Georgia Highlands College softball hit 10 home runs in a doubleheader sweep at Andrew College Wednesday winning 14-4 and 12-8. In the opener, the Chargers scored 12 of their 14 total runs over the final three innings to pull away. In the second game, Georgia Highlands rallied for five runs over the final two innings to escape with a 12-8 win. GEORGIA HIGHLANDS 14, ANDREW COLLEGE 4 In Game One, the Chargers outhit the host Tigers 18 to six and did most of their damage late in the game for a 14-4 victory. Malone Aldridge led the Chargers' offense with three hits including a pair of doubles, one grand slam, and five RBIs. Audrey Johnson homered twice, doubled, and drove in three runs. Abigail Lathrop also had three hits including one double and one RBI. Madison Dennis hit a pair of home runs with three RBIs. Brady Tharp finished with two hits including one double and one RBI. Annsley Todd also contributed two hits. Jordan Blair (RBI), Avery Fisher, and Sydney Goddard each added one double. Jaycie Hand (7 IP, 4R, 3ER, 6H, 1BB, 1K) went all seven innings in the pitching circle to collect the victory. GEORGIA HIGHLANDS 12, ANDREW COLLEGE 8 The host Tigers scored seven runs early, but Georgia Highlands chipped away and came up big again late to complete Wednesday’s doubleheader sweep with a 12-8 win at Andrew College. Three Chargers pitchers combined to only allow a pair of earned runs. Rena Fraga (1 IP, 5R, 2ER, 4H), Emma Veitch (5 IP, 3R, 0ER, 4H, 2BB, 3K), and Jaycie Hand (1 IP, 0R, 0H) each spent time in the circle. Malone Aldridge led the offense again with three hits including one double, one home run, and two RBIs. Audrey Johnson hit two more home runs and had four RBIs. Avery Fisher had two hits including a solo home run and Brady Tharp also contributed two hits including a double. Allison Deweese homered. Madison Dennis and Annsley Todd both added one hit each. The two losses leave the Andrew College Lady Tigers at 5-39 overall and 0-14 in conference play. Georgia Highlands (16-22, 10-6 Georgia Collegiate Athletic Association) will host Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College in another conference doubleheader Saturday at 1 p.m.

Elite Stone Supply, in conjunction with WBHF and Bartow Sports Zone, presents the ELITE ATHLETES OF THE MONTH. Each month, local high schools are provided the opportunity to name an Elite Athlete of the Month from their varsity programs and present the information on their honoree through Bartow Sports Zone and on 100.3FM and AM1450, WBHF in Cartersville. Ansley Griffin is the Elite Athlete of the Month representing Cartersville High School for March 2023. A junior on the Lady Canes’ basketball team, Griffin was named All-Region 7-5A 2nd Team. She averaged 11.7 points per game and totaled 305 points this season making 43 percent of her two-point field goal attempts, 24 percent from behind the arc, and 72 percent from the free throw line. Griffin added 2.3 steals per game. “Ansley is a great 2 guard,” said Cartersville girls basketball head coach Karisma Boykin. “She’s a knockdown shooter and works well with her teammates. She was a captain and an excellent leader guiding us to a 17-11 season. We are looking forward to her leadership next year as a senior.” Griffin is the daughter of Denise Hammock. The Adairsville High School Elite Athlete of the Month for March 2023 is JJ Grimaldo. A sophomore, center midfielder on the Tigers’ soccer team, he is the son of Salvador and Elizabeth Grimaldo. “JJ is the leader of the team offensively,” said Adairsville head coach John Terrell. “He has scored or assisted on most of the goals scored. We started the season 0-4 but have now won six of our last ten games since his return from injury. He has become the driving factor in leading us to the playoffs for the first time in school history. He continues to grow as a leader on the field.” Grimaldo has a 3.4 GPA and would like to play soccer at the next level. He is considering a major in engineering. The March 2023 Elite Athlete of the Month representing Woodland High School is Knox Neal. A senior, Neal plays the No. 1 position on the Wildcats’ golf team and has won low medalist honors for most of his team’s tournaments this season. “Knox is a vital part of Woodland’s golf team,” said golf coach Middleton. “He has been on the team for four years and represents Woodland High School well in every event. Knox makes a concerted effort to help each player on the team improve. He is always willing to put his clubs down and work one-on-one with his teammates any time they ask for his advice.” The son of Jeff and Kelli Neal, Knox plans to pursue a Business degree at Jacksonville State University. Cayden Roberts is the March 2023 Elite Athlete of the Month for Cass High School. The son of Chris and Michelle Roberts, Cayden is a junior on the Colonels’ baseball team. For the month of March, Roberts carried a .303 batting average, a .452 on-base percentage, and a .515 slugging percentage as a hitter. He also pitched 18 innings collecting a pair of wins on the mound. He had a 3.75 strikeout-to-walk ratio during March. Roberts has been elected by his teammates as a team leader — a role he fills exceptionally by playing with passion and constantly uplifting and encouraging his teammates. “Cayden is an excellent representation of our program pillars of working hard and supporting our teammates,” said Colonels baseball coach Matt Thompson. 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

The No. 1-ranked Cartersville Purple Hurricanes swept a doubleheader with visiting Cass Tuesday night at the Cartersville Baseball Complex while the Woodland Wildcats were also busy completing a doubleheader sweep of visiting Calhoun. In Adairsville, the Tigers dropped a Region 6-AAA decision with the Lakeview-Fort Oglethorpe Warriors. CARTERSVILLE 4, CASS 1 The Purple Hurricanes got another strong start from pitcher Caden Carroll to win the first game of Tuesday night’s doubleheader with Cass 4-1. The Colonels scored a run in the top of the first for an early 1-0 lead but the Hurricanes answered with three runs in the bottom of the inning and never trailed again. Carroll pitched 5-⅓ innings and allowed just one earned run on six hits and two walks. The Kennesaw State commit struck out seven. Phillip Schiltz took the mound with one out in the sixth inning and closed out the game without allowing a run or a hit. Schiltz fanned four in 1-⅔ innings of work. Harrison Childers had two hits including one triple and two RBIs for Cartersville. Caleb Daniel also had two hits. Luke Miller (RBI), Isaac McNair-Seigler (RBI), Paul Gamble, and Kaden Stephenson (double) had the other hits for the Canes. Carson Hill started on the mound in a losing cause for Cass. He allowed four earned runs on eight hits and a pair of walks while striking out five in five innings. Trenton Payne worked a scoreless sixth inning for the Colonels without allowing a hit. He did walk one. Jesiel Moctezuma had two hits for the Colonels’ offense. Hunter Lovett (RBI), Connor Jenkins, Wesley Collins, and Hill had one hit apiece. CARTERSVILLE 10, CASS 0 In Game Two on Tuesday at the Cartersville Baseball Complex, Canes’ pitchers Nicholas Hruby and Geoffrey Gore combined for six shutout innings and ten strikeouts to blank the Colonels, 10-0. Hruby worked the first five innings, scattered six hits and fanned seven without issuing a walk. Gore struck out the side to close out the sixth inning. Landon Cole and Luke Miller (triple) had two hits each for the Hurricanes’ offense. Paul Gamble (two RBIs), Kaden Stephenson (double, two RBIs), Harrison Childers (RBI), Caleb Daniel (double, RBI), and Miles Owen (double) added one hit each. Six different Colonels — Hunter Lovett, Connor Jenkins, Cayden Roberts, Justin Peace, Carson Hill, and Nic Wright — had one hit each. Roberts (2.1 IP, 6ER, 7H, 1BB, 1K) made the start on the mound for Cass and took the loss. Peace (3.1 IP, 4ER, 1H, 5BB, 4K) relieved Roberts in the third inning and finished out the game on the mound. Cass (10-14, 5-6) will host Cartersville (23-2, 11-0) in the final game of their three-game series Thursday at 5:55 p.m. WOODLAND 8, CALHOUN 7 In the first game of their doubleheader Tuesday night, Woodland and Calhoun traded runs early and often but it was the host Wildcats who came away with an 8-7 victory. The game had four lead changes. Calhoun led 2-0 in the top of the first before the Wildcats scored three runs in the bottom of the first for a 3-2 advantage. Following a scoreless second inning, Calhoun scored four runs in the third to grab a 6-3 lead. The teams traded single runs in the fourth, but it was Woodland that came up with two runs in the fifth inning and two more in the sixth to squeeze out an 8-7 win. Woodland utilized four pitchers with Hunter Shirley (1 IP, 0R, 2H, 1BB, 2K) picking up the win by working a scoreless sixth inning. Ayden Ray (3 IP, 6R, 2ER, 4H, 2BB, 6K) made the pitching start for the Wildcats and Coby Barrett (2 IP, 1R, 0ER, 1H, 3K) retired six outs across the fourth and fifth innings. Zach Lambert (1 IP, 0R, 1H, 1BB, 1K) collected a save by closing out the final inning. Julian Wright had three hits to pace the Woodland offense. Ray finished with two hits including one double and one RBI. Connor Stermer (double, RBI) had the only other Wildcats’ hit. Mason Williams (sac fly) and Brett Good added one RBI each. WOODLAND 11, CALHOUN 0 In Game Two Tuesday night, Woodland starting pitcher Austin Daves tossed a five-inning, complete game shutout as the Wildcats cruised to an 11-0 win. Daves scattered two hits, two walks, and one hit batsman and kept the Yellow Jackets off the scoreboard. Meanwhile, the Woodland bats scored five runs in both the third and fourth innings to end the contest in five innings. Ayden Ray led the Wildcats’ offense with three hits including one double and one RBI. Connor Stermer followed with a pair of hits including one double and two RBIs. Mason Williams contributed one double and one RBI while Brett Good added one RBI. Woodland (14-12, 8-3) heads to Calhoun Thursday for the third game of their series with the Yellow Jackets (9-15, 6-5). First pitch is scheduled for 5:55 p.m. LAKEVIEW-FORT OGLETHORPE 9, ADAIRSVILLE 4 Lakeview-Fort Oglethorpe scored eight runs in the first two innings Tuesday night and earned a series split with Adairsville, 9-5. The visiting Tigers, who won the first game of the series at home Monday night, scored twice in the top of the first inning to lead 2-0 on a Chris Roper homer but LFO erased that lead in the bottom of the frame. The Warriors scored three times in the bottom of the first to take a 3-2 lead and added five more runs the next inning to lead 8-2. Adairsville narrowed the deficit to 8-4 in the fourth but got no closer. Chris Roper doubled, homered, and finished with two RBIs in the loss. Tyler Driggers had a double and two RBIs. Landon O’Neal and Evan Sanders added one hit apiece. Jack Whitley (1.1 IP, 6R, 2ER, 2H, 3BB, 1K) made the start for the Tigers and was tagged with the loss. Grayson Belcher (0.0 IP, 2ER, 0H, 2BB), Kaiden Coker (3.2 IP, 1R, 0ER, 6H, 1BB, 5K), and Hudson Parr (1 IP, 0R, 0H) pitched in relief. LFO improved to 13-11 overall and 5-5 in Region 6-AAA. Adairsville (12-10, 6-4) has a two-game series with Coahulla Creek Thursday and Friday. Thursday’s game is at home at 5:55 p.m. The Tigers visit the Colts at 5:55 p.m. on Friday.

The Adairsville girls' soccer team opened the 2023 Class AAA state playoffs Tuesday night with a convincing 8-1 win at Douglass-Atlanta. Lizzie LeMay scored three goals and had one assist for the Lady Tigers. Alivia Joslin had a pair of goals and two assists. Gabi Becerra assisted on three goals and scored Adairsville’s first goal. Carly Edwards finished with one goal and one assist while Emma Ridley added one goal. Adairsville led 4-0 at the half and outscored the Astros 4-1 in the second half. The Lady Tigers (11-5) will play at Oconee County in the second round on April 17. Oconee County (13-4-1) defeated Dawson County 5-1 Tuesday night in their first round matchup. LOGANVILLE 10, WOODLAND GIRLS 0 The Lady Cats were eliminated by Region 8-5A champion Loganville Tuesday night in the first round of the Class 5A state playoffs, 10-0. Loganville raced to an 8-0 lead by halftime. The season ends for the Woodland girls with a 3-9-1 record after reaching the state playoffs for a second straight season. Loganville (14-2-2) will host the Villa Rica/Greater Atlanta Christian winner in the second round on April 17. JEFFERSON 7, CARTERSVILLE GIRLS 0 The Lady Canes were eliminated in the first round of the Class 5A state playoffs Tuesday night at Jefferson, 7-0. The Dragons (12-1-1) advance to the second round and will face the Chattahoochee/Midtown winner on April 17. The Cartersville girls have their season end with a 6-8-1 record.

Following action Tuesday at Dellinger Park in the first two rounds of the 2023 Region 7-5A tennis tournament, the Cartersville girls and boys teams along with the Woodland boys and the Cass girls have locked up Class 5A state tournament berths. The top four teams from Region 7-5A will play opponents from Region 8-5A next week when the Class AAAAA State Tournament begins. The No. 1 and No. 2 seeds from each region will host first round matches. GIRLS REGION TOURNAMENT RESULTS First round Cass defeated Hiram (Hiram eliminated) Cartersville defeated Woodland (Woodland eliminated) Semifinals Calhoun defeated Cass Dalton defeated Cartersville Wednesday, 1pm Third Place Match: Cartersville vs. Cass Championship Match: Dalton vs. Calhoun BOYS REGION TOURNAMENT RESULTS First round Dalton defeated Hiram (Hiram eliminated) Woodland defeated Cass (Cass eliminated) Semifinals Calhoun defeated Dalton Cartersville defeated Woodland Wednesday, 3pm Third Place Match: Dalton vs. Woodland Championship Match: Calhoun vs. Cartersville

South Georgia State scored five runs in the third inning Tuesday and it turned out to be enough for a 5-3 win over Georgia Highlands in the opening game of this week’s four-game conference series between the two teams. The Chargers led 1-0 with a run in the first inning but could only manage two more runs — one in the fourth and another in the seventh. GHC starter Declan Dun (2.2 IP, 5ER, 9H, 1BB, 2K) suffered the pitching loss. Trip DoVale (6.1 IP, 0R, 3H, 3BB, 4K) took the mound in the third inning and kept the Hawks off the scoreboard the rest of the way. CJ Blackwell had two doubles for the Georgia Highlands offense. Mitchell Walker also had two hits including one double, one triple, and one RBI. Hudson Sapp (RBI), Connor Faulkner (RBI), Parker Poteet (triple), and Bryson Stipling added one hit each for the Chargers. South Georgia (26-17, 9-4) will host the remainder of the series with Georgia Highlands (26-15, 6-7). Game two of the series will be Friday and the Hawks and Chargers will play a doubleheader Saturday afternoon.

The Adairsville Tigers won their game Monday night over Lakeview-Fort Oglethorpe in dramatic walk-off fashion completing a 4-3 win at home. The visiting Warriors tied the game 3-3 in the top of the inning with a single run, but a Chris Roper RBI single on an 0-1 count in the bottom of the frame provided the Tigers’ deciding run. Both teams posted single runs in the second inning with Adairsville taking a 3-1 lead in the fourth with a pair of runs. The Warriors narrowed the margin with a run in the fifth before knotting the score in the top of the seventh. Jarrett Scott (1.1 IP, 1R, 0ER, 2H, 0BB) collected the pitching win for the Tigers in relief of starter Jack Nelson (5.2 IP, 2ER, 6H, 4BB, 6K). PJ Weeks ignited the Adairsville offense with three hits and two RBIs. Peyton Bowen followed with a pair of hits including a fourth inning solo home run. Nelson, Scott, and Roper (RBI) added the other Tigers’ hits. Lakeview-Fort Oglethorpe (12-11, 4-5) hosts Adairsville (12-9, 6-3) Tuesday to complete the home-and-home Region 6-AAA series. The Tigers host Coahulla Creek Thursday and travel to the Colts’ home field on Friday. All games are set for 5:55 p.m.

The Cartersville Purple Hurricanes extended their current winning streak to 15 games last week with three wins in the 2023 Battle for Bartow. The Canes won earlier in the week on their home field over Cedartown and then swept a pair of games Friday at LakePoint over Sandy Creek and Decatur. In other Battle for Bartow action Friday involving local teams, Woodland dropped a decision with Alexander to finish 1-2 in the event while Cass lost twice and was 0-3 for the tournament. CARTERSVILLE 5, SANDY CREEK 1 The Canes trailed 1-0 heading to the sixth inning Friday afternoon before posting five runs in their final two offensive frames for a 5-1 win at LakePoint in a Battle for Bartow contest. Cartersville pitchers Phillip Schiltz and Nicholas Hruby combined for ten strikeouts and limited the Patriots to a lone run in the second inning. Schiltz (5 IP, 1R, 0ER 3H, 0BB, 9K) started on the mound and finished off the first five innings while recording nine strikeouts. Hruby (2 IP, 0R, 0H, 0BB, 1K) struck out one and closed out the final two frames facing only one over the minimum. Five Hurricanes contributed one hit each on offense. Isaac McNair-Seigler (two RBIs), Landon Cole (double), Miles Owen, Caleb Daniel, and Hunter Kelly (RBI) had the Cartersville base hits. Kaden Stephenson added a sacrifice fly for one RBI. CARTERSVILLE 3, DECATUR 2 (12 inn.) The Purple Hurricanes extended their current winning streak to fifteen games Friday night by outlasting Decatur 3-2 in 12 innings in their 2023 Battle for Bartow finale at LakePoint. The two teams battled scoreless through seven innings. Sawyer Wilson started on the mound for Cartersville and scattered seven hits with two strikeouts. Ellington Hodge also worked seven shutout innings before giving up a pair of runs in the eighth. Hodge recorded four strikeouts in his start for the Bulldogs. The Canes, playing as the visitors, broke the ice with two runs in the top of the eighth but Decatur matched those runs in the bottom of the inning. The battle continued into the twelfth inning when the Hurricanes took the lead for good on Paul Gamble’s RBI double. Nate Russell took the mound for Cartersville in the bottom of the frame and closed out the game by facing the minimum. He had one strikeout. Logan Shrewsbury (4 IP, 2R, 0ER, 4H, 4BB, 5K) also pitched for Cartersville, retiring a dozen outs in the eighth through eleventh innings. Kaden Stephenson contributed three hits including a double for the Canes’ offense. Harrison Childers finished with two hits with one RBI. Miles Owen (RBI), Luke Miller, and Gamble (RBI double) had the other Cartersville hits. With their loss, Decatur slipped to 14-6 on the season. Top-ranked Cartersville (21-2) returns to Region 7-5A action Tuesday at home with a doubleheader against Cass. ALEXANDER 8, WOODLAND 5 Woodland led Alexander 5-4 going to the seventh inning Friday night at LakePoint but the Cougars took advantage of four timely hits and a hit batsman in the seventh inning to score four runs to take an 8-5 win. The game was played as part of the 2023 Battle for Bartow. The two teams traded the lead five times and the score was tied twice in the contest. Zach Lambert (2 IP, 4ER, 5H, 0BB, 2K) suffered the pitching loss for the Wildcats in relief of starter Ayden Ray (4 IP, 2R, 1ER, 2H, 4BB, 5K). Connor Stermer (1 IP, 2ER, 2H) also pitched and recorded the final three outs in the seventh. Ray led the Woodland offense with four hits including one double. Julian Wright hit a two-run home run in the bottom of the fifth inning that tied the game 3-3 at the time. Jakiyon Porter had one hit and two RBIs. Chase Carson (RBI) and Joshua Hicks had the other Wildcat base hits. Alexander improved to 16-8 on the season. Woodland (12-12, 6-3) returns to Region 7-5A play next week with a three-game series against Calhoun. The Wildcats will host a doubleheader Tuesday starting at 5 p.m. and play at Calhoun on Thursday. HERITAGE-CATOOSA 15, CASS 1 In the Colonels’ first of two games Friday at LakePoint in the Battle for Bartow, Heritage-Catoosa scored a dozen runs over the first three innings and a quartet of Generals’ pitchers combined to no-hit the Colonels in a 15-1 rout. Cass took advantage of two walks and one hit batsman in the first inning to score a run, but did not produce a hit in the game. The Colonels utilized four pitchers of their own. Hunter Lovett (1.1 IP, 9R, 4ER, 4H, 4BB, 3K) started on the mound and suffered the pitching loss. Justin Peace (0.2 IP, 3R, 2ER, 2H, 2BB), Wesley Collins (2.1 IP, 3ER, 2H, 4BB, 1K), and Chase Tatum (0.2 IP, 0R, 2H, 1BB, 1K) also pitched for Cass. JC Armour, Taylor Vinson, Ryland Black-Long, and Grayson May combined for the Generals’ no-hitter. Heritage improved to 17-7 on the season. WHITEWATER 7, CASS 6 In both teams’ final game at the 2023 Battle for Bartow, Whitewater grabbed a 5-0 lead in the top of the first inning and never trailed in a 7-6 win over Cass. Cass scored single runs in the first and third innings to make the score 5-2. The two teams then matched runs in the fourth and sixth innings to leave the Colonels trailing 7-4 heading into the final inning. Cass added two more runs in the bottom of the seventh and had the potential tying run in scoring position, but a strikeout and a groundout ended the Colonels’ rally. Devan Hutchinson (4 IP, 6R, 5ER, 6H, 2BB, 2K) was tagged with the Cass pitching loss. Cayden Roberts (3 IP, 1R, 0ER, 1H, 1BB, 1K) retired the final nine outs. Hunter Lovett had a pair of doubles for the Colonels’ offense. Connor Jenkins and Chase Tatum finished with one hit and two RBIs each. Jesiel Moctezum, Roberts, and Wesley Collins contributed one hit each. Whitewater improved to 15-10 on the season. The Colonels (10-12, 5-4) have now dropped six straight games and will face No. 1-ranked Cartersville in a three-game Region 7-5A series Tuesday and Thursday. The first two games will be at Richard Bell Field on Tuesday starting at 5 p.m. The third game of the series will be at the Cass High Athletic Complex on Thursday.

This past week’s summary for ‘Athletes Beyond Bartow’ includes updates on 28 pro and collegiate competitors from Bartow County across North America. MiLB MASON BARNETT — Quad Cities River Bandits (2nd yr. pro; Kansas City Royals High Class A affiliate; Auburn University; Cartersville HS) … assigned to the Royals’ High Class A affiliate to begin the 2023 season in Davenport, Iowa. The River Bandits are in the Midwest League. Barnett did not pitch in his team’s opening weekend. Quad Cities dropped all three games Friday through Sunday to the South Bend Cubs. This week the Bandits play six games at the Cedar Rapids Kernels. ANTHONY SEIGLER — Somerset Patriots (6th yr. pro; NY Yankees Double-A affiliate; Cartersville HS) … started two of his team’s three games in an opening weekend series against the Harrisburg Senators going 1-for-7 at the plate. The Patriots won two of the three games. Somerset plays six games Tuesday through Sunday at the Binghamton Rumble Ponies. PRO BASKETBALL AJ MOSBY — Sudbury Five (6th yr. pro; National Basketball League of Canada; Alcorn State; Cartersville HS) … scored 22 points and had three rebounds, two assists, and one steal in a 121-119 home win Saturday over the Windsor Express. The Five (18-5) lead the NBL-C by one-half game over the London Lightning. TENNIS EMILY BUSH — Young Harris College (Fr., Cartersville HS) … had the Mountain Lions’ only team point in a 6-1 loss at the University of North Georgia last Thursday. Bush outlasted 66th-ranked Johanna Lippert of UNG at Line 2 singles, 7-5, 5-7, 1-0 (10-8). She and her doubles partner, Catarina Marcko Ferreira lost at Line 3 doubles, 6-0. Young Harris (7-10, 1-3 Peach Belt Conference) visits Shorter University Wednesday afternoon, hosts Georgia College Friday, Piedmont Saturday, and Columbus State University Sunday in a busy week. EMILY SURCEY — Mississippi State University (So., Cass HS) … lost both of her Line 6 singles matches last week as the Bulldogs dropped SEC matches at LSU and 2nd-ranked Texas A&M. Mississippi State (10-12, 0-11) host Georgia Friday and Tennessee Sunday in the final two regular season matches of the year. TRACK AND FIELD STEPHEN SMITH — Kennesaw State University (Jr., Cass HS) … cleared 15-06.25 (4.73m) and placed third in the pole vault last Friday and Saturday at the 18-team Kennesaw State Invitational. The Owls won the meet scoring 453 points followed by Life University, Cumberland University (Tennessee), and the University of Montevallo. Next for KSU is the Mt. Sac Relays Wednesday through Saturday in Walnut, California, and the Samford Invitational Friday in Birmingham. ERIC TOVIAVE — Belmont University (Fr., Cartersville HS) … placed 14th in the 400m hurdles (57.78) and 19th in the 110m hurdles (19.23) at the Lee University Flames Invitational last Friday and Saturday. Lee won the 20-team event followed by Alabama-Huntsville, Wingate, and Belmont. Next on the Bruins’ schedule is the Pacific Coast Intercollegiate in Long Beach, California on Thursday and the Bryan Clay Invitational Thursday through Saturday in Azusa, California. GOLF BUCK BRUMLOW — University of Georgia (So., Cartersville HS) … tied for 13th as an individual and helped the Bulldogs to a tie for fifth place April 2-4 at The Calusa Cup in Naples, Florida. The nine-team tournament was conducted at the 7,320-yard, par-72 Calusa Pines Golf Club. Brumlow carded rounds of 73-76-71 as Georgia finished behind North Carolina, Wake Forest, Arizona State, and Vanderbilt. The Bulldogs tied with Texas Tech. Georgia concludes the regular season this Sunday by hosting the Classic City One Day in Athens. The SEC Championship will take place April 19-23 at Sea Island Golf Club in St. Simons, Georgia. JAKE WEHUNT — Young Harris College (Fr., Cartersville HS) … shot 75-76 April 3-4 and tied for 13th individually at the Shorter University Hawks Invitational played at Stonebridge Golf Club in Rome. The Mountain Lions were co-runners-up with Cleveland State CC. The eight-team tournament was won by Kentucky State University. Next for YHC is the Peach Belt Conference Championship on April 21-23 at Forest Hills Golf Club in Augusta. CHANC WILLIS — Reinhardt University (Jr., Cartersville HS) … shot 83 Monday in the first round of the Eagles Spring Invitational hosted by Reinhardt at Barnsley Gardens Resort in Adairsville. Following the opening round, Reinhardt was third behind Point University and Truett-McConnell University in the five-team tournament that concludes on Tuesday. SOFTBALL COLBI BALLARD — Shorter University (Sr., Cartersville HS) … in a pair of starts at Delta State last Friday and Saturday, Ballard was 1-for-6 with a double and one RBI at the plate. The Hawks (6-34, 1-22 Gulf South Conference) play a doubleheader Tuesday at Emmanuel College and will host the University of West Georgia Friday and Saturday in a three-game conference series. ANSLEY EVANS — Reinhardt University (So., Woodland HS) … started one of two wins last Thursday at Brenau University but was 0-for-4 at the plate. The Eagles (19-9, 14-2 Appalachian Athletic Conference) host Kentucky Christian Tuesday before traveling to Johnson University (Tennessee) Wednesday, Bluefield University (Virginia) Thursday, and will host Columbia International University Saturday. SADYE JOHNSON — University of North Georgia (So., Adairsville HS) … the Nighthawks’ catcher was inserted defensively in the top of the seventh Sunday in a 19-10 home loss to Columbus State. NCAA D-II No. 1-ranked UNG lost both games Sunday of their conference doubleheader with CSU snapping a 38-game winning streak. UNG (40-3, 19-2) bounced back Monday to defeat the visiting Cougars. The Nighthawks host a doubleheader with Auburn-Montgomery Tuesday and play three games Saturday and Sunday at Georgia College. ERYN LEE — Reinhardt University (Fr., Cass HS) … was utilized as a pinch runner in one of last Thursday’s two wins at Brenau University. The Eagles (19-9, 14-2 Appalachian Athletic Conference) host Kentucky Christian Tuesday before traveling to Johnson University (Tennessee) Wednesday, Bluefield University (Virginia) Thursday, and will host Columbia International University Saturday. RACHAEL LEE — Gulf Coast State CC (Fr., Cass HS) … made one start and appeared in two games last week as the Commodores dropped a pair of doubleheaders to Chipola CC and Northwest Florida State CC. Lee was 1-for-2 at the plate in her start. Gulf Coast State CC (25-16, 6-6 Panhandle Conference) visits Northwest Florida State Monday, Tallahassee CC Tuesday, and plays at Pensacola State Saturday. LAUREN McELHANEY — University of West Georgia (Jr., Cartersville HS) … made one start in the Wolves’ three-game home series with University of West Florida last weekend going 0-for-2 at the plate. UWG (10-13, 5-16 Gulf South Conference) plays a non-conference doubleheader at Lander University Tuesday and visits Shorter University for a three-game conference series Friday and Saturday. HOPE SHORT — Shorter University (Jr., Cartersville HS) … was 1-for-3 as a pinch hitter in three different games last week for the Hawks. Short had a hit at home against Georgia College last Wednesday in one of two wins but had a pair of unsuccessful pinch hitting appearances last Friday and Saturday at Delta State University as the Hawks dropped three games. Shorter plays at Emmanuel College Tuesday and entertains West Georgia this Friday and Saturday in a three-game Gulf South Conference series. ALEXA VARNER — Shorter University (Jr., Adairsville HS) … scored one run in both games last Wednesday at home appearing as a pinch runner against Georgia College. The Hawks swept both games but lost three over the weekend at Delta State University. The Hawks (6-34, 1-22 Gulf South Conference) play a doubleheader Tuesday at Emmanuel College and will host the University of West Georgia Friday and Saturday in a three-game conference series. BASEBALL CURT BONNER — LaGrange College (Fr., Cartersville HS) … hit safely in all four of the Panthers’ games last week as LaGrange lost at home to Berry on Tuesday and swept a three-game series with Belhaven University (Mississippi) last Wednesday through Friday. Making starts in left field, Bonner was 7-for-14 with one home run and six RBIs. 10th-ranked LaGrange (21-7, 9-0 Collegiate Conference of the South) hosts Oglethorpe University Tuesday and plays a three-game conference series Friday through Sunday at Piedmont University. KENNY JINKS — Wheeling University (Sr., Woodland HS) … made one start last Saturday at home against Notre Dame College (Ohio) and received no decision in a 7-6 loss. Jinks went 5-⅔ innings allowing four earned runs on one hit, seven walks, and one hit batsman. Wheeling was 2-3 for the week losing to Walsh University (Ohio) and splitting four games with Notre Dame College. The Cardinals (16-14, 7-9 Mountain East Conference) visit Clarion University (Pennsylvania) Tuesday and play a four-game conference series at Frostburg State University (Maryland) Saturday and Sunday. LOGAN MARTIN — University of Kentucky (Sr., Cartersville HS) … made a two-inning scoreless start and received no decision as 9th-ranked Kentucky won 7-4 at Georgia last Friday. Martin walked two and struck out three. He was lifted with the game still scoreless. The Wildcats went 2-2 for the week with one other win at home against Dayton and two losses at Georgia. Kentucky (27-5, 9-3) plays at Louisville Tuesday and has a three-game SEC series at LSU from Thursday through Saturday. COLT McKIBBEN — Lee University (Fr., Cartersville HS) … received no decision in a 3-⅓ inning home middle relief appearance against the University of Montevallo last Thursday. The Flames lost to the 10th-ranked Falcons, 19-16. McKibben allowed six earned runs on six hits and three hit batsmen. He struck out one. Lee won the other two games in the series 8-7 and 7-6. The Flames (20-17, 10-11 Gulf South Conference) host Tusculum University Tuesday night and a three-game series with Union University (Tennessee) Friday and Saturday. DREW ROTHSCHILD — Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College (Fr., Cartersville ) … started three of four games going 2-for-10 at the plate as the Stallions went 2-2 in a series with South Georgia State CC. He had one triple and three RBIs and stole one base. ABAC (21-22, 7-5 Georgia Collegiate Athletic Association) has four games this week with East Georgia CC. The Stallions visit East Georgia Tuesday and host the Bobcats Thursday and Saturday. STEVEN SPELL — Young Harris College (Sr., Cass HS) … the Mountain Lions were 1-3 last week with a loss at 2nd-ranked North Greenville and a three-game home sweep of Claflin University. Spell hit safely in all four games and was 5-for-17 with two walks, five runs scored, and four RBIs. YHC (28-11, 18-6 Peach Belt Conference) entertains Mars Hill University Tuesday afternoon, Carson-Newman University Wednesday, and visits USC-Beaufort Friday through Sunday for a three-game conference series) DEVIN WARNER — Georgia Gwinnett College (Jr., Cartersville HS) … was 2-for-3 with a double and two RBIs in the Grizzlies' only game last week on Friday at USC-Beaufort. He was also hit by a pitch and stole a base during the 11-5 win. Third-ranked GGC (32-5, 5-0 Continental Athletic Conference) hosts Talladega University Tuesday night and plays three games at home Friday through Sunday in the CAC Showdown. The Grizzlies will play Crowley’s Ridge (Arkansas), Voorhees (South Carolina), and Florida National. COHEN WILBANKS — Georgia Gwinnett College (Jr., Cartersville HS) … was 1-for-2 with one RBI in the Grizzlies’ 11-5 win last Friday at USC-Beaufort. The remaining two games of the scheduled three-game series were not completed. Georgia Gwinnett (32-5, 5-0 Continental Athletic Conference) is now ranked No. 3 in NAIA and will host three conference opponents — Crowley’s Ridge, Voorhees, and Florida National this weekend. JORDAN WILKIE — Augusta University (Sr., Cartersville HS) … in four games last week Wilkie was 4-for-17 at the plate and scored three runs as the Jaguars went 1-3. They lost last Tuesday at Francis Marion University and dropped two of three Thursday and Friday at USC-Aiken. Augusta (18-18, 11-13 Peach Belt Conference) plays at Erskine College Tuesday, at Anderson University Wednesday, and at Columbus State University Friday through Sunday in a three-game conference series. ZACH WILSON — Penn State Greater Allegheny (Jr., Woodland HS) … had two unsuccessful plate appearances last week as PSUGA dropped four games with Penn State Du Bois. Penn State-GA (13-14, 5-7) has four games Saturday and Sunday with Penn State Fayette.

Georgia Highlands and Gordon State split a doubleheader Friday at LakePoint to complete the four-game series between the two teams this week. Georgia Highlands won the first game 3-2 and Gordon State took the second game Friday 8-4. The doubleheader split earned the visiting Highlanders three wins in the four-game conference series. Trey Baker (6 IP, 2ER, 6H, 3BB, 5K) picked up the pitching win in Friday’s opener with a six inning performance. Chandler Anderson (1 IP, 0R, 1H) earned a save by closing out the seventh. Six Chargers contributed one hit each in the victory. Jay Murdock (two RBIs), Bryson Stripling (RBI), CJ Blackwell (double), Mitchell Walker (double), Trippe Moore, and Parker Poteet had the GHC hits. In Friday’s second game, Gordon State led 3-2 after the first two innings but the Highlanders took control of the game in the fourth by adding four more runs. The visitors added an insurance run in the sixth to build an 8-2 lead and held on for the win. Georgia Highlands scored single runs in the first and second innings. The Chargers' final two runs came in the bottom of the seventh. Poteet had two doubles and two RBIs for GHC. CJ Blackwell hit a solo home run in the second inning. Ryan Wideman contributed a hit and one RBI. Moore added the other Chargers’ hit. Friday’s split left Gordon State at 17-21 for the season and 6-6 in the Georgia Collegiate Athletic Association. Georgia Highlands (26-14, 6-6) hosts South Georgia Tuesday and will complete the four-game series next Friday and Saturday at South Georgia.

The Woodland Wildcats split a pair of games Thursday participating in the 2023 Battle for Bartow Baseball Classic at LakePoint. Woodland defeated Sonoraville 10-3 and lost to Heritage-Catoosa 14-4. WOODLAND 10, SONORAVILLE 3 Woodland starting pitcher Austin Daves battled through a rough first inning Thursday afternoon and his efforts were rewarded in a 10-3 win over Sonoraville in the Wildcats’ opening game of the Battle for Bartow at Lakepoint. Daves gave up three runs in the top of the first to the Class 4A 7th-ranked Phoenix and then tossed six shutout innings to register the pitching win. Sonoraville had three of their seven hits in that opening frame. Daves walked one, hit one batter, and struck out five. Meanwhile, the Woodland offense scored in each of its first four innings including two runs in the first, four in the second, and two more in both the third and fourth innings. Jakiyon Porter finished with three hits including one double and three RBIs. Ayden Ray had two hits and three RBIs. Chase Carson and Connor Stermer also pitched in with two hits each. Mason Williams contributed one double with one RBI. Julian Wright drove in a run with one hit and Rowan Billings added one RBI. HERITAGE-CATOOSA 14, WOODLAND 4 After taking an early 3-1 lead in the second inning, Woodland fell behind 6-3 in the bottom of the frame and ultimately lost to the Heritage-Catoosa Generals 14-4. The Wildcats narrowed their deficit to 6-4 in the third inning but an eight-run fifth inning by Heritage ended the game. Woodland utilized five pitchers in the loss with starter Hunter Shirley (1.2 IP, 6R, 5ER, 0H, 5BB, 1K) tagged with the loss. Zach Lambert (2.1 IP, 0R, 2H, 3K), Luke Evans (0.0 IP, 3ER, 3H), Coby Barrett (0.1 IP, 4ER, 2H, 2BB), and Logan Bentley (0.1 IP, 1R, 0ER, 1H, 1BB) also pitched. Ayden Ray had two hits including one double. Billings (RBI), Jakiyon Porter, Julian Wright, and Brett Good added one hit each. Conner Lujan was credited with one RBI. The win lifted Heritage-Catoosa to 15-7 on the season. Woodland (12-11) returns to LakePoint Friday night to play the Alexander Cougars.

Sonoraville pitchers AJ Hensley and Jaxon Pate combined to limit Cass to five hits and a single run in the sixth inning to edge the Colonels 2-1 in a Battle for Bartow contest at LakePoint. The Phoenix, ranked No. 7 in Class 4A, posted single runs in the second inning and fourth inning to build a 2-0 lead. The first run came on a solo home run by Brock Clements. Dawson Townsend singled home Sonoraville’s fourth inning run. Cass scored in the sixth inning on an RBI single by Cayden Roberts. Carson Hill (4 IP, 2R, 1ER, 4H, 1BB, 5K) made the pitching start for the Colonels and was saddled with the loss. Trenton Payne (1 IP, 0R, 0H, 2K) and Hunter Lovett (1 IP) also pitched for Cass. Hill had two hits including a double. Chase Tatum, Lovett, and Roberts had the other base hits for the Colonels. Sonoraville improved to 15-5 on the season. Cass (10-10) plays Heritage-Catoosa Friday at 4 p.m. in another Battle for Bartow matchup.