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.

Trevor Lawrence made his home debut in Jacksonville Sunday leading the Jaguars to an early 7-0 lead, but Jacksonville eventually fell to the Denver Broncos 23-13. Meanwhile Major League Baseball has reached the home stretch of the regular season, minor league baseball winds down, and almost two dozen local college athletes made their marks this past week with their respective programs. PRO FOOTBALL TREVOR LAWRENCE — Jacksonville Jaguars (Rookie season; Cartersville HS)… starting his second NFL regular season game and his 2021 home opener, the 21-year-old quarterback was 14 of 33 for 118 yards and he was intercepted twice in a 23-13 loss that dropped Jacksonville to 0-2 for the year. Lawrence started hot — completing 5-of-7 attempts for 73 yards and a 25-yard touchdown toss to Marvin Jones. The TD capped an 11-play, 83-yard drive that gave the Jaguars a 7-0 lead. Jacksonville hosts the Arizona Cardinals next Sunday at 1 p.m. PRO BASEBALL SAM HOWARD — Pittsburgh Pirates (8th-year pro; Cartersville HS) . . . made three, one-inning appearances last week — two at home against the Cincinnati Reds and one at the Miami Marlins. He was charged with a blown save last Tuesday when he gave up a two-out, solo home run to Reds’ shortstop Kyle Farmer in the eighth inning. The home run tied the game 4-4, but the Pirates scored a run in the ninth to secure a win. The next day, the 28-year-old was inserted in the fourth inning against the Reds and worked a shutout frame. He allowed a hit and a walk but also recorded a strikeout in the Pirates’ 1-0 loss. In last Saturday’s 6-3 win at Miami, the southpaw struck out two while working a 1-2-3 seventh inning. The former Georgia Southern hurler has appeared in 49 games for Pittsburgh this season with a 3-4 record. He has a 5.80 ERA and 51 strikeouts in 40.1 innings pitched. CONNOR JUSTUS — Jacksonville Jumbo Shrimp (6th-year pro; Miami Marlins organization; Cartersville HS)… started all six games for the Jumbo Shrimp last week in their final regular season series of the year at the Norfolk Tides. The 26-year-old infielder finished the series going 7-for-24 at the plate including a walk, two doubles, one RBI, and scored three runs. In 2021, Justus has a .205 batting average in 258 official at-bats splitting time between Double-A Pensacola and Triple-A Jacksonville. He has two home runs and had 25 RBIs. Jacksonville finished the regular season portion of the schedule 69-51 and in second place in the Triple-A East-Southeast Division behind the Durham Bulls. The League now enters an extended 10-game schedule to determine a Triple-A Final Stretch champion based on winning percentage. The move by MiLB recovers games that were canceled at the beginning of the year. LUKE SCHILTZ — Arizona Complex League Rangers (3rd year pro; Cartersville native; Stoneman Douglas HS) … made his eleventh relief appearance of 2021 last Thursday against the ACL Cubs. He entered in the fourth inning and worked 2-and-1/3 innings allowing one, unearned run on two hits and three walks. He struck out one. For the season, the 6-5 right hander has a 7.71 ERA in just over 16 innings with 19 strikeouts. The Rangers (31-28) finished in ninth place in the 18-team rookie level league. The Texas organization team was third in the ACL West Division. COLLEGE FOOTBALL CHRIS BLACKSTON — University of West Georgia (Sr., Adairsville HS)… the Wolves’ starting safety made a pair of tackles, both solo, in a 27-26 win Saturday over 22nd-ranked Delta State. 18th-ranked UWG (3-0, 1-0 Gulf South Conference) plays at Shorter Saturday afternoon. BRYCE BURGESS — Reinhardt University (Jr., Adairsville HS)… had five carries for 21 yards and caught one pass for 29 yards as the NAIA 7th-ranked Eagles pounded visiting Campbellsville 52-7 in Waleska. He now has 53 rushing yards and 32 receiving yards for the season. Reinhardt (2-1) travels to Bethel University Saturday. TREY CREAMER — UNC Charlotte (R-Sr., Cartersville HS)… started in the 49ers’ secondary Saturday as Charlotte lost at Georgia State 20-9. UNCC (2-1) hosts Middle Tennessee Friday night. JONATHAN CRUZ — UNC Charlotte (Sr., Cartersville HS)… made his only PAT kick attempt and booted both of his kickoffs for touchbacks in the 49ers loss Saturday at Georgia State. JORDAN FERGUSON — Middle Tennessee State University (R-Jr., Cartersville HS)… made eight total tackles (3 solo) including a sack, two for loss, and had four quarterback hurries in the Blue Raiders 27-13 loss Saturday at Texas-San Antonio. MTSU (1-2, 0-1 Conference USA) plays at Charlotte Friday night. DYLAN FORMAN — Shorter University (R-Fr., Woodland HS)… saw action for the Hawks in their 38-17 win Saturday at Clark Atlanta University. Shorter (2-1) begins Gulf South Conference play this week against University of West Georgia at Barron Stadium. JONAH GAMBILL — University of Memphis (R-Fr., Cartersville HS)… the Tigers’ offensive lineman was part of a rotation that accumulated 87 rushing yards and 159 yards passing in a 31-29 win over Mississippi State. Memphis (3-0) hosts Texas-San Antonio this Saturday afternoon. ZAY JACKSON — Missouri Baptist University (Fr., Cass HS)… had one tackle on kickoff team coverage in the Spartans 42-24 win Saturday over Madonna University. Missouri Baptist (3-0) travels to Indianapolis Saturday afternoon to take on NAIA 9th-ranked Marian University. JaCOREY JOHNS — Wake Forest University (R-So., Cartersville HS)… made four tackles (3 solo) including a 10-yard sack in the Deamon Deacons 35-14 home win over Florida State. Wake Forest (3-0, 1-0 ACC) plays at Virginia Saturday night. MANNY JONES — Colorado State University (Grad Student, Woodland HS)… had one tackle on a third quarter run in the Rams’ 22-6 win Saturday afternoon at Toledo. CSU (1-2) plays at Iowa this Saturday. TITUS JONES — Colorado State University (R-So., Woodland HS)… had one tackle on kickoff team coverage as Colorado State won at Toledo Saturday, 22-6. The Rams make the trip to Iowa to take on the Hawkeyes this Saturday afternoon. LA’KWAYME JUPITER — North Carolina Wesleyan (Fr., Cartersville HS) … the Battling Bishops’ starting nose guard had one tackle Saturday in a 32-7 home loss to Brevard. North Carolina Wesleyan (0-3) plays at LaGrange College this Saturday. JACOB POTTER — Kennesaw State University (Sr., Adairsville HS)… the Owls’ long snapper for punts, field goals, and extra points in a 31-10 win at Wofford Saturday night. KSU (2-1) has a bye week before hosting Jacksonville State October 2. JOHN SCIFERS — University Incarnate Word (Grad Student, Woodland HS)… was 6-for-6 on PAT kicks and had 2-of-7 kickoffs go for touchbacks in the Cardinals 42-34 win Saturday at Texas State. UIW (2-1) hosts McNeese State this Saturday in San Antonio. EVAN SLOCUM — Wake Forest University (Fr., Cartersville HS)… made five tackles, all in the second half, in the Deacons’ 35-14 home win over Florida State. Wake Forest (3-0, 1-0 ACC) plays at Virginia Saturday night on ESPN2. MATTHEW SURRETT — Olivet Nazarene University (Fr., Cartersville HS) … the starting center for the Tigers’ offense Saturday that accumulated 398 total yards in a 52-28 loss at Indiana Wesleyan. ONU (1-1) hosts Taylor University Saturday night. BRANDON WADE — University of West Florida (R-So., Cartersville HS) … had four tackles including a sack Saturday night as the 2nd-ranked Argonauts won at 13th-ranked Texas A&M-Commerce, 35-17. UWF (3-0) will host University of Fort Lauderdale this Saturday night. K.J. WEAVER — Shorter University (Fr., Adairsville HS) … the defensive lineman saw playing time Satuday in the Hawks’ 38-17 win at Clark Atlanta University. Shorter (2-1) entertains Gulf South Conference foe West Georgia Saturday afternoon at Barron Stadium. BRYCE WILKINS — Reinhardt University (So., Cartersville HS)… a starter on the Eagles’ offensive line at left guard as the offense compiled 562 total yards including 334 net rushing yards in a 52-7 home victory over Campbellsville (KY). Reinhardt (2-1), ranked 7th in NAIA, makes the trip to Bethel University (TN) this Saturday afternoon. CROSS COUNTRY PARKER BREEDLOVE — Reinhardt University (So., Cartersville HS) … ran 155th of 174 competitors Friday at the 8K North Alabama Showcase in Huntsville. His time of 29:34 was fifth for the Eagles who finished 17th competing against 14 NCAA Division I opponents in the field. The next race for Reinhardt will be Saturday, October 2 at the ASICS Invitational in Fairburn. SOCCER MADISON SHOOK — Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College (Fr., Cass HS)… was a starter in Tuesday’s 3-0 loss at South Georgia State CC and took one shot. The Fillies (1-1) play at Andrew College Monday and at Georgia Military College Friday. GOLF CHANC WILLIS -- Reinhardt University (So., Cartersville HS) ... shot rounds of 69 and 70 to finish sixth individually September 11-12 at the Point University Fall Invitational in Lanett, Alabama. Reinhardt placed third behind Point and Truett-McConnell with a 3-over-par team total. Next for Reinhardt is the Invitational at Innisbruck September 27-28. DALTON HENSON -- Reinhardt University (So., Cartersville HS) ... had rounds of 78 and 73 and tied for 21st in the 46-player field at the Point Invitational.

The Woodland girls and boys cross country teams finished second at Saturday’s Wire2Wire Invitational hosted at Dellinger Park in Cartersville, but the race doubled as the defacto Bartow County Championship with the Lady Cats and Wildcats capturing those titles for 2021. Cambridge High School won both the girls and boys invitational team championships. The Cambridge girls finished with 30 total points followed by Woodland (51) and Cartersville (94). There were six girls teams recording scores and a total of 46 girls runners. Cass and Adairsville did not field a full girls lineup. Anna Filipek of Cambridge (19:19) finished just ahead of Woodland’s Rylee Evans (19:32) to win the individual race. The run by Evans earns her the Bartow County individual title for 2021. In the boys competition, Cambridge finished with 52 points followed by Woodland (60), Maynard Jackson (92) and Cartersville (106). The Cass boys were ninth and the Adairsville boys tenth in the 11-team invitational. Ryan McKee of Kennesaw Mountain High School was the boys individual champion outracing 94 competitors in 16:14. Tyler Jones of Woodland was the top local runner and Bartow County champion in 16:57. LOCAL RESULTS WOODLAND GIRLS Rylee Evans (2nd, 19:32) Olivia Berry (6th, 20:43) Emma Segars (8th, 21:04) Miranda Pelow (12th, 21:46) Danielle Thayer (13th, 22:02) Erica Boatner (29th, 24:26) CARTERSVILLE GIRLS McKinsey Spinks (11th, 21:29) Kaylana Pennington-Brooke (16th, 22:36) Elizabeth Nelson (18th, 22:42) Meredith Gaines (19th, 22:43) Trinity Atkins (20th, 22:52) Samantha Herrera (21st, 22:56) Grace Smith (30th, 24:37) ADAIRSVILLE GIRLS Callie Viktora (26th, 23:59) WOODLAND BOYS Tyler Jones (3rd, 16:57) McKinley Chappell (6th, 17:12) John Forsyth (10th, 17:53) Kain Tanturri (20th, 18:13) Andy Forsyth (21st, 18:19) Landon McSwain (23rd, 18:21) Kameron Chappell (31st, 18:35) CARTERSVILLE BOYS Levi Booth (11th, 17:53) Malachi Vosburgh (13th, 17:56) Cainen Crowder (14th, 17:57) Paul Hyman (29th, 18:33) Barrett Stepp (40th, 19:20) Daniel Pina (51st, 19:54) Bryce Richards (58th, 20:13) CASS BOYS Critton Gearhart (17th, 18:09) Jake Wright (41st, 19:21) Adam Pierce (61st, 20:34) Leonardo Galeana (67th, 21:04) Sawyer Foy (69th, 21:07) Jacob Peace (78th, 21:54) Andrew Rampey (93rd, 23:14) ADAIRSVILLE BOYS Brayden Miller (53rd, 19:57) Griffin Bozeman (59th, 20:15) Jace Silvers (76th, 21:33) Gavin Tatum (90th, 22:58) Cody Teer (91st, 23:10)