Georgia Highlands swept a doubleheader with the Point University JV Monday at LakePoint in Emerson. The Chargers won 11-1 and 11-0 with both games shortened to five innings. In the doubleheader, Georgia Highlands out hit the visiting Skyhawks 20 to 6. Ben Olson led the Chargers’ offense with four hits, including a pair of doubles and five RBIs in the two games. Connor Todaro had three hits including a triple, a double, and one RBI. Joe Sutton (3 RBIs), David Smith (4 RBIs), Trace Twardoski (RBI), Palmer Sapp (3 RBIs), and Brandon Prince (2 RBIs) contributed a pair of hits apiece. Connor Perry (4 IP, 1ER, 4H, 2BB, 7K) earned the opening game win. Dawson Hammonds (0R, 0H, 1BB, 1K) worked an inning of relief. Ryan Getz (2 IP, 0R, 2H, 1K), Nic Castonguay (1 IP, 3K), Cason Rich (1 IP, 1BB), and Steven Thompson (1 IP, 1K) combined to shutout Point JV in the second game. Georgia Highlands (13-1) has a three-game series Thursday and Friday with Wallace State-Dothan at LakePoint. The two teams will play a doubleheader Thursday starting at 3 p.m. and a single game Friday at 1 p.m.

The Georgia Highlands College softball team dropped all three games of a series at Louisburg College (NC) over the weekend and split a doubleheader at Southern Union CC Wednesday in a 1-4 week. Louisburg College defeated the Chargers 5-2 Saturday and swept a Sunday doubleheader 2-1 and 5-3. Georgia Highlands won 12-9 in the opener Wednesday at Southern Union, but dropped the nightcap, 12-4, in eight innings. In the lone win of the week, pitcher Madalyn Morton earned a win in the circle by going 7 and 1/3 innings. Morton allowed two earned runs on five hits and three walks. She struck out eight. Taryn Hitchcock and Izzy Marcotte both had a pair of hits and homered in the win. Madison Bennett, Kyndal Brown (2 RBIs), Lacey Rutledge, Haley Cronic (2 RBIs), and Allison Daffron had two hits each. Rutledge had two hits and hit a two-run homer in Wednesday’s loss. Natalia Herrera and Marcotte each had a hit and an RBI. In the three-game series at Louisburg, Herrera paced the Chargers’ offense with four hits including a home run and two RBIs. Cronic had three hits. Marcotte totaled a pair of hits including a home run and three RBIs. Daffron also had two hits in the series. Next for GHC (5-8) is a three game set in Columbus, GA on Saturday, March 6. The Chargers will face College of Central Florida, Wabash Valley College, and Gulf Coast State.

Georgia Highlands wrapped up a four-win week Sunday with a doubleheader sweep of BCA Post Grad. The Chargers won 12-6 and 4-1 Sunday at LakePoint. Those wins, along with Wednesday’s doubleheader sweep of Calhoun Community College improved GHC to 11-1 on the season. Georgia Highlands has a doubleheader Monday at LakePoint against Point University starting at 1 p.m. The Chargers are also scheduled for a three game series with Wallace State-Dothan Thursday and Friday. GEORGIA HIGHLANDS 4, BCA POST GRAD 1 Georgia Highlands pitchers Jacob Ryan and Garrett Sagro combined on a three-hitter as the Chargers built their current winning streak to four games. Ryan struck out ten over six innings. Sagro struck out two of the three batters he faced in the seventh. Mickey Maguire and Ben Olson homered for the Chargers. Connor Todaro had three hits including a triple. GEORGIA HIGHLANDS 12, BCA POST GRAD 6 David Smith hit two home runs including a grand slam and added a double in a huge productive day for the Chargers. He also walked, scored three times, and drove in six runs in Sunday’s opener. Brandon Prince, Trace Twardoski, and Joe Sutton had two hits each. Johnny Dow (4 IP, 1R, 0ER, 2H, 6K) was the starting and winning pitcher for GHC. Nick Wilson (2.1 IP, 2H, 2BB, 1K) closed out the final seven outs for the Chargers. GEORGIA HIGHLANDS 5, CALHOUN CC 4 (11 innings) Despite being out hit twelve to seven Wednesday, Georgia Highlands outlasted Calhoun Community College 5-4 in eleven innings. Trenton Parker, who was hit by a pitch to start the bottom of the eleventh, moved around to third on two more walks and scored the game-winning run on a wild pitch. Zack Valentine (5.1 IP, 0R, 3H, 5K) picked up the pitching win for the Chargers by working the final 5 and 1/3 innings without allowing a run. Brandon Prince and Trace Twardoski had two hits each. Prince drove in two runs. Twardoski added one RBI. GEORGIA HIGHLANDS 2, CALHOUN CC 1 In Wednesday’s first game, Chase Townsend (5 IP, 1ER, 2H, 1BB, 8K), Chandler Wood (1 IP, 0R, 0H, 1BB), and Garrett Sagro (1 IP, 0R, 0H, 1BB, 3K) combined to limit the War Hawks to a single run. Brandon Prince had two hits and drove in one run. Gavin Harmon had the only other GHC base hit. Ben Olson drove in a run for the Chargers.

The Excel Christian Academy boys basketball team had a pair of representatives on the 2020-21 Region 7-A Private All-Region Team Rashard Doyal and Elijah Payne were named Second Team All Region and Kalil Holley was Honorable Mention. Doyal, a senior, scored 12.4 points per game with just over four rebounds and two steals per game. Payne, a freshman, led the Eagles in scoring with 14.1 points per game. He also grabbed 9.1 rebounds per game and had just over two blocked shots per game. Holley, a senior, scored 11.3 points per game and averaged just over five rebounds per game.

The Adairsville Tigers split a doubleheader Saturday at Darlington with an 8-7 win and a 10-1 loss. Darlington led 4-0 in the opening game with a pair of runs in both the second and third innings. The Adairsville offense then erupted with an 8-run fourth inning for an 8-4 lead. The big blow in the frame was a grand slam home run by Tyler Driggers. Darlington added two runs in the bottom of the fourth to narrow the margin to 8-6. That score would standing until the hosts added a single run in the bottom of the seventh. Elijah Padgett (3.2 IP, 1R, 0ER, 2H, 5BB, 6K) picked up the pitching win in relief of Adairsville starter Jack Whitley (3.1 IP, 6R, 5ER, 7H, 1BB). Driggers finished with two hits including his grand slam. Braden Powell, Wade Dooley, and Evan Sanders (3 RBIs) all doubled. Logan Hunt, Padgett, and Chris Roper added one hit apiece. The second game was tied 1-1 heading into the bottom of the fifth inning when Darlington scored nine times to end the game in five innings. The top three in the Darlington order, Aiden Cloud, Thomas Bethal, and Jackson Norris combined for seven hits, a walk, and five RBIs. Logan Floyd allowed only two hits and a walk while fanning five to earn the pitching win for Darlington. Adairsville utilized five pitchers with Braden Powell suffering the loss in relief. Wade Dooley, Brenden Carroll, Hunter Blackmon, and Dawson Craig each had mound time in the loss. Padgett and Sanders had the only Adairsville base hits. With the doubleheader split, Darlington is now 1-1-1. Adairsville (1-2) plays at Coosa Thursday and hosts a doubleheader with Chattooga Saturday. WOODLAND 1, MODEL 0 (8 innings) Four Woodland pitchers limited Model to only two hits Saturday in a 1-0 Wildcats’ win. Nate Rosser (0.2 IP, 0R, 1K) picked up the pitching win for Woodland by closing out the top of the eighth inning. Scotty Smith (2 IP, 0R, 1H, 6BB, 1K) started for the Wildcats. Drew Billings (2 IP, 3K) and Ayden Ray (3.1 IP, 0R, 1H, 5BB, 5K). Trevor Montgomery finished with two hits for Woodland including a double and a game-winning hit in the bottom of the eighth to drive in the game’s only run. Jacob Gravett (double), Jakiyon Porter, Jackson Rutledge, Austin Sanders, Ray, and Smith added one hit each for the Wildcats. WHEELER 8, WOODLAND 4 In Woodland’s second game Saturday, Wheeler scored five runs in the third and three more in sixth inning on their way to an 8-4 win. Trevor Montgomery had three hits for Woodland. Scotty Smith and Peyton Posey contributed two hits each. Jacob Gravett and Carter Heath had one hit and one RBI apiece. Drew Billings and Jakiyon Poreter added one hit each. The Wildcats (1-2) play at North Cobb Thursday and will host Paulding County and Sonoraville Saturday.

The Cartersville Purple Hurricanes scored five times Saturday in the bottom of the fifth to take a 6-2 lead and held on the defeat visiting Forsyth Central, 6-3. Phillip Schiltz (3 IP, 1ER, 1H, 1BB, 4K) earned the pitching win for Cartersville in relief of start Mason McBee (3 IP, 2R, 0ER, 1H, 3BB, 6K). Davis Williams closed out the seventh inning on the mound by striking out the side. Jake Brasfield led the Cartersville offense with two hits that included a double and three RBIs. Parker McPherson had a triple and three RBIs. Hank Smith (double), Curt Bonner, Blake Sutton, and Williams had the other Hurricanes’ base hits. The loss dropped Forsyth Central to 1-1 on the season. Cartersville (1-1) plays at Etowah Tuesday and will host Fellowship Christian Saturday.

The Woodland girls soccer team lost a home game with Kennesaw Mountain Friday night, 10-0, but coach Nicole Heiser found some positives from her Lady Cats' performance. "The girls worked hard and kept the game scoreless for the first 15 minutes," said Heiser. "I'm proud of them for not giving up when they easily could have. Kennesaw Mountain has a very strong team. The results may not show it, but the girls were persistent and determined throughout the game." The loss evened the Woodland girls record to 2-2-1 for the season. The Lady Cats play at Northwest Whitfield on Tuesday.

The Cass Lady Colonels' lost for the first time this season Friday night in the Region 7-AAAAA championship game, but will still host an opening round state tournament game next week. The Cass boys finished third in the region tournament by defeating Hiram for a fourth time this season and the Cartersville girls will enter the state playoffs as a 4-seed following a consolation game loss to Calhoun. CASS BOYS 65, HIRAM 62 Braxton Benham scored 20 points Friday night and Zaylan Chaney scored nine of his 13 points in the fourth quarter as the Cass boys defeated Hiram 65-62 to earn the Region 7-AAAAA No. 3-seed in next week’s state tournament. Jackson Hale, who scored six points on a pair of three-pointers, knocked down a go-ahead trey with only 16 seconds remaining to lift the Colonels to a one point lead late. Hiram had a shot at the end but the Hornets missed and Benham sealed the win with a rebound and a pair of free throws after being fouled with less than one second remaining. In a back-and-forth battle, the Hornets led 19-15 after the opening eight minutes. Cass held a 29-28 edge at halftime, but Hiram came back to lead 46-44 at the end of the third quarter. The Hornets led by as many as six in the final period before the Colonels rallied for the victory. The win for Cass was the team’s fourth over Hiram this season. Cass also defeated Hiram in the Campbell Holiday Tournament and twice during the region regular season. In addition to the scoring by Benham, Chaney, and Hale, C.J. Pipkin scored 12 points for the Colonels. Andrew Glaze and Ethan McIntyre finished with five points each. Zay Jackson added four points for Cass. Hiram (12-11) was led by Jayden Clark’s 21 points. Keyon Boyd posted 11 and Jackson Prince added 10 points. Cass (19-7) will open the Class 5A State Tournament Wednesday at Region 6-AAAAA’s No. 2-seed Villa Rica (13-10) at 6 p.m. HIRAM 55, CASS GIRLS 50 The third time was the charm for the 8th-ranked Hiram Lady Hornets as they defeated previously unbeaten Cass for the Region 7-AAAAA championship, 55-50. Hiram (17-4), who will host Lithia Springs next week in the first round of the state playoffs, had previously lost twice to the Lady Colonels in the regular season. Cass won 55-48 on January 15 and 50-46 on February 2, but Friday night belonged to the Lady Hornets. Claire Davis scored 19 points and Londaisha Smith added 18 in the Lady Colonels' loss. Cass (24-1) will host Region 6-AAAAA’s No. 3-seed Grady (9-10) in the opening round of the state tournament either Tuesday or Wednesday. CALHOUN 57, CARTERSVILLE GIRLS 44 The Cartersville girls fell to Calhoun Friday afternoon 57-44 and open next week’s Class 5A State Tournament as a No. 4-seed. Calhoun will be the region’s No. 3-seed. The Lady Jackets built a 14-8 lead in the first quarter and led 32-16 by halftime. Calhoun continued to lead 40-29 after three quarters. Britiya Curtis led Calhoun with 27 points. Lyndi Rae Davis scored 14 of her 16 points in the first half. Lehla Thomas led Cartersville with 16 points. Jamiya Moore and Kiera Milline added eight points each for the Lady Canes. Cartersville will play at New Manchester Tuesday night at 6 p.m. in the first round of the state tournament.

The Cartersville girls and boys soccer teams both defeated visiting Dawson County Friday night at Weinman Stadiium. The Lady Canes won 3-1 and the Hurricanes blanked the Tigers, 8-0. Hattie Williams had the Lady Canes’ first goal and assisted on another as the Cartersville girls improved to 3-1-1. Ava Flemons scored off the Williams assist to make the score 2-0. Ansley Holton added the third Cartersville goal off an assist from Jocelen Fernandez. The Lady Canes travel to Bremen Tuesday. The Cartersville boys cruised to an 8-0 win later in the evening. The Canes (4-1) scored four goals in the opening 20 minutes to take control of the game early. Giovanni Jacobo scored three goals for Cartersville in the win. Keeper Leo Betancourt earned the shutout in goal.

Woodland scored twice in the top of the seventh Wednesday evening at Carrollton, but it wasn’t enough to overcome an early 3-0 deficit as the Wildcats lost their season opener, 3-2. The Trojans scored a single run in the first inning and two more in the second before Woodland pitching blanked Carrollton over the final four innings. Peyton Posey (3 IP, 3ER, 4H, 1BB, 1K) started on the mound for the Wildcats and was tagged with the loss. Drew Billings (2 IP, 0R, 2H, 3K) and Scotty Smith (1 IP, 0R, 0H, 1K) split the final three innings. Carrollton (1-0) utilized six pitchers with starter Connor Herriott picking up the win. Ace Williamson drove in two runs for the Trojans with a double. Carrollton totaled six hits. Jacob Gravett had a pair of doubles for Woodland and drove in a run. Posey and Smith had one hit each for the Wildcats. Ayden Ray drove in one run with a sacrifice fly. The Wildcats (0-1) will host Model Saturday at 11 a.m. and Wheeler Saturday evening starting at 5 p.m.

The Cartersville Lady Canes soccer team lost Wednesday night to visiting Rome, 3-2. Cartersville (2-1-1) led 2-1 at halftime on goals by Hattie Williams and Kendyl Anderson. Williams' goal came off a rebound of her own shot. Anderson scored off a free kick. The visiting Lady Wolves scored the equalizer in the first ten minutes of the second half on an own goal. Rome later scored the game-winner with about 20 minutes remaining. Rome improved to 5-0 with their win. The Lady Canes play Dawson County Friday night at Weinman Stadium. RIVER RIDGE 7, CASS GIRLS 0 The Cass girls soccer team fell 7-0 to River Ridge Wednesday at Doug Cochran Stadium. The Lady Colonels' home opener was the first game on the Cass pitch since the team and school lost 18-year community coach, Phil Phillips. The long time coach died in January after a battle with cancer. The Cass girls (1-3) are wearing a patch with his initials on their uniforms this season.

Three local high school baseball teams dropped their season openers Wednesday with Adairsville falling to Trion at LakePoint, Cartersville dropping a game at Lassiter, and Cass losing to Kell at the East Cobb Baseball Complex. TRION 6, ADAIRSVILLE 4 The Tigers out hit Trion Wednesday at LakePoint, but a pair of runs by the Bulldogs in the bottom of the fifth were the difference in a 6-4 final. Adairsville led 2-0 after one inning and later tied the game with a pair of runs in the top of the third inning. Trion scored four times in the second inning. Kyler Smith and Logan Hunt had two hits including a triple each for the Tigers. Hunt also drove in a run. Tyler Driggers (triple), Elijah Padgett (RBI), and Evan Sanders had the other Adairsville base hits. The Tigers also stole six bases in the contest. Wade Dooley (2.1 IP, 2ER, 3H, 1BB, 3K) suffered the pitching loss for Adairsville in relief of starter Padgett (1.2 IP, 4R, 0ER, 1H, 3BB, 4K). Brenden Carroll (2 IP, 0R, 3BB, 3K) retired the final six outs for the Tigers. Adairsville (0-1) plays a doubleheader at Darlington Saturday at 12 noon. LASSITER 2, CARTERSVILLE 0 Lassiter scored twice in the bottom of the first inning Wednesday and a pair of Trojans pitchers made that lead stand up in a 2-0 blanking of Cartersville. Benjamin Norton (6 IP, 0R, 5H, 1BB, 9K) and Harris Bryson (1 IP, 0R, 1BB, 1K) combined to strike out ten Canes in the Lassiter win. Cameron Campbell, who finished with two hits, drove in the only two runs scored in the game with a first inning single. Max Beck-Berendsen also had two hits for the Trojans. Micah Earwood made a solid start for the Hurricanes on the mound. The Georgia State signee struck out nine and allowed only one earned run on two hits. Davis Williams (1 IP, 2H, 1K) allowed a pair of hits while working a scoreless sixth inning. Cartersville’s five hits were all singles. Hank Smith led the offense with a pair of hits. Parker McPherson, Drew Rothschild, and Jake Brasfield added one hit each. Lassiter improved to 2-0. Cartersville (0-1) plays at Forsyth Central Saturday at 1 p.m. KELL 19, CASS 5 The Colonels held a 3-0 lead after one inning Wednesday at the East Cobb Baseball Complex, but Kell rolled up 19 runs across the final six innings in a one-sided, 19-5 win for the Longhorns. Kell took a 4-3 lead in the second inning, led 9-3 after four innings, and added a seven-run seventh inning. Cass scored two runs in the bottom of the seventh. Jake Edwards had a walk and four hits for the Longhorns including a double, a triple, and five RBIs. Ethan Hames added three hits and one RBI. Evan Hendrick drove in three runs for Kell (1-0). Six Cass pitchers all allowed at least one earned run each. Trey Scott (2 IP, 4ER, 3H, 2BB, 3K) started for the Colonels and was tagged with the loss. Chase Botts (1.1 IP, 2ER, 0H, 1BB, 3K), Hayden Cole (0.2 IP, 3ER, 1H, 2BB, 1K), Nic Wallin (1 IP, 2ER, 2H, 1BB, 2K), Jayden Smith (1 IP, 1ER, 0H, 2BB, 2K), and Devin Hutchinson (1 IP, 7R, 1ER, 6H, 1BB, 1K) all toed the rubber for Cass. Matt Ballas had three hits including a pair of doubles and two RBIs for the Colonels’ offense. Matt Shook finished with two hits including a double and two RBIs. Aidan Larkin and Carson Hill (RBI) added one hit apiece. Cass (0-1) will look to bounce back Friday in a 5:55 p.m. start at Dawson County.