The annual Battle for Bartow Baseball Classic will renew again this week with a full slate of games scheduled for Thursday and Friday at LakePoint in Emerson. With defending champion Cartersville now in the same region with Cass and Woodland, the format has changed to not include a tournament bracket. Instead, the local teams will square off against a variety of challengers from around the area and state. Adairsville is not participating this year. The full schedule of games is listed below: Thursday, April 8 Field 9 4:00 PM Johns Creek vs Valdosta 7:00 PM Valdosta vs Woodland Field 10 4:00 PM Landmark Christian vs Ringgold 7:00 PM Landmark Christian vs Centennial Field 11 4:00 PM Cedartown vs Cartersville 7:00 PM North Paulding vs Cass Friday, April 9 Field 9 1:00 PM Valdosta vs North Paulding 4:00 PM Johns Creek vs North Paulding 7:00 PM Johns Creek vs Cartersville Field 10 1:00 PM Cartersville vs Centennial 4:00 PM Centennial vs Ringgold Field 11 1:00 PM Cass vs Cedartown 4:00 PM Woodland vs Cedartown 7:00 PM Woodland vs Landmark Christian

Micah Earwood threw a two-hit shutout Tuesday night as the Purple Hurricanes shutout Sandy Creek at Richard Bell Field, 2-0. The pitching on both sides was impressive. Earwood struck out 15 and issued only one walk. Sandy Creek pitchers — Jonathan Little and P.J. Green — combined for eight strikeouts and scattered three hits and seven walks. The game remained scoreless until the Canes struck for two runs in the bottom of the fifth. Blake Sutton and Jake Brasfield both had two-out, RBI singles in that inning to produce the game’s only runs. Parker McPherson had the only other Cartersville base hit in the third inning. The loss drops Sandy Creek to 13-7 on the season. Cartersville, 15-7 and now ranked No. 5 in Class 5A, plays at Ringgold Wednesday at 5:30 p.m. and will square off against Cedartown (Thur, 4pm), Centennial (Fri, 1pm), and Johns Creek (Fri, 7pm) in the annual Battle for Bartow Classic at LakePoint. COAHULLA CREEK 5, ADAIRSVILLE 4 Coahulla Creek pushed across a game-winning run Tuesday night in the bottom of the eighth inning to edge Adairsville in Whitfield County, 5-4. Adairsville trailed 4-1 through five innings, but scored three times in the sixth to knot the score at 4-all. The key hits in the inning included an Elijah Padgett two RBI double and an RBI single by Tyler Driggers. The Colts scored their two runs in the eighth on back-to-back singles with a wild pitch allowing the first baserunner to reach scoring position. Jack Whitley (1.1 IP, 1ER, 2H, 0BB) suffered the pitching loss for the Tigers in relief of the starter, Padgett (5.2 IP, 1ER, 4H, 3H, 3BB, 7K) who fanned seven. Padgett had two hits including a double and two RBIs. Driggers (RBI), Chris Roper (RBI), Kyler Smith, and Braden Powell added one hit each for the Tigers. Following their win, Coahulla Creek stands 6-11 overall and 5-3 in Region 6-AAA. Adairsville (7-11, 2-6) plays a home-and-home region series with Sonoraville Thursday and Friday. The Phoenix host Thursday at 5:55 p.m. and the Tigers host Friday at 5:55 p.m.

Georgia Highlands baseball swept a conference doubleheader Tuesday afternoon over East Georgia State at LakePoint in Emerson winning 8-7 and 10-5. Conner Perry (4 IP, 5ER, 5H, 3BB, 3K) made the start on the mound in the first game and picked up the win. Caleb Garner (4 IP, 2ER, 5H, 3K) worked four innings of middle relief and Zack Valentine (1 IP, 1BB, 1K) earned a save with a scoreless ninth. Chargers’ pitcher Zack Valentine (1.2 IP, 1ER, 3H, 2K) earned the win in Game 2 in relief of starter Chase Townsend (3.1 IP, 4ER, 1H, 5BB, 6K). Matthew Silka (2 IP, 0R, 3H, 1BB, 1K) closed out the final two frames on the mound for GHC. Trenton Parker had four hits in the doubleheader including a home run, a double, and four RBIs. Palmer Sapp also had four hits including a pair of doubles, one RBI, and two stolen bases. Brandon Prince contributed three doubles with four RBIs in the twin bill. Connor Todaro also added three hits and finished the doubleheader with five RBIs. East Georgia State slips to 22-13 overall and 7-7 in the Georgia Collegiate Athletic Association. Georgia Highlands (32-6, 11-3) travels to East Georgia Saturday for a doubleheader starting at 12 noon.

Cartersville's Sam Howard made an impressive opening day appearance last Thursday by striking out the side in the sixth inning as the Pittsburgh Pirates started the 2021 season with a victory at Wrigley Field over the Chicago Cubs. Elsewhere, dozens of other athletes local to Cartersville and Bartow County continue to make their marks with collegiate programs across the country in baseball, basketball, softball, tennis, track and field, soccer, and football. PRO BASEBALL Sam Howard (Pittsburgh Pirates, 8th-year pro; Cartersville HS)… made an impressive opening day appearance in the sixth inning last Thursday as the Pirates opened 2021 with a victory over the Cubs at Wrigley Field. Howard not only was credited with the pitching win, the southpaw struck out the meat of the Cubs’ order — Anthony Rizzo, Kris Bryant and Joc Pederson — in order on just 13 pitches. Sunday, the 28-year-old retired the final two outs of the sixth inning and did not allow a run although he walked two. He got out of the inning by inducing a comeback ground ball home-to-first double play. The Pirates eventually lost the game 4-3 dropping two of three in the series in Chicago. Anthony Seigler (Tampa Tarpons, 4th-year pro; Cartersville HS)… the Yankees 2018 first round selection and 23rd overall pick in the MLB draft will begin the 2021 season with the organization’s restructured Low-Class A affiliate. The 21-year-old catcher, who has battled injury in his pro career, has a .216 batting average with one home run and 15 RBIs in 54 minor league games. He last played in 2019 with the Charleston, South Carolina RiverDogs. The Tampa Tarpons 120-game schedule will open at George Steinbrenner Stadium May 4 with a six-game series against the Dunedin Blue Jays. COLLEGE BASEBALL Levi Ayers - Young Harris (Jr., Cartersville HS)… worked a perfect seventh inning last Tuesday, inducing three fly outs, in the Mountain Lions’ 24-5 home win over Mars Hill College. Ayers then worked two and one-third scoreless innings Saturday to close out an 11-7 Peach Belt Conference win over Lander University. Ayers allowed one hit and struck out one retiring seven of eight batters faced. YHC (18-7, 16-5) hosts a three-game conference series with North Georgia Friday and Saturday. Mason Barnett (Auburn, So., Cartersville HS)… walked the first batter he faced in a closer appearance Thursday at No. 1-ranked Arkansas, but then got a groundout double play and a fly out to earn his first save of the year in a 2-1 Tigers’ win. On Saturday, Barnett was inserted in the eighth inning of an eventual 6-5 extra innings loss. He worked an inning and two-thirds allowing one earned run on two hits with five walks. Auburn (12-13, 1-8 SEC) hosts Kennesaw State Tuesday and Mississippi State Friday through Sunday in a three-game conference series. Clifton Dempsey (Toccoa Falls, Sr., Cartersville HS)… the Screaming Eagles’ shortstop was 4-for-14 with a double, five RBIs, three runs scored, a sacrifice fly, and three stolen bases in a weekend three game series at Bob Jones University in Greenville, South Carolina. Dempsey is hitting .323 through 25 games with a pair of home runs and 16 RBIs. Toccoa Falls (11-14) plays at Georgia Gwinnett Tuesday night and has a doubleheader Saturday at Trinity Baptist (Florida). Jake Gooch (Central Alabama CC, Fr., Cartersville HS)… started all six games for the Trojans last week at first base and went 4-for-17 at the plate. He had two doubles, walked twice, scored three runs, drove in five, and stole a base. Through 34 games this season, Gooch is hitting .337 and 29 RBIs. Central Alabama won two games at Bevil State Tuesday, but was swept in a four-game conference series with Shelton State CC last Thursday and Saturday. The Trojans (18-19, 7-9 ACCC) host Chattahoochee Valley Tuesday afternoon and have a four game, conference home-and-home series Thursday and Saturday with Southern Union State. Lane Griffith (West Georgia, Sr., Adairsville HS)… in four road games last week, Griffith was 5-for-14 with a double, two sacrifice hits, two runs scored, and three RBIs. The Wolves lost last Tuesday at Georgia College but won two of three at Mississippi College. West Georgia (12-15, 11-13 Gulf South Conference) hosts a three game conference series Saturday and Sunday with Union University (Tennessee). Kenny Jinks (Shorter, So., Woodland HS)… pitched the ninth inning of the Hawks 10-3 win Friday over Christian Brothers. The southpaw gave up two earned runs on a single and a two-out, two-run homer. He also struck out two. Shorter swept the three-game series with CBU and improved to 19-8 overall and 16-8 in the Gulf South Conference. The Hawks play at Lee University this Friday and Saturday in another GSC series. Brycen Jones (Central Alabama CC, Fr., Cartersville HS)… picked up a pitching win March 29 with a four and one-third inning relief appearance at Bevil State CC. In the 8-6 win, Jones entered in the second inning and did not allow a run on two hits and a walk. He struck out six facing 17 batters. Saturday, he worked an inning an one-third in the Trojans’ 12-4 home loss to Shelton State CC. The right-hander gave up one unearned run on one hit and two walks while fanning one. CACC (18-19, 7-9 ACCC) hosts Chattahoochee Valley CC Tuesday and plays a four-game series with Southern Union State CC Thursday and Saturday. Logan Martin (Sewanee, Fr., Cartersville HS)… was inserted in the fourth inning and pitched the final six frames of the Tigers’ 4-0 home loss to Centre College last Saturday. Sewanee (1-6) is scheduled for four home games Saturday and Sunday against Berry College. Logan Nelson (Truett McConnell, Fr., Cass HS)… had a double and drove in a run Friday in a seventh inning, pinch hitting appearance during a 15-5 Bears’ win over 13th-ranked Bryan College. TMU went on to sweep the three game Appalachian Athletic Conference series. Truett McConnell (16-14, 6-9) travels to Union College (Kentucky) for a conference doubleheader Wednesday and will play a three-game series at Kentucky Christian Friday and Saturday. Harrison Osborn (Point, Jr., Cartersville HS)… worked the seventh inning of last Tuesday’s 21-3 loss to 6th-ranked Faulkner University. Osborn allowed one earned run on a walk and two hit batsmen. He struck out one. The Skyhawks (16-13, 10-7 AAC) travel to Tuskegee University Wednesday and host Montreat College (NC) Friday and Saturday in a three game conference series. Steven Spell (Young Harris, So., Cass HS)… was inserted as a pinch hitter in the seventh inning and played third base making one assist in the Mountain Lions’ 24-5 win over Mars Hill last Tuesday. He coaxed a bases loaded walk for one RBI in the seventh inning and later scored a run on a wild pitch. In the eighth inning he blasted a two-run home run over the right centerfield wall. Young Harris (18-7, 16-5 Peach Belt Conference) hosts North Georgia in the annual Battle of Blood Mountain three game conference series Friday and Saturday at Zell Miller Field. Preston Welchel (Coastal Alabama - Bay Minette, Fr., Cartersville HS)… in a four-game series with Bishop State CC, the Sun Chief’s outfielder was 3-for-10 with a double, a walk, and four RBIs. Coastal-Bay Minette (16-23, 8-8 Alabama Community College Conference) won three of four games in the Bishop State series and plays a four-game series with Coastal Alabama-Monroeville this Thursday and Saturday. Jordan Wilkie (Augusta, Fr., Cartersville HS)… was inserted defensively at third base Friday in the Jaguars’ 7-4 loss to visiting UNC-Pembroke. Wilkie singled in the tenth inning to go 1-for-2 at the plate. Augusta (4-20, 3-19 Peach Belt Conference) dropped all three games in the series and has now lost eight straight. The Jags travel to USC-Aiken Friday and Saturday for a three game conference series. Zach Wilson (Penn State-Greater Allegheny, Fr., Woodland HS)… appeared in five games last week and made two starts at first base as his team went 4-1 for the week. Wilson was 1-for-5 at the plate with two RBIs and two runs scored. He also made a pitching appearance last Tuesday in a 14-4 loss to Penn State-Du Bois. He was entered in the fifth inning and faced three batters giving up three runs (one earned) on a hit and two walks. PSU-Greater Allegheny (7-4 PSU Athletic Conference) plays at Penn State-Fayette Saturday and hosts a doubleheader with the same team Sunday. BASKETBALL Jacquez Fountain (Albany Tech So., Cass HS) — Fountain received second-team all-region recognition from the Georgia Collegiate Athletic Association. T.J. Horton (Georgia Highlands Fr., Cartersville HS) — Horton started the Chargers’ regular-season finale — a resounding 100-64 win last Tuesday at East Georgia. While he didn’t have the most efficient night from the floor (5-for-14), Horton managed to finish with 13 points, six rebounds and three steals. FOOTBALL Terry Berdin (Reinhardt Jr., Cartersville HS) — Berdin rushed twice for 7 total yards in a 42-14 blowout win over Kentucky Christian Saturday at home. Bryce Burgess (Reinhardt Jr., Adairsville HS) — Burgess recorded a 2-yard carry on his only attempt during Saturday’s victory, which concluded a perfect 8-0 regular season for the Eagles. Sean Holton (Davidson Sr., Cartersville HS) — Holton posted a solo tackle in a 31-25 victory Saturday at San Diego. Jacob Potter (Kennesaw State Jr., Adairsville HS) — Potter, a long snapper, saw action in a 35-0 drubbing of Robert Morris Saturday in Kennesaw. Jake Walker (Furman Sr., Cartersville native, Darlington HS) — Walker hauled in a 4-yard pass on his lone reception in a 26-14 loss Saturday at Mercer. GOLF Lindsey Bonner (York Sr., Cartersville HS) — Playing as an individual, Bonner shot a 91 to tie for 11th Monday at the Knights Women's Invitational at Cedarbrook Country Club int Blue Bell, Pennsylvania. York’s official five-person team rolled to a fourth successive win to open the season, placing 26 strokes ahead of its closest competition. SOCCER Havyn Isaac (Georgia Military So., Adairsville HS) — In Georgia Military’s season opener, Isaac posted three saves in a 1-0 defeat against Spartanburg Methodist Friday at home. Russell Shealy (Syracuse R-So., Cartersville native, Darlington HS) — In a 1-0 win over Saint Francis last Tuesday at home, Shealy recorded two saves to earn the shutout. SOFTBALL Colbi Ballard (Shorter So., Cartersville HS) — Ballard was 0-for-2 with a sacrifice in last Friday’s 11-3 loss to Christian Brothers at home. Shorter dropped all three games in the Gulf South Conference series. The Hawks (4-22, 0-18) host Georgia College in a non-conference doubleheader Wednesday and travel to Lee for a three-game GSC series Saturday and Sunday. Bella Carnes (Georgia College Fr., Woodland HS) — Carnes saw action and scored a pair of runs in a 6-4 road win last Tuesday at Georgia Southwestern. Carnes was also 0-for-2 in a left field start, as the Bobcats lost 4-2 to UNC-Pembroke Saturday at home. Georgia College (5-19, 1-9 Peach Belt Conference) plays Wednesday at Shorter and has a conference doubleheader Sunday at Lander. Skylar Chappell (Cottey College Fr., Woodland HS) — Chappell appeared in three of eight games last week for the Comets, going 1-for-3 with a run scored and one RBI. Cottey went 6-2 for the week, splitting doubleheaders with Avila (Missouri) and William Woods (Missouri), while sweeping Bacone (Oklahoma) and Crowley’s Ridge (Arkansas). The Comets (20-6) were set to play Tuesday at Columbia (Missouri) and Saturday against Health Sciences and Pharmacy (Missouri) at home. Brianna Hill (Covenant Fr., Woodland HS) — Starting at first base, Hill was 1-for-4 with a walk in a doubleheader split Saturday at Maryville College. Covenant (15-13, 4-2 USA South Athletic Conference) plays Wednesday at Brevard College and entertains LaGrange College Saturday at home. Hannah Todd (Kansas Sr., Cartersville HS) — Todd faced three batters, allowing a pair of hits, but retired the final out for the Jayhawks Thursday in a 14-0 loss to Oklahoma. Kansas dropped two of three games in the weekend series and is now 17-14 overall and 1-5 in the Big 12 Conference. The Jayhawks host Kansas City in a non-conference three-game series Friday and Saturday in Lawrence. TENNIS Blake Bottegal (Shorter Jr., Woodland HS) — Bottegal and his Line 3 doubles partner dropped a 6-1 decision against Delta State Saturday in Rome Connor Gunnell (Shorter Fr., Woodland HS) — In the 7-0 loss to Delta State, Gunnell fell in the tightest match of the day — a 6-2, 7-5 result — on Line 6 singles. Ashley Popham (Mercer Fr., Cartersville HS) — Popham cruised to a 6-2, 6-0 win on Line 6 singles in a 6-1 triumph over Florida A&M last Tuesday in Macon. TRACK AND FIELD Trevor Knowles (Albion Sr., Woodland HS) — Knowles placed third in the high jump and long jump during Albion’s first outdoor meet of the season last week at the Olivet Comet Invitational.

The top track and field performances of the 2021 high school season through Friday, April 2: Bartow's best marks compiled by David Bishop:

Georgia Highlands baseball split a conference doubleheader at Andrew College Saturday winning the opener 17-1 but losing the second game, 10-9. The two teams also split a doubleheader last Tuesday at LakePoint and Georgia Highlands swept a doubleheader March 13, so Saturday’s split gives the Chargers a 4-2 season series win. Saturday’s first game was dominated by the Chargers’ bats. GHC out hit the host Tigers 19 to five in the seven inning contest and hit four home runs. Palmer Sapp hit a first inning grand slam. Gavin Harmon belted a three-run homer along with a two-run homer by David Smith and a solo home run by Trace Twardoski in the Chargers’ 10-run fifth inning. Johnny Dow tossed a complete-game five hitter for the GHC pitching win. He struck out five. In Game 2, the two teams exchanged leads three time over the first eight and one-half innings before Andrew College pushed across the game-winning run in the bottom of the ninth. A walk and an error on a bunt left the Chargers on the wrong end of the walk off play, 10-9. Georgia Highlands held a 5-0 lead through four frames and led 7-1 going to the bottom of the seventh. The host Tigers scored six in the seventh and two more in the eighth inning to take a 9-7 lead before Georgia Highlands tied the game in the top of the ninth. GHC relief pitcher Chandler Wood (0.1 IP, 1R, 0ER, 1BB, 1K) suffered the pitching loss. He entered in the eighth inning and was the pitcher of record in the ninth inning when the defensive miscue occurred. Jacob Ryan (6.1 IP, 6ER, 10H, 1BB, 4K) started for the Chargers and Matthew Silka (1.1 IP, 3R, 1ER, 5H, 2K) pitched middle relief. Connor Todaro led the Georgia Highlands offense with three hits including a double and two RBIs. Joe Sutton had two hits. David Smith and Trace Twardoski both had one hit and two RBIs each. The doubleheader split leaves Andrew College with a 23-14-1 overall record. The Tigers are now 8-6 in conference play. Georgia Highlands (30-6, 9-3) hosts East Georgia State in a doubleheader Tuesday and travels to East Georgia next Saturday for a doubleheader to wrap up the four-game series.

Natalia Herrera hit a walk-off solo home run in the first game and the Chargers’ offense erupted for thirteen hits in the second game as the Georgia Highlands College softball team swept Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College in a doubleheader Saturday at Stars Field, 5-4 and 9-1. With the opener tied 4-4 going to the home half of the seventh, Herrera led off the inning with a line drive home run over the center field fence to lift the Chargers. It was her second home run of the game. She also belted a two-run homer in the fifth that gave GHC a 4-3 lead at the time. Georgia Highlands held leads of 1-0 through three innings and 4-3 through the fifth, but the visiting Fillies tied the game in the sixth inning on a bases loaded RBI single by Kelsey Taft. Madalyn Morton picked up the pitching win after striking out the side in the top of the seventh. Montana Ledbetter went the first six innings in the circle for the Chargers. Ledbetter allowed four earned runs on six hit and six walks. She struck out nine. In addition to Herrera’s offensive production, Madison Bennett and Hailey Cronic had two hits each. Halie Walther drove in a run with one hit and Izzy Marcotte added a base hit for the Chargers. In the second game of the day, GHC pitcher Maggie Schandera scattered four hits and a walk during five innings in the circle. The lone ABAC run was in the top of the fifth on a solo shot by Tristen Blocker. Schandera then induced a groundout and struck out her third Fillies batter to end the game. Herrera had two hits including a double and one RBI. Marcotte and Lacey Rutledge also had two hits and one RBI. Annsley Todd finished with two hits. Walther contributed one hit and two RBIs. Alexis Poole and Brady Tharp tossed in one hit and one RBI each. Taryn Hitchcock and Bennett added one hit apiece. The losses dropped ABAC to 6-14 for the year and 2-7 in the Georgia Collegiate Athletic Association. Georgia Highlands (8-13, 3-3) has a conference home doubleheader with conference-leading Gordon College Wednesday at 3 p.m. at Stars Field in Cassville.

The Adairsville Tigers fell behind early Saturday and failed to recover in an 11-0 region loss at home to Lakeview-Fort Oglethorpe. LFO led 8-0 through three innings and added three more runs in the top of the fifth to close the game out. Will Carroll scattered four hits and four walks on the mound for the visiting Warriors to earn the win. He struck out six. Adairsville pitchers struggled with control, walking nine and hitting five batters. The Warriors managed their runs with only two hits. Evan Sanders (2.1 IP, 7R, 6ER, 2H, 4BB, 2K) started on the mound for the Tigers and was tagged with the loss. Elijah Padgett (1.2 IP, 2ER, 0H,3BB, 3K) and Hayden Blaylock (1 IP, 2R, 0ER, 0H, 2BB) pitched in relief. Padgett and Kyler Smith had one double each for the Adairsville offense. Sanders and Braden Powell had the other Tigers’ hits. Lakeview-Fort Oglethorpe improved to 7-13 for the season and 6-1 in Region 6-AAA. Adairsville (7-10, 2-5) plays at Coahulla Creek Tuesday at 5:55 p.m. and has a home-and-home, region series with Sonoraville Thursday and Friday.

The Woodland Wildcats completed their three-game sweep of Hiram with a doubleheader sweep of the Hornets Friday night in Paulding County. The three wins helped Woodland move within one game of Cass in the region win column as the two local teams race for the fourth — and final — playoff spot in Region 7-AAAAA. Cass dropped all three games of the Colonels’ region series with 9th-ranked Calhoun this week, falling in both games of a doubleheader Friday night in Gordon County. WOODLAND 6, HIRAM 1 (Game 1 of DH) Woodland pitcher Peyton Posey allowed only two hits and a walk in five innings of work and four Wildcats had two hits each in a 6-1 win at Hiram. Posey did not allow a run and struck out five to earn the pitching victory. Carter Heath closed out the final two innings on the mound for the Wildcats. He yielded one earned run on no hits and four walks. Heath fanned four. Chase Carson had two hits and two RBIs for Woodland. Jakiyon Porter contributed two hits including a double and one RBI. Scotty Smith and Trevor Montgomery added two hits apiece while Posey drove in a pair of runs in the second inning with a triple. WOODLAND 18, HIRAM 3 (Game 2 of DH) The Wildcats pounded out 14 hits and scored in all five offensive frames in the second game of Friday’s doubleheader at Hiram. The win completed a three-game Region 7-AAAAA sweep for Woodland over the Hornets. Peyton Posey had four hits including a pair of triples and three RBIs to lead the Wildcats offensive onslaught. J.T. Hampton had two hits including a double and two RBIs. Trevor Montgomery also doubled twice and drove in a run. Julian Wright (triple, 3 RBIs), Jakiyon Porter (2 RBIs), Jacob Gravett (2 RBIs), Trevor Collum (RBI), Ayden Ray, and Scotty Smith (triple, RBI) contributed one hit each. Ray (3 IP, 3R, 1ER, 1H, 3BB, 6K) picked up the Woodland pitching win. Drew Billings (1 IP, 0R, 0H, 2K) and Tucker Spivey (1 IP, 0R, 1H, 1BB) also pitched in the victory. With the doubleheader loss, Hiram falls to 2-17 overall and 0-12 in Region 7-AAAAA. Woodland (8-14, 4-8) returns to action Thursday and Friday in the Battle for Bartow Baseball Classic at LakePoint. The Wildcats will have games against Valdosta, Cedartown, and Landmark Christian. CALHOUN 11, CASS 0 (Game 1 of DH) Yellow Jackets’ pitcher Bryse Ingle tossed a five-inning, no-hitter in Friday’s first game at Calhoun to blank Cass, 11-0. Ingle walked two and struck out six. The game was scoreless for the first four and one-half innings, but Calhoun took a 2-0 lead in the bottom of the fourth on a solo home run by Parker Lester followed by two singles, a walk, and an infield fielding error. The Yellow Jackets closed out the game with a nine-run fifth inning that included a grand slam home run by Jacob Tolson and a second home run — a three-run homer this time — by Lester. Jayden Smith (4.2 IP, 9R, 5ER, 9H, 3BB, 5K) suffered the pitching loss for Cass. Chase Botts (0.0 IP, 2ER, 2H) also pitched for the Colonels in the fifth inning. CALHOUN 5, CASS 0 (Game 2 of DH) Pitchers Jordan Gani or Cass and Braden Saunders of Calhoun battled one another through five scoreless innings Friday night before the Yellow Jackets broke the game open in the bottom of the sixth. Calhoun scored all five of their runs in the frame on an error, hit batsman, four hits and a walk. Cass managed a pair of baserunners in the top of the seventh, but reliever Owen Hall got a strikeout to end the threat and secured Calhoun’s 5-0 victory. Eight different Yellow Jackets had one hit each. Carson Hill, Aidan Larkin, Thomas Botts, and Gani had one hit apiece for the Colonels. Ninth-ranked Calhoun improved to 12-6 overall and 7-4 in Region 7-AAAAA. Cass (6-13, 5-5) steps out of region action next week to play North Paulding and Cedartown in the Battle for Bartow Classic at LakePoint. COAHULLA CREEK 10, ADAIRSVILLE 0 The visiting Colts defeated Adairsville Friday night, 10-0, in Region 6-AAA play. The Colts carried a 2-0 lead into the seventh inning and put the game away by pushing eight runs across in the top of the seventh. Kyler Smith had the only hit in the game for Adairsville. Adairsville starting pitcher Jack Whitley (5 IP, 2R, 0ER, 3H, 2BB, 3K) suffered the pitching loss despite allowing no earned runs. Wade Dooley (1 IP, 3R, 2ER, 0H, 4BB, 1K), Braden Powell (0.1 IP, 3ER, 0H, 1BB), and Dawson Craig (0.2 IP, 2R, 0ER, 1H, 1BB) pitched in relief for the Tigers. The win improves Coahulla Creek to 5-11 on the season and 4-3 in region play. Adairsville (7-9, 2-4) travels to Coahulla Creek Tuesday to complete the home-and-home series.

The Cass girls and boys soccer teams took care of business at home Friday night defeating visiting region rival Woodland by scores of 3-1 and 6-1. The win by the Lady Colonels secured the final state playoff berth from Region 7-AAAAA and eliminated the Lady Cats. The Cass boys victory secured the No. 3-seed for the Colonels and relegated the Wildcats to the region’s fourth-seed. Maddie Shook, Morgan Tompkins, and Anna Marsala had goals for the Cass girls. Reagan Weightman scored the Lady Cats’ goal. The Lady Colonels improved to 6-9-1 for the year and 2-3 in region action. The Woodland girls fall to 3-8-1 and 1-4 in the league. Kaleb Speights scored four goals for the Colonels in the boys game. Magno Moreno found the net on a penalty kick and Kevin Polo scored on a header to round out the Cass scoring. Hunter Echols scored for the Wildcats. Woodland drops to 7-8 overall and 2-3 in Region 7-AAAAA. Cass moves to 10-5 on the year and 3-2 in region play. Next for the Cass boys is a non-region game at Kennesaw Mountain April 13. The Woodland boys return to action April 15 at home against Paulding County. The Cass girls play at Kell and the Woodland girls host Paulding County on April 15.

The Woodland girls and the Cartersville boys track and field teams came away from Thursday night’s competition at Woodland High School as 2021 Bartow County champions. The Woodland girls scored 93 points to finish ahead of runner-up Cartersville (72), Cass (54), and Adairsville (34). The Cartersville boys finished first with 104 points followed by Woodland (61), Cass (51), and Adairsville (41). Event winners: Girls High Jump - Woodland - Sydney Molinaro - 4-06 Boys High Jump - Adairsville - Tre’ Mitchell - 5-10 Girls Pole Vault - Woodland - Emmie Berry - 9-01 Boys Pole Vault - Cartersville - Ben Camara - 10-06 Girls Long Jump - Adairsville - Amaya Arnold - 14-10 Boys Long Jump - Cass - JaShaun Brown Whatley - 19-10 Girls Triple Jump - Adairsville - Kayli Hilburn - 30-02.5 Boys Triple Jump - Adairsville - Dylan Matthews - 41-07.5 Girls Discus Throw - Cass - Raziyah Ware - 78-05 Boys Discus Throw - Cartersville - Jaylon Scott - 116-09 Girls Shot Put - Cass - Raziyah Ware - 29-02 Boys Shot Put - Woodland - Nick Bailey - 43-04.5 Girls 4x800 Relay - Cartersville - Mason Cline, Trinity Atkins, Samantha Herrera, Elizabeth Nelson - 10:54.44 Boys 4x800 Relay - Cartersville - Bill Archer, Levi Booth, Clayton Long, Sam Peters - 8:42.27 Girls 4x100 Relay - Woodland - Kiconco Bassler, Lexis Bubrick, Morgan Cherry, Sydney Molinaro - 53.74 Boys 4x100 Relay - Cartersville - Morocco Wilkey, Evan Slocum, Clayton Long, Brittan Walker - 43.62 Girls 1600 Meter - Woodland - Olivia Berry - 5:27.09 Boys 1600 Meter - Cartersville - Colin McCann - 4:43.51 Girls 400 Meter - Cass - Kaitlyn Godwin - 1:04.78 Boys 400 Meter - Cartersville - Clayton Long - 52.49 Girls 100 Meter - Cass - Kaitlyn Godwin - 12.73 Boys 100 Meter - Cartersville - Brittan Walker - 11.10 Girls 100M Hurdles - Woodland - Kiconco Bassler - 17.52 Boys 110M Hurdles - Cartersville - Eric Toviave - 14.97 Girls 800 Meter - Cartersville - Elizabeth Nelson - 2:34.16 Boys 800 Meter - Woodland - John Forsyth - 2:07.88 Girls 200 Meter - Cass - Kaitlyn Godwin - 27.18 Boys 200 Meter - Cass - Josh Varnum - 23.11 Girls 300 Meter Hurdles - Adairsville - Kayli Hilburn - 52.73 Boys 300 Meter Hurdles - Cartersville - Chris Ejieke - 41.65 Girls 3200 Meter - Woodland - Olivia Berry - 11:35.97 Boys 3200 Meter - Cartersville - Sam Peters - 10:29.70 Girls 4x400 Meter Relay - Cartersville - Josie Turner, London Moultrie, Olamide Sadiku, Elizabeth Nelson - 4:38.09 Boys 4x400 Meter Relay - Cartersville - Donovan Dennis, Brittan Walker, Eric Toviave, Clayton Long - 3:36.45

As expected, the three-game Region 7-AAAAA series between 2nd-ranked Cartersville and top-ranked Blessed Trinity generated an intense battle. In fact, all three games of the series were tied going to the bottom of the sixth inning. Cartersville won Tuesday night’s opener at Richard Bell Field 3-2 but it was the Titans who took both games of Thursday night’s doubleheader in Roswell, 4-1 and 5-3. The Canes led 1-0 into the bottom of the fifth inning in Thursday’s opener, but it was Blessed Trinity who scored four times in the late innings to pull out a 4-1 win. A solo home run by Max Puckett tied the game 1-1 in the fifth and the Titans took advantage of a walk, a pair of singles, and a pair of Canes’ defensive miscues in the sixth to build their three-run lead. Joseph Chambers was the winning pitcher for Blessed Trinity in relief of starter Jake Lankie. Chambers tossed two innings of shutout ball allowing only one hit while striking out five. Chambers went five innings giving up one earned run on three hits and three walks with three strikeouts. The Hurricanes took a 1-0 lead in the top of the second inning when Davis Williams singled home Colt McKibben. Elliott Eastin, who tried to score behind McKibben, was tagged out at the plate. Cartersville starting pitcher Phillip Schiltz (5.1 IP, 4R, 3ER, 4H, 4BB, 6K) was tagged with the pitching loss. He worked into the sixth inning allowing three earned runs on four hits and four walks. Schiltz fanned six. Silas Freeman (0.2 IP, 0R, 0H) retired the final two outs for the Canes with a pop out to first and a ground out to shortstop. In addition to the base hits by Williams and Eastin, Jake Brasfield and Parker McPherson added one hit apiece in the opener. In the final game of the series, Blessed Trinity built a 3-0 lead early before the Canes scored twice in the third inning and tied the game with a run in the fifth. The Titans scored their two go-ahead runs in the bottom of the sixth on a two-out line drive single by Justice Haynes. The Titans had loaded the bases in the inning on a walk and two hit batsmen. Parker McPherson drove in a pair of runs with a hit in the third inning to narrow the Canes’ deficit to 3-2. Eastin drove in a run to tie the game in the fifth inning. Cartersville reliever Gunner Millsap (1.1 IP, 1ER, 0H, 1BB, 1K) suffered the pitching loss in relief of starter Mason McBee (4 IP, 3ER, 5H, 1BB, 4K). Silas Freeman (0.2 IP, 1ER, 1H) recorded the final two outs in the sixth. Puckett had two hits including a double and one RBI to pace the Titans’ offense. In addition to the RBI hits by McPherson and Eastin, Williams had two hits for Cartersville. McKibben, Tyler Williamson, Brasfield, and Curt Bonner added one hit apiece. Blessed Trinity improved to 14-7 for the season and 8-2 in region action. Cartersville (14-7, 9-3) returns to action next Tuesday with a non-region home game against Sandy Creek.