A variety of Cartersville and Bartow County youth softball and baseball teams are in the midst of their 2021 Georgia Recreation and Parks Association (GRPA) District Five tournaments. Tournament games are continuing this week at Hamilton Crossing Park, Calhoun, Whitfield County Parks, Rockmart, and Dalton. GRPA District 5 Softball — 12U BARTOW COUNTY 18, ROME 3 Bella Turner paced the Bartow 12Us offense with three hits. Rainey Parham and Bria Callahan contributed a pair of hits each. Lily Powell, Natalie Wofford, Jennlyn Shuler, Emma Cortes, and Alexis Henson added one hit apiece. Bartow’s second game in the tournament Tuesday against Cedartown was suspended due to weather. The winner reaches the double-elimination tournament semifinals against host Whitfield. That game was scheduled for Wednesday. GRPA District 5 Softball -- 10U BARTOW COUNTY 15, CEDARTOWN 0 BARTOW COUNTY 20, ROCKMART 1 Game reports to be added once the information is made available. Please check back here. Bartow County 10U, undefeated in the event, is scheduled to face Gordon County Thursday in the double-elimination tournament. GRPA District 5 Softball — 8U BARTOW COUNTY 23, GORDON COUNTY 0 The Bartow County 8U softball team cruised to a 23-0 opening round win over Gordon County Tuesday at Calhoun Park. The local team pounded out 26 hits in the victory. Neveah Tate, Caroline Owen, Linleigh Wade, and Mia Benitez led Bartow with three hits each. Annie Cochran, Addalyn Johnson, Harper Swancy, Madison Walker, and Sadie Houston finished with two hits each. Addaleigh Gravitt added one hit in the win. The win by Bartow 8U sends them to a Friday winner’s bracket matchup against the Rockmart/Dalton winner. The double-elimination tournament continues through next Monday. GRPA District 5 Baseball — 10U BARTOW COUNTY 9, FANNIN COUNTY 3 In the opening round of the GRPA District Five 10 and under baseball tournament, host team Bartow County jumped out to a quick lead on Fannin County and never looked back taking a 9-3 win Tuesday at Hamilton Crossing Park. Bartow scored five runs in the bottom of the first inning, one run in the second, and two in the third to take a commanding 8-0 lead. Fannin pushed three runs across in the top of the fourth inning to cut the score to 8-3. Bartow then added an insurance run in the bottom of the fourth and held Fannin scoreless in the top of the fifth inning to seal a 9-3 win. Houston Walden pitched 3-2/3 innings allowing the three Fannin runs. He struck out eight while allowing only three hits and three bases on balls. Brodie Gardner pitched 1-1/3 innings in relief allowing no runs and no hits Gardner fanned four and allowed only two walks. At the plate for Bartow, Cade McCorkle went 3 for 3, and Noah Rogers went 2 for 3 to lead the locals. Also with hits: Karsin Darby, Logan Smith, Leeroy Watts, and Will Whitman. Bartow plays again Wednesday night at 6 pm at Hamilton Crossing Park hosting Rockmart. CALHOUN 12, CARTERSVILLE GOLD 1 The Cartersville 10U Gold team fell behind early and dropped its opening round game to Calhoun Tuesday at the GRPA District Five tournament at Hamilton Crossing Park. Calhoun led 4-1 after one inning and added seven insurance runs over the next three frames to put the game away. Cartersville 10U finished with five hits. Alek Higgins had two hits including a triple for Cartersville. Lucas Andrews drove in a run and had one base hit. Hudson Lovett contributed a double and Owen Morneault added one hit. Andrews pitched the first two innings and struck out two. Chris Parker, Landon Hamilton, and Lovett also pitched for the locals. Cartersville Gold is scheduled to play Gordon County in an elimination game Wednesday. The double-elimination tournament continues through Saturday. CARTERSVILLE PURPLE 22, WHITFIELD COUNTY 1 CARTERSVILLE PURPLE 15, GORDON COUNTY 0 The Cartersville 10U Purple team has advanced through two rounds of the GRPA District Five tournament, winning handily Monday and Tuesday at Hamilton Crossing Park over teams from Whitfield and Gordon counties. Pitchers Noah Leffew and Will Groce combined for a three-inning, no-hit, perfect game in Tuesday night’s win over Gordon County. The duo combined to strike out seven of the nine batters they faced in a 15-0 win. Monday, pitchers Bowan Hardy and Walker Phillips combined for a three-inning, one-hitter to beat Whitfield County, 22-1. Hardy did not allow a hit, but did walk one and struck out three in the first two frames. Phillips gave up a hit and three walks while accumulating three strikeouts. In the two wins, Hardy had six hits including three doubles and seven RBIs. Groce totaled four hits including a pair of doubles and two RBIs. Tyler Hickman contributed three hits including a pair of doubles and three RBIs. Dametrius Wynn had three hits including one double and two RBIs. Colt Priest finished the two games with three hits including a triple, a double, and three RBIs. Leffew also added three hits and one RBI. Parker Huth picked up two hits and had two RBIs. Cade McFarland had one hit and one RBI. Jude Hamilton tossed in one hit and Braxton Mealer added one RBI. Cartersville Purple 10U is scheduled to play Calhoun Wednesday night in a winner’s bracket game. The winner moves into the district semifinals with the tournament continuing through Saturday. GRPA District 5 Baseball — 12U BARTOW COUNTY 8, ROCKMART 2 A quartet of hitters and a pair of strong pitching performances lifted the Bartow County 12U team to an opening win at the GRPA District Five baseball tournament at Al Rollins Park in Dalton. Kason Miller hit a three run home run; Gatlin Fair drove in a run with a double; Trenton Mealer added a double; and Ben Wilson added a hit, a walk, and scored twice to lead the Bartow offensive attack. Maddox Raughton earned the pitching win for Bartow working 2-2/3 innings. He scattered a pair of hits and struck out four. Braxton Elrod took care of the final 2-1/3 frames to earn a save. Elrod yielded just one hit and fanned four. GRPA District 5 Baseball — 8U Coach Pitch CARTERSVILLE 16, WHITFIELD COUNTY 2 BARTOW COUNTY BLUE 16, ROME 13 WHITFIELD COUNTY 10, BARTOW COUNTY GREEN 9 Two of three local 8U Coach Pitch teams have advanced to the winner’s bracket semifinals and one has dropped to the loser’s bracket of the GRPA District Five tournament in Calhoun. In first round action Monday, Bartow Blue defeated Rome #2 in a 16-13 thriller while Bartow Green was edged by Whitfield County, 10-9. Cartersville defeated Whitfield Tuesday night, 16-2 in the second round after receiving an opening round bye. Bartow Green is scheduled for an elimination game Wednesday against Rockmart at Calhoun Park. A win by the locals results in a second elimination game against Dalton. Bartow Blue and Cartersville will square off with Fannin County and Calhoun, respectively, in winner’s bracket action Thursday night. The double-elimination tournament continues through next Monday. GRPA District 5 Softball — 10U Machine Pitch WHITFIELD COUNTY 24, BARTOW COUNTY 6 The Bartow County 10U Machine Pitch softball team lost its opening game Tuesday night at the GRPA District 5 tournament, falling to Whitfield County at Heritage Park. Bartow slips to the elimination bracket and is scheduled to face Dalton Wednesday. The tournament is scheduled to continue through Friday. Information for local Little League softball and baseball updates along with updates from Georgia Recreation and Parks Association baseball and softball tournaments are provided by the Cartersville and Bartow County Recreation Departments and the respective Little League Baseball and Softball organizations. The updates are presented by CiCi's of Cartersville located in the Cherokee Crossing shopping center.

The Cartersville Little League baseball Rookie League team won the 2021 Northwest Georgia Section Tournament Tuesday night with a thrilling 7-6 victory over Smyrna Little League Blue at Brinkley Park in Cobb County. The 8U Northwest Georgia Section Tournament winners will now represent Georgia Little League Districts 1-4 at the Rookie State Tournament in Warner Robins over Father’s Day weekend. Cartersville and Smyrna Blue advanced to Tuesday night’s championship game by finishing in first and second place in pool play games completed Saturday, Sunday, and Monday. Smyrna Blue was undefeated in pool play with an 8-5 win over Cartersville and a 15-14 victory over Smyrna Red. Cartersville earned its spot in the title game by defeating Smyrna Red, 15-8. In Tuesday night’s championship game, Cartersville and Smyrna Blue exchanged the lead three times before Cartersville won in the bottom of the sixth inning, 7-6. With the game tied 6-all, the locals loaded the bases with a pair of walks and a single for Sawyer Ezell who coaxed a walk-off base on balls for the game-winning RBI. Maddox Henderson and Hayden Stewart pitched three innings each and combined for four strikeouts in the victory. The duo allowed just three earned runs on eight hits and four walks. Harris Pressley and Henderson had two hits each for Cartersville. Sawyer White finished with one hit and one RBI. Hayes Burris and Jordan Cooley added one hit each. In Saturday’s 15-8 win over Smyrna Red, Pressley contributed two hits and three RBIs. Henderson also finished with two hits including a double and two RBIs. Micha Mitcham had a double and two RBIs. Burris added a hit and one RBI while Ezell and White had one hit apiece. Henderson and Stewart limited Smyrna Red to six runs (two earned) over the first four frames. Henderson fanned four and Stewart struck out two. Pressley and Mitcham both pitched in the fifth inning to close out the contest. During Cartersville’s opening pool play loss to Smyrna Blue, Colby McMillan had the only base hit for the locals. McMillan, Ezell, and Mitcham were each credited with one RBI. Stewart worked the first three innings on the mound allowing just one earned run in his stint. Ezell and Pressley combined to close out the fourth inning. ROSTER: Hayes Burris, Sawyer Ezell, Jordan Cooley, Henry Culverhouse, Maddox Henderson, Barron Jordan, Micha Mitcham, Colby McMillan, Benny Powell, Harris Pressley, Hayden Stewart, and Sawyer White. COACHES: Ty Mitcham, Mike Ezell, Charlie Culverhouse, and Andy Burris. Information for local Little League softball and baseball updates along with updates from Georgia Recreation and Parks Association baseball and softball tournaments are provided by the Cartersville and Bartow County Recreation Departments and the respective Little League Baseball and Softball organizations. The updates are presented by CiCi's of Cartersville located in the Cherokee Crossing shopping center.

Former Cartersville Twisters youth gymnast, Brody Malone, won the U.S. Championships national title Saturday, finishing atop the podium from Dickies Arena in Fort Worth, Texas. Malone, a native of Summerville, Georgia, competed with the Cartersville club gymnastics team 2014-2018 and won a pair of Georgia State Championships. He is a 2018 graduate of Trion High School and is currently a junior on the Stanford University national championship team. The Cardinal also took the NCAA championship in 2019. Malone finished the U.S. Championships Saturday with a combined score of 170.700 and held on to his first-day lead throughout the second day of competition. He finished 2.750 points ahead of Yul Modauer (167.950) for the individual title. Six-time national champion and two-time Olympian Sam Mikulak (167.400) placed third. Malone, a two-time NCAA champion on high bar, finished top four in four of the six events over the weekend — including winning vault. He took second on rings and high bar, and was fourth on pommel horse. The next step in the Olympic qualifying process for Malone is the Olympic Trials scheduled for June 24-27 in St. Louis. Five Olympic athletes will be selected following that competition. Four will compete in the team event with a fifth competitor selected for a specific event spot.

It was another outstanding week for local athletes at the collegiate and professional level. Former Cartersville infielder Josh Davis became the first Hurricane to be part of a college national championship team while fellow Canes Sam Howard, Connor Justus, and Anthony Seigler contributed solid week’s on the diamond. Meanwhile, another former Hurricane — A.J. Mosby — continued to help lead his Shreveport Mavericks team in The Basketball League. PRO BASEBALL SAM HOWARD — Pittsburgh Pirates (8th-year pro; Cartersville HS)… made three scoreless appearances last week including a two-inning stint Saturday at home against the Miami Marlins in an 8-7 win. With his team trailing 5-2, Howard worked the sixth and seventh innings allowing just one hit while striking out two. The Pirates rallied in the eighth inning to extend the game and eventually won it in 12 innings. The lefty retired the only batter he faced last Tuesday in a Pittsburgh loss at Kansas City and retired the only two he faced Thursday in the seventh inning during a home win over the Marlins. The former Georgia Southern Eagle has now appeared in 28 games this season with a 2-2 record and a 2.53 ERA across 21 and 1/3 innings. CONNOR JUSTUS — Jacksonville Jumbo Shrimp (6th-year pro; Miami Marlins organization; Cartersville HS)… went 4-for-15 at the plate last week with a walk and a hit by pitch as the Jumbo Shrimp won five of six games in a series at the Gwinnett Stripers. The former Georgia Tech standout showed his versatility with three starts at shortstop and one start each at third base and second base in the series. In 10 games since moving up to the Marlins’ Triple-A affiliate, Justus has a .276 batting average in 29 official at-bats with a .344 on-base percentage. Jacksonville is 19-11 in the Triple A East - Southeast Division trailing the division leading Nashville Sounds by 2 and 1/2 games. The Shrimp host the Norfolk Tides Tuesday through Sunday in a six game series. ANTHONY SEIGLER — Hudson Valley Renegades (4th-year pro; New York Yankees organization; Cartersville HS)… coming off the injured list, Seigler saw his first action of 2021 this past week making four starts in the Renegades’ five game series at the Wilmington Blue Rocks. The 20-year-old went 3-for-13 at the plate with a double, three walks, and scored three runs as Hudson Valley finished a 2-3 week. Hudson Valley (15-13) is currently in second place in the High Class A East - North Division trailing the Aberdeen IronBirds by four games. The Renegades have a six game series Tuesday through Sunday at the Brooklyn Cyclones. COLLEGE BASEBALL JOSH DAVIS — Georgia Gwinnett College (Fr., Cartersville HS)… according to Cartersville head baseball coach Kyle Tucker, the former Cartersville High and current Grizzlies second baseman is believed to be the first Canes player to win a national championship in college baseball. Georgia Gwinnett went 4-1 in the Santa Barbara, California NAIA opening round to reach the NAIA World Series and then went 5-0 at the NAIA World Series in Lewiston, Idaho to capture the national title. In California, the Grizzlies (51-10) had wins over Saint Katherine (California), Westmont (California), and two wins over Hope International (California). In Idaho, Georgia Gwinnett defeated Oklahoma Wesleyan, Southeastern University (Florida), Faulkner University (Alabama), and Central Methodist (Missouri) twice. Davis, who made a pair of starts in the opening round tournament in California and 28 starts during the season, completed his freshman campaign with a .293 batting average in 82 official at-bats. He hit a pair of home runs and totaled 22 RBIs. Defensively, he had a .925 fielding percentage in 107 total chances. PRO BASKETBALL A.J. MOSBY — Shreveport Mavericks; 4th-year pro; Cartersville HS . . . scored 12 points with six assists, six rebounds, and a pair of steals in a 126-86 loss to the division-leading Houston Push Friday night. He then totaled 12 points with six boards and three assists in the Mavs’ 121-109 win over the Dallas Skyline Sunday. Through 18 games, Mosby, a former Chattahoochee Tech and Alcorn State standout, is averaging just over 25 points, six assists, six rebounds, and almost two steals per game. Shreveport (13-5) is currently third in The Basketball League’s Central Division trailing Houston by four games.

Led by Cartersville High School pitcher Micah Earwood, more than two dozen local high school baseball players were recognized this week by Georgia Dugout Club Preview as All-Region selections for the 2021 season. Earwood was selected as the Pitcher of the Year in Region 7-5A and was joined on the First Team for the region by teammates Parker McPherson, Jake Brasfield, Elliott Eastin, Davis Williams, and Curt Bonner. Local 2nd Team All-Region 7-5A selections included: Jordan Gani (Cass), Jakiyon Porter (Woodland), Peyton Posey (Woodland), Matt Shook (Cass), Hank Smith (Cartersville), Jayden Smith (Cass), Scotty Smith (Woodland), Drew Billings (Woodland), Chase Carson (Woodland), Jacob Gravett (Woodland), Carter Heath (Woodland), Carson Hill (Cass), Mason McBee (Cartersville), Phillip Schiltz (Cartersville), Colt McKibben (Cartersville), Kyle Miller (Cass), Blake Sutton (Cartersville), and Nick Wallin (Cass) were named Honorable Mention. In Region 6-3A, only a First Team designation was released and it included three Adairsville players: Jack Whitley, Logan Hunt, and Chris Roper. The complete All-Region listings for Region 7-AAAAA and Region 6-AAA are below: REGION 7-AAAAA Player of the Year: DJ Radtke, Blessed Trinity Pitcher of the Year: Micah Earwood, Cartersville Coach of the Year: Andy Harlin, Blessed Trinity First Team Pitchers: Hagan Banks, Calhoun; Micah Earwood, Cartersville; DJ Radtke, Blessed Trinity; Bryse Ingle, Calhoun; Catcher: Hayden Grier, Blessed Trinity; Infielders: Jay Boyd, Hiram; Parker Lester, Calhoun; Parker McPherson, Cartersville; Max Puckett, Blessed Trinity; Outfielders: Jake Brasfield, Cartersville; Elliott Eastin, Cartersville; Justice Haynes, Blessed Trinity; Utility: Braden Saunders, Calhoun; Davis Williams, Cartersville; Designated Hitter: Curt Bonner, Cartersville Second Team Pitchers: Joseph Chambers, Blessed Trinity; Jake Lankie, Blessed Trinity; Peyton Posey, Woodland-Bartow; Jayden Smith, Cass; Catcher: Hank Smith, Cartersville; Infielders: Ben Hamacher, Blessed Trinity; Dante Morton, Calhoun; JaKiyon Porter Woodland-Bartow; Matt Shook, Cass; Outfielders: Cooper Milford, Blessed Trinity; Kris Sutton, Calhoun; Phenix Boles, Hiram; Utility: Jordan Gani, Cass; Jacob Tolson, Calhoun; Designated Hitter: Andon Lewis, Calhoun Honorable Mention Blessed Trinity: Jackson Seng, Jonathan Franchi, Michael Mitchler, Matt McCaffery; Calhoun: Barrett Saunders; Cartersville: Mason McBee, Phillip Schiltz, Colt McKibben, Blake Sutton; Cass: Carson Hill, Nick Wallin, Kyle Miller; Hiram: Nick Reyes; Woodland-Bartow: Drew Billings, Carter Heath, Scotty Smith, Jacob Gravett, Chase Carson REGION 6-AAA First Team Sam Mills, Ringgold; Kenyon Ransom, Ringgold; Chase Ghormley, Ringgold; Colin Mountjoy, Ringgold; McCain Mangum, Ringgold; Mason Parker, Ringgold; Eli Norris, Ringgold; Hayden Holsomback, Sonoraville; Tanner Folds, Sonoraville; Cole Godfrey, Sonoraville; Jaxon Pate, Sonoraville; Zach Lyles, Sonoraville; Jax Lockaby, Sonoraville; Matthew Shields, Lakeview-Fort Oglethorpe; Nyko Simpson, Lakeview-Fort Oglethorpe; Devin Hinton, Lakeview-Fort Oglethorpe; Will Carroll, Lakeview-Fort Oglethorpe; Josh McAfee, Lakeview-Fort Oglethorpe; Ben Glines, Coahulla Creek; Sam Reed, Coahulla Creek; Trevor Headrick, Coahulla Creek; Irvin Hernandez, Coahulla Creek; Pedro Sanmartin, Coahulla Creek; Davis Richardson, LaFayette; Skylar Cepeda, LaFayette; Dylan Deering, LaFayette; Trevor Caldwell, Rockmart; Andruw Morris, Rockmart; Sam Wilbanks, Rockmart; Jack Whitley, Adairsville; Logan Hunt, Adairsville; Chris Roper, Adairsville; Cade Petty, North Murray; Daniel Skojac, North Murray; Brannen Nuckolis, Murray County; Kaleb Jones, Murray County

Local college athletes have wrapped up their 2020-21 seasons, but three local pros made their marks again last week on the diamonds and hardwoods. Sam Howard made four scoreless appearances for the Pittsburgh Pirates. Connor Justus moved up to the Triple-A Jacksonville Jumbo Shrimp in the Miami Marlins' organization and A.J. Mosby averaged 29 points in a pair of wins for the Shreveport Mavericks of The Basketball League. PRO BASEBALL SAM HOWARD — Pittsburgh Pirates (8th-year pro; Cartersville HS)… made four scoreless appearances over the past week — two each at home against the Cubs and the Rockies. For the week, he totaled three innings pitched allowing a pair of hits and four walks. Howard struck out three. For the season, he is 2-2 with a 2.95 ERA with 18 and 1/3 innings pitched across 25 relief appearances. Pittsburgh (20-32) was swept by Chicago and won two of three against Colorado. CONNOR JUSTUS — Jacksonville Jumbo Shrimp (6th-year pro; Miami Marlins organization; Cartersville HS)… Justus was promoted to Triple-A Jacksonville last Tuesday and responded with one of his best weeks of the 2021 season at the plate. He went 4-for-14 including a double and a walk in four games against the Durham Bulls. Jacksonville is 14-10 in the Triple A East - Southeast Division and trails the Nashville Sound by 4.5 games. The Jumbo Shrimp have games Tuesday through Sunday at the Gwinnett Stripers. PRO BASKETBALL A.J. MOSBY — Shreveport Mavericks (Cartersville HS) — Mosby’s double-double included 23 points, 13 rebounds, and a pair of steals in a 104-97 win over Dallas over the weekend. He also poured in 31 points with four rebounds, four assists, and two steals in a 104-103 victory over Lewisville. The Mavericks (12-4) are currently in third place, trailing the Houston Push by three games in The Basketball League’s Central Division.

The GHSA 2020-21 high school athletic calendar has concluded and the champions of the year’s Georgia Athletic Director’s Association Director’s Cup have been decided. Cartersville High School had the best overall finish of the five Bartow County athletic programs. The Purple Hurricanes finished sixth overall in Class 5A. Cass was 33rd in Class 5A and Woodland was 34th in the same classification. Adairsville finished 40th in Class 3A. The GADA Director’s Cup has been awarded annually since the 1999-2000 school year. Schools can earn points in twenty-six sports with the points earned in that school’s eight highest ranking sports for each gender counting toward the Cup standings. The top 32 teams in each classification following the state championships earn points. Below are the 2020-21 Director’s Cup champions for each classification and each gender. The listing also shows the final region standings for local schools and the scoring sports and point totals for each local school. 2020-21 DIRECTOR'S CUP CHAMPIONS BY GHSA CLASSIFICATION REGION 7-5A DIRECTOR'S CUP SCORING REGION 6-3A DIRECTOR'S CUP SCORING LOCAL SCHOOLS DIRECTOR'S CUP POINTS BY SPORT For complete scoring details, visit the Georgia Athletic Directors Association website: https://gadaonline.net/current-standings/

This week’s look at the performances for Bartow County’s pro and college athletes. PRO BASEBALL SAM HOWARD — Pittsburgh Pirates (8th-year pro; Cartersville HS)… made a pair of one inning appearances last week with mixed results. The lefty worked a shutout seventh inning Wednesday at St. Louis in the Pirates 8-5 loss to the Cardinals. Howard walked a batter, but struck out the side. Saturday in a 6-1 loss in Atlanta, he entered in the seventh inning and walked Freddie Freeman before getting Marcell Ozuna to ground into a double play. Ozzie Albies followed with a solo home run to left center field. Austin Riley then doubled prior to the southpaw’s strikeout of Dansby Swanson to close the frame. For the season, Howard has appeared in 21 games and has worked 15 and 1/3 innings with a 3.52 ERA. He has 25 strikeouts. Pittsburgh is 18-28 through games played Monday and trail the NL Central leading Cardinals by eight games. CONNOR JUSTUS — Pensacola Blue Wahoos (6th-year pro; Miami Marlins organization; Cartersville HS)… finished last week 3-for-20 at the plate with a home run, a double, a walk, a sacrifice fly, and six RBIs as the Blue Wahoos went 5-1 in their six-game home series against the Rocket City Trash Pandas. The 26-year-old has a .120 batting average with eight RBIs this season through the first 18 games and 50 official at-bats. Pensacola leads the Double-A South, South Division with an 11-7 record. COLLEGE SOFTBALL SKYLAR CHAPPELL — Cottey College (So., Woodland HS)… the Comets earned an at-large bid in the NAIA National Tournament but lost two straight games last Monday and Tuesday to be eliminated at the Waleska, Georgia Opening Round site. Chappell was entered at catcher in the final inning of Cottey’s loss Tuesday to Coastal Georgia but did not have a plate appearance. The Comets (27-13) also lost Monday to eventual bracket winner Oregon Tech. Chappell appeared in 21 games this season and had a .345 batting average in 29 at-bats. She hit four home runs and had 13 RBIs. COLLEGE BASEBALL MASON BARNETT — Auburn (So., Cartersville HS)… was tagged with the pitching loss at Missouri Saturday afternoon after being inserted in the bottom of the seventh with his team leading 4-3. Barnett gave up two hits and a walk prior to being lifted without retiring a batter. All three of those baserunners eventually came around to score in Auburn’s 7-6 loss. The righty has a 2-4 record this season in 16 appearances and 40 innings pitched with a 5.40 ERA. Auburn opens the Southeastern Conference Tournament Tuesday night in Hoover, Alabama at 8 p.m. against Ole Miss. The winner of the play-in elimination game advances to the double-elimination portion of the tournament. CLIFTON DEMPSEY — Toccoa Falls College (Sr., Cartersville HS)… finished 5-for-14 including a double, two walks, five runs scored, a sacrifice, and was hit by a pitch twice in five games Friday through Monday at the National Christian College World Series in Easley, South Carolina. The Screaming Eagles received an at-large berth after finishing as runner-up in the NCCAA South Region Tournament. TFC finished 3-1 in pool play at the 10-team event before falling to national No. 1-seed Southwestern Christian University (Oklahoma) in the national semifinals. Toccoa Falls (18-26) lost its tournament opener to Columbia International then reeled off consecutive wins over Kansas Christian College, Concordia University (Michigan), and College of the Ozarks (Missouri) to reach the NCCAA Final Four. In 46 games in 2021, Dempsey hit for a .325 average with a pair of home runs, 14 doubles, two triples, and 38 RBIs. The shortstop had a .408 on-base percentage and a .951 fielding percentage defensively in 164 total chances. PRO BASKETBALL A.J. MOSBY — Shreveport Mavericks; Cartersville HS — posted 31 points, six rebounds and six assists in a 117-112 loss Saturday at the Enid (Oklahoma) Outlaws. He then scored 28 points with five boards, three steals, and nine assists in a 131-109 loss Sunday to the Houston Push. Shreveport (10-4) is currently in third place in The Basketball League’s Central Division trailing Houston by three games.

It took 21 holes Monday, but Cartersville’s Chad Branton and Kyle Hosick of Calhoun were eliminated in the opening round of match play at the 6th U.S. Amateur Four Ball Championship at Chambers Bay in Washington. Branton and Hosick were one of 128 sides to qualify for the U.S.G.A. national event and earned a spot in the Round of 32 match play portion of the tournament by shooting rounds of 65 Saturday at The Home Course in DuPont, Washington and 69 Sunday at Chambers Bay in University Place, Washington. Seeded 25th after stroke play, the local duo took on 8th seeded Kiko Francisco Coelho and Leopoldo Herrera III of Florida in the first round bracket. Branton and Hosick took an early lead Monday with back-to-back birdies at the par-5 fourth hole and the par-4 fifth. Their 2-up lead held until their opponents narrowed the advantage to 1-up with a birdie at the par-4 tenth hole. The two sides then matched birdies at No. 12 and bogies at No. 13 and went all the way through No. 17 with Branton and Hosick holding a 1-up lead. Coelho and Herrera knotted the match on the 18th hole with an eagle on the 600-yard, par-5 to send the match into extra holes. Starting again at No. 1 in the playoff, both teams birdied the par-5 and parred the par-4 second hole. The Florida duo then made birdie on the third extra hole to defeat Branton and Hosick 1-up in 21 holes. The Four Ball Championship continues match play through Wednesday. Coelho and Herrera will play Matt Boyd and Blake Redmond of Texas in the second round Tuesday morning. The quarterfinal matches will be played Tuesday afternoon. The national semifinals are scheduled for Wednesday morning with the championship match Wednesday afternoon. All rounds in the match play portion will be played at Chambers Bay.

Bartow County Little League Softball 12U results for May 17-20. Bartow County Little League (Major, 12u) Standings Georgia . . . . . . . . 12-0 Michigan . . . . . . . 8-3-1 Florida . . . . . . . . . 8-3 Ga. Tech . . . . . . . 7-5 Alabama . . . . . . . . 5-5-1 Arkansas . . . . . . . 2-8-2 Kentucky . . . . . . . 0-8-3 Auburn . . . . . . . . . 0-10-1 Monday, May 17 MICHIGAN 13, ARKANSAS 13 MICHIGAN: Kadence Gleason and Rainey Parham one hit each. ARKANSAS: Addison Reed, Angelia Scott, Bella Turner, and Trinity McQueen one hit each. GEORGIA 17, ALABAMA 6 GEORGIA: Alli Fain and Ansleigh Tilley two hits each; Bailey York, Karlee Christian, and Addy Bassett one hit each. Pitching: Alli Fain struck out seven. ALABAMA: Issabella Smith one hit. Pitching: Natalie Wofford struck out three. Tuesday, May 18 GA. TECH 15, ARKANSAS 1 GA. TECH: Lakiya Bank two hits; Jayce Blackwell one hit. Pitching: Lakiya Banks struck out ten. ARKANSAS: Trinity McQueen one hit. FLORIDA 13, KENTUCKY 6 FLORIDA: Rowan Hawley two hits; Carly Adams and Jennlyn Shuler one hit each. Pitching: Jayda White struck out six. KENTUCKY: Cierra Baillargeon two hits. ALABAMA 20, AUBURN 4 No game data reported Wednesday, May 19 ARKANSAS 18, AUBURN 12 No game data reported Thursday, May 20 GEORGIA 15, MICHIGAN 0 GEORGIA: Ansleigh Tilley, Addy Bassett, Alli Fain, Lily Powell, and Karlee Christian one hit each. FLORIDA 15, AUBURN 2 FLORIDA: Rowan Hawley one hit. Pitching: Jayda White struck out eight. AUBURN: Annabelle Cudd, Neveah Dodson, and Lila Cochran one hit each. Little League softball and baseball game results for Cartersville Little League and Bartow County Little League are provided by the respective leagues and are presented by CiCi's -- Beyond Pizza in Cherokee Place, Cartersville.

Chad Branton of Cartersville and Kyle Hosick of Calhoun qualified for the match play portion of the 2021 U.S. Amateur Four Ball Championship by firing rounds of 65 and 69 Saturday and Sunday at The Home Course in DuPont, Washington and Chambers Bay in University Place, Washington. The duo advances to the Round of 32 and will open match play Monday against opponents to be determined following a Monday morning playoff. There were eleven sides tied for the final six match play spots after 36 holes of stroke play. The eleven teams will tee it up Monday morning in a playoff before the seeding for match play is finalized. The second round and quarterfinals are scheduled for Tuesday with the semifinals and championship match set for Wednesday. All match play rounds will be played at the 7,475-yard, par 72, Chambers Bay course that previously hosted the 2015 U.S. Open and the 2010 U.S. Amateur. Cartersville’s Buck Brumlow and Harrison Davis of Fort Payne, Alabama also qualified for the 128-team field, but failed to advance to match play. Brumlow, who recently won the GHSA Class 5A individual title and is a University of Georgia signee, along with his Mississippi State playing partner, finished tied for 39th in the stroke play portion with rounds of 69 at The Home Course and 67 at Chambers Bay. At the Georgia State Golf Association Mid-Amateur Championship, Chase Jones of Cartersville shot rounds of 75 and 70 on Friday and Saturday to make the 36-hole cut and move into a tie for 23rd place before stumbling to a 53rd place finish in Sunday's final round. The 2021 Mid-Am was hosted by the par-70, 6,488-yard Country Club of Columbus and had a starting field of 144 players — all 25+ in age — who qualified at eight different sites earlier in the year. The field was cut to the low 70 scores and ties for Sunday’s final round. Jones, a former Georgia Southern University golfer, started slowly and slipped to an 80 Sunday. Bob Royak of Apharetta defeated Taylor Smith of Brookhaven on the first playoff hole to win the 2021 title. Royak and Smith finished regulation in the 54-hole event at 5-under-par, 205. Kyle Scott of Decatur, Stephen Behr of Atlanta, and Kennesaw’s Christian Raynor were three shots back and tied for third at 208.

Bartow County is well represented this weekend in a pair of reputable golf championships at the national and state level. The local community has a pair of representatives at the U.S. Amateur Four Ball Championship hosted at Chambers Bay in University Place, Washington and one other at the Georgia State Golf Association Mid-Amateur Championship in Columbus. Chad Branton of Cartersville is teamed with Kyle Hosick of Calhoun while Cartersville’s Buck Brumlow is partnered with Harrison Davis of Fort Payne, Alabama. Branton and Hosick combined for an opening round 65 (6-under) and are tied for 16th place after playing their opening round on The Home Course in DuPont, Washington. Brumlow, fresh off his 2021 GHSA Class 5A state individual title, teamed with Davis for a 69 in the first round and are tied for 70th in the field of 128 two-man teams. Both teams with local representatives will tee it up Sunday at the 7,475-yard, par 72 Chambers Bay course that hosted the 2015 U.S. Open and the 2010 U.S. Amateur. Only the top 32 sides will qualify for match play which begins Monday. The second round and quarterfinals are scheduled for Tuesday with the semifinals and finals set for Wednesday. Branton and Hosick made six birdies in a bogey-free round for their 65. The round included five consecutive birdies on holes seven through eleven. Brumlow and Davis made four birdies in a six hole stretch between No. 5 and No. 10, but the duo made back-to-back bogies on No. 15 and No. 16 for a 2-under-par finish. Brendan Macdougall and Sam Meek of Canada shot a 10-under-par 62 at Chambers Bay Saturday to grab the first round lead. Frankie Capan (North Oaks, MN) and Shuai Ming Wong (The Woodlands, TX) along with Luke Potter (Encinitas, CA) and Preston Summerhays (Scottsdale, AZ) are one shot behind at 9-under par. Both of those sides also opened play at Chambers Bay. All three leading teams will shift to The Home Course on Sunday. JONES IN TOP 25 AT GSGA MID-AM At the Georgia State Golf Association’s 40th Mid-Amateur Championship at Country Club of Columbus, Chase Jones of Cartersville fired an even-par 70 Saturday afternoon to pull into a five-way tie for 23rd place. Jones shot 75 in Friday’s opening round making only one birdie on the day. He poured in four birdies in Saturday’s round to earn a spot in Sunday’s final round. Adam Cooper of Columbus leads Kennesaw’s Christian Raynor after 36 holes. Cooper shot rounds of 68-67 with Raynor finishing the first two rounds with identical 68s. Four players are four shots back at 1-under-par. That quartet includes Stan Gann of Warner Robins, Stephen Behr of Atlanta, Trammell Coleman of Columbus, and Alpharetta’s Bob Royak. The 2021 GSGA Mid-Amateur is being contested on the par-70, 6,488-yard Country Club of Columbus course. The starting field included 144 players — all 25+ in age — who qualified at eight different sites earlier in the year or had GSGA exempt status earned at other events. The field is narrowed to the low 70 scores and ties for the final 18 holes.