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.

The Adairsville, Cartersville, and Woodland boys’ tennis teams had their seasons end Monday and Tuesday in the second round of the GHSA state playoffs. The Tigers lost 3-0 Monday at Hebron Christian in the Class 3A tournament. The Hurricanes suffered a 3-0 loss Tuesday at Dellinger Park to Chattahoochee and the Wildcats lost 3-0 at Cambridge. In Class 3A, Hebron Christian advances to meet Savannah Country Day in the state quarterfinals. In Class 5A, Chattahoochee will travel to Statesboro and Cambridge will visit Union Grove in the state quarterfinals.

Georgia Highlands College softball dropped both games of a home non-conference doubleheader Monday at Stars Field in Cassville falling 7-3 and 10-5 to Cleveland State CC. The Chargers fell behind early in both games. In the opening game, the Lady Cougars led 2-0 after three innings and were up 6-0 following the top of the sixth. In the second game, Cleveland State led 4-0 after three frames and carried a 10-1 lead into the bottom of the seventh. Abigail Lathrop led the GHC offense with three hits and two RBIs in the doubleheader. Audrey Johnson had two hits including a home run and two RBIs. Annsley Todd and Allison Deweese also contributed a pair of hits. Madison Dennis (RBI), Brady Tharp (RBI), Daisy Brown (double), Jordan Blair (double), Sydney Goddard (triple, RBI), and Avery Fisher (double) added one hit apiece. Jaycie Hand (5.1 IP, 6R, 5ER, 7H, 1BB, 5K) was the Chargers’ pitcher of record in the first game. Rena Fraga (3 IP, 4R, 2ER, 4H, 1BB) started in the circle in the second game. Emma Veitch (5.2 IP, 7R, 4ER, 7H, 0BB, 6K) pitched in both games. Cleveland State improved to 29-16 with the two wins. Georgia Highlands (18-26, 12-8) returns to Georgia Collegiate Athletic Association conference play Wednesday with a doubleheader at Gordon State.

Woodland and Flowery Branch will play the rubber game of their best-of-three first-round Class 5A state playoff series Tuesday evening after the Wildcats and Falcons split a doubleheader Monday. Visiting Flowery Branch won the first game of the series 1-0 as Falcons’ starting pitcher Mason Compton tossed a complete-game shutout. Woodland powered back in Game 2 to win 14-7 and send the series to a deciding third game. A pair of Woodland errors led to the Falcons’ run in the sixth inning of Game 1. The Wildcats’ loss spoiled the strong pitching performances of Ayden Ray and Zach Lambert. Ray scattered four hits and three walks. He struck out four. Lambert retired the final three outs in order in the seventh. Jakiyon Porter had two hits for the Wildcats in the loss. Rowan Billings, Connor Stermer, and Conner Lujan had the other Woodland base hits. In Game 2 with Woodland batting first as the visitors, the Wildcats scored six runs in the top of the second to grab an early 6-1 lead. Woodland added two more runs in the fourth and four additional runs in the fifth inning to lead 12-1. Flowery Branch rallied for six runs in the bottom of the fifth inning to narrow the Woodland lead to 12-7, but the Falcons got no closer. Austin Daves (4 IP, 3R, 1ER, 4H, 3BB, 8K) made the pitching start for Woodland in Game 2 and fanned eight. Coby Barrett (0.2 IP, 4ER, 5H, 0BB, 2K) retired two outs in the fifth inning and Lambert (2.1 IP, 0ER, 2H, 1BB, 3K) worked the final 2-⅓ innings to collect the Wildcats’ pitching victory. Billings had four hits in the Woodland win with two RBIs. Chase Carson (two RBIs) and Julian Wright (double, RBI) had two hits each. Stermer (two RBIs), Lujan (RBI), Mason Williams, and Porter (RBI) added one hit apiece for the Wildcats. Woodland (19-13) and Flowery Branch (20-11) will square off Tuesday at The Ballpark at Woodland with the first pitch scheduled for 5:30 p.m. Tuesday’s winner will advance to the Class 5A Sweet Sixteen round to play at Centennial. The Knights swept Tri-Cities in the first round Monday, 10-0 and 15-0.

The Cartersville Purple Hurricanes swept a doubleheader with the visiting Jefferson Dragons Monday night to win their best-of-three Class 5A first-round state playoff series at the Cartersville Baseball Complex. In Game 1, Kennesaw State commit Caden Carroll tossed a five-inning two-hitter while the Canes offense powered past the Dragons. Carroll walked two and struck out seven in the 11-0 Cartersville win. The Hurricanes outhit Jefferson eleven to two in the opening game blasting three home runs including a grand slam by Harrison Childers. Kaden Stephenson and Isaac McNair-Seigler also homered. In Game 2 with Cartersville playing as the visitors and batting first, Canes’ pitchers Ryan Johnson and Phillip Schiltz combined for a one-hitter and outdueled Dragons’ pitcher Jase Peoples to squeeze out a 2-0 win. Johnson and Peoples kept the game scoreless until Cartersville’s Miles Owen drove in the game’s first run in the top of the sixth inning. The Canes tacked on an insurance run in the top of the seventh when Stephenson tripled and Cameron Cochran drove him in with a sacrifice fly. Johnson allowed just one hit, one walk, and one hit batsman while fanning six in the first six innings. Schiltz struck out the side in the seventh. Peoples yielded just two runs on three hits, a pair of walks, and two hit batsmen but suffered the pitching loss for the Dragons. In the doubleheader, Landon Cole, Owen (RBI), Stephenson (triple, solo HR), Childers (grand slam, double), and Cochran (double, RBI) had two hits apiece. Paul Gamble, Luke Miller, Caleb Daniel (sac fly, RBI), and McNair-Seigler (home run, sac fly, three RBIs) added one hit each for the Canes. The season ends for Jefferson with a 19-10 record. Cartersville (29-2) advances to the Sweet Sixteen round of the Class 5A state playoffs and will host a doubleheader Saturday against the Cambridge Bears. If a third game is needed in the series, the Canes will host on Monday, May 1. Cambridge (19-12) swept Jackson-Atlanta in the first round Monday, 7-4 and 18-1.

The Adairsville Tigers cruised to a doubleheader win and first-round series sweep at Carver-Atlanta Monday night as they started play in the GHSA Class AAA state playoffs. Adairsville won the first game 17-1 and the second game 15-0. Both wins took only three innings by mercy run rule. Tigers’ pitchers dominated the Panthers. Dawson Craig, Jack Whitley, and Hudson Parr combined for seven strikeouts and a no-hitter in the opening game. Then Jack Nelson, Kaiden Coker, and Grayson Belcher combined for six strikeouts in a one-hitter in Game 2. The Tigers’ offense meanwhile rolled out 32 runs on 18 hits and stole 10 bases in the doubleheader sweep. Chris Roper had three hits including a pair of doubles and five RBIs. Tyler Driggers also finished with three hits including one double and four RBIs. Jarrett Scott (four RBIs), Peyton Bowen (RBI), Landon O’Neal (double, two RBIs), and Nelson (RBI) had two hits each. PJ Weeks (RBI), Hayden Blalock (RBI), Evan Sanders (double, RBI), and Braxton Ryan (two RBIs) added one hit apiece. Easton Elrod contributed one RBI. Carver’s season ends with an 8-13 record. Adairsville (17-11) advances to the Sweet Sixteen round of the Class AAA state playoffs to face either Region 8 champ Franklin County or the 4-seed from Region 7-AAA, Dawson County. Franklin County and Dawson County split their doubleheader Monday with Franklin County winning 2-1 in Game 1 and Dawson County taking Game 2, 4-0. Their deciding game will be Tuesday at 5 p.m. in Carnesville. As a 3-seed, Adairsville would travel to Franklin County but would host Dawson County. That Sweet Sixteen series begins with a doubleheader Saturday and would have a third game, if needed, on Monday, May 1.

This week's report includes updates on 33 local athletes at the professional and collegiate level in pro baseball, pro basketball, and pro football plus college tennis, golf, track & field, softball, and baseball. MiLB MASON BARNETT — Quad Cities River Bandits (Kansas City Royals High-A affiliate; 2nd yr. pro; Auburn University; Cartersville HS) … made a five-inning start last Tuesday but received no decision in a 2-0 home win over the Wisconsin Timber Rattlers. Barnette allowed no runs on one hit and four walks while striking out seven. On Sunday, he picked up his first win of the year with a five-inning start as the Bandits beat the Rattlers 9-2. The right-hander allowed just one earned run on two hits and one walk. He fanned six. Quad Cities (7-7) has a six-game series Tuesday through Sunday at the Lansing Lugnuts. ANTHONY SEIGLER — Somerset Patriots (NY Yankees Double-A affiliate; 6th-yr. pro; Cartersville HS) … played in just two games last Thursday and Friday going 1-for-5 at the plate with two walks, two runs scored, and a pair of RBIs. Somerset split a six-game series at home with the New Hampshire Fisher Cats. Now 8-7 for the season, the Patriots play a six-game series Tuesday through Sunday at the Washington Nationals’ affiliate Harrisburg Senators. PRO BASKETBALL A.J. MOSBY — Sudbury Five (National Basketball League of Canada; 6th yr. pro; Alcorn State; Cartersville HS) … scored 13 points Saturday night and 30 points Sunday as The Five swept a pair of home games against the Jamestown Jackals. Mosby added six rebounds, three assists, and one steal Saturday and had seven assists with four boards on Sunday. Sudbury (22-6) has a one-game lead in the NBL-C standings over the London Lightning with three regular-season games remaining. The Five plays at the Windsor Express this Friday night and at the KW Titans on Saturday night. XFL VIC BEASLEY — Vegas Vipers (9th yr. pro; Clemson; Adairsville HS) … finished the 2023 season with the Vipers totaling 15 tackles (six solo, nine assisted) with two fumble recoveries. The Vipers finished last in the XFL North with a 2-8 record. TENNIS EMILY BUSH — Young Harris College (Fr., Cartersville HS) … in a week that saw the Mountain Lions drop their final three matches, Bush had a doubles loss with teammate Joselyne Chapui on Line 2 doubles during a 4-0 loss to 25th-ranked Columbus State. She was also down a set and trailing 5-4 in the second set of her Line 2 singles match when the visiting Cougars secured the team win. On Tuesday, Bush and Chapui lost 6-2 at Line 2 doubles but she won her Line 2 singles match 6-1, 7-6 (7-5) in a 4-3 team loss at Augusta University. On Friday, YHC lost 5-0 to the 12th-ranked University of North Georgia in the first round of the Peach Belt Conference tournament in Columbus. Bush lost her first set and was trailing 5-3 in the second set of her Line 2 singles match. Young Harris finished the year with a 9-14 record. CONNOR GUNNELL — Shorter University (Jr., Woodland HS) … lost his Line 4 singles match 6-0, 6-0 and lost at Line 2 doubles with teammate Yike Liu 6-0 as the Hawks fell to top-seeded Valdosta State 4-0 in the first round of the Gulf South Conference Tournament last Thursday. The Hawks had their season end with a 2-10 record. EMILY SURCEY — Mississippi State University (So., Cass HS) … lost her Line 5 singles match 6-3, 6-3 as the Bulldogs were eliminated 4-1 by Kentucky in the opening round of the Southeastern Conference Tournament in Fayetteville, Arkansas. Surcey was 13-12 in her singles matches this season and 9-4 in doubles matches. Mississippi State finished the season with a 10-15 mark. BRYCE VAN ORDER — Piedmont University (Jr., Woodland HS) … dropped his Line 2 singles match 2-6, 6-7 (6-8) as the Lions lost 7-2 Saturday at Belhaven University (Mississippi). Piedmont will participate in the Collegiate Conference of the South tournament beginning Thursday at the Rome, Georgia Tennis Center. The Lions are seeded No. 2 and will play Berea College (Kentucky) in the first round. TRACK AND FIELD STEPHEN SMITH — Kennesaw State University (Jr., Cass HS) … the Owls’ pole vaulter cleared 4.70m (15 feet, 5 inches) to finish sixth at the Georgia Tech Invitational this past Saturday. Next for KSU are the Penn Relays (Philadelphia) and North Florida East Coast Relays (Jacksonville) both scheduled for Thursday through Saturday. ERIC TOVIAVE — Belmont University (Fr., Cartersville HS) … placed 24th in the 400M Hurdles (56.03) Saturday at the Georgia Tech Invitational in Atlanta. Next for the Bruins will be the Vanderbilt University Outdoor Music City Challenge on Friday and Saturday. GOLF BUCK BRUMLOW — University of Georgia (So., Cartersville HS) … tied for 34th of 74 players individually last Wednesday through Friday at the Southeastern Conference Championship held on the par-70, 7,005-yard Seaside Course at Sea Island Golf Club. The 31st-ranked Bulldogs finished ninth and missed the match play portion of the tournament by one shot. Brumlow fired rounds of 69-72-71 (2-over-par). Tennessee won the medal portion of the tournament but it was Florida defeating Vanderbilt 3-1 to win the SEC title in the match play portion of the event. Georgia awaits the 2023 Men’s Golf Selection Show on May 3 for a post-season regional assignment. JAKE WEHUNT — Young Harris College (Fr., Cartersville HS) … shot rounds of 79-76-80—235 (19-over) and placed 42nd individually at the Peach Belt Conference Championship held this past weekend at the par-72, 7086-yard Forest Hills Golf Club in Augusta. The tournament was won by Georgia Southwestern with the University of North Georgia finishing six shots back. Young Harris placed ninth. SOFTBALL COLBI BALLARD — Shorter University (Sr., Cartersville HS) … was 0-for-3 in a pair of starts last Wednesday during a non-conference doubleheader at Columbus State University. Shorter (6-41, 1-25) returns to action Friday and Saturday in a three-game Gulf South Conference series at Lee University. SKYLAR CHAPPELL — Cottey College (Sr., Woodland HS) … had one plate appearance Saturday in a 4-2 home win over Missouri Baptist University as the Comets went 4-0 for the week. Cottey (29-16, 16-2 American Midwest Conference) visits William Woods University (Missouri) for a doubleheader Tuesday. PRESLY EDWARDS — Wesleyan College (Sr., Cartersville HS) … the Wolves (4-27, 2-14) lost all six games last week extending their regular season-ending streak to 13 games with doubleheader losses to Agnes Scott, LaGrange, and Huntingdon. Edwards was 6-for-20 at the plate in those games including a two-run homer and five total RBIs. The Collegiate Conference of the South tournament begins on campus sites Thursday. ANSLEY EVANS — Reinhardt University (So., Woodland HS) … playing in four of the Eagles’ six road wins last week, Evans was 5-for-12 at the plate and stole one base. RU had two wins each at Tennessee Wesleyan, St. Andrews University (North Carolina), and Columbia International University. Reinhardt (31-9, 26-2) is the No. 1-seed at the double-elimination Appalachian Athletic Conference Tournament beginning Wednesday in Kingsport, Tennessee. The Eagles face 8th-seeded Milligan University in the first round. MICHIAH HICKS — Reinhardt University (Fr., Woodland HS) … had a base hit in a pinch hitting appearance last Wednesday in a 10-1 win at Columbia International University (South Carolina). Reinhardt (31-9, 26-2) is just outside the NAIA Top 25 rankings heading into the Appalachian Athletic Conference Tournament beginning Wednesday in Kingsport, Tennessee. SADYE JOHNSON — University of North Georgia (So., Adairsville HS) … was inserted as a pinch runner in the top of the seventh inning, scored a run, and played defensively in the bottom of the inning in a Nighthawks’ 11-1 win last Wednesday at Lincoln Memorial University. North Georgia (48-5, 24-3) was 4-1 last week winning twice at LMU and dropping one of three at home to Lander University. The 2nd-ranked Nighthawks will host one of two, four-team double-elimination portions of the Peach Belt Conference Tournament this weekend. ERYN LEE — Reinhardt University (Fr., Cass HS) … was 4-for-12 including one double, two runs scored, and one stolen base as the Eagles completed a 6-0 week with road doubleheaders at Tennessee Wesleyan, St. Andrews University (North Carolina), and Columbia International University. Reinhardt (31-9, 26-2) is the No. 1-seed at the double-elimination Appalachian Athletic Conference Tournament that opens Wednesday in Kingsport, Tennessee. The Eagles face Milligan University in the first round. LAUREN McELHANEY — University of West Georgia (Jr., Cartersville HS) … was 0-for-4 with one walk in games Saturday and Sunday at Delta State University. For the week, UWG was 0-5 falling to 13-37 on the year and 8-19 in the Gulf South Conference. West Georgia hosts the University of Montevallo Friday and Saturday in a three-game GSC series to conclude their regular season slate. ALEXA VARNER — Shorter University (Jr., Adairsville HS) … made a start in left field and was 0-for-2 at the plate last Wednesday in an 8-0 loss at Columbus State University. The Hawks (6-41, 1-25) return to action Friday and Saturday in a three-game Gulf South Conference series at Lee University. BASEBALL CURT BONNER — LaGrange College (Fr., Cartersville HS) … hit safely in all four games for the 9th-ranked Panthers last week. He was 7-for-15 at the plate with a double, three walks, and three RBIs as LaGrange beat No. 1 Birmingham-Southern College but then dropped two of three at Maryville College (Tennessee). The Panthers (25-11, 11-4 Collegiate Conference of the South) play at Emory University Tuesday afternoon before hosting a three-game set with Huntingdon College Friday through Sunday. KENNY JINKS — Wheeling University (Sr., Woodland HS) … picked up a pair of pitching wins last Wednesday and Friday as the Cardinals beat visiting Indiana University of Pennsylvania and Fairmont State University. Wenesday’s win came in a scoreless fifth-inning relief appearance as Wheeling won 18-8 over IU-P. He had one walk and one strikeout. In a start on Friday, Jinks allowed four earned runs (six total) on seven hits and one walk. He struck out three improving his season mark to 7-1. Wheeling (23-17, 12-12 Mountain East Conference) hosts Seton Hill (Pennsylvania) Tuesday before playing a pair of doubleheaders at Alderson Broaddus University (West Virginia) Saturday and Sunday. LOGAN MARTIN — University of Kentucky (Sr., Cartersville HS) … started and pitched into the third inning Friday allowing one earned run on five walks in an eventual 6-3 home loss to Texas A&M. The 15th-ranked Wildcats (30-9, 11-7) dropped two of three with the Aggies over the weekend. They host rival Louisville Tuesday night before heading to Nashville for a three-game SEC series with 5th-ranked Vanderbilt Friday through Sunday. GUNNER MILLSAP — Southern Illinois University-Edwardsville (Fr., Cartersville HS) … issued a walk, but retired the other three batters he faced with flyouts last Wednesday earning his second pitching victory of the season in a 16-4 home win over Blackburn College (Illinois). The Cougars finished the week 2-3 with a win at Western Illinois and three losses at Arkansas-Little Rock. SIU-E (22-17, 5-7 Ohio Valley Conference) hosts Missouri Wednesday night and Southern Indiana Friday through Sunday in an OVC series. DREW ROTHSCHILD — Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College (Fr., Cartersville HS) … has now hit safely in eight straight games and was 5-for-14 with his second home run of the season, a double, three walks, and four RBIs in four games last week as the Stallions won three of four against Gordon State College. ABAC (26-25, 12-8 Georgia Collegiate Athletic Association) hosts Georgia Highlands Tuesday, Andrew College Thursday, and South Georgia State on Saturday. STEVEN SPELL — Young Harris College (Sr., Cass HS) … although the Mountain Lions lost all three games at Lander University over the weekend, Spell was 5-for-13 at the plate including a home run, one double, two RBIs, and a pair of runs scored. YHC (33-14, 21-9 Peach Belt Conference) hosts Lee University in a non-conference game Tuesday afternoon and begins the Peach Belt Conference tournament on May 5. DEVIN WARNER — Georgia Gwinnett College (Jr., Cartersville HS) … in four games last week, Warner was 5-for-14 at the plate as the NAIA 4th-ranked Grizzlies won at Talladega University and swept a three-game home series with Brewton-Parker College. The third baseman homered, doubled, walked twice, scored five runs, and drove in four. Georgia Gwinnett (40-5, 8-0 Continental Athletic Conference) looks to extend its 11-game win streak this Friday and Saturday in a pair of doubleheaders with Fisher College (Massachusetts) at Buies Creek, North Carolina. PRESTON WELCHEL — Tennessee Wesleyan University (So., Cartersville HS) … utilized twice as a pinch hitter and once as the Bulldogs’ starting designated hitter, Welchel was 0-for-3 with a walk and a run scored while TWU won two of three last Thursday and Friday at Montreat College (North Carolina). The NAIA 3rd-ranked Bulldogs (37-7, 26-1 Appalachian Athletic Conference) complete their regular season slate with a three-game series Thursday and Friday at St. Andrews University (North Carolina). COHEN WILBANKS — Georgia Gwinnett College (Jr., Cartersville HS) … in three games last week, Wilbanks was 4-for-9 at the plate as the NAIA 4th-ranked Grizzlies won at Talladega University and swept a three-game home series with Brewton-Parker College. The catcher had a double, one sac fly, two walks, one hit by pitch, and five RBIs. Georgia Gwinnett (40-5, 8-0 Continental Athletic Conference) looks to extend its 11-game win streak this Friday and Saturday in a pair of doubleheaders with Fisher College (Massachusetts) at Buies Creek, North Carolina. DAVIS WILLIAMS — Birmingham-Southern College (So., Cartersville HS) … entered in the fifth inning and tossed 3-⅔ scoreless innings but settled for no decision in a 5-3 loss Saturday at Hendrix College (Arkansas). Williams allowed three hits, one walk, and one hit batsman but kept the Warriors off the scoreboard. For the week, the Panthers went 0-4 with a loss at 9th-ranked LaGrange College and three losses at Hendrix. BSC (31-9, 14-7 Southern Athletic Association) begins their conference tournament Friday in a best-of-three series at home against Oglethorpe University. The Panthers will host the final four of the conference tournament May 5-7 if they advance. JORDAN WILKIE — Augusta University (Sr., Cartersville HS) … in Jags’ losses last Tuesday at home to West Georgia and Wednesday at Coker University, the first baseman was 6-for-9 at the plate with a double, one walk, two runs scored, and two RBIs. Augusta (21-22, 11-15 Peach Belt Conference) visits Emmanuel College Tuesday before hosting a regular season-ending three-game conference series with USC Beaufort Friday and Saturday. ZACH WILSON — Penn State University-Greater Allegheny (Jr., Woodland HS) … saw action in two of his team’s four wins last week over Penn State-Beaver. Wilson was 1-for-4 at the plate with a double, three walks, one run scored, and one RBI. PSUGA finished the season with a 17-18 record and missed the Penn State University Athletic Conference playoffs.

Cartersville High School junior Karley Garrison qualified for the 2023 GHSA Gymnastics Championships in Buford last week competing in the All-Around competition as an individual. Garrison and the Cartersville High team — that also included seniors Annaston Wilson and Jayla Byrd — learned their final team ranking in the Class A through Class 5A division was 11th in the state. Garrison placed 18th in Class A through Class 5A in Floor Exercise. She also finished 20th All Around. Her other apparatus final rankings were 26th Vault, 27th Bars, and 28th Beam.

The Georgia Highlands Chargers split a doubleheader with visiting Andrew College Friday. GHC won the opening game 9-3 with the Tigers taking the second game of the day by an identical 9-3 score. The Chargers hit four home runs in the opener and broke the game open in the fifth inning by posting six runs for a 9-1 lead. Trey Baker (6 IP, 3ER, 6H, 3BB, 9K) collected the pitching win after working into the seventh inning. Skyler Thellman (1 IP, 0R, 0H) worked a scoreless seventh to close out the game getting the final three outs on just two pitches. He induced a grounder for a double play followed by a fly out to center field. Ryan Wideman had three hits including a solo home run. Adam Love also contributed three hits for Georgia Highlands. Hudson Sapp (three RBIs), Mitchell Walker (two RBIs), and Connor Faulkner (two RBIs) all had two hits including a home run. Nic Ferrer (RBI), Parker Poteet, and Jay Murdock added one hit each as the Chargers outhit the Tigers fifteen to six. In the second game, Andrew grabbed an early 8-0 lead by scoring four runs in each of the first two innings. The Tigers had ten of their eleven hits in the first two frames. The Chargers scored a run in the second and two more in the fourth to narrow their deficit to 9-3 but got no closer. Wideman, who doubled in the second inning and hit a solo home run in the fourth, finished the second game with three hits. Walker and Poteet (RBI) both had one double each. Murdock and Bryson Stripling (RBI) added one hit each. Kade Haywood (7 IP, 3ER, 9H, 1BB, 5K) tossed a complete game on the mound to earn the pitching win for Andrew. GHC utilized seven different pitchers with starter Zach Valentine (1 IP, 4ER, 6H) tagged for the loss. Adrian Roman (0.2 IP, 4ER, 4H, 1K), Kyle Stephenson (1.1 IP, 1ER, 1H, 1BB), Cole Turner (1 IP, 0R, 0H, 2BB, 3K), Jeremy Gay (2 IP, 0R, 0H, 1BB, 1K), Garrett Sagro (0.0 IP, 0R, 0H, 1BB), and Trip DoVale (1 IP, 0R, 0H, 3K) all pitched for the Chargers in the loss. With the doubleheader split on Friday, the Chargers win three of the four games in this week’s series with the Tigers and move to 30-18 on the season. GHC is now 10-10 in conference play. Andrew is now 25-19 overall and 6-14 in the Georgia Collegiate Athletic Association. Five games remain for Georgia Highlands in the regular season. The Chargers have one game remaining with each conference opponent starting at Abraham Baldwin on Tuesday.