Cartersville Little League Majors baseball summaries for games played May 2-5. MONDAY, MAY 2 RANGERS 9, TIGERS 6 RANGERS: Will Groce two hits including one double, two RBIs; Emory Weaver two hits, two RBIs; Tyler Hickman two hits; Caden McMullin one double, one RBI; Brock Morris one hit, one RBI; Brayden Barnes one RBI. Pitching: Tyler Hickman (4 IP, 4R, 2ER, 3H, 3BB, 6K); Caden McMullin (1.2 IP, 1ER, 0H, 1BB, 4K); Cayden Bagley (0.1 IP, 1ER, 2H). TIGERS: Aiden Turner one home run, two RBIs; Christopher Parker one triple, one RBI; Will Phillips one hit, one RBI; Cam Kachinsky and Steven Tumlin one hit each; Logan Kemp one RBI. Pitching: Kolston Privett (2.2 IP, 0R, 2BB, 1K); Braxton Lemon (0.2 IP, 4R, 1ER, 3H, 1K); Will Phillips (2 IP, 5ER, 5H, 4BB, 2K). PHILLIES 18, COLTS 3 PHILLIES: Colton Dunagan three hits including two home runs, seven RBIs; Luke Thomson two hits including one double, two RBIs; Caiden Cline two hits including one double, one RBI; Max Stepp one double, three RBIs; Owen Morneault and Noah Leffew one double, two RBIs each; Everett Owen and Jayden Winston one hit each. Pitching: Luke Thomson (3 IP, 3R, 1ER, 4H, 2BB, 7K). COLTS: River Wade two hits; Benjamin Milam and Demetrius Wynn one hit, one RBI each. Pitching: Andy Holstein (2 IP, 7R, 6ER, 7H, 2BB, 2K); Jude Hamilton (0.0 IP, 4ER, 2H, 2BB); Wesley Gravley (0.2 IP, 7R, 2ER, 2H, 3BB); Benjamin Milam (0.0 IP, 1H). TUESDAY, MAY 3 PADRES 14, DODGERS 2 PADRES: Jack McCurry one double, one triple, three RBIs; Parker Huth two hits including one triple, three RBIs; Jackson Vaughan one triple, one RBI; Darren Cole one hit, one RBI; Corbin Mullinax, Anthony Hunt, and Easton Raines one hit each. Pitching: Darren Cole (2 IP, 1ER, 3H, 0BB, 3K); Trey Smith (2 IP, 1R, 0ER, 2H, 0BB, 1K). DODGERS: Blake Genrich one double; Noah Kearney, Jeremiah Huff, Bennett Bryant, and Benny Powell one hit each. Pitching: Bennett Bryant (2 IP, 9R, 6ER, 7H, 2BB, 2K); Jaxon Dice (1 IP, 4R, 0ER, 1H, 2BB, 1K); Brody Parker (1 IP, 1R, 0ER, 1H). A’s 13, BRAVES 3 A’s: Zane Robertson three hits including one double, one triple, four RBIs; Peyton Duren two hits, two RBIs; Bowen Hardy two hits including one double, one RBI; Elliott Penn one double, two RBIs; Mason Davis one double, one RBI; Cade McFarland, James Guffey, and Charlie Perkins one hit, one RBI each. Pitching: Peyton Duren (1 IP, 2R, 0ER, 1H, 1BB, 1K); Bowen Hardy (1.1 IP, 0R, 0H, 1BB, 2K). BRAVES: Easton Lee one double, one triple; Cade Rogan and Henry Culverhouse one hit each; Maddox Henderson one RBI. Pitching: Micah Henderson (2.2 IP, 9ER, 7H, 5BB, 5K). WEDNESDAY, MAY 4 RANGERS 10, TIGERS 3 RANGERS: Tyler Hickman three hits including two doubles, three RBIs; Brooks Fulton three hits including one double, two RBIs; Emory Weaver two doubles; Caden McMullin two hits including one triple; Will Groce, Joel Rensch, Xander Yanas, and Brock Morris one hit each. Pitching: Will Groce (2 IP, 1R, 0ER, 1H, 1BB, 3K); Emory Weaver (4 iP, 2R, 1ER, 6H, 1BB, 5K). TIGERS: Aiden Turner two hits, one RBI; Braxton Lemon one triple; Steven Tumlin, Will Phillips, and Kolston Privett one hit each. Pitching: Kolston Privett (2 IP, 6ER, 8H, 2BB, 2K); Cam Kachinsky (4 IP, 4R, 3ER, 6H, 3BB, 7K). PHILLIES 12, COLTS 4 PHILLIES: Colton Dunagan two hits; Caiden Cline one double, two RBIs; Jayden Winston one hit, one RBI; Max Stepp one hit; Noah Leffew and Everett Owen one RBI each. Pitching: Noah Leffew (5 IP, 4R, 0ER, 5H, 3BB, 4K); Colton Dunagan (1 IP, 0R, 0H, 3BB, 1K). COLTS: River Wade two doubles; Benjamin Milam one hit, one RBI; Andy Holstein and Wesley Gravley one hit each. Pitching: Brant Rutledge (4 IP, 8R, 3ER, 3H, 5BB, 8K); River Wade (2 IP, 4R, 0ER, 2H, 0BB, 3K). THURSDAY, MAY 5 PADRES 9, DODGERS 8 PADRES: Darren Cole four hits including two triples, three RBIs; Parker Huth two doubles, two RBIs; Davian Turner one triple, two RBIs; Drew Morris one hit; Jackson Vaughan one RBI. Pitching: Parker Huth (5 IP, 7R, 4ER, 7H, 3BB, 9K); Corbin Mullinax (2 IP, 1ER, 2H, 1BB, 1K). DODGERS: Noah Kearney three hits including one double, one triple, one RBI; Gabriel Hullander one triple, one RBI; Blake Genrich one double, one RBI; Jeremiah Huff and Jaxon Dice one hit, one RBI each; Bennett Bryant one double; Camden Jones one hit. Pitching: Blake Genrich (4 IP, 5ER, 4H, 5BB, 9K); Camden Jones (2 IP, 3R, 2ER, 3H, 0BB, 1K); Jeremiah Huff (0.2 IP, 1R, 0ER, 1H). BRAVES 6, A’s 0 BRAVES: Avery Slye one double, one triple, one RBI; Henry Culverhouse two hits, one RBI; Easton Lee one triple; Micah Henderson one hit; Maddox Henderson and Dylan Nguyen one RBI each. Pitching: Avery Slye (6 IP, 0R, 2H, 10K). A’s: Mason Davis one double; Bowen Hardy one hit. Pitching: Mason Davis (4 IP, 4ER, 5H, 4BB, 4K); Bowen Hardy (1 IP, 2R, 1ER, 1H, 0BB, 3K). CARTERSVILLE LITTLE LEAGUE MAJOR STANDINGS (through games played Thursday, May 5) Rangers . . . . . . . 15-0 Phillies . . . . . . . . 11-4 Tigers . . . . . . . . . 8-7 Colts . . . . . . . . . . 8-7 Padres . . . . . . . . . 8-7 Dodgers . . . . . . . . 5-10 Braves . . . . . . . . . 3-12 A’s . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-13 Little League Major results are provided to Bartow Sports Zone by Cartersville Little League and Bartow County Little League. The game data is shared by the leagues via GameChanger reports from the respective teams and/or leagues. Results and capsules are sponsored on Bartow Sports Zone by The Benefit Consulting Group of Cartersville and George F. Willis Realty.

Georgia Highlands College softball concluded the 2022 season Saturday at Stars Field with a pair of dramatic, walk-off wins over visiting Gordon State, 16-15 and 8-7. Although the two wins left the Chargers short of qualifying for the GCAA conference tournament, they were able to send off their 2022 sophomores in style. Trailing 15-13 in the bottom of the seventh of the opener, Alli Deweese belted a three-run home run to lift the Chargers to a 16-15 victory. In the second game of the day, Haley Robinson worked all seven innings in the circle before delivering a solo shot in the bottom of the frame for an 8-7 win. It was her second homer of the game. Hailey Cronic completed the doubleheader with six hits including three doubles and one RBI. Deweese followed with five hits including a pair of homers and six RBIs. Robinson produced four hits on the day including her two solo homers. Madison Dennis also smacked a pair of home runs and finished the day with four RBIs. Kyndal Brown drove in a pair of runs on two hits including a double. Annsley Todd (HR, 2RBIs), Haley Overton (HR, 3RBIs), Audrey Johnson (HR, 3 RBIs), Bradey Tharp, and Taylor Justice added one hit each for the day. Gordon State finished the regular season 24-17 overall and 15-9 in conference play. The Highlanders will be the No. 2-seed in the GCAA Championship Tournament Thursday and Friday at Strong Rock Christian School in Locust Grove. Georgia Highlands finishes the year 16-36 overall and 9-15 in the Georgia Collegiate Athletic Association.

Bartow County Little League Majors baseball summaries for games played April 25-28 MONDAY, APRIL 25 CARDINALS 5, GIANTS 4 CARDINALS: Tate Broom and Cole Williams one hit each. Pitching: Cole Williams (1.1 IP, 1R, 1H, 3BB); Bryce Patterson (1.1 IP, 0R, 0H, 0BB, 2K); Cooper Rampley (0.2 IP, 3R, 0H, 4BB); Easton Mullinax (1.2 IP, 0R, 2H, 0BB, 2K). GIANTS: Noah Janssen, Kamdyn Rowland, and August Blasengame one hit each. Pitching: Bryson Weaver (4 IP, 5R, 2H, 1BB, 7K). RANGERS 11, TIGERS 5 RANGERS: Logan Smith, Maddox Koontz, Blaine Groce, Jackson Bowman, and Thatcher Hall two hits each; Nash Roberts, Brodie Gardner, and Matthew Smith one hit each. Pitching: Matthew Smith (2.1 IP, 5R, 8H, 0BB, 5K); Caleb (2.2 IP, 0R, 0BB, 5K). TIGERS: Jaxton Huskins, Lucas Andrews, and Harrison Mills two hits each; Brady Young and Kayden Fletcher one hit each. Pitching: Caleb Carter (4 IP, 9R, 10H, 5BB, 1K); Jaxton Huskins (1 IP, 2R, 4H). TUESDAY, APRIL 26 BRAVES 9, TWINS 1 BRAVES: Elijah Bryant and Gunner Pullen two hits each; Huck Garland, Grayson Isham, and TJ Tuggles one hit each. Pitching: Mitchell Raughton (1 IP, 0R); Matt Zander (1 IP, 0R, 1H, 3K); Grayson Isham (2 IP, 1R, 0H, 2BB, 6K); Gunner Pullen (1 IP, 0R, 0H, 1BB, 2K). TWINS: Noah Rogers one hit. Pitching: JoVonni Delgado (3 IP, 5R, 5H, 6BB, 3K); Karsin Darby (1 IP, 4R, 2H, 2BB, 3K). THURSDAY, APRIL 28 RANGERS 8, TWINS 4 RANGERS: Blaine Groce three hits; Nash Roberts, Parker Declan, and Logn Smith two hits each; Maddox Koontz one hit. Pitching: Blaine Groce (4.2 IP, 4R, 3H, 5BB, 10K); Brodie Gardner (1.1 IP, 0R, 0H, 1BB, 1K). TWINS: Cade McCorkle two hits; Noah Rogers one hit. Pitching: Houston Walden (1 IP, 3R, 5H, 1BB, 2K); Noah Rogers (2.2 IP, 4R, 4H, 3BB, 4K); Cade McCorkle (1.1 IP, 1R, 1H, 1K). ORIOLES 4, CARDINALS 3 ORIOLES: Dawson Warner three hits; Landon Farmer and Alfredo Romo two hits each; Asher Hardin one hit. Pitching: Alfredo Romo (3.2 IP, 0R, 0H, 2BB, 8K); Asher Hardin (1 IP, 0R, 0H, 2BB, 1K); Dawson Warner (1 IP, 3R, 1H, 2BB, 1K); Jace Radford (0.1 IP). CARDINALS: Yacovett Jackson one hit. Pitching: Bryce Patterson (3 IP, 3R, 5H, 3BB, 6K); Tate Broome (2 IP, 1R, 2H, 2BB, 4K); Cooper Rampley (1 IP, 0R, 1H, 0BB, 3K). Little League Major results are provided to Bartow Sports Zone by Cartersville Little League and Bartow County Little League. The game data is shared by the leagues via GameChanger reports from the respective teams and/or leagues. Results and capsules are sponsored on Bartow Sports Zone by The Benefit Consulting Group of Cartersville and George F. Willis Realty.

Georgia Highlands softball lost both games of a conference doubleheader Thursday at Georgia Military College in Milledgeville, falling 9-1 and 11-7. Taylor Justice homered for the Chargers in the first game providing the only GHC run. Brady Tharp and Hailey Cronic had the only other base hits. In the second loss, Georgia Highlands produced a dozen hits and led 5-4 midway through the fourth inning. The host Bulldogs responded with four runs in the fourth inning and three more in the fifth to take control of the game. Madison Dennis, Audrey Johnson, Kyndal Brown (2 RBIs), and Tharp all had two hits each for the Chargers. Cronic (2 RBIs), Annsley Todd, Allison Deweese (RBI), and Haley Robinson (solo HR) added one hit each. GMC improved to 33-19 overall and 14-8 in conference play. Georgia Highlands (14-36, 7-15) hosts a doubleheader with Gordon State Saturday at Stars Field at 1 p.m. to complete regular season play.

The Georgia High School Association voted Wednesday morning that all athletes who want to play sports must participate based on the sex on their birth certificate. The GHSA, which represents 463 high schools, voted unanimously to go back to their 2017 bylaws, which said all high school athletes must compete based on the gender that is on the athlete’s birth certificate. “We wanted to keep a level playing field,” GHSA executive director Dr. Robin Hines said. Hines told reporters Wednesday that there was not a particular case that forced the high school sports governing body to make this ruling. “It really hasn’t been an issue. It’s out of a concern of competitive imbalance, understanding there is biological differences,” Hines said. Hines said the fact that members voted unanimously, shows the support for the policy but that doesn’t mean it’s perfect. “Any bylaw that’s in our constitution and bylaws, is certainly appealable,” Hines said. The new policy will be put in place immediately and will be part of the 2022-23 school calendar.

ATHLETES BEYOND BARTOW A weekly review of local collegiate and professional athletes around the country with ties to the Cartersville and Bartow County community. This week's report includes an update on a trio of former Cartersville High baseball players toiling at the professional level; a conference golf championship for former Canes Chanc Willis and Dalton Henson; plus more college baseball, softball, pro hoops, tennis, and track and field. PRO BASEBALL Sam Howard (Indianapolis, Pittsburgh Pirates organization; Cartersville) — Howard received a call up April 26, appearing in three games before being optioned back to Triple-A Indianapolis May 2. The southpaw gave up two earned runs across his trio of outings, which totaled two innings. Howard struck out one but walked four, gave up two hits and hit a batter. Connor Justus (Charleston Dirty Birds; Cartersville) — Starting all six games during the week of April 26-May 1, Justus finished 6-for-22, with three walks, five runs and four RBIs. Charleston went 2-4 during the week, falling to 6-4 on the season. Anthony Seigler (Tampa Tarpons, N.Y. Yankees organization; Cartersville) — Seigler started all five games of a home series against the Lakeland Flying Tigers. He spent three games behind the plate and served as designated hitter in the other two. Overall, the former first-round selection went 5-for-13 with two doubles, a home run, four walks, three runs scored and two RBIs. COLLEGE BASEBALL Mason Barnett (Auburn Jr., Cartersville) — Barnett started and threw three-plus innings in an eventual 8-4 victory April 26 at Jacksonville State. The right-hander struck out five but allowed one run on four hits, two walks and a hit batsman. Micah Earwood (Georgia State Fr., Cartersville) — Earwood made a pair of one-inning relief appearances in road losses last week at Georgia and Troy. The former Canes star threw the sixth inning versus the Bulldogs, working around two hits to post a scoreless frame. Against the Trojans, Earwood allowed four runs on five hits in the eighth inning while striking out two. Jake Gooch (Central Alabama So., Cartersville) — Gooch finished 3-for-13 with four runs scored and two RBIs during a four-game home-and-home series with Lawson State. Kenny Jinks (Shorter Jr., Woodland) — In a pair of outings last week in heavy road defeats at Georgia Southwestern and Auburn-Montgomery, Jinks allowed six runs over 4 2/3 innings. The southpaw gave up five runs in a five-out relief appearance. He struck out three but gave up four hits, issued a walk and plunked a batter. Jinks bounced back in a start April 29. Despite allowing four hits and a walk, the former Wildcat exited after three innings with the Eagles holding a 2-1 lead. Brycen Jones (West Georgia Jr., Cartersville) — Jones was charged with four runs on four hits and two walks during a one-inning appearance out of the bullpen in a loss April 30 at Montevallo. Logan Martin (Sewanee Jr., Cartersville) — Despite giving up seven runs over seven innings, Martin earned an upset win over third-ranked Birmingham-Southern in the first round of the Southern Athletic Association tournament. Sewanee's offense broke open a tied game in the top of the eighth en route to a 16-7 win. The right-hander gave up seven hits, two walks and a hit batsman, while striking out nine. Mason McBee (Coastal Alabama South Fr., Cartersville) — McBee threw a scoreless inning during the second game of the Sun Chiefs' four-game sweep of Wallace Community College-Selma. The righty struck out two and walked one in the brief outing. Scotty Smith (Covenant Fr., Cass) — In Covenant's regular-season finale, Smith made a pinch-hitting appearance, walking and scoring a run, and played third base in a 12-4 win April 30 at Berea (Kentucky). Steven Spell (Young Harris Jr., Cass) — Spell finished 4-for-10 with two runs scored, as Young Harris dropped two out of three games to conclude the regular season April 29-May 1 at Georgia Southwestern. Next up, the Mountain Lions will face Flagler in a best-of-three series, with the winner earning a spot in the double-elimination portion of the Peach Belt Conference tournament. Preston Welchel (Coastal Alabama South So., Cartersville) — During the home-and-home sweep of Wallace-Selma, Welchel went 6-for-13 with eight runs scored and six RBIs. In the series finale, the left-handed hitter finished 3-for-3 with two home runs, three runs scored and four RBIs. Cohen Wilbanks (Georgia Gwinnett So., Cartersville) — Wilbanks caught the final frame of a 12-2, seven-inning win against Brewton-Parker April 26 at home. Davis Williams (Birmingham-Southern Fr., Cartersville) — In addition to a brief outing in Williams recorded two victories in the SAA tournament, helping regular-season champion Birmingham-Southern win its four-team pod and reach the conference finals. Hosting No. 8 seed Sewanee, No. 5 seed Hendrix and No. 4 seed Oglethorpe, BSC reeled off five straight wins after a loss in its opener. With their backs against the wall, Williams landed a win against Oglethorpe, tossing three scoreless innings. He gave up one hit and struck out one. In an 8-4 triumph against Hendrix to set up a winner-take-all final, Williams tossed a season-high 4 2/3 innings to close out the game. The right-hander allowed two runs on six hits and a walk, while striking out five. BSC will host sixth-seeded Millsaps in the best-of-three championship series. Jordan Wilkie (Augusta Jr., Cartersville) — Augusta's final week consisted of five losses, but Wilkie recorded hits in each contest, finishing the year with a .317 batting average. He posted six hits across 21 at-bats, spanning single defeats to Erskine and Anderson (South Carolina) in addition to a three-game sweep versus Georgia College. Wilkie doubled, tripled, scored three times and drove in one run. PRO BASKETBALL A.J. Mosby (Albany Patroons, The Basketball League; Cartersville) — Mosby finished with 22 points in addition to seven rebounds, three assists and one steal in a 99-83 win over Atlantic City April 30 at home. GOLF Dalton Henson (Reinhardt So., Cartersville) — Henson finished tied for 12th as Reinhardt won the Appalachian Athletic Conference tournament by 19 strokes April 25-26 at Barnsley Gardens Resort. In the three-round event, Henson finished 18 shots over par, highlighted by an even-par 72 in the second round. With the victory, the Eagles, who were sixth after the opening round, received an automatic bid to the NAIA National tournament that will take place May 17-20 in Silvis, Illinois. Chanc Willis (Reinhardt So., Cartersville) — Willis placed 11th overall in the AAC championship, shooting a 16-over 232. He finished with the third-lowest score among the Eagles, just ahead of his former Canes teammate. SOFTBALL Colbi Ballard (Shorter Jr., Cartersville) — Ballard finished 0-for-2 with a walk during a season-ending three-game weekend sweep at the hands of Auburn-Montgomery. Morgan Cooper (Columbus State Fr., Woodland) — Cooper served as a pinch-runner April 30 during the seventh inning of Columbus State's series opener against USC-Aiken. The Cougars will enter the Peach Belt Conference tournament as the No. 2 seed. Presly Edwards (Wesleyan Jr., Cartersville) — Edwards went hitless while appearing in four of Wesleyan's five games last week. Wesleyan went 4-1, winning a play-in game and surviving a winner-take-all bracket final in the USA South tournament after entering as a No. 5 seed. Having won their bracket, the Wovles will contest a best-of-three series with Piedmont, winner of the conference's other bracket, for the league's overall title and automatic bid to the NCAA tournament. Ansley Evans (Reinhardt Fr., Woodland) — During four games in the Appalachian Athletic Conference tournament, Evans went 3-for-9 with a run scored and three RBIs. Second-seeded Reinhardt placed fourth after finishing 2-2 in the event, with wins over Point and Brenau and losses to Tennessee Wesleyan and Truett McConnell. Brianna Hill (Covenant So., Woodland) — Hill made a pinch-hitting appearance in Covenant's USA South tournament opener. The Scots went 0-2 in Piedmont's bracket, suffering narrow losses to Greensboro (2-0) and Methodist (4-3). Sadye Johnson (North Georgia Fr., Adairsville) — Johnson appeared in three games last week for the Nighthawks, finishing 0-for-4 with a run scored. North Georgia ended the regular season winning all five of its games last week. The top seed for the Peach Belt Conference tournament, the Nighthawks will open against either Young Harris or Georgia Southwestern in the semifinals. Lauren McElhaney (West Georgia So., Cartersville) — In a season-ending series April 29-30 at Montevallo, McElhaney started all three games at catcher. The former Canes backstop went 2-for-9 with a run scored and two RBIs. Hope Short (Shorter So., Cartersville) — Short was hitless in a pinch-hitting appearance during Shorter's season finale. Hannah Todd (Houston Grad Student, Cartersville) — Houston lost its four games last week, while scoring just one total run. Todd saw action in three of the contests, suffering defeats in the two games she started. In a midweek loss to Louisiana, Todd tossed 1 2/3 scoreless innings out of the bullpen, allowing one hit and one walk. She didn't allow a single earned run in a 4-0 defeat in the series opener against South Florida. In the series finale, Todd was charged with four runs (three earned) over 3 2/3 innings. Across those two appearances against the Bulls, the right-hander struck out five against seven hits and four walks. Alexa Varner (Shorter So., Adairsville) — Varner came off the bench to pinch-run in one game and finished 0-for-1 at the dish in another contest during the Auburn-Montgomery series. TENNIS Christy Turner (Coppin State Sr., Woodland) — In the first round of the MEAC tournament, Turner fell 6-1 on Line 3 doubles and had her Line 4 singles match end early when Morgan State secured a 4-0 victory April 28 in Cary, North Carolina. Bryce VanOrder (Piedmont So., Woodland) — VanOrder dropped a 6-2, 6-0 decision on Line 2 singles as Piedmont came up short to Southern Virginia by a 6-3 final score in the quarterfinals of the USA South tournament April 28 at the Rome Tennis Center. TRACK AND FIELD Stephen Smith (Kennesaw State Jr., Cass) — Smith was one of five pole vaulters to finish with a max height of 4.82 meters during the Torrin Lawrence Memorial meet hosted by the University of Georgia April 29-30 in Athens. Smith finished third among the five and sixth overall at the meet. ~~ Nicholas Sullivan of The Daily Tribune News contributed to this report.

The No. 1-ranked Cartersville Purple Hurricanes closed out their second round Class 5A playoff series Tuesday night with a doubleheader sweep of the visiting Coffee Trojans. After the Canes took the opening game 3-2, the locals eliminated Coffee in Game 2, 6-0. Game 1 story available HERE. In the series clincher, Cartersville starting pitcher Caden Carroll was solid on the mound working six shutout innings. He scattered four hits and did not walk a batter while striking out nine. Phillip Schiltz, who earned a save in the first game of the night, closed out the seventh inning. Schiltz surrendered a one-out double, but wrapped up his shutout frame with a fly out and a ground out. Playing as the visiting team in Game 2, Cartersville took an early lead with a run in the top of the first inning on a Hank Smith RBI single. In the top of the third, Harrison Childers’ RBI single, Jacob Ray’s RBI double, and a sacrifice fly by Blake Sutton built the Hurricanes a 4-0 lead. Ray singled home another run in the fifth inning and Drew Rothschild closed out the Cartersville scoring with an insurance solo home run to lead off the seventh inning. Childers finished Game 2 with three hits and one RBI. Ray had two hits including a double and two RBIs. Hank Smith (RBI) also finished with two hits. Rothschild (HR), Curt Bonner, Elliott Eastin, and Caleb Daniel added one hit apiece. The year ends for Coffee with a 19-11 record. Cartersville (27-5) advances to the state quarterfinals for the 23rd time in the past 26 seasons. The Canes will now host Greenbrier in the Class 5A quarters in a best-of-three series at Richard Bell Field. The series will begin with a doubleheader Monday. If a third game is needed, it will be on Tuesday. The Wolfpack (22-9) finished third in Region 8-5A during the regular season, but swept Jackson in the first round of the state playoffs and Ola in the second round Tuesday night, 12-2 and 6-0.

Georgia Highlands College baseball fell behind 9-4 through five innings Tuesday at LakePoint but the Chargers scored four runs in each of the next two frames to secure a pivotal 12-9 home conference win over Abraham Baldwin. The win also enabled the Chargers to keep pace with co-conference leader South Georgia. The Hawks were hosting last place Andrew College Tuesday night. Conner Todaro homered twice and finished with six RBIs for the Chargers. Max Kops also hit a solo home run. Mick Moody (RBI), Zayd Brannigan (RBI), Ethan Anderson, and Ben Olson added one hit each. Austin Slate contributed one RBI. Seven different Chargers pitchers took the mound in the Georgia Highlands win with Bubba Luke, Zack Valentine, Cason Rich, Caleb Garner, and Chandler Wood combining for six scoreless innings from the fourth inning forward. The loss drops ABAC to 28-23 overall and 13-11 in the Georgia Collegiate Athletic Association. In the chase for the No. 1-seed in the upcoming conference tournament, GHC (41-9, 17-7) closes out the regular season and conference schedule at home Thursday afternoon (2 p.m.) against Gordon State while South Georgia hosts ABAC Thursday night. The GCAA tournament is set for May 9-12 at LakePoint.

With two runs in the bottom of the first inning and another run in the third inning, the Cartersville Purple Hurricanes held off a strong challenge from the Coffee Trojans in Game 1 of their best-of-three, second round state playoff series Tuesday at Richard Bell Field. On the mound for the Canes, starter Ryan Johnson and reliever Phillip Schiltz combined for a two hitter in the victory. The win pulls the Canes to within one win of advancing to the Class 5A state quarterfinals. Johnson went 5-and-2/3 innings yielding just two earned runs on two hits and four walks. He struck out five Trojans while earning the pitching win. Phillip Schiltz entered in the sixth inning with two on and two outs and got his first only strikeout to get out of the jam. He then worked around an infield error in the seventh by striking out the side to earn a save. Curt Bonner (double) and Caleb Daniel (single) opened the Canes’ first inning and both scored on a two-run double by Hank Smith. After Coffee tied the score in the third inning on a single, a walk, and a two-run triple, Cartersville regained the lead for good in the bottom of the inning. Elliott Eastin reached on an infield error and advanced to third on a base hit by Daniel. Drew Rothschild then forced home the game-winner with a groundout that scored Eastin. Justin Swords pitched all six innings for Coffee giving up just five hits and one walk for two earned runs (three total). Zaelyn Smith and Brady Skipper (2 RBIs) had the only hits for the Trojans. Cartersville, the No. 1-ranked team in Class 5A, improved to 26-5 with Game 2 of the series scheduled for Tuesday night at 7 p.m. at Richard Bell Field. Cartersville can clinch the series with a victory in Game 2. A win by the Trojans (19-10) would force a rubber game Wednesday at 5:30 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. Rowan Billings is the Woodland High School Elite Athlete of the Month for April 2022. A junior pitcher and first baseman for the Wildcats’ baseball team, Billings had an outstanding season coming back from elbow surgery the year before. In 2022, the Woodland hurler worked 25 innings on the mound with a 4-1 record. He struck out 25 with only four walks and a 0.56 ERA. “Rowan has just been working his way back to be able to be on the mound in the second half of our season,” said Wildcats head coach Matt Montgomery. “Being able to pitch again has been a big boost for our team. He has put in countless hours outside of practices to take care of his arm and get ready. His effort and commitment has paid off with his performance. He’s a hard worker on the field and in the classroom.” Billings has a 4.0 GPA with a numerical grade point average of 98 while taking Advanced Placement and Honors classes. He plans to continue his baseball career at the collegiate level but is undecided where at this time. He is the son of Jason and Sherry Billings. The Cartersville High School Elite Athlete of the Month for April 2022 is Caden Carroll. A junior pitcher for the Class 5A No. 1-ranked Hurricanes’ baseball team, Carroll had a 7-0 record with a 1.76 ERA in the regular season. He struck out 73 during the regular season and only walked 14. “Caden is an extremely hard worker,” said Cartersville head baseball coach Kyle Tucker. “He has enjoyed a tremendous junior season. He had a minor injury that caused him to miss his entire sophomore season, so it has been awesome to see his hard work turn in the a great year.” He is the son of John and Julie Carroll and has not made a collegiate decision at this time. The Adairsville High School Elite Athlete of the Month is Tre Mitchell. A senior member of the Tigers’ basketball team and a sprinter and jumper for the track and field team, Mitchell is the 2022 Bartow County champion in the 100M Dash, 200M Dash, and runner-up in High Jump. Mitchell has the Region 6-AAA best time in the 100M, 200M, and 400M. He anchored the school record and sectional qualifying 4x200M relay team and holds the school record in the 400M with a time of 50.67. Last season, Mitchell placed seventh in Class AAA in the 400M and is currently tied for the school 200M record at 22.20. “Tre is very humble and respectful to everyone,” said Tigers head track and field coach Terry Gough. “He’s just a great kid — loaded with talent on the basketball court as well as on the track.” The son of Kathryn Carter, Mitchell plans to go the college, major in sports medicine, and continue his track and field career. Raziyah Ware is the Cass High School Elite Athlete of the Month for April 2022 A four-year member of the girls basketball team and a track and field team, Ware is the daughter of Jenna Finch and Roderick Ware. For the past two seasons, she has been a top point scorer for the girls track and field team. She has placed in the top two at each track invitational this season. She is also the current shot put and discus champion for Bartow County. Last season, Ware was a state qualifier in both the shot put and discus placing ninth in shot put for Class 5A. This season, she has qualified for the state sectionals by placing in the top four at the Region 7-5A championships. Ware is in the top twenty percent of her graduating class with a 3.87 GPA. She plans to attend college and continue her throwing career in track and field. 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

Cartersville Little League Majors baseball summaries for games played April 25-28. MONDAY, APRIL 25 TIGERS 21, BRAVES 2 TIGERS: Cam Kachinsky four hits including one home run, six RBIs; Steven Tumlin three hits including one double, two RBIs; Braxton Lemon two hits, two RBIs; Will Phillips two hits; Logan Kemp one hit, two RBIs; Aiden Turner one hit, two RBIs; Logan Kachinsky one RBI. Pitching: Will Phillips (3 IP, 2R, 0ER, 1H, 4BB, 7K); Aiden Turner (1 IP, 0R, 0H, 2K). BRAVES: Easton Lee one double, one RBI. Pitching: Micah Henderson (1.2 IP, 14R, 5ER, 7H, 2BB, 5K); Cade Rogan (1 IP, 7R, 5ER, 6H, 2BB, 1K); Gavin Stone (0.1 IP, 1K). COLTS 14, PADRES 9 COLTS: Wesley Gravley one triple, two RBIs; Brant Rutledge one double, two RBIs; River Wade and Broughton King one hit each; Demetrius Wynn and Sawyer Ezell one RBI each. Pitching: River Wade (3 IP, 5R, 2ER, 4H, 1BB, 5K); Andy Holstein (2 IP, 4ER, 6H, 3BB, 2K). PADRES: Parker Huth two hits including one triple, two RBIs; Darren Cole one hit, two RBIs; Anthony Hunt one double, one RBI; Jack Mroczko and Corbin Mullinax one double each; Easton Raines and Jackson Vaughan one hit each. Pitching: Darren Cole (1 IP, 5R, 4ER, 2H, 2BB, 2K); Corbin Mullinax (1 IP, 7R, 3ER, 2H, 2BB, 1K); Jack Mroczko (1.1 IP, 2ER, 0H, 6BB, 4K); Anthony Hunt (0.2 IP, 0R, 1BB). TUESDAY, APRIL 26 RANGERS 15, A’s 0 RANGERS: Brooks Fulton and Joel Rensch two hits including one double, two RBIs each; Brock Morris two hits; Emory Weaver one triple, one double, one RBI; Easton Stephens one hit, three RBIs; Tyler Hickman one hit, one RBI. Pitching: Caden McMullin (2 IP, 0R, 1H, 1BB, 4K); Will Groce (1 IP, 0R, 0H, 0BB, 2K). A’s: Zane Robertson one hit. Pitching: Cade McFarland (0.2 IP, 7R, 4ER, 4H, 1BB, 1K); Mason Davis (1.1 IP, 3ER, 4H, 1BB, 2K); Bowen Hardy (0.0 IP, 5ER, 4H, 2BB). PHILLIES 12, DODGERS 0 PHILLIES: Jayden Winston two hits including one home run, three RBIs; Caiden Cline one triple, one RBI; Colton Dunagan one double, one RBI; Blake Forstie one triple; Hudson Lovette one double; Jake Thompson and Luke Thomson one hit each; Alek Higgons and Noah Leffew one RBI each. Pitching: Luke Thomson (2.1 IP, 0R, 3H, 0BB, 3K); Noah Leffew (1.2 IP, 0R, 1H, 2BB, 3K). DODGERS: Bennett Bryant one double; Jeremiah Huff, Blake Genrich, and Camden Jones one hit each. Pitching: Bennett Bryant (1 IP, 2ER, 2H, 1BB); Brody Parker (1 IP, 4ER, 4H, 2BB); Gabriel Hullander (1 IP, 6R, 4ER, 2H, 3BB). WEDNESDAY, APRIL 27 BRAVES 15, TIGERS 5 BRAVES: Easton Lee five hits including one triple, two doubles, five RBIs; Andy Channell one triple, three RBIs; Avery Slye and Cade Rogan one double each; Maddox Henderson one hit; Micah Mitcham one RBI. Pitching: Avery Slye (3 IP, 5ER, 5H, 3BB, 6K; Easton Lee (1 IP, 3K). TIGERS: Braxton Harkness one home run, one triple, four RBIs; Steven Tumlin one triple, one RBI; Cam Kachinsky one double; Braxton Lemon one hit. Pitching: Braxton Lemon (2.1 IP, 8R, 5ER, 5H, 4BB, 4K); Steven Tumlin (0.1 IP, 2ER, 2H, 1BB, 1K); Aiden Turner (0.2 IP, 5R, 4ER, 2H, 4BB); Logan Kemp (0.1 IP, 0R, 1BB). COLTS 11, PADRES 0 No game data provided. THURSDAY, APRIL 28 RANGERS 20, A’s 0 RANGERS: Brooks Fulton three hits, three RBIs; Joel Rensch three hits including one triple, one RBI; Emory Weaver three hits including two doubles, three RBIs; Will Groce two hits including one triple, two RBIs; Easton Stephens one hit, two RBIs; Tate McGill one double; Caden McMullin one hit; Caiden Bagley one RBI. Pitching: Tyler Hickman (1 IP, 0R, 0H, 0BB, 2K); Emory Weaver (1 IP, 0R, 1H, 3K); Brooks Fulton (1 IP, 0R, 0H, 1BB); Joel Rensch (0.0 IP, 3H); Brock Morris (1 IP, 0R, 0H, 0BB, 1K). A’s: Zane Robertson two hits including one double; Cade McFarland and Bowen Hardy one hit each. Pitching: Zeke Brown (2 IP, 4ER, 6H, 2BB, 1K); Bowen Hardy (1 IP, 1R, 0ER, 1H, 1BB, 1K); James Guffy (0.0 IP, 6R, 5ER, 1H, 2BB, 1K); Mason Davis (0.1 IP, 8ER, 4H, 3BB); Peyton Duren (0.2 IP, 1ER, 1H). PHILLIES 11, DODGERS 1 PHILLIES: Everett Owen two hits; Colton Dunagan one double, two RBIs; Blake Forstie one triple, four RBIs; Luke Thomson and Jake Thompson one double, one RBI each; Alek Higgons one hit, one RBI. Pitching: Colton Dunagan (3 IP, 1ER, 1H, 3BB, 8K); Luke Thomson (2 IP, 0R, 2H, 4K). DODGERS: Jeremiah Huff two hits; Gabriel Hullander one hit. Pitching: Blake Genrich (4 IP, 3ER, 3H, 1BB, 5K); Jeremiah Huff (0.0 IP, 6R, 4ER, 1H, 3BB); Camden Jones (1 IP, 2R, 1ER, 3H, 1K). CARTERSVILLE LITTLE LEAGUE MAJOR STANDINGS (through games played Thursday, April 28) Rangers . . . . . . . 13-0 Phillies . . . . . . . . 9-4 Tigers . . . . . . . . . 8-5 Colts . . . . . . . . . . 8-5 Padres . . . . . . . . . 6-7 Dodgers . . . . . . . . 5-8 Braves . . . . . . . . . 2-11 A’s . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-12 Little League Major results are provided to Bartow Sports Zone by Cartersville Little League and Bartow County Little League. The game data is shared by the leagues via GameChanger reports from the respective teams and/or leagues. Results and capsules are sponsored on Bartow Sports Zone by The Benefit Consulting Group of Cartersville and George F. Willis Realty.

Georgia Highlands College baseball won 24 of 26 non-conference games leading up to the conference opener March 22. The Chargers then won 12 of their first 13 conference games to take an early lead in the Georgia Collegiate Athletic Association. Since that fast start, however, GHC has gone 3-6 in conference play including Thursday’s 8-6 win over East Georgia State in Rome. As a result, the Chargers (39-9, 15-7) find themselves one game behind South Georgia State in the conference standings with three league games to play. The two conference leading teams square off Saturday in Douglas. The Chargers will close out the regular season conference slate the following Tuesday and Thursday at home against ABAC and Gordon State. In Thursday’s win over East Georgia, Georgia Highlands built a 5-1 lead through five innings by way of three home runs. Conner Todaro smacked a three-run homer to put the Chargers up 3-1 in the third inning. Then David Smith and Ben Olson hit back-to-back solo shots in the fifth to make the score 5-1. The Bobcats scored four runs over the next three innings to narrow the Georgia Highlands lead, but the Chargers rebuilt their margin with a three-run seventh inning. Smith’s two-run double made the score 7-4 and Ethan Anderson’s sacrifice fly drove home the final Chargers’ run. Gage Valles (5.2 IP, 2ER, 4H, 2BB, 4K) earned the pitching win by working into the sixth inning. The bullpen then held off the Bobcats down the stretch. Ryan Suppa (1 IP, 2ER, 2H, 1BB, 3K), Caleb Garner (0.2 IP, 1ER, 3H, 1BB, 1K), and Hunter Goodwin (1.2 IP, 0R, 0H, 2K) all worked out of the pen for the Chargers. Smith (HR, double, 3 RBIs) and Olson (HR, RBI) paced the Georgia Highlands offense with three hits each. Mick Moody had two hits including a double. Todaro (3-run HR) and Austin Slate had the other Chargers’ hits. The win by Georgia Highlands on Thursday was the 200th victory for head coach Dash O'Neill with the Chargers.