Cartersville starting pitcher Ryan Johnson tossed a five inning, two hitter Tuesday evening as the Purple Hurricanes blanked rival Cass, 10-0. Johnson walked two and struck out three in his five frames of work. Meanwhile, the Canes’ offense posted seven runs in the bottom of the first inning and coasted to victory. Cartersville added two more runs in the third inning and one in the fourth to complete the region win. The Region 7-5A victory also secured a state playoff berth for the Purple Hurricanes for the 26th consecutive season. Harrison Childers (double, 3 RBIs), Hank Smith (double, 2 RBIs), and Curt Bonner (double, 2 RBIs) led Cartersville with two hits each. Elliott Eastin doubled with two RBIs. Jacob Ray contributed one hit and one RBI and Blake Sutton added one hit. Connor Jenkins and Hayden Cole had one hit each for the Colonels. Cass starting pitcher Carson Hill (0.1 IP, 6ER, 4H, 2BB, 1K) was tagged with the loss. Hayden Cole (2.2 IP, 3ER, 3H, 4BB, 3K) and Devan Hutchinson (1 IP, 1ER, 2H, 2K) also took the mound. Class 5A No. 1-ranked Cartersville (18-5, 9-1) continues the region series at Cass (5-20, 4-6) Friday in a 5 p.m. doubleheader.

A four-run fourth inning keyed Woodland’s 7-4 region victory Tuesday night over visiting Calhoun. The Yellow Jackets grabbed a 2-0 lead in the top of the second inning, but Rowan Billings answered in the bottom of the inning with a two-run home run to knot the score at 2-2. Following a scoreless third frame, Calhoun regained the lead 3-2 in the top of the fourth. In the Wildcats’ fourth inning, a single, three doubles, and a sacrifice fly pushed across four runs to go ahead 6-3. Austin Sanders started the fourth with a base hit and scored on a double by Conner Stermer. After a groundout, Mason Williams doubled to score Stermer. Julian Wright doubled next to plate Williams. Wright then stole third and scored on a sac fly by Jakiyon Porter. Ayden Ray had an RBI single in the sixth to give Woodland a 7-3 lead and Calhoun scored a run in the top of the seventh before Ray shut down the inning from the mound. Billings (4 IP, 3R, 1ER, 4H, 0BB, 3K) started on the mound and picked up the Wildcats’ pitching win. Ray (3 IP, 1ER, 2H, 3BB, 3K) retired the final nine outs. Stermer finished with two hits including a double and one RBI. Billings also had two hits including his two run home run. Wright (double, RBI), Porter (double, RBI), Sanders, Williams (RBI), and Jackson Rutledge added one hit apiece. Calhoun, who has been in the top ten of the state’s Class 5A rankings for most of the season, slipped to 15-9 on the season and 5-5 in region play. Woodland (11-14, 4-6) will travel to Gordon County to complete the series with the Yellow Jackets Friday in a 5 p.m. doubleheader.

Ringgold scored a run in the bottom of the first Tuesday night, added two more in the fifth and a single run in the sixth inning on the way to a 4-1 Region 6-AAA win over visiting Adairsville. Adairsville scored a run in the top of the seventh on a two-out, RBI single by Braden Powell but the inning ended with an ensuing strikeout. The Powell safety was the only Adairsville hit in the game. Ringgold’s runs in the late innings were supported by walks issued by Adairsville pitchers. Ringgold managed only three hits in the game but coaxed seven walks. Brenden Carroll (4.2 IP, 3ER, 2H, 5BB, 4K) suffered the pitching loss for Adairsville. Grayson Belcher (1.1 IP, 1ER, 1H, 2BB) retired the final four outs. Ringgold (13-12, 8-3) plays at Adairsville (9-11, 4-7) Thursday at 5:55 p.m.

Cartersville broke open a 1-1 game in the bottom of the third inning by scoring four times, then added three more in the fourth to grab an 8-1 lead on the Canes’ way to a 9-3 victory Saturday over Locust Grove. The contest was the third and final game of the 2022 Battle for Bartow Classic at LakePoint for both teams. The Canes and Wildcats both finished 2-1 in the Classic. Jacob Ray hit a bases loaded triple in the third to give the Hurricanes a 4-1 lead, then Blake Sutton doubled home Ray for a 5-1 advantage. In the next inning, Hank Smith blasted a three-run home run to left field and Cartersville was cruising 8-1. The Wildcats posted a pair of runs in the top of the sixth inning narrowing the Canes’ lead to 8-3, but Cartersville’s Drew Rothschild got one of the runs back in the bottom of the inning with a solo home run to lead off the inning. Cal Goss (5.1 IP, 2R, 0ER, 4H, 2BB, 4K) started on the mound for Cartersville and collected the pitching win. Phillip Schiltz (1.2 IP, 1ER, 5H, 3K) closed out the final five outs on the bump for the Purple Hurricanes. Jake Brasfield and Caleb Daniel finished with one hit each in addition to the extra base hits by Ray, Sutton, Smith, and Rothschild. Cartersville, ranked No. 1 in Class 5A, improved to 17-5 on the season. The loss dropped Locust Grove to 17-7. The Canes return to Region 7-5A action Tuesday at home against Cass at 5:55 p.m. in the first of three games against the Colonels. The series will continue Friday at Cass with a doubleheader scheduled for 5 p.m.

Cartersville went with a “different look” lineup Friday afternoon and took care of business with Sandy Creek as the Purple Hurricanes won 8-6 in a Battle for Bartow game played at LakePoint in Emerson. The Canes jumped on top 5-0 through the first two innings and tacked on a single run in the fourth. After the Patriots rallied to tie the score, Cartersville added single runs in the sixth and seventh innings to hold off Sandy Creek. The Patriots scored three times in the third inning and posted two more runs in the fourth to narrow their deficit to 6-5. Sandy Creek, ranked 8th in Class 3A, then tied the game in the fifth inning with a single run before the Canes added two late runs to seal the victory. Drew Rothschild started on the mound for Cartersville but also had a nice day at the plate with three hits including a triple and four RBIs. Paul Gamble had two hits including a double and one RBI. Jimbo Gaines also finished with two hits and one RBI. Trip Bradley contributed a double and Gavin Shrewsbury added one hit for the Canes. On the mound, Collin Eaton (3 IP, 0R, 2H, 3BB, 5K) picked up the win in relief of Rothschild (3 IP, 3ER, 2H, 1BB, 5K) and Geoffrey Gore (1 IP, 3R, 1ER, 2H, 1BB, 2K). NORTH PAULDING 12, CARTERSVILLE 2 Class 7A North Paulding scored eight runs in the first two innings Friday night and never looked back in a 12-2 win over Cartersville at LakePoint. The Canes, playing as the visiting team, led 1-0 in the top of the first inning but mustered only one more run in the third inning. Cartersville totaled just four hits and committed four errors in the loss. Cayden Sheffield (double, RBI), Tysen Benford (two doubles, 2 RBIs), and Dylan Martin finished with three hits each for the Wolfpack as North Paulding amassed a dozen hits. Curt Bonner had two hits for Cartersville including a double. Jacob Ray (double) and Jake Brasfield contributed one hit each. Elliott Eastin drove in a run for the Canes with a sacrifice fly. Jackson Greer (5 IP, 2ER, 4H, 3BB, 6K) and DeShawn Morgan (1 IP, 0R, 0H, 0BB, 2K) combined on the mound for the Wolfpack to compile eight strikeouts. Colt McKibben (1.2 IP, 8R, 6ER, 4H, 6BB, 3K) suffered the pitching loss for Cartersville. Tyler Williamson (2.1 IP, 2ER, 4H, 1BB, 1K), Paul Gamble (1 IP, 1ER, 1H, 2BB, 2K), and Sawyer Wilson (0.2 IP, 1ER, 3H, 2K) also pitched for the Hurricanes. North Paulding improved to 13-9 for the season. Cartersville (16-5) plays Locust Grove Saturday at 1 p.m. in the final game of the 2022 Battle for Bartow Classic. RINGGOLD 12, WOODLAND 7 In the Wildcats’ second game at the Battle for Bartow Classic, Woodland lost to Ringgold 12-7. Playing as the visitors, Woodland scored five times in the top of the fifth inning to tie the score 5-5 before Ringgold responded with seven runs across their next two frames. The base on balls was a nemesis for the Wildcats’ pitching staff. Ringgold managed only five hits, but the Tigers took advantage of a dozen walks issued by Woodland pitchers. Jacob Gravett had two hits including a triple and three RBIs for the Woodland offense. Rowan Billings also had two hits and drove in one run. Ayden Ray finished with one hit and two RBIs. Bret Good, Jackson Rutledge, Mason Williams, and Julian Wright added one hit apiece for the Wildcats. CEDARTOWN 9, WOODLAND 2 A four-run fourth inning gave Cedartown a 5-0 lead and launched the Bulldogs to an eventual 9-2 win over Woodland in both teams’ final game Friday at the 2022 Battle for Bartow Classic at LakePoint. Woodland narrowed the Bulldogs’ lead to 5-2 in the sixth inning, but Cedartown put the game away with another four run burst in the seventh. Julian Wright and Jacob Gravett had two hits each for the Wildcats in the loss. Austin Sanders drove in a run with a triple and Bret Good added one base hit. Hunter Shirley (4 IP, 5R, 3ER, 7H, 3BB, 2K) suffered the Woodland pitching loss. Tore Foss (2 IP, 0R, 4BB, 3K) worked a pair of scoreless innings. Wright (1 IP, 4ER, 2H, 1BB, 1K) also pitched for the Wildcats. Cedartown, ranked fourth in Class 4A, won two of three games in the Classic and improved to 17-7 for the year. Woodland (10-14, 3-6) returns to Region 7-5A play Tuesday hosting 6th-ranked Calhoun at 5:55 p.m. LOCUST GROVE 12, CASS 1 Locust Grove built an 11-0 lead over Cass in the first three innings Saturday at LakePoint and beat the Colonels 12-1 in five innings at the Battle for Bartow Classic. The Wildcats took advantage of ten walks by Cass pitchers and needed only six hits to take the win. Keyshawn Wright hit a three-run home run in the third inning and Landen Baird had two hits for Locust Grove. Four other Wildcats drove in one run each. Three Locust Grove pitchers combined to limit the Colonels to only one hit in the contest. Aidan Larkin singled in the top of the fourth inning to break up a potential no-hitter. He scored later in the inning for the Colonels’ only run. Locust Grove improved to 17-6 on the season. The Wildcats are currently in second place in Region 4-5A just one game behind Ola. RINGGOLD 5, CASS 0 The Colonels and Tigers battled for five scoreless innings Friday night at LakePoint before Ringgold pushed across five runs in the sixth to win 5-0 in a Battle for Bartow Classic matchup. Ryder Fairchild hit a solo home run to lead off the sixth and break the scoreless tie. After a pop out, three consecutive hits gave the Tigers a 3-0 lead. Ty Gilbert followed with a two-run home run and Ringgold had enough to take home the win. Ringgold pitchers Robbie Bates (6 IP, 0R, 2H, 1BB, 6K) and Hudson Chandler (1 IP, 0R, 1H, 1K) kept the Colonels off the base paths for the most part. The duo scattered three total hits and issued only one walk while striking out seven. The Ringgold sixth inning spoiled a nice pitching start by Cayden Roberts (5.1 IP, 5ER, 8H, 0BB, 2K) who kept the Tigers off the scoreboard for five frames. Hayden Cole (1.2 IP, 0R, 1H, 1BB, 2K) retired the final five outs with two strikeouts. Roberts had two of the Colonels’ three hits. Carson Hill added one safety for Cass. Ringgold improved to 12-12 on the season. Cass (5-19, 4-5) returns to Region 7-5A action Tuesday at No. 1-ranked Cartersville. First pitch is scheduled for 5:55 p.m.

The Adairsville Tigers earned a series split with a win at Sonoraville Friday night, 8-6. The Region 6-AAA victory came on the heels of a 4-2 home loss to the Phoenix Thursday and snapped a six-game skid for the Tigers. Adairsville posted single runs in the first, third, fifth, and sixth innings to build a 4-3 advantage through six frames. Sonoraville scored twice in the first inning and added a run in the fifth before an eventful seventh inning. In the final inning, Adairsville plated four runs to lead 8-3 then held off a rally by the Phoenix in the bottom of the inning to win by two runs. Tigers’ pitcher Peyton Bowen (1 IP, 3ER, 5H, 1K) induced a bases loaded groundout to cease the Phoenix threat. Jack Nelson (6 IP, 3R, 0ER, 3H, 4BB, 8K) started on the bump for the Tigers and picked up the win. Evan Sanders went 4-for-4 with a double and three RBIs to help lead the Adairsville offense. Chris Roper followed with three hits including one double. Braden Powell reached base four times with two hits, two walks, and one RBI. Easton Elrod and Brenden Carroll contributed one hit and one RBI apiece while Landon O’Neal drove in a run with a fielder’s choice. The loss dropped Sonoraville to 13-7 on the season and 7-4 in 6-AAA. Adairsville (9-10, 4-6) continues region play Tuesday at Ringgold in a 5:55 p.m. first pitch.

Georgia Highlands College softball lost both games of a conference doubleheader Friday in Barnesville, falling to Gordon State 11-3 and 13-5. Gordon State (12-13, 5-5) scored two or more runs in four of their offensive frames in the opener while rattling out 13 hits. In the second game, the Lady Highlanders broke open a one-run game in the bottom of the fifth by scoring seven times to end the game early. It was also another 13-hit performance for Gordon State. Audrey Johnson had four hits and one RBI for the Chargers in the doubleheader. Allison Deweese finished with three hits and one RBI. Madison Dennis homered in the opener and tripled in the second game to finish the day with three RBIs. Haley Overton had two hits while Hailey Cronic, Kyndal Brown, and Bradey Tharp (double, RBI) added one hit apiece. Georgia Highlands (10-26, 3-7) will host Georgia Military College in a conference doubleheader Tuesday at Stars Field with the opener scheduled for 3 p.m.

Georgia Highlands College baseball won all three games with South Georgia State Thursday and Friday at LakePoint in Emerson to strengthen their hold on the top spot in the Georgia Collegiate Athletic Association standings. GHC, currently ranked 11th in the nation, won 14-11 Thursday and captured both games of Friday’s doubleheader 11-2 and 14-7. The Chargers pounded out 14 hits Thursday with Zayd Brannigan, Ben Olson, and Caden Smith each hitting home runs. Parker Poteet finished with a three hit performance that included a double. Hunter Goodwin, one of seven pitchers employed by Georgia Highlands in the game, picked up the win. Caleb Garner, Ryan Suppa, and Chandler Wood each worked a scoreless inning with Wood collecting a save. In Friday’s doubleheader opener, Chargers’ pitcher Zachary Murray earned the win with a seven inning, complete game performance. He fanned ten while scattering four hits and a walk. The two South Georgia State runs allowed were unearned. The GHC hitters — David Smith, Poteet, and Brannigan — combined for six hits and six RBIs in the 11-2 victory. In Friday’s second game, Olson went 5-for-5 with a pair of home runs, a double, and eight RBIs to pace the Chargers’ offense. Ethan Anderson tripled twice and drove in one run. Conner Todaro finished with two hits including a double and one RBI. Eric Moore (4.2 IP, 7ER, 7H, 2BB, 8K), Suppa (1.1 IP, 0R, 1H, 1K), and Chandler Wood (1 IP, 0R, 1H) pitched for GHC. Following the series sweep, South Georgia slips to 26-15 overall and 7-5 in conference play. Georgia Highlands (35-3, 11-1) moves on to a four game conference series next week with Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College. The Stallions visit LakePoint for a single game Tuesday and GHC will travel to Tifton for the final three games. The two teams will play a single game Friday evening and a doubleheader Saturday.

Carson Hill allowed just one run across five innings on the mound Thursday in the Cass Colonels first game at the Battle for Bartow Classic, but the local bats were silenced by a pair of Sandy Creek pitchers in a 2-0 loss at LakePoint. Hill, who also had one of the Colonels’ only two hits, scattered four hits and two walks in his five innings of work. He struck out five and left the mound with his team trailing 1-0. Wesley Collins had the other Cass base hit. Devan Hutchinson (1 IP, 1ER, 2H, 1BB, 2K) and Aidan Larkin (1 IP, 0R, 1H, 2K) pitched the final two frames for the Colonels. Sandy Creek improved to 13-6 on the season. Cass (5-17) plays Locust Grove (1 p.m.) and Ringgold (7 p.m.) Friday. VALDOSTA 17, WOODLAND 5 In a matchup of teams with Wildcats as their mascot moniker, Valdosta plated 17 runs across the third and fourth innings to blow past Woodland, 17-5, in a game played at LakePoint as part of the Battle for Bartow Classic. Woodland led 3-0 through two innings, but the middle frames doomed the local version of Wildcats. JD Smith, Isaiah Haygood, and Cohen Smith combined for six hits and eight RBIs to lift Valdosta. Chase Carson had a first inning, inside-the-park home run for Woodland. Rowan Billings (double), Ayden Ray (RBI), Mason Williams (RBI), Austin Sanders, and Jackson Rutledge finished with one hit apiece. Conner Stermer was credited with one RBI. Thursday’s win lifted Valdosta to 16-6 on the season. Friday in the Battle for Bartow, Woodland (10-12) plays Ringgold at 4 p.m. and Cedartown at 7 p.m. SONORAVILLE 4, ADAIRSVILLE 2 In the first of home-and-home region games with Sonoraville, the Adairsville Tigers dropped a 4-2 decision to the visiting Phoenix Thursday evening. Sonoraville broke a 1-1 tie with a run in the third inning and added two more in the fifth for their margin of victory. Adairsville scored solo runs in the first and sixth innings. Chris Roper singled, stole second base, and later scored on a Phoenix error to tie the game in the bottom of the first, 1-1. Roper singled again in the sixth and scored on an RBI single by PJ Weeks. Evan Sanders, Brenden Carroll, Peyton Bowen, and Jarrett Scott added one hit each for the Tigers. Adairsville starting pitcher Jack Whitley (5 IP, 4R, 3ER, 9H, 1BB, 4K) suffered the loss on the mound. Braden Powell (2 IP, 0R, 1H, 0BB, 1K) worked the sixth and seventh innings on the bump for the Tigers. Sonoraville (13-6, 7-3 Region 6-AAA) hosts Adairsville (8-10, 3-6) Friday at 5:55 p.m.

The Class AAAAA top-ranked Cartersville Purple Hurricanes swept a region doubleheader Thursday at Calhoun, defeating the Yellow Jackets 8-6 and 6-2 to sweep the season series between the two clubs. Calhoun raced to a 3-0 lead in the first inning of the first game, but Cartersville moved to a 5-3 advantage in the fourth inning and held off the Jackets down the stretch. In Game 2, the Canes snapped a 2-2 tie in the top of the sixth inning and then added three runs in the seventh to win 6-2. The Hurricanes’ pitching staff got the job done again. Caden Carroll (7 IP, 2R, 1ER, 6H, 2BB, 13K) tossed a complete game in the nightcap scattering six hits and two walks. He fanned 13 with only one of the two runs against him earned. In the opener, pitchers Ryan Johnson (4.2 IP, 6ER, 6H, 2BB, 7K) and Phillip Schiltz (2.1 IP, 0R, 4H, 1BB, 1K) combined to contain Calhoun. The duo combined for eight strikeouts. Curt Bonner (3 RBIs), Elliott Eastin (double, RBI), Harrison Childers (double), and Jake Brasfield (double) all had two hits each in the Canes’ first win Thursday. Blake Sutton smacked a solo home run in the seventh inning for an important insurance run. Caleb Daniel (sac fly, RBI), Drew Rothschild (RBI), and Hank Smith added one hit each. In the late game, Easton doubled twice. Sutton (2 RBIs) and Daniel (RBI) also had two hits each. Smith (RBI) and Childers contributed one hit apiece. Rothschild drove in a run with a sacfiice fly. Calhoun (15-7, 5-4) slips to third place in Region 7-5A. The Yellow Jackets have a three-game series with Woodland next week and three with Blessed Trinity in the final week of the regular season. Cartersville (15-4, 8-1) has now taken firm control of the Region 7-5A standings. The Hurricanes won two of three with Blessed Trinity and swept Calhoun — winning five of six games against the other Top Ten-ranked teams in the region. The remainder of the region schedule leaves Cartersville with a three game series with both Cass and Hiram. Both of those teams are at the bottom of the region hierarchy. The Canes will finish out the Spring Break schedule Friday and Saturday in the Battle for Bartow Classic at LakePoint. Cartersville plays Sandy Creek at 1 p.m. Friday; North Paulding at 7 p.m. Friday; and Locust Grove Saturday at 1 p.m.

The 2022 Battle for Bartow Baseball Classic returns this weekend at LakePoint Sporting Complex in Emerson. Three local teams — Cartersville, Cass, and Woodland — will compete in games Thursday through Saturday. Cartersville will not play until Friday due to a makeup Region 7-5A doubleheader at Calhoun on Thursday. Adairsville will not participate this year due to being in the middle of their region schedule. Other than the Cartersville-Calhoun makeup, Region 7-5A does not have region games schedule this week. 2022 Battle for Bartow Schedule Thursday, April 7 4 pm — North Paulding v. Valdosta 7 pm — Cass v. Sandy Creek 7 pm — Ringgold v. Cedartown 7 pm — Etowah v. North Paulding Friday, April 8 1 pm — Cartersville v. Sandy Creek 1 pm — Cass v. Locust Grove 1 pm — Valdosta v. Etowah 4 pm — Etowah v. Sandy Creek 4 pm — Locust Grove v. Cedartown 4 pm — Woodland v. Ringgold 7 pm — Cartersville v. North Paulding 7 pm — Cass v. Ringgold 7 pm — Woodland v. Cedartown Saturday, April 9 1 pm — Cartersville v. Locust Grove

While there are a few slots and some seeding yet to be determined, the GHSA Class 5A girls and boys soccer playoff brackets are available. Locally from Region 7-5A, the Cartersville girls will be a 3-seed and the Woodland girls will be a 4-seed. The Lady Canes will be paired in the first round to travel to St. Pius X and the Lady Cats will play a road match at Chamblee in the first round to be played next Tuesday. In the boys state tournament, Cass enters the Class 5A playoffs as a 4-seed from Region 7-5A and must travel to St. Pius X. Cartersville is the other local representative as a 2-seed. The Hurricanes will host their first round match against Cross Keys. The boys first round is scheduled for Wednesday.