight-team Gulf South Conference tournament. They play the University of Montevallo in the first round of the double-elimination tournament at Choccolocco Park in Calhoun County, Alabama. GUNNER MILLSAP — Southern Illinois University-Edwardsville (Fr., Cartersville HS) … the lefty made a one inning appearance last Wednesday as the Cougars lost an 8-3 decision at home to the Missouri Tigers. Millsap walked one batter in the seventh inning but got a double play to only face the minimum in a shutout frame. In a 12-5 home loss to Southern Indiana Saturday, Millsap retired just one out and was charged with three earned runs on a walk and two hit batsmen in a seventh inning appearance. SIU-E (24-19, 7-8 Ohio Valley Conference) plays a three-game conference series at Tennessee Tech Friday through Sunday. DREW ROTHSCHILD — Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College (Fr., Cartersville HS) … had a 10-game hitting streak snapped Saturday in a loss to South Georgia State but finished the week 2-for-9 at the plate with a solo home run and a double along with three walks and a pair of RBIs. The Stallions also lost to Georgia Highlands but beat Andrew College. ABAC (27-27, 13-10) is one game ahead of GHC for second place in the Georgia Collegiate Athletic Association with conference games remaining this week at East Georgia and Gordon State. SCOTTY SMITH — Covenant College (So., Woodland HS) … collected his second pitching win of the season Saturday in a 10-2 victory over visiting Berea College (Kentucky). Smith went six innings allowing two unearned runs on four hits with five strikeouts. He also had a no-decision, two-inning appearance last Tuesday in an eventual 6-5 win at Sewanee-University of the South. Smith faced the minimum across two innings and had a pair of strikeouts. The Scots (15-16, 7-9) are seeded fifth and will open the Collegiate Conference of the South tournament Thursday against 2-seed Belhaven Universitiy. The seven-team double-elimination tournament is being hosted by LaGrange College and continues through Sunday. STEVEN SPELL — Young Harris College (Sr., Cass HS) … the Mountain Lions’ third baseman went 2-for-4 with one RBI and scored a run in his Senior Day game — a 6-4 win over Lee University. Young Harris (34-14, 21-9) will host one of two, four-team double-elimination portions of the Peach Belt Conference tournament Friday through Sunday. YHC opens the tournament Friday afternoon against North Georgia. USC-Aiken and Lander University are the other two teams in the Young Harris portion of the tournament. The two site winners will play a best-of-three championship series May 12-13. DEVIN WARNER — Georgia Gwinnett College (Jr., Cartersville HS) … in a four-game sweep of Fisher College (Massachusetts) this past Friday and Saturday in Buies Creek, North Carolina, Warner was 3-for-14 at the plate with a homer, double, two walks, one hit by pitch, four runs scored, and five RBIs. The Grizzlies (44-5) and ranked No. 4 nationally host the four-team, double-elimination Continental Athletic Conference tournament this Saturday through Monday. GGC will open play Saturday against Iowa Wesleyan. PRESTON WELCHEL — Tennessee Wesleyan University (So., Cartersville HS) … in three wins at St. Andrew University last Thursday and Friday, Welchel was inserted defensively in the outfield in Game 1. He started as designated hitter in Game 2 and was 1-for-2 with a stolen base. In Game 3 he had a pinch hitting appearance in the eighth inning. The 3rd-ranked Bulldogs are the top-seed this week in the Appalachian Athletic Conference tournament. The ten-team double-elimination event starts Tuesday and continues through Saturday in Kingsport, Tennessee. TWU (40-7) will play the St. Andrews/Milligan winner Wednesday night in the second round. COHEN WILBANKS — Georgia Gwinnett College (Jr., Cartersville HS) … in two starts last weekend against Fisher College (Massachusetts) in Buies Creek, North Carolina, the Grizzlies’ catcher was 3-for-7 at the plate including one double, one triple, and four RBIs. Georgia Gwinnett (44-5) and ranked No. 4 nationally hosts the four-team, double-elimination Continental Athletic Conference tournament this Saturday through Monday in Lawrenceville. GGC opens play against Iowa Wesleyan on Saturday. JORDAN WILKIE — Augusta University (Sr., Cartersville HS) … In four wins last week, Wilkie was 6-for-15 at the plate including one home run, a sac fly, three walks, six runs scored, and seven RBIs. The Jaguars won at Emmanuel College and swept a three-game home conference series with USC-Beaufort. Augusta (25-22, 14-15) qualified for the Peach Belt Conference tournament and will begin play in the double-elimination event this Friday against top-seed and host Georgia Southwestern State in Americus. TENNIS BRYCE VAN ORDER — Piedmont University (Jr., Woodland HS) … was trailing 6-2, 5-2 and his match was halted against his Line 2 singles opponent when the Lions clinched a 5-0 team win over Belhaven University during the semifinal round of the Collegiate Conference of the South tournament. In the conference finals, he dropped his Line 2 singles match 6-4, 6-3 as Piedmont fell to Covenant College, 5-2. Van Order was 11-6 in singles and 5-4 in doubles matches this season as the Lions finished with a 15-6 mark. TRACK AND FIELD STEPHEN SMITH — Kennesaw State University (Jr., Cass HS) … placed tenth in pole vault at the University of North Florida East Coast Relays this past weekend clearing 4.75 meters (15 feet, 6 inches). The Owls now prepare for the Atlantic Sun Conference Championships May 11-13 in Jacksonville, Florida. ERIC TOVIAVE — Belmont University (Fr., Cartersville HS) … placed seventh in the 400 meter hurdles finals (56.80) and did not reach the finals of the 110 meter hurdles (15.80) this past weekend at the Vanderbilt University Music City Challenge in Nashville. Next for the Bruins will be the Missouri Valley Conference Championship May 12-14 in Normal, Illinois. GOLF DALTON HENSON — Reinhardt University (Jr., Cartersville HS) … carded 78 and 83 in the final two rounds of the Appalachian Athletic Conference tournament April 25 at the 6,801-yard, par-72 Cross Creek Plantation course in Seneca, South Carolina. As a team, Reinhardt finished 14 shots behind winner Truett-McConnell University and just one shot behind second place Point University at the 13-team 54-hole event. CHANC WILLIS — Reinhardt Univeristy (Jr., Cartersville HS) … shot 86 in the opening round of the Appalachian Athletic Conference tournament April 24 at the 6,801-yard, par-72 Cross Creek Plantation course in Seneca, South Carolina. As a team, Reinhardt finished 14 shots behind winner Truett-McConnell University and just one shot behind second place Point University at the 13-team 54-hole event.

Georgia Highlands baseball won an important game at Gordon State Saturday as the Chargers and Highlanders battle for seeding position in the upcoming Georgia Collegiate Athletic Association conference tournament. Georgia Highlands led 6-0 through the first 2-½ innings Saturday afternoon, cushioned their lead with a big five-run fifth inning, and cruised to an eventual 14-4 win. Trey Baker (5 IP, 3R, 2ER, 4H, 3BB, 4K) collected the pitching win for the Chargers. Trip DoVale (1.2 IP, 1ER, 0H, 1BB, 1K) and Kyle Stephenson (1.1 IP, 0R, 2H, 0BB, 1K) took care of the final nine outs on the mound. Adam Love (home run, two RBIs), Hudson Sapp (two RBIs), and Austin Slate (RBI) provided two hits each for Georgia Highlands. Zayd Brannigan (double, three RBIs), Jay Murdock (two RBIs), Mitchell Walker (RBI), and Connor Faulkner added one hit apiece. Ryan Wideman contributed two RBIs and Nic Ferrer had one RBI. The loss leaves Gordon College (23-28, 10-13) in fourth place in the conference standings with two games remaining. Georgia Highlands (32-19, 12-11) continues to chase ABAC (27-27, 13-10) for second place in the conference. South Georgia State (35-18, 18-5) has secured the No. 1 seed heading into the league playoffs. The Chargers host the conference leaders Tuesday and will conclude regular season play Thursday at Andrew College. GHC hosts the conference tournament May 8-10.

The Cartersville Purple Hurricanes won both games of their home doubleheader with the Cambridge Bears Saturday evening to sweep the GHSA Class 5A best-of-three second-round series. The Sweet Sixteen series victory sends Cartersville to the state quarterfinal round for the 24th time in the past 27 seasons. The Canes won the opening game Saturday 5-1 and completed the sweep in the nightcap, 4-1. In the opener, the Purple Hurricanes broke open a tight contest with four runs in the bottom of the fifth inning to take a 5-0 lead. The Bears, who outhit Cartersville six to five, produced a run in the sixth inning but made no further threat. Caden Carroll made another solid start on the mound for the Canes working into the sixth inning. He scattered six hits and one walk to allow just one, unearned run. Carroll fanned nine of the 23 batters he faced. After giving up back-to-back singles to open the sixth inning, Hurricanes’ skipper Kyle Tucker turned to Phillip Schiltz to close out the final six outs. Schiltz did not allow a run, a hit, or a walk and struck out four. Cartersville grabbed a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the third. Landon Cole led off the inning with a double. Then after one out, Luke Miller lined a triple into right field to score Cole. In their productive fifth inning, Cameron Cochran led off with a single into right field. Cole bunted and reached on an error moving Cochran’s pinch runner Turner Abernathy to second. Paul Gamble followed with another bunt that was again misplayed allowing Abernathy to score and Cole to advance to third. After Miller walked, Miles Owen launched a sacrifice fly to right field enabling Cole to score. Two batters later, Ian McNair-Seigler singled into right field driving home two more runs for a 5-0 lead. In the best-of-three series-clinching game, Cartersville batted first in each inning and took a 2-0 lead in the top of the first on a two-RBI single by McNair-Seigler. Owen and Caleb Daniel had singled earlier in the frame. Cambridge made the score 2-1 with a run in the bottom of the inning but that would be the Bears’ final run of their season. The one-run difference remained until the Hurricanes added a run in the top of the fifth. Gamble led off with a double into left field and scored one out later on an RBI single by Owen. Up 3-1, Daniel lifted a solo home run over the right field wall in the seventh for an additional Canes’ insurance run. Ryan Johnson earned the Cartersville pitching win with a strong six-inning start. The righty allowed just one earned run on five hits and one walk while fanning six. Schiltz entered in the seventh to close out the victory. The reliever did issue one walk but kept Cambridge off the scoreboard and struck out two. McNair-Seigler led the Purple Hurricanes’ offense in the doubleheader with four hits and four RBIs. Three other Canes — Owen (two RBIs, sac fly), Daniel (solo HR), and Cole (two doubles) followed with two hits each. Gamble (double), Miller (triple, RBI), Cochran, and Kaden Stephenson finished the twin bill with one hit apiece. The season ends for Cambridge with a 19-14 record. No. 1-ranked Cartersville (31-2) will find out their state quarterfinal opponent and the location for that best-of-three series Monday evening. In the next round, the Canes will face the Northside-Columbus/Greenbrier winner. Those two teams split their doubleheader in Evans Saturday with each team winning one game each by identical 9-2 scores. As for the location of the next series, Cartersville, the No. 1-seed from Region 7-5A would host Northside-Columbus. The Patriots are a 3-seed from Region 3-5A. Greenbrier, on the other hand, would host Cartersville if the Wolfpack win Monday's rubber game. Greenbrier is the Region 1-5A champ and the bottom team in the bracket. NOTE: The GHSA universal coin toss conducted earlier in the week determined the bottom team in the bracket will host when the two opponents are identical seeds. The quarterfinals are scheduled for next Saturday and Monday -- May 6 and 8.

Woodland tennis coach Amber Phillips is offering a tennis camp at Woodland High School for current 3rd through 8th graders June 12-14.

The Adairsville Tigers were eliminated Saturday in the second round of the Class AAA state baseball playoffs by Franklin County in a doubleheader sweep. The host Lions won the opening game 10-0 and took the second contest by a 12-8 final. With their sweep, Franklin County (27-7) wins the best-of-three Sweet Sixteen series and advances to the Class AAA quarterfinals at Pike County. The Pirates swept Calvary Day on Saturday 10-3 and 4-1. Franklin County starting pitcher Easton Gailey was the star of the opener Saturday. The freshman right-hander allowed just three hits and a pair of walks in his six-inning shutout. Gailey struck out five. Senior outfielder Garrett Garner paced the Lions’ offense with three hits including a homer, a double, and five RBIs. Dee Oliver also had three hits while Ty Peeples (RBI), Duncan Beasley (two RBIs), and Tyler Welborn (RBI) all added two hits each. The three Tigers with hits were Chris Roper (double), PJ Weeks, and Evan Sanders. Jack Nelson (4 IP, 5ER, 9H, 5BB, 4K) was tagged with the opening game loss. Jack Whitley (1 IP, 1ER, 1H, 2BB, 2K) and Grayson Belcher (0.2 IP, 4ER, 4H, 2K) also pitched for the Tigers. In Game 2, Adairsville outhit Franklin County seventeen to nine but finished four runs short on the scoreboard. The Tigers led 4-2 after three innings before a six-run fourth inning put the Lions ahead for good. Adairsville scored a single run in the sixth and Evan Sanders popped a three-run home run in the seventh but it wasn’t enough for a comeback. Sanders finished with four hits including his homer. Jarrett Scott (RBI) and Tyler Driggers followed with three hits each. Weeks contributed a pair of hits and one RBI. Roper also had two hits. Peyton Bowen (RBI), Nelson (two RBIs), and Whitley added one hit each for Adairsville. Oliver and Peeples combined for five hits including three doubles and one home run to pace the Lions’ attack. Beasley (5.2 IP, 5ER, 14H, 1BB, 6K) picked up the pitching win for Franklin County by working into the sixth inning. Cade Gibson (0.1 IP, 0R, 1H) and Caden Cawthon (1 IP, 3R, 0ER, 2H) closed out the contest for the Lions. Adairsville utilized a trio of pitchers in the loss including Dawson Craig (4 IP, 8R, 2ER, 7H, 2BB, 1K), Kaiden Coker (1.2 IP, 2ER, 2H, 3BB, 2K), and Scott (1.1 IP, 2R, 1ER, 0H, 3BB, 1K). The Tigers’ season ends with a 17-13 record.

The Georgia Highlands Chargers fell behind early and did not recover Friday afternoon in a 7-5 loss at conference foe East Georgia State. Although the Chargers grabbed a 3-0 lead in the top of the first inning, the host Bobcats answered with seven runs in their first four offensive frames for a 7-3 lead. The Chargers added two more runs in the sixth to narrow their deficit to 7-5 but that is as close as they would get. East Georgia pitching starter Jake Green (5 IP, 3ER, 5H, 4BB, 6K) picked up the win on the mound for the Bobcats. Robert Wiley (4 IP, 2ER, 3H, 3BB, 6K) retired the final dozen outs on the bump. Jhonkeanu Perez (home run, three RBIs) and Zach Kwiatkowski (double, three RBIs) had four hits each to lead the East Georgia State offense. CJ Blackwell (two doubles), Mitchell Walker, and Ryan Wideman (RBI) had two hits each for the Chargers. Hudson Sapp (double, two RBIs) and Jay Murdock (two RBIs) added one hit apiece. Oliver Wood (3 IP, 5R, 4ER, 7H, 2HBP, 2K), Davis Mortland (1 IP, 2ER, 3H, 1BB), and Cole Turner (4 IP, 0R, 4H, 3K) pitched for GHC in the loss. The Bobcats improved to 23-25 on the season and 9-13 in the Georgia Collegiate Athletic Association standings. Georgia Highlands (31-19, 11-11) remains in third place in the GCAA with three games remaining in regular season play. South Georgia has clinched the conference regular season title with GHC trailing second place ABAC by two games. The Chargers play at Gordon State Saturday afternoon, host South Georgia Tuesday, and visit Andrew College next Thursday. The GCAA conference tournament will be hosted by Georgia Highlands May 8-10.

Georgia Highlands College baseball scored ten runs over the final four innings Tuesday evening to rally past host Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College, 13-8. The Stallions led 5-3 through four innings and then extended their lead to 8-4 by the end of the sixth inning. Pitcher Kyle Stephenson entered in middle relief in the sixth inning and was credited with the pitching win for the Chargers. Stephenson allowed one earned run and struck out one recording two outs in the sixth and one more in the seventh. Declan Dun (4 IP, 4ER, 4H, 3BB, 2K) made the pitching start for Georgia Highlands. Zach Valentine (1.1 IP, 3ER 4H, 1BB, 1K), Cason Rich (0.1 IP, 0R, 0H, 3BB,1K), Skyler Thellman (1.1 IP, 0R, 0H, 1BB, 1K), and Chandler Anderson (1 IP, 0R, 0H, 0BB, 3K) all contributed relief stints. Hudson Sapp, a recent University of Houston commit, powered the Chargers’ offense with three hits including a pair of home runs — one was a grand slam — and six RBIs. Jay Murdock contributed a double, a triple, and one RBI. Connor Faulkner also finished with two hits including a double and one RBI. Parker Poteet (two RBIs), Mitchell Walker (two RBIs), Nic Ferrer (RBI), and CJ Blackwell added one more hit each. The loss evened ABAC’s season record to 26-26 with the Stallions slipping to 12-9 in the Georgia Collegiate Athletic Association. They remain in second place in the conference trailing South Georgia State by four games. Georgia Highlands (31-18, 11-10) has now won five of six and climbed to third place in the conference standings with four regular season conference games remaining. The Chargers, who are now just one game behind ABAC for second place, visit East Georgia Thursday and Gordon State Saturday. The Chargers have single conference games the final week of the regular season with league-leading South Georgia at home and at Andrew College. Georgia Highlands will host the GCAA Tournament May 8-10.

Georgia Highlands softball split a conference doubleheader Tuesday with Gordon State in Barnesville. The Chargers won the first game 7-4 before falling in Game 2 to the host Highlanders, 6-5. The doubleheader split kept the Chargers 1-½ games ahead of the Highlanders in the conference standings. GHC pitcher Jaycie Hand went a strong 6-⅔ innings in the first game. Hand allowed four runs (three earned) on six hits and a pair of walks. She struck out four. Emma Veitch allowed one hit in the circle but retired the final out to secure the win. Madison, Abigail Lathrop, and Annsley Todd had two hits each for the Chargers. Allison Deweese hit a solo home run in the sixth inning. Brady Tharp hit a two-run homer in the top of the seventh inning. Audrey Johnson contributed one double and three RBIs. Malone Aldridge (RBI) and Jordan Blair added one hit each. In their second game loss, Georgia Highlands outhit Gordon State thirteen to four but came up short on the scoreboard 6-5. Aldridge had two hits and two RBIs in the loss. Blair (RBI), Taylor Justice, and Johnson also finished with two hits. Deweese contributed one double and one RBI. Avery Fisher (RBI), Tharp, Lathrop, and Dennis added one hit each. Rena Fraga pitched four innings in Game 2 for the Chargers allowing four earned runs on three hits. Veitch yielded two earned runs on one hit and one walk while striking out three. With the doubleheader split, Gordon State is now 17-18 on the season and 10-8 in the Georgia Collegiate Athletic Association. Georgia Highlands (19-27, 13-9) is currently third in the conference behind ABAC and Georgia Military with a final conference, regular season doubleheader remaining Saturday, May 6 at GMC. The GCAA conference tournament will be May 11-12 at Strong Rock Christian School in Locust Grove.

The Woodland boys’ track and field team won the Region 7-5A championship Monday and Tuesday at Calhoun High School. The Wildcats finished nine points ahead of Cartersville with Calhoun 14 points back in third place and Cass fourth. The Woodand girls' team edged the Cartersville girls by one point to finish second in the region behind Calhoun. The Cass girls placed fifth. The top four finishers in each event will advance to the State Sectional Meet at Jefferson High School on Saturday, May 6. Local qualifiers by event: Girls Long Jump 2nd — Nyliah Woods — Cass — 15-07.25 4th — Elizabeth Nelson — Cartersville — 14-11.75 Girls Discus Throw 2nd — Taff Bradley — Cartersville — 82-09.75 3rd — Ava Whatley — Woodland — 82.02.50 Girls High Jump 1st — Nakayla KK Evans — Cass — 4-10 2nd — Amirra Davis — Cartersville — J4-10 Girls Triple Jump 4th — Nyliah Woods — Cass — 33-00.50 Girls Pole Vault 1st — Elizabeth Hardy — Cartersville — 8-00 3rd — Gillian Bergman — Woodland — 7.00 Girls Shot Put 2nd — Kiana McDaniel — Cass — 30-11.50 3rd — Jah’Liyah Long — Woodland — 28-01 4th — Paris Moultrie — Cartersville — 27-10.25 Girls 100M Hurdles 3rd — Kiconco Bassler — Woodland — 16.06 Girls 100M Dash 1st — Kaitlyn Godwin — Cass — 12.45 Girls 200M Dash 1st — Kaitlyn Godwin — Cass — 26.28 4th — Morgan Cherry — Woodland — 28.09 Girls 1600M Run 1st — Anna Grace Boone — Cartersville — 5:26.03 2nd — Danielle Thayer — Woodland — 5:28.66 3rd — Olivia Berry — Woodland — 5:39.13 Girls 400M Dash 1st — Kaitlyn Godwin — Cass — 1:02.22 2nd — Alex Hampton — Cartersville — 1:04.19 4th — Abigail George — Woodland — 1:05.56 Girls 300M Hurdles 1st — Kiconco Bassler — Woodland — 47.50 3rd — Leyla Booth — Cartersville — 51.19 Girls 800M Run 1st — Anna Grace Boone — Cartersville — 2:23.57 2nd — Danielle Thayer — Woodland — 2:24.69 3rd — Elizabeth Nelson — Cartersville — 2:27.26 Girls 3200M Run 1st — Danielle Thayer — Woodland — 12:17.06 2nd — Olivia Berry — Woodland — 12:33.44 4th — Addison Brown — Woodland — 13:36.67 Girls 4x200M Relay 3rd — Cartersville — 1:53.97 (Alex Hampton, Kyjah Miller, Leyla Booth, Milena Bihm) Girls 4x400M Relay 1st — Cartersville — 4:18.28 (Anna Grace Boone, Leyla Booth, Alex Hampton, Elizabeth Nelson) 3rd — Woodland — 4:28.23 (Kiconco Bassler, Abigail George, Emma Segars, Alana Carnes) Girls 4x800M Relay 1st — Woodland — 10:31.24 (Emma Segars, Olivia Berry, Miranda Pelow, Danielle Thayer) 2nd — Cartersville — 10:47.39 (Anna Grace Boone, Elizabeth Nelson, Leyla Booth, Vivi Vest) Girls 4x100M Relay 1st — Cass — 50.03 (Kaitlyn Godwin, Markayla Sanford, Nyliah Woods, Nakayla KK Evans) 4th — Cartersville — 52.51 (Morgan Mitchell, Alex Hampton, Milena Bihm, Jamilla Chatmon) Boys Triple Jump 1st — Colin Holt — Cass — 42-02.50 2nd — Jamarion Walker — Woodand — 41-11.00 3rd — JaShaun Brown Whatley — Cass — 41-03 Boys Long Jump 4th — Jamarion Walker — Woodland — 20-09 Boys Discus Throw 2nd — Jaylen Scott — Cartersville — 135-07.50 4th — Myles Forristall — Cartersville — 123.03.50 Boys High Jump 1st — Sacovie White — Cass — 6-04 2nd — Cam’ren Collum — Cartersville — 6-02 3rd — Christiaan Vera — Woodland — 5-10 Boys Pole Vault 2nd — Noah Baer — Woodland — 10-06 3rd — Samson Stevenson — Cass — 9-06 Boys Shot Put 1st — Myles Forristall — Cartersville — 43-10.25 3rd — Nick Kennedy — Cartersville — 42-09.00 4th — Jaylen Scott — Cartersville — 40-10.75 Boys 110M Hurdles 3rd — JaShaun Brown Whatley — Cass — 15.30 4th — Zachary Wiggins — Woodland — 15.70 Boys 100M Dash 1st — Kendrick Price — Cartersville — 10.81 Boys 200M Dash 1st — Stephen Rowser — Cartersville — 22.74 2nd — Jamarion Walker — Woodland — 22.79 3rd — Colin Holt — Cass — 22.97 Boys 400M Dash 1st — Jamarion Walker — Woodland — 50.42 3rd — Will Feuerbach — Cartersville — 52.34 4th — Kemarie Mitchell — Cartersville — 52.40 Boys 300M Hurdles 2nd — Zachary Wiggins — Woodland — 40.18 Boys 800M Run 1st — Andy Forsyth — Woodland — 2:02.82 2nd — Adam Pierce — Cass — 2:03.73 3rd — Drew Thayer — Woodland — 2:04.40 Boys 1600M Run 1st — Malachi Vosburgh — Cartersville — 4:34.74 2nd — Drew Thayer — Woodland — 4:36.55 3rd — Tyler Jones — Woodland — 4:36.87 Boys 3200M Run 1st — Tyler Jones — Woodland — 10:02.40 2nd — Malachi Vosburgh — Cartersville — 10:12.66 3rd — Landon McSwain — Woodland — 10:22.91 Boys 4x800M Relay 1st — Woodland — 8:42.54 (Kameron Chappell, Andy Forsyth, Tyler Jones, Drew Thayer) 2nd — Cass — 8:52.53 (Critton Gearhart, Adam Pierce, Andrew Rampey, Jason Wright) 4th — Cartersville — 9:05.81 (Malachi Vosburgh, Barrett Stepp, Will Feuerbach, Cainen Crowder) Boys 4x200M Relay 1st — Cartersville — 1:31.41 (Kace Adams, Kendrick Price, Khristian Lando, Stephen Rowser) 2nd — Cass — 1:33.33 (Jashaun Brown Whatley, Colin Holt, Devin Henderson, Sacovie White) 4th — Woodland — 1:37.32 (Caleb Levey, Josh McBroom, Christiaan Vera, Jaeden Smith) Boys 4x100M Relay 2nd — Cartersville — 43.03 (Kace Adams, Stephen Rowser, Khristian Lando, Kendrick Price) Boys 4x400M Relay 1st — Cartersville — 3:34.85 (Kemarie Mitchell, Jaiven Johnson, Kemontae Parker, Will Feuerbach) 2nd — Woodland — 3:38.11 (Zachary Wiggins, Andy Forsyth, Kameron Chappell, Drew Thayer) 4th — Cass — 3:40.21 (Adam Pierce, Andrew Rampey, Critton Gearhart, Jason Wright)

Flowery Branch senior pitcher Riley Mitchell tossed a complete-game, one-hitter Tuesday night in the deciding game of the Falcons’ best-of-three series at Woodland to defeat the Wildcats 7-0. The Falcons’ win secured the series and sends Flowery Branch (21-11) to the Sweet Sixteen round starting Saturday at Region 6-5A champ, Centennial. Woodland and Flowery Branch split Monday’s doubleheader in the Class 5A first-round state playoff series. The Falcons won the opener 1-0 and the Wildcats won Game 2, 14-7. Tuesday, the two teams battled evenly through the first five innings but a big sixth inning led to the Flowery Branch victory. Flowery Branch got on the scoreboard first in the top of the fourth inning. The Falcons got a two-out double by Mitchell that was followed by an infield error on a grounder that allowed a run to score. In the decisive sixth inning, Flowery Branch tacked on six more runs to gain control of the game. A hit batsman and back-to-back singles loaded the bases for the Falcons in the sixth. Ethan Mieldezis was then hit by a pitch to make the score 2-0. After a strikeout, Austin Bourrie singled into centerfield to push across two more runs and make the score 4-0. One out later, Mason Compton singled into left field to drive in a run and put Flowery Branch up 5-0. A throwing error on a pickoff attempt and another RBI single gave the Falcons a 7-0 advantage. Woodand managed three more baserunners in the bottom of the sixth and seventh innings but failed to push any of them across. In seven innings on the mound, Mitchell allowed just one hit and five walks. He struck out two. Lambert went five-plus innings for the Wildcats. He allowed four runs (three earned) on four hits with no walks. Coby Barrett retired two outs, one by strikeout, in the sixth inning allowing three runs (two earned) on three hits. Julian Wright retired the final four outs on the mound for Woodland allowing just one walk. Wright fanned two. Brett Good had the only Woodland base hit in the game. It was a two-out single in the bottom of the fifth inning. Woodland’s season ends with a 19-14 record and a runner-up finish in Region 7-5A.