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May 27, 2025 On Sunday, the Cartersville Little League 8U Purple All-Stars won the Georgia Little League District 1 Rookie League Championship. Front row (L-R): Colton Hamby, A.J. Jones, Nolan Menerey, and Corbin Ferguson. Second row (L-R): Brooks Caverly, Beckham Bowden, Easton Fillers, Brooks Poole, Baylor Foster, Jackson Miller, Max Brown, and Donovan Tate. Coaches (L-R): T.J. Menerey, Adam Jones, Nick Ferguson, and Aubrey Caverly. In recent days, local Little League Baseball tournament teams have begun competing, with two Cartersville Little League teams facing each other for a District 1 championship. The 8U Cartersville Purple All Stars went 3-0 last Saturday and Sunday in Rockmart to win the District 1 Rookie Baseball championship and will play in the Georgia Little League Northwest Section Tournament this weekend in Peachtree City. 8U Purple defeated Bartow County Little League 8U Blue 13-2 and had two wins over Cartersville Little League 8U Gold by scores of 9-0 and 13-5 in the championship round of the double-elimination tournament. Cartersville 8U Gold finished the tournament as runner-up with wins over Bartow 8U Green (11-4) and two wins over Rockmart 8U (12-6 and 7-5). Cartersville Little League 8U Gold was runner-up at the District 1 Rookie League Tournament. Front row (L-R): Ace Gray, Tres Taylor, Logan Sullins, Hayes Bruton, and Emerson Lucan. Second row (L-R): Aiden Waits, Maddux Frazier, Beau Williams, Raylon Wright, Maddox Harrell, and Tylon Barbour. Manager: Laine Frazier. Coaches: Eric Bruton and Tony Taylor. The tournament season is not over for the teams that did not win District 1. All four local 8U tournament teams will participate in the Georgia Recreation and Parks Association (GRPA) Class A/B District 5 Tournament June 5-11 at Westside Park in Whitfield County. Cartersville Purple 8U begins the four-team Northwest Section Rookie Tournament on Saturday at 10 a.m. against the District 2 champions. The double-elimination tournament will continue through Tuesday, June 3, with the winner advancing to the Georgia Little League Rookie Championship Tournament. Two other age groups have Northwest Section Tournaments in Peachtree City beginning Saturday. They include the Cartersville 7U Coach Pitch team and the 9U Sandlot teams from Cartersville Little League and Bartow County Little League. Those double-elimination tournaments will continue through Wednesday, June 4.

May 26, 2025 The Georgia Athletic Directors Association has released the final tally for its annual Directors Cup Standings for the 2024-25 school year. Cartersville High School, which won overall Directors Cup titles in 2000-01 and 2001-02 in Class AA, was the top-performing school in GHSA Region 7-AAAA among schools participating.  Marist won the overall title in Class AAAA with 1364 points, followed by North Oconee (1287), Westminter (1275), Cambridge (1220), Blessed Trinity (1184), Pace Academy (1098), Starr’s Mill (1093), and St. Pius X (1080) in the top ten of the classification. Cartersville (977) was eleventh overall. Cass (300) was 35th of 63 schools in the classification, and Woodland  (260) was 38th in Class AAAA. NOTE: Allatoona, a Region 7-AAAA school, did not participate, and Adairsville did not participate in Class AAA.  The GADA Directors Cup, sponsored annually by Regions Bank, is an all-sports award for each Georgia High School Association classification. The organization tracks results in each sport's state playoffs and presents awards to an overall winner, plus the top boys’ and girls’ programs in each classification. The GADA requires school membership for recognition in the standings. In each classification, the top 32 teams in each sport receive points based on their finish in the state playoffs, with state champions earning 100 points. For each school, the top eight scoring girls’ teams and the top eight scoring boys’ teams count toward the Directors Cup. It should be noted that wrestling teams receive their highest point total for either duals or the traditional format. In 2024-25, Cartersville won state titles in competition cheerleading and boys' golf. The Hurricanes were state runner-up in volleyball, boys' track and field, and baseball. The Cass boys' wrestling team won state championships in both duals and traditional formats. The Woodland boys' wrestling team was the state duals runner-up. Cartersville was the overall winner in Region 7-AAAA, followed by Dalton (641), Cedartown (419), Cass (300), Woodland (260), Southeast Whitfield (187), and Hiram (134). The Cartersville girls led the region with 483 points, followed by Dalton (319), Cedartown (297), Cass (132), Hiram (93), Woodland (92), and Southeast Whitfield (59). The Cartersville boys’ teams led the region with 494 points. The Canes were followed by Dalton with 322 points. Cass and Woodland tied for third with 168 points. Southeast Whitfield (128), Cedartown (122), and Hiram (41) rounded out the boys’ standings. Point totals by sport for local schools: CARTERSVILLE 100 - Competition Cheer 100 - Boys' Golf 90 - Volleyball 90 - Boys' Track & Field 90 - Baseball 75 - Gameday Cheer 70 - Football  70 - Girls' Basketball 60 - Boys' Cross Country 53 - Fast Pitch Softball 48 - Girls' Wrestling 45 - Girls' Cross Country 34 - Boys' Wrestling 25 - Boys' Basketball 25 - Girls' Soccer 25 - Girls' Tennis 25 - Boys' Tennis 18 — Girls' Track & Field CASS 100 - Boys' Wrestling 54 - Competition Cheerleading 53 - Girls' Basketball 25 - Football 25 - Fast Pitch Softball 25 - Boys' Soccer 18 - Boys' Track & Field WOODLAND 90 - Boys' Wrestling 54 - Competition Cheerleading 40 - Boys' Swimming 38 - Girls' Cross Country 38 - Boys' Cross Country

May 26, 2025 Caleb Daniel, a standout from Cartersville High, was recently selected for the All-ACC Freshman Team. At the same time, another former Hurricane, Anthony Seigler, extended his hitting streak to fifteen games in MiLB Class AAA International League action. MiLB MASON BARNETT — Las Vegas Aviators (Oakland A’s Triple-A affiliate; 4th-year pro; Auburn; Cartersville HS) … made a five-inning start with no decision last Friday during an eventual 5-4 loss at the Sugar Land Space Cowboys. Barnett allowed two earned runs on four hits and two walks with three strikeouts. He has made ten starts this season with a 1-1 record. The 24-year-old has 34 strikeouts in 43-⅓ innings with a 6.85 ERA. The Aviators began the week with a seven-game lead in the Pacific Coast League West and have six home games against the Oklahoma City Comets this week.  LOGAN MARTIN — Quad Cities River Bandits (Kansas City Royals High-Class A affiliate; 3rd-year pro; Kentucky; Cartersville HS) … received no decision in a 5-⅓ inning start on May 21 at the Beloit Sky Carp, allowing three earned runs on three hits, five walks, and one hit by pitch. The 23-year-old struck out three. In eight starts this season, he is 3-2 with 32 strikeouts in 36 innings with a 4.00 ERA. Quad Cities 28-17) was 4-3 at Beloit last week and hosts the South Bend Cubs for six games this week. The River Bandits lead the Midwest League Midwest Division by 1-½ games. Anthony Seigler ANTHONY SEIGLER — Nashville Sounds (Milwaukee Brewers Triple-A affiliate; 8th-year pro; Cartersville HS) … the 25-year-old hit safely in each appearance and went 3-for-11, including one double, three walks, and two stolen bases in three games last week at home against the Scranton/Wilkes-Barre RailRaiders. The Sounds finished the week 4-1. Seigler is the first Nashville player to have a 15-game hitting streak since Keston Huira did it from August 11-31, 2023. Seigler owns the longest active hitting streak in the International League after Charlotte's Kyle Teel did not record a hit in their game last Saturday night. Since starting his streak on May 2nd, Seigler is hitting .404 (21-for-52) with three home runs, three doubles, 11 RBIs, 10 walks, and 10 runs scored. He ranks fourth among full-season minor leaguers with his 1.212 OPS, is sixth in SLG (.712), and tied for sixth with his .500 OBP during the streak that has seen him reach base in a team-high 21 straight games. His OBP tops Triple-A during the span, while his OPS and AVG are second-best; he is third in SLG. SOFTBALL ANSLEY HIGHT — Reinhardt University (So, Cass HS) … went 1-for-6 in losses to Eastern Oregon and Southern Oregon at the NAIA National Championship Tournament in Columbus, Georgia. Hight hit .438 this season in 44 games and 142 plate appearances. She hit 13 home runs, 14 doubles, and three triples with 62 RBI, 30 runs scored, and stole two bases. She was the Appalachian Athletic Conference Player of the Year. Reinhardt finished the season with a 32-12 mark. ERYN LEE — Reinhardt University (Jr., Cass HS) … went hitless in six at-bats as the Eagles lost both games at the NAIA National Championship Tournament in Columbus, Georgia. Reinhardt lost 1-0 to Eastern Oregon and 3-1 to Southern Oregon. Lee hit .320 with 15 RBI and 41 runs scored in 38 games this season. She stole 21 bases. Reinhardt was 32-12. BASEBALL Caleb Daniel CALEB DANIEL — Georgia Tech (Fr., Cartersville HS) … went 2-for-6, including one home run, one walk, and was hit by a pitch in two games last week in the Atlantic Coast Conference Tournament. The Yellow Jackets beat California but lost to Clemson. Daniel was one of seven Georgia Tech players to receive All-ACC honors. He was selected to the 2025 All-ACC Freshman team. The Jackets won the ACC regular season title and will learn their NCAA National Tournament site for the field of 64 on Monday. At 40-17, they are projected as a host or a 2-seed by most publications. GOLF BUCK BRUMLOW — University of Georgia (Sr., Cartersville HS) … carded rounds of 74-78-75 (11-over par) and tied for 102nd place at the NCAA Division I Men’s Golf Championship in Carlsbad, California this past weekend. The Bulldogs finished 23rd in the 30-team field at Omni La Costa Resort and missed the 54-hole cut. The field was narrowed to 15 teams for a final stroke-play round on Monday that will determine the eight teams in match play beginning on Tuesday. Brumlow was Second Team All-SEC in his senior year and expected to turn professional in the coming weeks.

May 22, 2025 The Purple Hurricanes finished the year as the 2025 Class AAAA runner-up with a 32-10 record. Blessed Trinity rallied for three runs in the bottom of the seventh inning to extend the game Thursday at Coolray Field, and claimed the 2025 Class 4A State Championship on Carson Zagryn’s walk-off RBI single in the eighth to edge Cartersville 7-6. The two teams split a doubleheader on Wednesday, forcing a winner-take-all title game. The Purrple Hurricanes won the best-of-three series opener 6-3, but Blessed Trinity won the second game on Wednesday 7-3. On Thursday, Cartersville established a 4-0 lead in the top of the fifth inning. Although Nolan Elrod's flyout resulted in a double play, courtesy runner Gavin Renegar managed to score, marking the Canes' first run. After a walk, Thomas Peters hit a single, and two errors by the Titans on the play allowed two more Canes' runs to score. The fourth run of the inning scored when Andrew Purdy reached base on an error, permitting Thomas Peters to cross the plate. Blessed Trinity narrowed the margin to 4-2 in the bottom of the fifth on Terrance Bowen’s home run. In the top of the sixth, two-out singles by Julez Pratt and Brayden Logan plated another Canes’ run, giving Cartersville a 5-2 advantage before the Titans matched the run in the bottom of the frame. The Hurricanes added to their lead in the top of the seventh to go ahead 6-3. Purdy doubled into center field and later scored on another Blessed Trinity error — the Titans’ fourth miscue of the night. However, blessed Trinity responded in the bottom of the seventh with three runs to send the game to an extra frame. A walk and two singles loaded the bases with no outs. Aiden Zagryn lined out to center field to score one run, and Kade Kisz singled home two more runs. One-out walks to Logan and Elrod enabled the Hurricanes to threaten in the top of the eighth, but reliever and winning pitcher Brayden Loquasto escaped with a ground out and a strikeout to end the inning. Blessed Trinity did all their damage in the bottom of the eighth after two outs. Quinn Davis singled into center field and advanced to second on an error. Cartersville coach Kyle Tucker then chose to walk Bowen before Zagryn lined his walk-off hit into left field. Aiden Pack made the pitching start for Blessed Trinity and allowed five runs (three earned) on six hits and two walks while striking out five. Loquasto retired the final seven outs, allowing one unearned run on two hits and two walks. The reliever recorded three strikeouts. Avery Shiflett started on the mound for Cartersville and yielded three earned runs on three hits and four walks with two strikeouts. Maddox Frazier retired the final two outs of the sixth inning and started the seventh. He was charged with three earned runs on three hits and one walk. He had one strikeout. Logan Shrewsbury, charged with the pitching loss, retired three outs in the seventh and two in the eighth. He allowed one earned run on three hits and two walks with two strikeouts. Bowen (home run, two RBI), Kisz (two RBI), and Davis had two hits for the Titans. Bowen also stole three bases.  Logan (RBI) and Cameron Cochran contributed two hits for Cartersville. Peters (RBI), Elrod (double, RBI), Pratt, and Purdy (double) added one hit. Blessed Trinity completed the year with a 33-9 record, winning a fourth baseball state championship. The Titans won Class AAA in 2006, 2014, and 2015. Cartersville finished 32-10 and was the GHSA Class AAAA runner-up.

May 21, 2025 Cartersville's Maddox Frazier closed out the Canes' win in Game 1 with two strikeouts in a scoreless seventh inning. Cartersville and Blessed Trinity will play a winner-take-all, State Championship Series-deciding game on Thursday back at Coolray Field in Lawrenceville following their doubleheader split on Wednesday. Cartersville opened the best-of-three series with a 6-3 win, but the Titans forced a third game by topping the Canes 7-3 in Game 2. GAME 1: CARTERSVILLE 6, BLESSED TRINITY 3 David Vargas had one hit for the Canes in Game 2. The Hurricanes trailed in Game 1 until scoring four runs in the top of the fifth for a 4-1 lead. A one-out sacrifice fly by Thomas Peters tied the score 1-1, then Andrew Purdy was intentionally walked. Tristan McKibben followed with a run-scoring single, and Cole Crawford drove home Purdy and McKibben with a two-out double. Blessed Trinity narrowed the Canes’ lead to 4-3 in the bottom of the sixth, but Cameron Cochran doubled home two runs in the top of the seventh to add insurance runs. Nate Russell struck out nine in his six-inning start during Game 1. Nate Russell collected the pitching win with a six-inning start. He allowed three earned runs on five hits and three walks while striking out nine. Maddox Frazier closed out the final frame, allowing no runs or hits with one walk and two strikeouts. Brayden Logan had two hits for Cartersville. Crawford (two RBI), Cochran (two RBI), Peters (RBI), McKibben (RBI), and David Vargas finished with one hit. Caden Dawson had two hits for the Titans. Carson Zagryn, Kade Kisz (RBI), and Wesley Bass (RBI) added one hit. Aidan Zagryn drove in one run for Blessed Trinity. GAME 2: BLESSED TRINITY 7, CARTERSVILLE 3 Andrew Purdy led off Game 2 with an opposite-field double. The Titans scored six runs in the third inning and added one more in the fourth to build a 7-0 lead in Game 2.  Cartersville posted three runs in the fifth without the benefit of a hit to make the score 7-3, but got no closer. The Canes took advantage of four walks, an error, and a wild pitch to score their runs. Joseph Contreras made the pitching start for Blessed Trinity and was credited with the win. He allowed one earned run (three total) on three hits and six walks while fanning eight. Brayden Loquasto retired the final six outs and did not allow a run over two innings with two strikeouts. Cole Crawford had two hits and two RBI in the Canes' 6-3 victory. He added a double in Game 2. Purdy (3 IP, 6R, 4ER, 3H, 4BB, 4K) made the pitching start for Cartersville and was saddled with the loss. Logan Shrewsbury (4 IP, 1ER, 3H, 1BB, 5K) pitched the final four innings for the Canes. Bass (two RBI) and Aidan Zagryn (double, RBI) had two hits for the Titans in their victory. Carson Zagryn (RBI) and Dawson (triple, RBI) added one hit. Purdy and Crawford doubled for Cartersville. Nolan Elrod and Vargas added one hit. The Purple Hurricanes (32-9) and Titans (32-9) will settle the championship series Thursday at 6 p.m. at Coolray Field in Lawrenceville.

May 20, 2025 Georgia Highlands College Director of Athletics Dr. Nicole Levering announced today that Jonathan Merritt has stepped down as head men’s basketball coach. “I’d like to thank Coach Merritt for his 6 years of dedication in guiding our Chargers basketball program,” Levering said. Merritt led the Chargers to the GCAA and Region XVII titles in 2024. A national search will begin immediately for GHC’s new men’s basketball coach. Any inquiries can be directed to Dr. Levering at nleverin@highlands.edu  or apply online at highlands.edu/jobs

May 20, 2025 L-R: Coach Carter Smith, Reid Henson, Andrew Lutjens, Noah Pogue, Carsen Stanfield, Bodie Brumlow, Ramsey Dunn, Carter Rice, Griffin Woodall, Owen Dunn, Blake Lutjens, Reid Lowry, and Coach Chad Murray. The Cartersville High School boys’ golf team captured the 2025 Georgia High School Association Class AAAA state championship with a 36-hole, two-day total of 4-under par 572.  The Class AAAA state tournament was held at the 6,100-yard, par 72 Governors Towne Club in Acworth.  Cartersville and North Oconee were tied at 4-under par after Monday’s opening round, but the Hurricanes prevailed by shooting a team total of even par 288 in round two on Tuesday. The Titans slipped to three over par in the second round and finished three shots back at 575. “I knew it was going to be a battle,” said Canes’ head coach Chad Murray, “because they (North Oconee) have a championship pedigree. As back-to-back defending champions, they have a great squad.” Benedictine Military (583) finished in third place, followed by Allatoona (588), Marist (605), Dalton (609), Blessed Trinity (613), Starrs Mill (618), Harris County (623), Ware County (623), Westminster (623), and Midtown (628). Bodie Brumlow (70-71—141, 3-under) finished sixth as an individual to pace the Canes. He was followed by teammates Andrew Lutjens (71-73—144), Noah Pogue (72-72—144), Carsen Stanfield (73-72—145), Reid Henson (71-75—146), and Ramsey Dunn (78-79—157). "We didn't perform well on the front nine," Murray said after Tuesday's final round, "but neither did our opponents. It was likely the intense pressure of the state championship. They were ahead by up to four shots at one point, and we were ahead by as many as six. With three or four holes left in the final round, we were tied but managed to find a way." Bear Dollander of Benedictine Military won the Class 4A individual title with a total of 66-68—134 (10-under par). Dalton’s Cole Stockard (69-69—138) and Blake Goodroe (66-72—138) of Madison County tied for second. Trace Carter (67-72—139) of Ware County was fourth, and Josh Durthaler (69-71—140) finished fifth. The boys’ state golf championship is the seventh for Cartersville. The Canes won Class A in 1967 and Class AA in 1990, 1997, 2000, 2001, and 2002. “It was the epitome of a team win,” reflected Murray. “We were the definition of a team. When one was struggling, someone else stepped up. I couldn’t be prouder of the guys for finding a way to get it done.”

May 19, 2025 The Cartersville High School boys’ golf team is tied for the lead following the first day of the GHSA Class 4A State Championship Tournament at Governors Towne Club in Acworth. Andrew Lutjens North Oconee and Cartersville shot 4-under par 284 on the opening 18 holes on Monday. Benedictine (291, 3-over) is third at the midway point, followed by Dalton (298), Allatoona (299), Ware County (299), Blessed Trinity (301), and Marist (304). Bodie Brumlow led the Canes with a 70 in the first round. Andrew Lutjens and Reid Henson carded 71, and Noah Pogue fired an even par 72. Cartersville's non-counting scores in the first round were Carsen Stanfield's 73 and Ramsey Dunn's 78. The state championship concludes with another 18-hole round on Tuesday.

May 19, 2025 MiLB Mason Barnett MASON BARNETT — Las Vegas Aviators (Oakland A’s Triple-A affiliate; 4th-year pro; Auburn; Cartersville HS) … made a 1-⅔ innings start last Friday and was the losing pitcher as the Aviators lost 12-4 to the visiting El Paso Chihuahuas. Barnett gave up five earned runs on two hits and five walks as his record slipped to 1-1. The Aviators (31-15) went 4-2 last week against El Paso and began the week leading the Pacific Coast League West Division by nine games over the Reno Aces. The Las Vegas Aviators visit the Sugar Land Space Cowboys this week for a six-game series. Logan Martin LOGAN MARTIN — Quad Cities River Bandits (Kansas City Royals High-Class A affiliate; 3rd-year pro; Kentucky; Cartersville HS) … made a two-inning start on May 14 and did not receive a decision in an eventual 7-6 home win over the Dayton Dragons. Martin allowed four runs (three earned) on five hits and two walks. The River Bandits (24-14) were 3-3 last week against Dayton. They hold a two-game lead over the Cedar Rapids Kernels in the Midwest League’s West Division. Quad Cities plays six games this week at the Beloit Sky Carp. Anthony Seigler ANTHONY SEIGLER — Nashville Sounds (Milwaukee Brewers Triple-A affiliate; 8th-year pro; Cartersville HS) …went 7-for-13, including one double, one triple, three home runs, three walks, seven RBI, and scored five runs in four games last week at the Memphis Redbirds. Seigler also stole one base as the Sounds went 4-2 for the week. Nashville (27-18) began the week trailing the Indianapolis Indians by one game in the International League West Division. Nashville hosts the Scranton/Wilkes-Barre RailRiders this week in a six-game series. TRACK AND FIELD ERIC TOVIAVE — Belmont University (Jr., Cartersville HS) … finished 11th (55.02) in the 400-meter semifinals last Saturday, where the Bruins placed fourth at the Missouri Valley Conference Championships in Carbondale, Illinois. JOE WOMACK — Furman University (Fr., Cartersville resident, Darlington HS) … qualified for the finals (49.31) and finished ninth (50.30) in the 400-meter dash at the Southern Conference Championships May 13 in Birmingham. The Paladins finished third in the conference behind Samford and Western Carolina. GOLF BUCK BRUMLOW — University of Georgia (Sr., Cartersville HS) … fired rounds of 67-72-66 and tied for second individually, leading the Bulldogs to a fourth-place finish at the 13-team NCAA Tallahassee Regional May 12-14 at Seminole Legacy Golf Club. Host Florida State won the regional. The top five teams, including Ole Miss, New Mexico, and Augusta University, earned spots in the NCAA Championship Tournament. Brumlow’s performance moved his national ranking to No. 25 with a 68.9 scoring average in 37 rounds. Thirty teams and six individuals, not on qualifying teams, will play in the 2025 NCAA Division I Men’s Golf National Championship at Omni La Costa Resort & Spa’s North Course in Carlsbad, California, May 23-28. SOFTBALL ANSLEY HIGHT — Reinhardt University (Sophomore, Cass HS) … achieved three hits in 14 at-bats, scored three runs, and had one RBI as the Eagles secured four consecutive victories at the NAIA Opening Round of the national tournament in Marion, Indiana, from May 13-15. Reinhardt (32-10) defeated Coastal Georgia, Madonna, and Rio Grande (OH) twice to qualify for the 10-team NAIA National Championship Tournament in Columbus, Georgia. The Eagles will start participating in the double-elimination event against Eastern Oregon on Thursday at 4 p.m.  SADYE JOHNSON — University of North Georgia (Sr., Adairsville HS) … made an unsuccessful pinch-hitting appearance last Friday, but the Nighthawks defeated Francis Marion University 5-3 in the Super Regionals to earn a trip to the NCAA Division II National Championship Tournament in Chattanooga, Tennessee. North Georgia (48-14) is the No. 4 seed and will face Saginaw Valley State (48-13) on Thursday in the first round of the eight-team national tournament that continues through May 28. ERYN LEE — Reinhardt University (Jr., Cass HS) … the Eagles’ leadoff hitter and second baseman went 1-for-13 with a walk and scored two runs during a four-game run through the NAIA Opening Round in Marion, Indiana. Reinhardt won four consecutive games to advance to the 10-team NAIA National Championship Tournament in Columbus, Georgia, that begins on Thursday. The Eagles (32-10) will play Eastern Oregon in the first round. BASEBALL Harrison Childers HARRISON CHILDERS — Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College (So., Cartersville HS) … went 5-for-17, including one double, two walks, and one hit by pitch during five games at the NAIA Opening Round of the National Tournament in Lakeland, Florida. Childers scored four runs and drove in two. The Stallions went 3-2 in the double-elimination Opening Round segment, falling to host Southeastern University in the segment finals. Childers hit .300 for the season in 52 games and 170 official at-bats. He hit one home run and had 24 RBI. ABAC finished its inaugural season in four-year competition with a trip to the national tournament and a 38-16 record. CALEB DANIEL — Georgia Tech (Fr., Cartersville HS) … went 3-for-12 and scored one run last weekend in a three-game series at Duke. The Yellow Jackets won two games in the series and clinched the Atlantic Coast Conference regular season title and No. 1 seed in the ACC Tournament. Tech received a double-bye in the single-elimination tournament in Durham, North Carolina, and will play the Wake Forest/Miami (FL)/ California survivor on Thursday at 3 p.m. DREW ROTHSCHILD — University of West Georgia (Jr., Cartersville HS) … was utilized as a pinch runner this past Saturday in a 7-5 Wolves’ win at Queens University. UWG (20-31) finished its first season in Division I with eleven wins in the Atlantic Sun Conference.  HANK SMITH — University of West Georgia (R-So., Cartersville HS) … entered the Wolves’ lineup off the bench, walked in his only plate appearance, and saw time at catcher last Saturday in a 7-5 win at Queens University. UWG (20-31) finished its first season in Division I with eleven wins in the Atlantic Sun Conference. Preston Welchel PRESTON WELCHEL — Cumberland University (Sr., Cartersville HS) … went 8-for-18 with one double, three home runs, two walks, eleven RBI, and four runs scored as the Phoenix went 2-2 in the NAIA National Tournament Opening Round games at Kingsport, Tennessee. Cumberland beat Louisiana Christian and Indiana Tech, but lost to 20th-ranked Columbia College (MO) and 3rd-ranked Tennessee Wesleyan. Welchel finished his senior season hitting .368 with 13 home runs and 67 RBI, and his two seasons at CU, hitting .339 with 28 homers and 114 RBI. The Phoenix finished the 2025 season with a 39-18-1 record.

May 15, 2025 The Region 7-AAAA girls’ soccer coaches recently released their selections for 2025 All-Region honors, and several local players were recognized. Kiley McMichael of Cartersville and Libby Morgan of Woodland were named First Team All-Region 7-AAAA. Mallory Nicklas of Cartersville and Woodland’s Ashley Burns and Maddie Weightman were selected Second Team All-Region. All-Region Honorable Mention went to Lundyn Eubanks and Layla Morgan of Cartersville. Sam Bradford and Audrina Jewell of Cass also received Honorable Mention.

May 15, 2025 The Georgia Highlands College baseball team had its postseason run come to a close on Thursday with a second straight loss to Walters State in the NJCAA Appalachian District series. The Senators captured the best-of-three series and berth in the NJCAA World Series with an 11-1 win on Wednesday and a 6-5 victory on Thursday. In Thursday's loss, the Chargers hit five solo home runs, including two by Kenskey Thomas. However, the Senators withstood the long ball barrage, outhitting GHC 12 to 7. Grayson Godbee, Ryan Martin, and Andrew Bishop also had home runs for Georgia Highlands. Walters State (55-6-1) is ranked No. 1 in the NJCAA and extended its winning streak to 21 games. The season ended for Georgia Highlands with a second consecutive conference championship and a 45-12 record.

May 13, 2025 Cole Crawford had five hits, including one double, two home runs (one grand slam), and eight RBI in the Hurricanes' two-game sweep at Wayne County. The Cartersville Purple Hurricanes swept a doubleheader at Wayne County Tuesday night and advanced to the 2025 GHSA Class 4A State Championship series next Wednesday and Thursday at Coolray Field in Lawrenceville.  The Canes, who won 14-6 and 7-2, will face the Blessed Trinity Titans for the state title. Blessed Trinity eliminated Allatoona Tuesday night in the other Class 4A semifinal, 3-0 and 3-2. Cartersville trailed 5-2 through five innings in the first game, but erupted for eight runs in the sixth inning and added four more in the seventh to secure the win. Brayden Logan hit a sixth-inning grand slam, and Cole Crawford added a grand slam in the seventh. The Hurricanes struck first in Game 2, scoring four runs in the bottom of the first inning. The Yellow Jackets cut the lead to 4-2 in the top of the fourth, but Cartersville scored three unanswered runs the remainder of the game. Crawford led the Hurricanes’ offense in the sweep with five hits, including a double, two home runs, and eight RBI. Logan Shrewsbury picked up the pitching win in the opening game in relief of starter Nate Russell. Shrewsbury allowed one earned run on two hits and two walks in 2-⅓ innings. He fanned three. Russell worked into the fifth inning, allowing five earned runs on six hits and two walks with three strikeouts. In Game 2, Andrew Purdy started on the mound and collected the pitching victory. Purdy went four innings and gave up two earned runs on seven hits and four walks with eight strikeouts. Maddox Frazier closed out the series-clinching win by working three scoreless innings of relief. Frazier allowed one hit and one walk while fanning six. Logan finished with three hits in the series, including his grand slam and five RBI. Julez Pratt also had three hits, including one double and one RBI. Tristan McKibben (double, RBI), Thomas Peters (double, two RBI), and David Vargas (double) had two hits in the doubleheader. Purdy (two RBI) and Cameron Cochran added one hit. Wayne County finished the season with a 32-7 record. Cartersville improved to 31-8 and will play in a state championship series for the fourth time in the last seven seasons.