The Adairsville volleyball team swept a pair of Region 6-AAA matches Monday night over North Murray and Rockmart to secure the No. 3-seed for the upcoming region tournament. Adairsville beat North Murray 25-12, 25-19 and needed three sets to outlast Rockmart 25-13, 22-25, 15-5. In the straight sets win over the Mountaineers, Kaylee Jordan recorded seven service aces and three kills. Lexie Childers had four kills and five digs. Richlyn Blair followed with three kills and five digs. Annie McCormick produced five assists while Bailey Weaver and Madison Flemons added five digs each. Autumn Henderson added two blocks. In the three set win over Rockmart, Childers finished with five kills, eight assists, and 11 digs. Blair contributed seven kills and five aces. Jordan had 11 digs, Flemons 15 digs, McCormick five assists, and Henderson three blocks. Adairsville (22-12-1) has a tune-up match Tuesday night at Sonoraville at 6 p.m. before hosting Murray County Thursday at 5:30 p.m. in the first round of the Region 6-AAA tournament.

The high school football standings and remaining regular season schedules for Region 7-AAAAA and Region 6-AAA that include the local schools -- Adairsville, Cartersville, Cass, and Woodland. REGION 7-AAAAA Friday, October 15 Cartersville at Blessed Trinity Hiram at Cass Woodland at Calhoun Friday, October 22 Cass at Calhoun Blessed Trinity at Hiram Cartersville at Woodland Friday, October 29 Calhoun at Cartersville Blessed Trinity at Cass Woodland at Hiram Friday, November 5 All six teams have bye weeks Friday, November 12 State Playoffs Begin REGION 6-AAA Friday, October 15 Sonoraville at Adairsville Rockmart at Murray County Coahulla Creek at LaFayette North Murray at LFO Ringgold has a bye week Friday, October 22 Adairsville at Rockmart Ringgold at Coahulla Creek LaFayette at Sonoraville North Murray at Murray County Heritage-Catoosa at LFO (non-region) Friday, October 29 Adairsville at North Murray Sonoraville at Ringgold Rockmart at LaFayette Murray County at LFO Coahulla Creek has a bye week Friday, November 5 Ringgold at Rockmart LFO at Adairsville North Murray at LaFayette Sonoraville at Coahulla Creek Murray County has a bye week Friday, November 12 State Playoffs Begin

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. McKinley Chada is the September Elite Athlete of the Month for Cartersville High School. A junior on the Hurricanes’ softball team, Chada pitches and plays third base. “McKinley has led us on the field as both a hitter and in the pitching circle,” said Cartersville head coach Glen Woodard. “She is vocal and keeps the girls engaged during the game. She is a leader for us.” She is the daughter of Erich Chada. Woodland High School’s Elite Athlete of the Month for September is Tyler Jones. A junior on the Wildcats’ cross country and track and field teams, he has ambition to compete as a runner at the D-I level in college. The son of Chad and Melinda Jones and a cross country state qualifier for the past three years, Tyler set a new Woodland High School record for 5k this Fall at the Jesse Owens Invitational in Alabama. He completed the course in 16:21 snapping the school’s 22-year-old mark. “Tyler is a dedicated runner,” noted Woodland head coach Rob Forbes. “He is a student of the sport. He researches every aspect to become a better runner. Tyler is an integral part of our program and I am proud to coach him. The September Elite Athlete of the Month representing Cass High School is Ian Lowe. A senior linebacker on the Colonels’ football team, Lowe currently leads the team in tackles with 11 per game. He has also been credited with eight tackles for loss and a pair of sacks. The defensive signal caller has been starting games for Cass since his freshman season. The son of Olin Lowe, Ian contributes on all special teams and has even been inserted occasionally at running back where he has one touchdown run. “Ian is a great student and leader who always goes hard at whatever he does,” said Cass head football coach Steve Gates. “He is having a great senior year.” Brayden Miller is the September 2021 Elite Athlete of the Month for Adairsville High School. A senior runner on the Tigers’ cross country team, Miller is enrolled in several Honors and Advanced Placement classes. “Brayden has demonstrated dedication and excellence in his running,” said Adairsville head coach John Ford. “He is always striving to run better and faster than he has before. This has put him in a leadership position with his teammates and is giving strength and motivation to the whole team.” He is the son of Toby and Diane Miller. Editors Note: Photos and bios are supplied to Bartow Sports Zone and WBHF by the respective schools and their athletic departments. Elite Stone Supply Co., LLC is the monthly sponsor. Athletes receive a plaque along with recognition during a radio feature on WBHF. #EliteAthletesoftheMonth #Cass #Cartersville #Woodland #Adairsville #highschool

The Woodland girls and boys cross country teams both ran to fifth place finishes Saturday in the Atlanta Classic at the Clinton Farms Nature Preserve in Douglas County. The Woodland boys finished behind the top four of Mountain Brook (Alabama), Marietta, Cambridge, and Chapel Hill. Rounding out the boys top ten teams behind Woodland were Lassiter, Newnan, Maynard Jackson, South Forsyth, and Woodward Academy. There were 15 teams competing in the boys championship race. Tyler Jones (16:42.70) led the Woodland boys with a 10th place individual finish out of 134 runners. McKinley Chappell was 20th for the Wildcats. Kain Tanturri, John Forsyth, and Andy Forsyth finished together in 56th through 58th places. The girls championship race was won by Mountain Brook with Marietta, Cambridge, and South Forsyth just ahead of Woodland. Rounding out the girls’ top ten were Lawrence County (Alabama), Alexander, Midtown, North Atlanta, and Lassiter in the 16-team race. In the girls competition, Rylee Evans (19:34.70) paced the Lady Cats with a 16th place run. She was followed by Emma Segars in 28th, Olivia Berry 40th, Miranda Pelow 45th, and Danielle Thayer in 65th place. There were 116 runners in the girls championship race. TIGERS 20TH AT GROVE LEVEL STAMPEDE The Adairsville boys cross country team finished 20th Saturday at the Grove Level Stampede in Dalton. Griffin Bozeman (18:48) placed 24th overal to pace the Tigers. Brayden Miler (89th), Jace Silvers (120th), Chris Pelchat (158th), and Cody Teer (160th) rounded out the Adairsville finishes. The boys race included 173 runners. Callie Viktora was the only Adairsvile girl in the race. She placed 79th of 144 runners. The boys race, which included 23 teams, was won by Dalton High School ahead of Rome, McMinn County (Tenessee), Southeast Whitfield, and Coahulla Creek. Baylor School of Chattanooga won the girls team title followed by Rome, Dalton, Signal Mountain (Tennessee) and Southeast Whitfield. The girls race included 19 teams.

Blessed Trinity swept visiting Cartersville Saturday in a softball doubleheader to both clinch the top seed from Region 7-AAAAA in the state playoffs and eliminate the Lady Canes from playoff contention. Blessed Trinity scored in each inning including four runs to end the game in the bottom of the fifth in an 8-0 opening game win. The Titans then outlasted Cartersville 3-2 in the second game scoring all three Blessed Trinity runs in the third inning. In the opener, the Roswell hosts out hit Cartersville ten to one with Blessed Trinity ace Ally Fleck striking out eight in her five inning shutout. McKinley Chada had the only Cartersville base hit. It was a one-out single in the fourth inning. In the second game, Cartersville took a 1-0 lead in the top of the third on a sacrifice fly and error off the bat of Campbell Rogers, but the Titans answered with three runs in the bottom of the inning on a walk, three hits, and an infield error. Layne Callan doubled home a run in the top of the seventh with two outs to make the score 3-2, but was stranded at second one out later. Kennedy Stevens (6 IP, 3R, 2ER, 6H, 3BB, 6K) took the pitching loss for the Canes. In addition to Callan’s double, Jordan Bishop contributed two hits. Kiley Arnold, Ava Perkins, and Taff Bradley added one hit apiece. Cartersville finished 9-16 for the season and was 5-10 in Region 7-AAAAA. Blessed Trinity (17-7, 12-3) will host Northview in the state playoffs that begin Wednesday.

The Cartersville Purple Hurricanes collected a program milestone at Hiram Friday night with a 34-14 win over the Hornets. The victory was the 700th in the football program’s 108-year history. Senior running back Amari White had first half touchdown runs of 42-yards, 4-yards, and 3-yards to help the Canes power to a 34-7 halftime lead. Jaqualyn Mayhall returned a pick-six 40 yards to give Cartersville a 13-0 first quarter lead and running back Malachi Jefferies, who added several key runs in the other scoring drives, scored a second quarter touchdown of his own. Hiram’s first half touchdown scored on a blocked field goal attempt that was returned for a touchdown. The Hornets second half score came late in the game with the clock winding down and the regulars out of the game. Hiram (0-7, 0-2) plays at Cass next Friday. Cartersville (6-0, 2-0) travels to Roswell next Friday to play Blessed Trinity (4-3, 1-1). The Titans lost to 7th-ranked Calhoun 32-27 Friday night.

Cass sophomore quarterback Devin Henderson passed for two touchdowns in the first half and ran for two scores in the second half to lead the Colonels in a 35-0 win over visiting Woodland Friday night at Cochran Stadium. Overall, the Colonels' signal-caller finished 10-for-18 through the air for 169 yards and added 144 rushing yards for 313 total yards on the night. He also spent part of his time in the second half playing defense in the Cass secondary. Following a scoreless first quarter, Henderson connected with Tino Jones for a 20-yard strike to give Cass a 7-0 lead with 8:43 remaining in the first half. The touchdown pass capped a nine play, 55-yard drive. Juan Parajito booted the first of five successful PAT kicks. The Colonels’ next scoring drive covered 72 yards in seven plays. This time Henderson made a short toss to Sacovie White and the sophomore receiver did the rest. White’s run after the catch resulted in a 30-yard touchdown pass as he dove and stretched for the pylon with 2:42 left in the second period. In the second half, Henderson finished off a five play, 62-yard drive with a seven yard run that gave the Colonels a 21-0 lead with 8:25 remaining in the third quarter. He later capped a six play, 68-yard march with a three yard touchdown run with 1:10 left in the period. The final Cass touchdown came midway through the fourth quarter after Woodland attempted a fake punt deep in their own territory. Freddie Gbadie, who rushed for 61 yards on 13 attempts, added the final touchdown for the Colonels on an eight yard run. It was his first scoring run of the season after several near misses in earlier games. The Cass defense made plays when necessary. Linebacker Ian Lowe had a key pass breakup in the first half on a fourth down play and Mark Perdue delivered a fourth down sack to end a Wildcats' drive early in the second half. Both Andrew Nguyen and Perdue picked off Woodland passes in the second half. For Woodland it was a sixth consecutive loss to fall to 1-6 overall and 0-2 in Region 7-AAAAA. Senior running back Asa James paced the Wildcats' offense finishing with 89 yards on 16 carries. Woodland travels to 7th-ranked Calhoun next Friday. Cass (4-3, 1-1) has an important matchup with Hiram next Friday back at Cochran Stadium. A Colonels win would secure no worse than a No. 4-seed in the Class 5A state playoffs with three weeks remaining in the regular season. Next Friday’s Cass-Hiram game will be featured as the Johnny’s NY Style Pizza / Bartow County Game of the Week on BartowSportsZone.com and the Mixlr app.

Adairsville’s Chris Roper scored three touchdowns and the Tigers’ defense kept Coahulla Creek out of the end zone until the fourth quarter Friday night while earning a 20-10 win. Roper scored on a pair of first quarter touchdown runs from 19-yards and 28-yards as the Tigers grabbed a 13-0 lead. Following a Colts’ 33-yard field goal that narrowed the margin to 13-3, Roper returned the ensuing kickoff 80 yards to give Adairsville a 20-3 lead at halftime. The two teams battled through a scoreless third quarter and Coahulla Creek scored the only fourth quarter points. A 60-yard pass from quarterback Kace Kinnamon to Justin Baker set up a 1-yard touchdown run by Payton Gordon. The Adairsville defense would hold off the Colts’ threats for the remainder of the final period, however, for a 10-point win. Coahulla Creek slipped to 4-3 overall and 2-3 in Region 6-AAA. The Colts play at LaFayette next week. Adairsville (5-1, 3-1) will host Sonoraville next Friday in Tiger Valley. The Phoenix (4-2, 2-2) beat Murray County Friday night 48-7.

The Adairsville volleyball team split two non-region home matches Thursday night with a 25-10, 25-13 win over Temple and a three-set loss to Chattooga 24-26, 25-17, 9-15. Richlyn Blair had seven kills and Kaylee Jordan had five kills in the win over Temple. Lexie Childers contributed eight assists and Madison Flemons finished with five digs. In the loss to the Indians, Autumn Henderson had four kills, three service aces, and one block. Blair totaled three aces, two kills, one block, and seven digs. Jordan had five kills and seven digs. Childers contributed four kills and seven assists. Annie McCormick had eight assists and Flemons added 13 digs. Adairsville (20-12-1) returns to region action Monday at Rockmart where the Tigers will also face North Murray.

Cartersville volleyball took a pair of straight sets victories Thursday night in Rome, defeating Coosa 25-8, 25-12 and Christian Heritage 25-19, 25-13. Canes’ coach Alicen Pearson played the matches with several different combinations and experimented with some different offensive sets. London Moultrie led the Hurricanes in kills and MIa Nicklas was credited as the team’s defensive leader. Cartersville (22-9) begins play in the Region 7-AAAAA Tournament next Thursday at Calhoun against Hiram.

With their playoff lives likely on the line, the Cass softball team took care of business Thursday night at Hiram winning both games of a doubleheader 8-1 and 20-2. The Colonels led just 2-1 after four innings of the opening game, but scored six times over the final three frames for an 8-1 victory. Rachael Lee earned the pitching win by tossing all seven innings without yielding an earned run. She scattered four hits and one walk while fanning four. Rachael Lee also paced Cass at the plate with a double, a triple, and one RBI. Ansley Hight hit a two-run home run in the fourth inning to spark the Cass attack. Alexis Woods and Kelly Young finished with one hit and one RBI each. Eryn Lee, Haylee Dishmon, and Reese Howard contributed one hit apiece. Saydee Najarro added one RBI. In the second game, the Lady Colonels trailed 1-0 after one inning but 19 runs over the next four frames overpowered the host Hornets in a 20-2 decision. Cass pounded out thirteen hits in the win while pitcher Alexis Woods limited Hiram to just a pair of runs on seven hits and two walks. Woods struck out two. Ansley Hight had three hits including a double and her second, two-run home run of the night to accumulate six RBIs in the nightcap. Eryn Lee (2 RBIs), Saydee Najarro (2 RBIs), Rachael Lee, and Haylee Dishmon (RBI) all had two hits apiece. Savannah Tatum and Kelly Young contributed one hit and one RBI each. Alexis Woods added two RBIs. Cass (11-11, 7-8) now awaits the outcome of Saturday’s Cartersville at Blessed Trinity doubleheader to decide the final Region 7-AAAAA state playoff berth. Cartersville (9-14, 5-8) would finish in a tie with Cass and win the final playoff spot in a head-to-head tiebreaker if the Canes sweep both games at Blessed Trinity.

The 2021 MLB and MiLB schedules came to a close this past week for former Cartersville High athletes Sam Howard and Connor Justus. Meanwhile, former Canes quarterback Trevor Lawrence continues his rookie season with the Jacksonville Jaguars and local college athletes continue fall schedules in football, soccer, and golf. PRO BASEBALL SAM HOWARD — Pittsburgh Pirates (8th-year pro; Cartersville HS) . . . made three relief appearances in the final week of the regular season working 3-1/3 innings. The 28-year-old worked the fourth and fifth innings last Wednesday in a 3-2 home loss to the Chicago Cubs. In the appearance he gave up one earned run on two hits and two walks while striking out three. The southpaw earned his eleventh hold of the year Friday recording two outs in the sixth inning but yielding one earned run one one hit and one walk. He sat down two as the Pirates beat Cincinnati 8-6. Sunday in a 6-3 loss to the Reds, he recorded two outs in the fifth inning without allowing a run and recorded one strikeout. Howard finished 2021 with a 3-4 record in 53 appearances. He had a 5.68 ERA across 44-1/3 innings with 59 strikeouts. CONNOR JUSTUS — Jacksonville Jumbo Shrimp (6th-year pro; Miami Marlins organization; Cartersville HS)… was 2-for-16 in five games last week as the Shrimp closed out the season at the Gwinnett Stripers. Justus finished 2021 with a .202 batting average in 282 official at bats between Triple-A Jacksonville and Double-A Pensacola. The 26-year-old infielder had two home runs and 26 RBIs. PRO FOOTBALL TREVOR LAWRENCE — Jacksonville Jaguars (Rookie season; Cartersville HS)… completed 17 of 24 passes for 204 yards and added eight rushing attempts for 36 yards and one touchdown last Thursday night in the Jags 24-21 loss at the Cincinnati Bengals. Jacksonville (0-4) hosts the Tennessee Titans Sunday afternoon. COLLEGE FOOTBALL TERRY BERDIN — Reinhardt University (Jr., Cartersville HS) … carried three times for 20 yards including a nine-yard run in the Eagles’ 40-16 win at Ave Maria University. Reinhardt (3-2) begins Appalachian Athletic Conference play Saturday at home against Bluefield University (Virginia). CHRIS BLACKSTON — University of West Georgia (Sr., Adairsville HS)… made four tackles (two solo) in the Wolves’ first loss of the season Saturday at home to 15th-ranked West Alabama, 38-20. Through five games, Blackston has 17 total tackles, two tackles for loss, and one quarterback hurry from his safety position. UWG (4-1, 2-1 Gulf South Conference) plays at Mississippi College Saturday in Clinton. BRYCE BURGESS — Reinhardt University (Jr., Adairsville HS) … scored three touchdowns and had eight carries for 50 yards in the Eagles 40-16 win Saturday at Ave Maria University. Burgess scored on a 2-yard runs in the first quarter, a 3-yard plunge early in the second period, and added a 4-yard scoring run in the third quarter at Reinhardt built a 20-7 lead. Reinhardt (3-2) opens Mid-South Conference play Saturday at home against Bluefield University (Virginia). TREY CREAMER — UNC Charlotte (R-Sr., Cartersville HS)… a starter in the 49ers’ secondary made four tackles (two solo) and broke up one pass as Charlotte lost at Illinois Saturday, 24-14. Through five games, Creamer has a dozen tackles, two pass breakups, and one forced fumble. The 49ers (3-2, 1-0 Conference USA) play Saturday night at conference foe Florida International University. JONATHAN CRUZ — UNC Charlotte (Sr., Cartersville HS)… missed a 39-yard field goal attempt at the end of the third quarter, but made both of his PAT kicks and booted all three kickoffs for touchbacks in the 49ers’ loss Saturday at Illinois. Charlotte (3-2, 1-0 Conference USA) heads to Florida International University this Saturday night for a conference tilt. JORDAN FERGUSON — Middle Tennessee State University (R-Jr., Cartersville HS)… the Blue Raiders’ starting defensive lineman had seven tackles, one tackle for loss, and a forced fumble Satuday in a 34-28 win over Marshall. MTSU (3-2, 1-2 C-USA) travels to Lynchburg, Virginia Saturday afternoon to take on Liberty University. DYLAN FORMAN — Shorter University (R-Fr., Woodland HS)… was a participant but did not record any stats in the Hawks’ 49-13 loss Satudray at 4th-ranked Valdosta State University. Shorter hosts University of Wet Alabama Saturday. JaCOREY JOHNS — Wake Forest University (R-So., Cartersville HS)… made four tackles (one solo) Saturday as the Deamon Deacons improved to 5-0 with a 37-34 home win over Louisville. Wake Forest (3-0 ACC) is now ranked 19th and travels to Syracuse Saturday afternoon. LA’KWAYME JUPITER — North Carolina Wesleyan (Fr., Cartersville HS) … the Battling Bishops’ starting nose guard did not record any stats in Saturday’s 17-9 win at Averett University. North Carolina Wesleyan (2-3, 2-1 USA South Athletic Conference) hosts Greesboro College Saturday for their annual homecoming game. JACOB POTTER — Kennesaw State University (Sr., Adairsville HS) … the Owls long snapper for field goals, extra points, and punts in a 31-6 win Saturday at 17th-ranked Jacksonville State University. KSU (3-1) plays at Hampton University (Virginia) this Saturday afternoon. JOHN SCIFERS — University Incarnate Word (Grad Student, Woodland HS) … kicked off seven times Saturday with one touchback in the Cardinals 38-27 win at Northwestern State in Natchitooches, Louisiana. UIW (4-1, 2-0 Southland Conference) has a bye week before hosting Nicholls State October 16. MATTHEW SURRETT — Olivet Nazarene University (Fr., Cartersville HS) … the Tigers’ starting center was part of an offensive unit that rolled up 619 yards of total offense in a 58-19 blowout win at Judson University (Illinois). ONU (3-1, 1-0 Mid-States Football Association) travels to Chicago to take on Saint Xavier University this Saturday afternoon. BRANDON WADE — University West Florida (R-So., Cartersville HS) … the defensive lineman saw action but did not record any stats in the top-ranked Argonauts 39-33 win at Delta State. UWF (4-0, 1-0 Gulf South Conference) plays at North Greenville this Saturday night. BRYCE WILKINS — Reinhardt University (So., Cartersville HS)… a starter in all five of the Eagles games, the guard was part of an offensive unit that accumulated 419 yards of total offense in a 40-16 win Saturday at Ave Maria University (Florida). NAIA 13th-ranked Reinhardt (3-2) entertains Bluefield University (Virginia) Saturday in the Eagles’ Mid-South Conference opener. SOCCER MADISON SHOOK — Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College (Fr., Cass HS)… was a starting midfielder for the Fillies but had no recorded stats in a 5-4 win Friday at Trinity Baptist College (Florida). ABAC (2-2-1, (1-2-1 Georgia Collegiate Athletic Association) hosts South Georgia State CC Monday and plays at Gordon State College Wednesday. GOLF BUCK BRUMLOW — University of Georgia (Fr., Cartersville HS) … shot rounds of 71, 73, and 75 to finish third on his team and tied for 42nd overall at the Colonial Collegiate Invitational at the 7,204-yard, par 70 Colonial Country Club in Fort Worth, Texas. The Bulldogs tied with Texas for 7th of 15 teams behind Stanford, Oklahoma, Wake Forest, Oklahoma State, Pepperdine, and TCU. Next for UGA is the SEC Match Play Championship Sunday through Tuesday at Shoal Creek Club in Birmingham.