The Georgia Highlands Chargers won a pair of games Saturday at USC Salkehatchie in blowout fashion. In the opener, GHC won a 24-16 shootout and took the second game 13-1 in five innings. Chandler Anderson (2.2 IP, 0R, 0H, 0BB, 4K) retired all eight batters he faced and was credited with the pitching win for the Chargers in Game 1. Trey Baker (4 IP, 1ER, 6H, 2BB, 4K) was the winner in the second game. The offensive fireworks for Georgia Highlands included Austin Slate with five hits including one home run and one double with five RBIs. Ryan Wideman followed with four hits and two RBIs. Hudson Sapp finished with three hits including one home run, one double, and two RBIs. Nine other Chargers had two hits on the day including C.J. Blackwell (two doubles), Bryant Herring (double, RBI), Parker Poteet (two doubles, two RBIs), Adam Love (triple, double, two RBIs), Bryson Stripling (HR, double, four RBIs), Cole Turner, Jayden Talik (RBI), Mitchell Walker (HR, three RBIs), and Jay Murdock (HR, four RBIs). Georgia Highlands (15-5) hosts Roane State (Tenn.) CC Tuesday and has four games with Macomb (Mich.) CC Friday and Saturday.

Former Woodland High School standout wrestlers Caleb Henson and Jaxon Smith had strong performances at the ACC Championship and the Big Ten Championship this past weekend to earn spots in the NCAA National Championship. Henson, ranked eighth nationally, helped lead the Virginia Tech Hokies to a team runner-up finish at the ACC Championship. Smith, ranked 14th nationally, placed third at the Big Ten Championship. In basketball, at least five former local standouts are on teams continuing to advance in collegiate post-season action. In outdoor action, former Cartersville High tennis standout, Emily Bush, was 3-0 in her singles matches and 2-1 in her doubles sets last week playing Line 2 singles and Line 3 doubles at Young Harris College while former Canes baseball star Anthony Seigler made two more MBL Spring Training appearances with the New York Yankees. PRO BASKETBALL ASHTON HAGANS — Greensboro Swarm (NBA G-League; 3rd-year pro; Cartersville native; Kentucky; Newton HS) … in a pair of losses at the College Park Skyhawks last Thursday and Saturday, Hagans totaled 10 rebounds, eight points, eight assists, and six steals. The Swarm (8-16) are 13th of 15 teams in the G-League’s Eastern Conference. Greensboro travels to Texas for games Wednesday at the Rio Grande Vipers and Friday at the Austin Spurs. A.J. MOSBY — Sudbury Five (6th-year pro; NBL-Canada; Alcorn State; Cartersville HS) … scored 13 points and had three assists and one steal last Thursday in a 105-89 home loss to the London Lightning. Sudbury (10-4) hosts Flint United Thursday and Saturday. XFL VIC BEASLEY — Vegas Vipers (9th yr. pro; Clemson; Adairsville HS) … had one tackle assist in the Vipers’ 30-26 home loss to the Seattle Sea Dragons Saturday night. Vegas (0-3) plays Sunday at the D.C. Defenders. MLB SPRING TRAINING ANTHONY SEIGLER — New York Yankees (6th yr. pro; MLB non-roster invitee; Cartersville HS) … was utilized off the bench twice last week appearing at catcher and DH in games against the Detroit Tigers and the Atlanta Braves. He had a hit in his lone plate appearance last Wednesday against the Tigers and walked twice scoring one run in two plate appearances against the Braves. The Yankees lost to Detroit and beat Atlanta. Seigler is now 1-for-5 with three walks and one run scored in five Spring Training appearances with the MLB club. The Yankees, 6-4 in the Grapefruit League, play the Pirates twice, Red Sox twice, Cardinals, Tigers, and Phillies this week. TENNIS EMILY BUSH — Young Harris College (Fr., Cartersville HS) … won her Line 2 singles match 6-3, 6-0 and won at Line 3 doubles with partner Catarina Marcko Ferreira, 6-3 as the Mountain Lions defeated Reinhardt University last Tuesday. On Wednesday in a 6-1 loss at Erskine College, Bush had the only win at Line 2 singles 7-6, 6-4. She and her doubles partner lost 6-0 at Line 3. On Saturday during a 4-3 home win over Belmont Abbey, she was a 7-5 winner at Line 3 doubles and won her Line 2 singles match, 6-2, 6-0. YHC (5-6) hosts Oglethorpe University this Saturday afternoon. GOLF BUCK BRUMLOW — University of Georgia (So., Cartersville HS) … tied for 54th of 84 players as the Bulldogs finished ninth of 15 teams at the Southern Highlands Collegiate in Las Vegas February 26-28. Brumlow carded rounds of 72-74-76. 7th-ranked Illinois won the tournament with a 21-under-par total finishing ahead of Texas (-19) and Pepperdine (-18). Georgia finished 1-over-par as a team. The next tournament for UGA is the Linger Longer Invitational on March 19-21 in Eatonton, Georgia. WRESTLING ANGEL BANDA — Reinhardt University (Jr., Adairsville HS) … went 2-2 in bouts at the NAIA National Championship Tournament competing in the 125-pound weight class. KYLE GOLLHOFER — University of Northern Iowa (R-So., Woodland HS) … went 0-2 at the Big 12 Conference Championship Tournament in the 125-pound weight class falling 6-2 to Oklahoma State’s Reece Wincraft and 10-5 to Jore Volk of Wyoming. Gollhofer finished the 2023 campaign with an 8-13 record. CALEB HENSON — Virginia Tech (Fr., Woodland HS) … won the 149-pound weight class at the ACC Championship Sunday in Raleigh as the Hokies finished team runner-up to North Carolina State. Henson, ranked eighth nationally as an individual, improved to 21-3 on the season. He defeated Jackson Arrington of NC State in the finals with a 10-3 decision. The NCAA Championships are March 16-18 in Tulsa, Oklahoma. BRYCE KRESHO — Franklin & Marshall College (Fr., Cass HS) … EIWA Championship lost first round bout 5-1 to his opponent from Bucknell and dropped his consolation bout to an opponent from Binghampton 10-6. Finished his freshman season at 149 pounds with a 14-16 mark. JAXON SMITH — University of Maryland (R-Fr., Woodland HS) … ranked 14th nationally, Smith went 5-1 at the Big Ten Conference Championship in Ann Arbor, Michigan over the weekend and placed third in the 197-pound weight division. He improved to 21-6 on the season. The NCAA Championships are March 16-18 in Tulsa, Oklahoma. BASKETBALL ZAYLAN CHANEY — Lincoln Memorial University (Fr., Cartersville resident; Legacy Early College Prep) … played just two minutes in a quarterfinal round game with no stat line as the Railsplitters won 100-73 over Coker College at the South Atlantic Conference Tournament in Greenville, South Carolina. LMU then lost to the University of Virginia-Wise 86-78 in the semifinals but Sunday night received an at-large bid to the NCAA D-II National Tournament. The Railsplitters (27-4) were awarded a 3-seed and will face Lander University in the first round of the Southeast Regional in Augusta on Saturday. DiANTHONY HEATHCOCK — Columbia International University (Jr., Woodland HS) …. leading the Rams in scoring at 15.4 points per game, Heathcock helps lead CIU to its first-ever NAIA National Tournament appearance Tuesday night at No. 1-seed Grace College (Indiana) in the Duer Quadrant. The 6-7 forward started all 30 games this season and has also led the Rams in rebounding (8.5 rpg), blocked shots (26), and free throws attempted (103). Columbia International (18-13) is a 16-seed. T.J. HORTON — Georgia Highlands CC (So., Cartersville HS) … scored five points with four rebounds, two assists, and one steal last Wednesday in a 98-74 win at Gordon State. He followed Saturday with 10 points, eight rebounds, six steals, and two assists in a 74-64 home win over Albany Tech. The Chargers (21-9) host a quarterfinal round game of the Georgia Collegiate Athletic Association Tournament Tuesday night against Gordon State. KEARA McDANIEL — Toccoa Falls College (So., Cass HS) … joins her teammates starting Thursday in the Screaming Eagles’ first National Christian College Athletic Association national championship tournament in Joplin, Missouri. It will be the first appearance in the Christian College Division II tournament for Toccoa Falls since 1995. The Screaming Eagles (20-7) are the No. 7-seed in the eight-team tournament and will play 2nd-seeded Arlington Baptist University (16-6) in the first round. JAYLON PUGH — Lander University (Grad Student, Cartersville HS) … helped lead the Bearcats to the Peach Belt Conference title game last week in Augusta including an upset win over No. 1-seed USC-Aiken. Pugh scored 11 points in an 80-67 quarterfinal win over Young Harris last Thursday; scored 12 points in last Friday’s 93-81 win over USC-Aiken; and finished with 21 points in Sunday’s 86-72 championship game loss to host Augusta University. He also totaled seven rebounds, two assists, and one steal in the three-game tournament run. Lander (22-9) received an at-large bid as a 6-seed and will square off with Lincoln Memorial University Saturday in Augusta to open the NCAA D-II Southeast Regional. SOFTBALL LAINEY BAKER — Samford University (Fr., Woodland HS) … made a two-inning appearance and was tagged with the pitching loss last Friday in a 3-0 loss to Ball State at the University of Georgia Tournament. Baker (2-3) gave up three earned runs on four hits and hit one batter. Samford went 1-5 for the week. The Bulldogs (6-14) play Saturday and Sunday at the Jacksonville State Tournament. COLBI BALLARD — Shorter University (Sr., Cartersville HS) … made a start in the outfield and was 0-for-2 at the plate in a Hawks’ 7-5 home loss to Valdosta State University. Shorter was 0-5 for the week with two losses at the University of North Georgia and three against Valdosta State. The Hawks (4-18, 1-8) play a three-game Gulf South Conference series at the University of Montevallo Saturday and Sunday. SKYLAR CHAPPELL — Cottey College (Sr., Woodland HS) … appeared in three games last weekend for the Comets going 0-for-3 at the plate. Cottey had losses to Northeastern Oklahoma State, Evangel (Missouri), and Nebraska-Kearney but picked up a win over the University of Minnesota-Crookston. Cottey (8-9) faces Valley City State University (North Dakota), St. Clair College (Canada), Friends University (Kansas), Viterbo University (Wisconsin), Embry-Riddle University (Florida), and Doane University (Nebraska) this week at the Tucson, Arizona Invitational Games. ANSLEY EVANS — Reinhardt University (So., Woodland HS) … the Eagles’ third baseman was 3-for-4 with a pair of walks as Reinhardt took a pair of 2-0 decisions last Tuesday over visiting Bryan College (Tennessee). The Eagles (6-2, 2-0 Appalachian Athletic Conference) visit Point University Monday, visit USC-Beaufort Tuesday, travel to Coastal Georgia College Wednesday, and host Kentucky Christian and Montreat College Friday and Saturday. SADYE JOHNSON — University of North Georgia (So., Adairsville HS) … had a hit and one RBI in her only plate appearance last week. It came in a Nighthawks’ 17-5 home win over Shorter last Wednesday. UNG was 5-0 for the week with a pair of wins over Shorter and three over USC-Aiken. The NCAA D-II 2nd-ranked Nighthawks (20-1, 6-0 Peach Belt Conference) host Barry University Monday, Christian Brothers University Tuesday, and travel to Augusta University for a three-game PBC series Saturday and Sunday. ERYN LEE — Reinhardt University (Fr., Cass HS) … finished two wins over Bryan College last week 1-for-4 with a walk at the plate. The Eagles (6-2, 2-0 Appalachian Athletic Conference) visit Point University Monday, visit USC-Beaufort Tuesday, travel to Coastal Georgia College Wednesday, and host Kentucky Christian and Montreat College Friday and Saturday. RACHAEL LEE — Gulf Coast State CC (Fr., Cass HS) … the Commodores’ outfielder started four of five games and was 1-for-12 with a walk and two runs scored as Gulf Coast finished the week with two wins in five games at the NFCA Leadoff Classic in Columbus, Georgia. The Commodores (14-9) host Lurleen B. Wallace CC Monday and entertain Coastal Alabama-Brewton CC Thursday. LAUREN McELHANEY — University of West Georgia (Jr., Cartersville HS) … the Wolves’ catcher started in a 9-7 loss to visiting Union University (Tennessee) Saturday going 0-for-3 at the plate. West Georgia dropped two of three games to the visiting Bulldogs. The Wolves (3-15, 2-7 Gulf South Conference) host Auburn Montgomery Wednesday and travel to Valdosta State for a three-game GSC series Saturday and Sunday. HOPE SHORT — Shorter University (Jr., Cartersville HS) … made a start as her team’s designated hitter and was 0-for-3 at the plate last Wednesday in a 17-5 loss at 2nd-ranked University of North Georgia. The Hawks were 0-5 for the week with two losses at UNG and three at home to Valdosta State. Shorter (4-18, 1-8 Gulf South Conference) plays a three-game GSC series Saturday and Sunday at the University of Montevallo. ALEXA VARNER — Shorter University (Jr., Adairsville HS) … was 1-for-5 with one RBI in a pair of starts last week. She started at shortstop at North Georgia and in left field in a home game against Valdosta State. The Hawks (4-18, 1-8 Gulf South Conference) had an 0-5 week with upcoming conference games this weekend at the University of Montevallo. BASEBALL CURT BONNER — LaGrange College (Fr., Cartersville HS) … came off the bench and had his second walk-off hit of the season last Saturday as 4th-ranked LaGrange beat North Carolina Wesleyan 4-3. Bonner was 2-for-2 in the win including the game-winning RBI. Sunday, he was 3-for-3 with three walks, two RBIs, and two runs scored in a start at catcher as the Panthers topped the Battlin’ Bishops 15-9. LaGrange (8-3) hosts Wittenberg University Monday before playing three games this weekend in Milligan, Tennessee against Centenary (Louisiana), Westfield State (Massachusetts), and the University of Chicago. LOGAN MARTIN — University of Kentucky (Sr., Cartersville HS) … made a four-inning start last Saturday and received no decision in a Wildcats’ 4-2 home win over Indiana State. Martin allowed two runs on four hits and three walks and exited with his team ahead 4-2. Kentucky was 5-0 for the week sweeping Morehead State and the Sycamores. The Wildcats (9-2) host Murray State Tuesday, Ohio University Wednesday, and a three-game series with Southern Illinois Friday through Sunday. COLT McKIBBEN — Lee University (Fr., Cartersville HS) … retired four outs last Wednesday in the first and second innings as the Flames beat visiting Lane College, 13-3. The southpaw allowed one earned run on two hits receiving no decision. Lee was 2-2 for the week winning just one of three games at home with Auburn-Montgomery. The Flames (10-9, 5-4 Gulf South Conference) visit Lincoln Memorial University Wednesday and host a three-game, non-conference series with Frostburg State Friday through Sunday. SAM MELTON — Rockingham CC (Fr., Cartersville HS) … in a doubleheader at Barton College JV last Wednesday, Melton made a pitching relief appearance allowing one earned run on one hit and one walk. He also struck out one in a 10-7 loss. In the second game, he started at third base and was 1-for-1 with two walks, a sacrifice, and one run scored in a 10-3 win. In a three-game series Saturday and Sunday at Virginia Peninsula CC, Melton was 3-for-10 with three walks, two RBIs, and four runs scored as the Eagles won twice. Rockingham (5-13, 2-1 Div. III Region 10) hosts Ferrum JV Tuesday and Caldwell Tech Saturday in doubleheaders before visiting Caldwell Tech on Sunday. DREW ROTHSCHILD — Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College (Fr., Cartersville HS) … in a home loss last Wednesday to Santa Fe CC (Fla.) and a home doubleheader split Saturday with Tallahassee CC, Rothschild was 5-for-10 at the plate with three walks, three RBIs, and stole a pair of bases. ABAC (6-15) has home-and-home games with Florida State-Jacksonville CC Tuesday and Wednesday and a home doubleheader Thursday with Jackson CC (Michigan). SCOTTY SMITH — Covenant College (So., Woodland HS) … started as his team’s designated hitter and was 0-for-3 in a 4-2 home win Saturday over Emory University. The Scots (3-2) play at Emory Monday, at Birmingham-Southern College Tuesday night, and host Calvin University (Michigan) for three games Friday and Saturday. STEVEN SPELL — Young Harris College (Sr., Cass HS) … during a three-game home series with Georgia College Saturday and Sunday, the Mountain Lions’ third baseman was 4-for-9 including a home run, two doubles, two walks, and two RBIs. Young Harris (13-6, 6-3 Peach Belt Conference) plays at Alabama-Huntsville Tuesday before hosting a three-game conference series with Georgia Southwestern State Friday through Sunday. DEVIN WARNER — Georgia Gwinnett College (Jr., Cartersville HS) … in four starts against Clarke University (Iowa) and Lourdes University (Ohio), the Grizzlies’ third baseman was 6-for-14 at the plate with two homers, two doubles, one walk, one sacrifice fly, five runs scored and nine RBIs. GGC was 4-0 for the week and improved to 17-2 on the season — pushing their current winning streak to 11 games. The NAIA 7th-ranked Grizzlies host Madonna University (Michigan) Tuesday and Wednesday and will play Iowa Wesleyan University and Fisher University (Massachusetts) while hosting the Continental Athletic Conference Invitational. PRESTON WELCHEL — Tennessee Wesleyan University (So., Cartersville HS) … as the 3rd-ranked Bulldogs swept a three-game series at Milligan University last weekend, Welchel was 1-for-12 at the plate with one walk and one RBI. TWU (16-1, 9-0 Appalachian Athletic Conference) plays Texas A&M-Texarkana in a single game Tuesday and 4th-ranked LSU-Shreveport in single games Tuesday and Wednesday in Shreveport. The Bulldogs then host Kentucky Christian University Friday and Saturday in a three-game conference series. COHEN WILBANKS — Georgia Gwinett College (Jr., Cartersville HS) … appeared in two home games against Clarke University (Iowa) making one start, and also appeared in a home game against Lourdes University (Ohio) this past weekend. The Grizzlies’ catcher was 5-for-7 at the plate including four doubles, one hit by pitch, and four RBIs. GGC, currently ranked No. 7, swept their four home games last Friday through Sunday. Georgia Gwinnett hosts Madonna University (Michigan) Tuesday and Wednesday and will play Iowa Wesleyan University and Fisher University (Massachusetts) while hosting the Continental Athletic Conference Invitational. DAVIS WILLIAMS — Birmingham-Southern College (So., Cartersville) … made a five-inning start and earned a pitching win this past Saturday as the Panthers won at Sewanee-University of the South, 7-2. Williams allowed two earned runs on eight hits, two walks, and one hit batsman. He fanned five. 4th-ranked BSC (13-1, 3-0 Southern Athletic Association) hosts Covenant College Tuesday night, Huntingdon College Wednesday night, and Emory University Friday night before visiting Emory Sunday afternoon. JORDAN WILKIE — Augusta University (Sr., Cartersville HS) … while the Jaguars defeated visiting North Greenville last Wednesday and won one of three games in a home series with North Georgia over the weekend, the first baseman was 3-for-18 at the plate, scored two runs, and added one RBI. Augusta (5-10, 3-6 Peach Belt Conference) hosts The College of Saint Rose Tuesday and Wednesday afternoon and travels to Claflin University for a three-game series Friday and Saturday.

The Cass boys were runner-up and the Cass girls finished third Saturday at the 11-team Southeast Whitfield Invitational in Dalton. The girls' meet was won by Dalton with 143 points. Heritage-Catoosa was runner-up followed by Cass (78), Ridgeland (76.5), and Southeast Whitfield (54). Adairsville (38) finished ninth. Calhoun won the boys’ meet with 127 points. Cass (100) was runner-up followed by Dalton (96), Heritage-Catoosa (84), and Southeast Whitfield (83). Adairsville (47) was eighth. Top Three finishes by Cass and Adairsville: 1st — Girls 100M Dash — Cass — Kaitlyn Godwin — 12.58 1st — Girls 400M Dash — Cass — Kaitlyn Godwin — 1:03.25 1st — Girls 200M Dash — Cass — Kaitlyn Godwin — 26.62 1st — Girls 1600M Run — Adairsville — Callie Viktora — 6:15.17 1st — Boys 3200M Run — Adairsville — David Betanzos — 10:28.00 2nd — Girls 100M Hurdles — Cass — Nakayla KK Evans — 17.77 2nd — Boys 100M Dash — Cass — Sacovie White — 11.06 2nd — Boys 1600M Run — Cass — Critton Gearhart — 4:55.54 2nd — Boys 800M Run — Cass — Adam Pierce — 2:10.06 2nd — Boys Long Jump — Cass — JaShaun Brown Whatley — 20-08.25 2nd — Girls Long Jump — Cass — Nyliah Woods — 15-08.00 2nd — Boys Triple Jump — Cass — Colin Holt — 39-11.00 2nd — Boys 4x200M Relay — Cass — Colin Holt, Braylon Hill, JaShaun Brown Whatley, Sacovie White — 1:36.13 2nd — Girls 4x100M Relay — Cass — Markayla Sanford, Kiana McDaniel, Nyliah Woods, Kaitlyn Godwin — 53.07 3rd — Girls 100M Dash — Cass — Nakayla KK Evans — 13.52 3rd — Girls 400M Dash — Adairsville — Taya Putt — 1:07.02 3rd — Boys Triple Jump — Adairsville — Noah Matthew — 39-08.25 3rd — Boys 4x800M Relay — Cass — Critton Gearhart, Adam Pierce, Andrew Rampey, Jason Wright — 9:06.25 Cass will compete Wednesday at Woodland.

Cartersville High School hosted the Area 10 Championship rifle match last Wednesday and scored their highest team score ever - 1122. Their score landed them a second place finish in Area 10, barely outscoring Allatoona by one point, and Ridgeland by three points. This was the first time the Canes have ever bested Ridgeland in the three-year history of the program. Cherokee took top honors. The Warriors beat the Canes by just two points. Lafayette and Etowah tied with 1107 scores, but Lafayette took fifth place in the area championship with more bullseyes than Etowah. Caleb Adams led the Canes' scoring efforts with his personal best score, the team's high score, and the match's fourth place score of 287. Freshman, Lucy Evans had the Canes' second-highest and the match's ninth-highest score of 281. Team Captain Angelina Christ shot a 277 as did Katerina Christ - who shot also shot her personal best match score. Freshman Harper Cole Eubanks shot a 272. Sophomores Caleb Adams and Louis Rangel were recognized for shooting perfect 100 prone scores during the season, and freshman Lucy Evans was recognized for shooting Area 10's highest standing score of the season, a 97. The Canes move on to the first round of the post-season and will host their first home post-season match on Wednesday, March 8th on their new home range.

The Woodland Wildcats made the trip to Canton Saturday and split games with Forsyth Central and host Cherokee. Woodland won the opener with Forsyth Central 6-4, but fell to Cherokee in their second game of the day, 7-3. WOODLAND 6, FORSYTH CENTRAL 4 The Bulldogs held a 1-0 lead through two innings but the Wildcats posted three runs in the third inning and two more in the fourth to gain control. Woodland outhit Forsyth Central eight to three but both teams struggled defensively combining for 10 errors. Austin Daves (4.1 IP, 3R, 0ER 3H, 2BB, 3K) started on the mound and earned the pitching victory for Woodland. All three runs against the starter were unearned. Zach Lambert entered for the Wildcats in the fifth inning and worked into the seventh. Coby Barrett was credited with a save, striking out the only batter he faced. Julian Wright had two hits and one RBI. He was one of four Wildcats to have a double in the contest. Jakiyon Porter, Ayden Ray (RBI), and Connor Lujan also contributed doubles for the Woodland offense. Rowan Billings, Chase Carson, and Brett Good added one hit each. The loss dropped Forsyth Central to 6-5 on the season. CHEROKEE 7, WOODLAND 3 Cherokee grabbed a 3-0 lead in the bottom of the third Saturday night and never trailed in a 7-3 win over Woodland. The Wildcats narrowed their deficit to 3-2 in the top of the fourth but three more runs by the Warriors in the bottom of the fourth built a 6-2 lead for the hosts. Cherokee added one more run in the fifth and Woodland scored a single run in the sixth for the 7-3 final score. Alex Morales had three hits for the Warriors with one RBI. Jackson Bradfield drove in a run with two hits including a double. Alex Shaw hit a solo home run for Cherokee. Hunter Shirley (2 IP, 3ER, 2H, 6BB, 2K) started on the mound for Woodland and took the pitching loss. Coby Barrett (1 IP, 0R, 1H), Logan Bentley (1 IP, 3R, 0ER, 3H, 1BB), Zach Lambert (1 IP, 1ER, 2H, 1BB, 2K), and Ayden Ray (1 IP, 0R, 1H, 2K) each worked an inning of relief for the Wildcats. Chase Carson and Mason Williams had two hits each for Woodland. Brett Good (double, RBI), Julian Wright, Connor Stermer, and Jakiyon Porter added one hit each. Ray drove in a run with a sacrifice fly. Cherokee, who also beat Forsyth Central earlier in the day, improved to 10-1. Woodland (6-4) visits Sonoraville Monday for a 5:30 p.m. first pitch.

The Adairsville Tigers traveled to White County Saturday and split a non-region doubleheader with the Warriors. White County won the opening game 9-5 and the Tigers started quickly in the nightcap to come away with a 9-4 win. ADAIRSVILLE 9, WHITE COUNTY 4 The Tigers started quickly in the second game of Saturday’s twin bill at White County scoring six runs across the first two innings. Adairsville added three more runs over the final five frames and held off the Warriors late for a 9-4 victory. The bats were lively in the second game with the two teams combining for 25 hits. The Tigers had 14. Jack Whitley (6.2 IP, 4R, 3ER, 11H, 1BB, 5K) started on the mound for Adairsville and earned the pitching win. His troubles in the seventh inning were snuffed out by Kaiden Coker (0.1 IP, 0R, 0H) who retired the only batter he faced with a fly out. Jarrett Scott had three hits and two RBIs in the Tigers’ win. Peyton Bowen and Evan Sanders both finished with two hits and one RBI. PJ Weeks also finished with a pair of hits. Chris Roper (RBI), Braxton Ryan (RBI), Grayson Belcher, Dawson Craig (double), and Landon O’Neal added one hit each. WHITE COUNTY 9, ADAIRSVILLE 5 In the first game of the day, the host Warriors scored five runs in the third inning and added on the rest of the way in an eventual 9-5 win in Cleveland. Adairsville actually led 2-1 going into the bottom of the third but did not add their other three runs until trailing 9-2 going to the top of the sixth. Jack Nelson (4.1 IP, 9R, 6ER, 10H, 3BB, 4K) started the opener and took the pitching loss. Dawson Craig (1.2 IP, 0R, 0H, 0BB) retired the final five outs on the mound for the Tigers. Kyler Mayo (RBI) and Kanaan Cleveland (2 RBIs) had two hits each for White County. Trevor Butler (5.1 IP, 5R, 3ER, 5H, 3BB, 5K) earned the pitching win by working into the sixth inning for the Warriors. Jarrett Scott (2 RBIs) and Chris Roper (double) had two hits apiece for the Tigers’ offense. Braxton Ryan contributed a double and two RBIs. Evan Sanders and Jack Whitley had one hit each. PJ Weeks added one RBI. The doubleheader split leaves White County with a 4-4 record for the season. Adairsville (6-2) will visit McEachern Monday at 5 p.m. and has a home-and-home series with Cartersville Thursday at Richard Bell Field and Friday at home.

The Purple Hurricanes split a pair of consolation games Saturday in Hoover, Alabama to wrap up their visit to the 2023 Perfect Game High School Showdown by splitting four games during the week. Cartersville defeated Cullman (Alabama) in the Canes’ first game Saturday before falling to Catholic-Baton Rouge later in the day, 5-1. Thursday, Cartersville beat Chelsea (Alabama) 1-0 and lost to DeSoto Central (Mississippi) Friday night, 5-1. CARTERSVILLE 3, CULLMAN (AL) 1 The Hurricanes strung together six singles in the inning and produced all three of their runs in the top of the third in an eventual 3-1 win over Cullman (Alabama) at the Hoover Sports Complex. Canes’ pitchers Sawyer Wilson (5 IP, 1ER, 4H, 1BB, 3K) and Phillip Schiltz (2 IP, 0R, 0H, 1BB, 4K) made those runs enough by keeping the Bearcats (3-2) off-balance most of the day. Luke Miller, Caleb Daniel (double, RBI), and Miles Owen (RBI) had two hits apiece for Cartersville. Gavin Shrewsbury (RBI), Harrison Childers, and Paul Gamble added one hit each. CATHOLIC-BATON ROUGE (LA) 5, CARTERSVILLE 1 Catholic-Baton Rouge (Louisiana) posted five runs in the first four innings and Bears’ junior pitcher Ryan Ainsworth limited Cartersville to just three hits to defeat the Canes in their final PG High School Showdown consolation game Saturday afternoon. Ainsworth allowed just one run and struck out seven while tossing a complete game. Clayton Pourciav and Jack Ruckert both homered for Catholic and combined with Prescott Marsh for six of the Bears’ nine hits and four RBIs. Geoffrey Gore (1 IP, 3ER, 2H, 3BB, 1K) started on the mound for Cartersville and suffered the pitching loss. Nicholas Hruby (3 IP, 2ER, 4H, 1BB) and Dawson Bishop (3 IP, 0R, 3H, 3K) also pitched for the Hurricanes. Harrison Childers, Isaac McNair-Seigler, and Ryan Johnson had one hit each for Cartersville. Catholic-Baton Rouge improved to 7-2 on the season. Cartersville (6-2) hosts Adairsville Thursday at 5 p.m. and will play at Adairsville on Friday.

Georgia Highlands baseball improved to 13-5 on the season by winning four of their last five February 24-28. The Chargers beat Wallace State-Hanceville CC 8-1 on Friday (Feb. 24) and then won three of four in a home-and-home series with Chattahoochee Valley CC last Saturday (Feb. 25) and Tuesday (Feb. 28). Georgia Highlands won the first three matchups with the Pirates 5-3, 8-5, and 9-1 before dropping the second game at CVCC, 7-3. In the matchup with Wallace State at the Rome Braves’ Advent Health Stadium, the Chargers pounded out 11 hits including four doubles. Starting pitcher Oliver Wood struck out seven and scattered just two hits and one walk across seven innings to earn his first pitching win. In the three wins during the series with Chattahoochee Valley, Trey Baker tossed five innings with five strikeouts to earn his third win of the year. Chandler Anderson fanned three to collect his first pitching win, and Jeremy Gay allowed just one earned run in five innings with two strikeouts for his first win. Cason Rich retired the final five outs — striking out three — in the third game of the series for his second save of the year. The Chargers’ bats were alive in the four-game series led by Ryan Wideman’s seven hits that included a homer, three doubles, and three RBIs. Hudson Sapp completed the series with four hits including a pair of triples, a double, and two RBIs. Bryant Herring hit three home runs among his four hits and six RBIs and Austin Slate also had a four-hit series with a pair of RBIs. Zayd Brannigan (RBI), Jay Murdock (RBI, double), Connor Faulkner (2 RBIs, double), and Bryson Stripling (2 RBIs, double) each contributed three hits in the CVCC series. Georgia Highlands is scheduled for a three-game series with USC-Salkehatchie this weekend.and begins Georgia Collegiate Athletic Association play Tuesday with South Georgia State.

The Cass Colonels fell behind early, battled back to send the game into extra innings, but then fell to the Paulding County Patriots in nine innings Friday night at LakePoint in Emerson. Spencer Pethel hit a three-run home run in the top of the first inning to put the Patriots in front early and Paulding added another run in the second to go up 4-0. Cass responded with the game’s next four runs to knot the score. A pair of walks and two hit batsmen plated the Colonels’ first run in the bottom of the second. Jesiel Moctezuma followed with a sacrifice fly to cut the Cass deficit to 4-2. Neither team scored over the next three innings but the Colonels took advantage of a single by Chase Tatum, a dropped third strike, and a pair of walks to narrow the Patriots’ lead to 4-3 in the bottom of the sixth. Down a run in their final frame of regulation play, a two-out single by Moctezuma was followed by Hunter Lovett’s RBI double to send the game to extra innings. Following a scoreless eighth inning, Paulding took advantage of an infield error and two singles to take a 5-4 lead. The Colonels got the potential tying run to second base with a walk and another single by Moctezuma, but were unable to complete another comeback. Hunter Redden (3.1 IP, 1ER, 3H, 2BB, 4K) was the winning pitcher for Paulding County in relief of starting pitcher Pethel (3 IP, 2ER, 1H, 3BB, 6K) and middle reliever Chris Carson (2.2 IP, 1ER, 4H, 3BB, 6K). Jack Shipp (four hits, two doubles), Josh Wilder, and Pethel combined for eight of the Patriots’ 14 hits and four RBIs. Devan Hutchinson (2.2 IP, 1R, 0ER, 3H, 0BB, 1K) was the tough-luck losing pitcher for the Colonels despite not allowing an earned run. Cayden Roberts (1.1 IP, 3ER, 4H, 1BB, 1K) started on the mound. Trenton Payne (3.2 IP, 0R, 5H, 1BB, 2K) and Wesley Collins (1.1 IP, 0R, 1H, 2BB, 1K) also pitched. Moctezuma finished with three hits and one RBI. Lovett had two hits including a double and one RBI. Connor Jenkins contributed a pair of hits and Tatum added the other Cass safety. Paulding County improved to 4-6 on the season. Cass (3-4) returns to action Monday at home against Central-Carroll at 5:55 p.m.

Cartersville baseball stood toe-to-toe with DeSoto Central (Ala.) for five innings Friday night in the quarterfinal round of the Perfect Game High School Showdown’s White Bracket, but a big sixth inning by the Jaguars ultimately secured a 5-1 win. A pair of DeSoto Central pitchers — Gavin Brassfield and Colton Coates — combined to limit Cartersville to just one hit. DeSoto Central opened the scoring with a run in the bottom of the first inning on three singles. From there, the two teams battled scoreless and stalemated for the next four and one-half innings. In the Jags’ half of the sixth, they produced three hits and took advantage of a hit batsman and a walk to build a 5-0 advantage. Trip Bradley singled to drive in a run in the Canes’ half of the seventh and Cartersville loaded the bases with two outs, but their threat ended with a groundout. Brassfield (5 IP, 0R, 0H, 5BB, 6K) worked five complete innings for DeSoto Central without allowing a run or a hit to collect the pitching victory. Coates (2 IP, 1ER, 1H, 3BB, 3K) closed out the final two innings for the Jaguars. Cartersville’s Ryan Johnson (5 IP, 2ER, 4H, 2BB, 4K) was tagged with the pitching loss. Geoffrey Gore (1 IP, 3ER, 2H, 1BB) retired the final three outs for the Canes. Luke Sides, Austin Kilpatrick, and Noah Smith combined for four of the Jaguars’ six hits and combined for four RBIs. DeSoto Central improved to 5-3 on the season and advanced to Friday night’s semifinal round to play Archbishop McCarthy (Fla.). Cartersville (5-1) will play a pair of consolation games Saturday at 11:30 a.m. ET and at 2 p.m. on Field 3 at the hover Met Sports Complex. The Canes will play Hartselle (Ala.) in the later game. Their early game opponent had not been determined at the time of this article's release.

The Cartersville Purple Hurricanes got an RBI double off the bat of Kaden Stephenson in the second inning Thursday night and pitchers Caden Carroll and Phillip Schiltz made that run stand-up, in a 1-0 win over Chelsea (Alabama) at the Perfect Game High School Showdown in Hoover, Alabama. Carroll (6.1 IP, 0R, 1H, 3BB, 10K) started on the mound for the Canes and carried a no-hitter into the seventh inning before giving way to Schiltz (0.2 IP, 2K) who struck out the final two batters to end a bases loaded threat. Cody Fortenberry had the lone hit for the Hornets and it didn’t come without controversy. It was a swinging bunt that rolled up the third base line that the Canes believed was off the foot of the batter. The roller was followed by a pair of walks to load the bases before Schiltz shut down the threat. Cartersville managed only two other hits in addition to the key double by Stephenson. Miles Owen and Caleb Daniel added one hit each. The Hurricanes (5-0) advance to the quarterfinals of the White Bracket to face Desoto Central (Alabama) Friday at 4:30 p.m. ET The winner will play again Friday night at 9:30 p.m. in the single-elimination bracket semifinals. The title game is secheduled for 11:30 a.m. ET on Saturday at the Hoover Met Complex.

The Woodland girls and boys tennis teams both earned 3-2 match wins Wednesday at home over the Adairsville Tigers with the Lady Cats sweeping both doubles lines to secure victory while the Wildcats won all three singles lines. WOODLAND GIRLS 3, ADAIRSVILLE 2 Woodland singles: Line 1 — Jalyn Womack lost 3-6, 1-6 Line 2 — Abby Cates won 6-0, 6-0 Line 3 — Ally Schmanski lost 4-6, 3-6 Woodland doubles: Line 1 — Jolie Fanin/Kathryn Kovacic won 6-1, 7-6 Line 2 — Faith Owens/Diana Librado won 6-4, 6-2 WOODLAND BOYS 3, ADAIRSVILLE 2 Woodland singles: Line 1 — Cadyn Wade won 6-1, 6-1 Line 2 — Peter Heins won 6-1, 6-7, 10-5 Line 3 — Domenic Ciavarro won 6-2, 6-1 Woodland doubles: Line 1 — Titus Bagley/Jathan Camp lost 5-7, 3-6 Line 2 — Jack Gore/Mason Williams lost 3-6, 2-6 The Wildcats and Lady Cats host Model Monday in a 4:30 p.m. match and Allatoona Tuesday, also in a 4:30 p.m. start.