Former Cartersville High School pitcher, Sam Howard, has made more than 50 appearances in Major League Baseball for the Colorado Rockies and his current team — the Pittsburgh Pirates, but Friday night marked his first-ever MLB start. Howard, who only worked the first inning of the game against the Philadelphia Phillies, received the starting nod in what the Pirates deemed a “bullpen game.” Pittsburgh utilized six different pitchers in the 8-6 loss. Howard received no decision. In the NFL, former Cartersville Canes’ and Clemson Tigers' quarterback Trevor Lawrence passed for 219 yards and one touchdown in Jacksonville’s 31-19 loss to the Arizona Cardinals. PRO BASEBALL SAM HOWARD — Pittsburgh Pirates (8th-year pro; Cartersville HS) . . . made his first MLB start last Friday against the Philadelphia Phillies in his 96th career appearance. The former Hurricanes and Georgia Southern Eagles standout struck out the only three batters he faced — Odubel Herrera, Jean Segura, and Bryce Harper — on 12 total pitches. It was his 50th appearance this season with the Pirates. The 28-year-old southpaw appeared again Saturday and retired the Phillies’ Didi Gregorius — the only batter he faced — on a pop up to end the fifth inning. The Pirates lost both games Howard appeared in, falling 8-5 Friday and 3-0 Saturday. For the 2021 season, Howard is 3-4 in 51 appearances with a 5.62 ERA and 54 strikeouts in 41.2 innings pitched. CONNOR JUSTUS — Jacksonville Jumbo Shrimp (6th-year pro; Miami Marlins organization; Cartersville HS)… made a pair of starts last Thursday and Friday going 2-for-8 with one RBI and two runs scored as the Shrimp edged the Memphis Redbirds 7-6 and 3-2. Jacksonville closes out the added Final Stretch portion of the Triple-A schedule this week with a six-game series at the Gwinnett Stripers. The 26-year-old infielder has a .207 batting average in 266 official at-bats this season, splitting time between Double-A Pensacola and Triple-A Jacksonville. He has a pair of home runs and 26 RBIs with a pair of stolen bases. PRO FOOTBALL TREVOR LAWRENCE — Jacksonville Jaguars (Rookie season; Cartersville HS)… completed 22 of 34 passes Sunday for 219 yards and one touchdown, but the Jaguars lost their third straight game to begin the 2021 season in a 31-19 loss to the visiting Arizona Cardinals. The NFL’s overall No. 1 draft choice threw two interceptions including one on a flea-flicker in the third quarter that turned into a pick-6 and gave Arizona a 24-19 lead at the time. His second quarter, 12-yard touchdown pass to D.J. Chark capped a 9-play, 79-yard scoring drive and made the score 7-7. Through his first three NFL regular season games, the former Clemson quarterback in 64-for-118 for 669 yards and five touchdowns. Lawrence also has 46 rushing yards. He has thrown seven interceptions and lost two fumbles. The Jaguars (0-3) play this week’s Thursday night game at the Cincinnati Bengals’ Paul Brown Stadium. COLLEGE FOOTBALL NICK BAILEY — Shorter University (Fr., Woodland HS) … the offensive lineman was on the Hawks’ participation list in a 56-0 home loss Saturday to West Georgia. Shorter (2-2, 0-1 Gulf South Conference) makes the trip to 4th-ranked Valdosta State this Saturday. CHRIS BLACKSTON — University of West Georgia (Sr., Adairsville HS)… the 9th-ranked Wolves’ starting safety had five total tackles (three solo) and a quarterback hurry in Saturday’s 56-0 road win at Shorter. UWG (4-0, 2-0 Gulf South Conference) hosts West Alabama Saturday night in another conference tilt. TREY CREAMER — UNC Charlotte (R-Sr., Cartersville HS)… a starter in the 49ers’ secondary made four tackles (two solo) as Charlotte held off visiting Middle Tennessee 42-39. The 49ers (3-1, 1-0 Conference USA) play a noon game Saturday at Illinois. JONATHAN CRUZ — UNC Charlotte (Sr., Cartersville HS)… had a third quarter, 35-yard field goal attempt blocked but made all six of his PAT kicks and booted six of seven kickoffs for touchbacks in Charlotte’s three point win over Middle Tennessee. The 49ers (3-1, 1-0 C-USA) travel to Illinois Saturday for a 12 noon kickoff. JORDAN FERGUSON — Middle Tennessee State University (R-Jr., Cartersville HS)… the Blue Raiders’ starting defensive lineman was credited with a pair of tackle assists in Saturday’s 42-39 loss at Charlotte. Middle Tennessee (1-3, 0-2 C-USA) entertains Marshall Saturday night. DYLAN FORMAN — Shorter University (R-Fr., Woodland HS)… had a one-yard reception in the third quarter during the Hawks’ 56-0 loss Saturday to visiting West Georgia. JONAH GAMBILL — University of Memphis (R-Fr., Cartersville HS)… the Tigers’ offensive lineman was part of a rotation that accumulated 78 rushing yards and 407 total yards in a 31-28 loss Saturday to University of Texas-San Antonio. Gambill was also credited with one tackle assist following a sack fumble in the fourth quarter. Memphis (3-1) make the trip to Temple Saturday to open play in the American Athletic Conference. ZAY JACKSON — Missouri Baptist University (Fr., Cass HS)… had one tackle in the fourth quarter during the Spartans’ 49-0 loss at 8th-ranked Marian University (Indiana). MBU (3-1) opens conference play Saturday afternoon at University of St. Francis (Illinois). JaCOREY JOHNS — Wake Forest University (R-So., Cartersville HS)… made three tackles including two for loss and one sack Saturday at Virginia in a 37-17 win. Johns now has 10 tackles through the first four games. The Deamon Deacons (4-0, 2-0 ACC) host Louisville Saturday afternoon. MANNY JONES — Colorado State University (Grad Student, Woodland HS)… made three tackles and broke up one pass Saturday at Iowa in a 24-14 loss to the Hawkeyes. CSU (1-3) has this weekend off before hosting San Jose State October 9 for their Mountain West Conference opener and their 2021 homecoming game. TITUS JONES — Colorado State University (R-So., Woodland HS)… was listed as a participant for the Rams in their loss at Iowa but did not record any stats. LA’KWAYME JUPITER — North Carolina Wesleyan (Fr., Cartersville HS) … the Battling Bishops’ starting nose guard did not record any stats in Saturday’s 26-21 win at LaGrange. North Carolina Wesleyan (1-3, 1-1 USA South Athletic Conference) plays at Averett University Saturday night. BRADLEY KIRK — Shorter University (Sr., Cartersville HS) … saw action Saturday for the Hawks in a 56-0 loss to visiting 15th-ranked West Georgia. NICK ROOT — Carson-Newman University (Jr., Carterrsville HS) … the Eagles’ offensive lineman saw action Saturday in a 33-7 loss at Virginia-Wise. CNU (0-3, 0-2 Southern Athletic Conference) plays at Barton College Saturday afternoon. COURTNEY SLOCUM — Mars Hill University (Fr., Adairsville HS) … was listed as a participant in the Lions’ 31-16 loss Saturday at Lenoir-Rhyne. Mars Hill (2-2, 1-1 Southern Athletic Conference) hosts Newberry this Saturday afternoon. EVAN SLOCUM — Wake Forest University (Fr., Cartersville HS)… a starter in the 24th-ranked Deamon Deacons’ secondary, but did not record any defensive stats during a 37-17 Saturday win at Virginia. Wake Forest (4-0, 2-0 ACC) hosts Louisville this Saturday afternoon. TEE WEBB — University Southern Mississippi (Fr., Cartersville HS) … had one rushing attempt for one yard late in the fourth quarter of the Eagles’ 63-14 loss Saturday at Alabama. Southern Miss (1-3) begins Conference USA play Saturday evening at Rice. BRYCE WILKINS — Reinhardt University (So., Cartersville HS)… a starter on the Eagles’ offensive line at left guard as the offense compiled 423 total yards including 354 net rushing yards but lost at Bethel University (Tennessee) 34-33. Reinhardt (2-2) travels to Ave Maria University (Florida) this Saturday night. SOCCER MADISON SHOOK — Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College (Fr., Cass HS)… was a starting midfielder for the Fillies and took nine shots (four shots on goal) in a 1-1 draw Monday, October 20 at Andrew College. Shook also started and took one shot in ABAC’s scoreless draw Friday at Georgia Military College. The Fillies (1-1-2) host Trinity Baptist College Tuesday. GOLF CHANC WILLIS — Reinhardt University (So., Cartersville HS) … shot rounds of 80, 79, and 77 to tie for 78th in a field of 104 players at the 20-team Invite at Innisbrook played on the par-71, 7015-yard Copperhead Course at Innisbrook Golf Club in Florida Monday. Reinhardt tied for 13th in the event won by Keiser University. CROSS COUNTRY BILL ARCHER -- University of Montevallo (Fr., Cartersville) ... Archer came in 20th overall (9th on his team) as Montevallo won the Falcon Classic Sept. 17 at home. McKENNA TRAPHEAGEN -- Georgia Tech (So., Woodland) ... Trapheagen came in 105th — sixth on the Yellow Jackets — in the Roy Griak Invitational Friday in St. Paul, Minnesota.

Cartersville rallied for three runs in the top of the seventh Tuesday night and out hit the Lady Cats eight to five, but Woodland’s early lead was enough for a 6-3 Region 7-AAAAA win at the Atco Complex. The Wildcats built a 5-0 lead through the first two innings and led 6-0 heading into the final frame. The Woodland win was the Wildcats' fourth of the year over the Hurricanes. Three in region play and one in the Bartow County Tournament. Cassie Jones (5 IP, 0R, 4H, 0BB, 5K) and Peyton Dorn (2 IP, 3ER, 4H, 1BB, 1K) shared the pitching duties for Woodland. Jones earned the win with Dorn picking up a save. Ava Perkins (1 IP, 4R, 3ER, 1H, 4BB, 2K) suffered the pitching loss for the Hurricanes. Kiley Arnold (5 IP, 2ER, 4H, 0BB, 2K) worked in the circle in relief. Campbell Rogers had three hits including a double and two RBIs for Cartersville. Mikey Lewis followed with two hits including a double and one RBI. Arnold, Erin McCrary, and Jordan Bishop added one hit each. Michiah Hicks had a hit and two RBIs for Woodland. Dylynn Motes hit a solo home run in the sixth inning and finished with two RBIs. Alana Carnes contributed one hit and one RBI. Cambrie Carrington, Jordan Hammonds, and Cassie Jones added one hit each for the Lady Cats. Cartersville falls to 9-14 overall and 5-8 in Region 7-AAAAA. The Lady Canes have a makeup doubleheader at Blessed Trinity next Wednesday. Woodland (13-12-2, 10-5) has completed region play and is scheduled to host Campbell Thursday in a JV/Varsity doubleheader at Hamilton Crossing Park.

Cass softball built an early 5-0 lead and went on to defeat visiting Hiram 9-1 in six innings Tuesday night at the Cass Athletic Complex as the Lady Colonels celebrated their Senior Night. Cass scored five runs in the first two frames, added three more in the fourth inning and ended the game by run-rule in the bottom of the sixth on Alexis Woods’ inside-the-park home run. Rachael Lee (6 IP, 1ER, 6H, 3BB) earned the pitching win by tossing a complete game. Nine different Colonels finished with one hit each. Eryn Lee, Alexis Woods, Ansley Hight, Rachael Lee (2 RBIs), Haylee Dishmon (RBI), Darianna Sosa (2 RBIs), Reese Howard, Savannah Tatum, and Kelly Young had the Cass hits. The loss drops Hiram to 1-14 overall and 0-11 in Region 7-AAAAA. Cass (8-9, 5-7) has another region game Wednesday at Blessed Trinity at 5:30 p.m., hosts Darlington in a non-region game Thursday at 5 p.m., and entertains Allatoona in non-region action Saturday at 11 a.m.

The Adairsville softball team dropped a 6-2 decision Tuesday night at Lakeview-Fort Oglethorpe. The Tigers fell behind 4-0 in the first inning and never recovered. LFO added two more runs in the fourth inning to increase the Warriors’ lead to 6-1 with Adairsville adding a final run in the fifth inning. McKenzie Pullam had two hits including a double and one RBI for Adairsville. Alissa Winters finished with a hit and one RBI with Taylor Evans adding the only other Lady Tigers’ hit. Chelsea Bates (0.1 IP, 4ER, 4H, 1BB) started in the pitching circle and was tagged with the loss. Jordan Clay (5.2 IP, 2ER, 3H, 4BB, 1K) entered in the first inning and closed out the pitching duties. LFO improved to 7-15 on the season and finished 5-11 in Region 6-AAA. Adairsville (6-15, 4-11) plays at LaFayette Thursday at 5:30 p.m.

The Cartersville girls cross country team placed 13th and the boys finished 16th in the Varsity A division races of the Wingfoot Classic over the weekend at Sam Smith Park. McKinsey Spinks (21:24.7) led the Lady Canes with a 42nd place individually. Anna Grace Boone and Kaylana Pennington-Brooke finished 74th and 76th, respectively. Rounding out the Cartersville girls finish were Meredith Gaines (101st), Samantha Herrera (102nd), and Trinity Atkins (104th). Levi Booth (17:40.9) was the top finisher for the Cartersville boys placing 45th overall. Malachi Vosburgh placed 49th. Cainen Crowder was 75th, Paul Hyman 101st, and Barrett Stepp was 124th for the Purple Hurricanes. The Cass boys ran to an 11th place finish in the Varsity B race. Critton Gearhart (18:25.5) placed 20th for the Colonels. Jake Wright followed for Cass with a 40th place result. Adam Pierce (65th), Leonardo Galeana (95th), and Elijah Etheridge (107th) rounded out the top five finishers for Cass. Tigers compete at Wildwood Run in Dalton The Adairsville boys cross country team ran to a 17th-place finish in the Wildwood Run last Thursday at Edwards Park in Dalton. Brayden Miller and Griffin Bozeman led the Tigers finishing 60th and 61st, respectively. Chris Pelchat (114th), Jace Silvers (119th), and Cody Teer (133rd) rounded out the top five Adairsville runners. Callie Viktora (58th) was the only Adairsville girl to compete in Dalton.

The Adairsville softball team lost to visiting Murray County Monday night in a Region 6-AAA matchup, 8-4. Adairsville matched Murray County with seven hits, but the Lady Tigers committed ten errors in the game leading to eight, unearned runs. Murray County took a 4-2 lead in the third inning and extended the lead to 8-3 in the top of the fifth. Brooklyn Gonzalez, Nicole Martin, and Alyssa Usrey combined for six of the Indians’ base hits and four RBIs. Chelsea Bates (4.2 IP, 8R, 0ER, 6H, 2BB, 4K) suffered the pitching loss for Adairsville. Jordan Clay (2.1 IP, 0R, 1H, 2BB, 2K) pitched in relief. Makayla Wade had two hits for the Tigers. McKenzie Pullam and Kelsey Gleason had one hit and one RBI each. Taylor Evans contributed a double. Alissa Winters and Riley Mounger added one hit each. Jenna Young finished with one RBI. Murray County improved to 8-15 with the victory and is now 6-9 in Region 6-AAA. Adairsville (6-14, 4-10) plays at Lakeview-Fort Oglethorpe Tuesday at 5:30 p.m. and at LaFayette Thursday.

Minutes from the Georgia High School Association's Reclassification Committee meeting held Monday, September 27.

Cartersville volleyball won the Bartow County Championship Tournament Saturday for the 15th year in a row. The Hurricanes, who had an opening round win over Cass and two wins over Adairsville to claim the title, won each match in convincing fashion, Cartersville raced past Cass in the first round 25-4 and 25-7 before advancing to the championship match with a 25-6, 25-16 win over Adairsville. The Lady Tigers, who had an opening round win over Woodland 25-16, 25-14 defeated Cass in the loser’s bracket 25-17, 25-18 to earn their spot in the finals. Earlier in the loser’s bracket, Cass defeated Woodland to finish third. Woodland, now 6-25, hosts Woodstock and Cherokee Tuesday night. Adairsville (18-8-1) has matches with Pickens and Cherokee Thursday night in Jasper. Cartersville (17-9) has Region 7-AAAAA matches against Hiram and Cass (8-12-1) Tuesday night at Hiram.

Adairsville sophomore quarterback Jonathan Gough threw two touchdown passes and converted a two-point conversion pass on a scramble play in the Tigers 22-6 home win Friday night over the LaFayette Ramblers. The touchdown passes by Gough went to Evan Sanders and Grayson Belcher in the second quarter for a 14-0 halftime lead. Both were 16-yard completions followed by PAT kicks by Arthur Lefler. The first touchdown capped an 87-yard scoring drive. After LaFayette’s Jacob Brown booted a 47-yard field goal midway through the third quarter to narrow the Tigers’ lead to 14-3, Gough found Grayson Belcher on a 41-yard pass to set up the final Adairsville touchdown — a 5-yard run by Eli Agnew. When the ensuing PAT snap was bad, Gough scrambled long enough to find Sanders for a 2-point conversion pass and a 22-3 lead late in the third quarter. LaFayette’s Brown connected on a 43-yard field goal in the first minute of the fourth quarter to make the score 22-6, but got no closer with the two teams trading possessions for the remainder of the game. Agnew finished the night with 126 yards for the Tigers on 21 rushing attempts. Gough was 9 of 14 through the air for 137 yards and two touchdowns with one interception. Sanders caught five passes for 69 yards and a score. Belcher hauled in three passes for 63 yards and a touchdown. The Tigers' defense limited LaFayette star running back Jaylon Ramsey to just 50 yards on 13 touches. He had been averaging 96 yards per game coming into the contest. The loss drops the Ramblers to 3-2 on the season and 2-1 in Region 6-AAA. Adairsville (4-0, 2-0) hosts Ringgold (5-0, 3-0) next Friday in Adairsville’s Tiger Valley.

Woodland softball swept a doubleheader at Cartersville Thursday night while Adairsville dropped a home Region 6-AAA matchup with LaFayette. WOODLAND 5, CARTERSVILLE 3 In Thursday night’s first game at Atco Park, Peyton Dorn hit a second inning, three-run home run and Cambrie Carrington added a solo home run in the seventh inning as visiting Woodland topped Cartersville, 5-3. Lainey Baker had two hits including a double. Cassie Jones also contributed two hits and one RBI for the Lady Cats. Baker (5 IP, 2ER, 3H, 2BB, 8K) and Dorn (2 IP, 1ER, 1H, 2BB) combined on the pitching win. Campbell Rogers and Erin McCrary (RBI) both had a double for Cartersville. Mikey Lewis (RBI) and McKinley Chada each added one hit. Jordan Bishop was credited with one RBI. Chada (7IP, 5R, 3ER, 8H, 2BB, 6K) was charged with the pitching loss in a complete game effort. WOODLAND 5, CARTERSVILLE 4 In Thursday night’s second game, Cartersville and Woodland exchanged the lead four times and went to the final inning tied 4-4 before the Lady Cats pulled out a 5-4 win in the seventh. Jessica Ryan singled home Michiah Hicks in the top of the seventh for Woodland’s go-ahead run. Peyton Dorn (3 IP, 2ER, 4H, 1BB, 1K) collected the pitching win for the Wildcats in relief of starter Cassie Jones (4 IP, 2ER, 7H, 0BB, 4K). Jones and Hicks led the Woodland offense with two hits each. Dylan Motes and Lainey Baker added one hit and one RBI each. Erin McCrary and Reese Dumas had two hits and one RBI each for Cartersville. Mikey Lewis also had two hits including a double. McKinley Chada and Jordan Bishop added RBI hits for the Hurricanes. With the two wins, Woodland secured no worse than a No. 3 seed in Region 7-AAAAA. Cartersville remains in contention for the region's final state playoff berth. Cartersville (9-13, 5-7) plays at Woodland (12-12-2, 9-5) next Tuesday. LAFAYETTE 4, ADAIRSVILLE 1 The Ramblers led 4-0 after a three-run fifth inning and ultimately held on Thursday night at Adairsville for a 4-1 Region 6-AAA win. Chelsea Bates (4.1 IP, 4ER, 4H, 1BB, 3K) was tagged with the pitching loss for the Tigers despite a solid performance. Jordan Clay (2.2 IP, 0R, 2H, 2K) pitched in relief. McKenzie Pullam and Taylor Evans both doubled for the Adairsville offense. Makayla Wade, Alissa Winters, and Jenna Young had the other Tigers' base hits.

Adairsville volleyball split a pair of Region 6-AAA matches Thursday evening at Sonoraville, beating Lakeview-Fort Oglethorpe 25-16, 27-25 before falling to the host Lady Phoenix, 25-17, 25-16. Sonoraville improved to 17-12 overall and 7-1 in region play. LFO slipped to 5-18 overall and 0-6 in region action. Adairsville (16-6-1, 4-2) plays in the Bartow County Championship Tournament Saturday at Cartersville’s Storm Center.

A two-run, walk-off single by Kelsey Gleason lifted the Adairsville softball team to a 2-1 win Tuesday night over Lakeview-Fort Oglethorpe in Tiger Valley. Trailing 1-0, Jenna Young and Taylor Evans singled to start the Lady Tigers’ seventh inning. McKenzie Pullam sacrificed the two runners into scoring position and Gleason delivered the walk-off, two-RBI base hit. Chelsea Bates earned the pitching win for Adairsville tossing a seven inning, two hitter. Bates walked two and struck out three. In addition to the three hits in the Lady Tigers’ final frame, Brie Patterson had two hits in the contest. Makayla Wade, Alissa Winters, and Riley Mounger added one hit apiece. LFO falls to 5-12 overall and 3-8 in Region 6-AAA. Adairsville (6-12, 4-8) hosts LaFayette Thursday at 5:30 p.m.