Search Results

May 14, 2025 The Georgia High School Association has changed the Class AAAA Baseball Championship Series venue.. The best-of-three series between the Cartersville Purple Hurricanes and the Blessed Trinity Titans will now be conducted at Coolray Field in Lawrenceville. According to Canes head coach Kyle Tucker, the venues for the championship series were shuffled due to graduation dates at the schools involved. The Cartersville-Blessed Trinity series will begin with a doubleheader on Wednesday, May 21, at 5 p.m. The “if necessary game” is scheduled for Thursday, May 22, at 6 p.m.

May 11, 2025 Charles Wilson / BartowSportsZone.com MiLB MASON BARNETT — Las Vegas Aviators (Oakland A’s Triple-A affiliate; 4th-year pro; Auburn; Cartersville HS) …made a 4-⅔ inning start with no decision last Saturday in an eventual 10-9 loss at the Reno Aces. Barnett allowed seven earned runs on seven hits, three walks, and one hit batter. The Aviators went 3-3 last week at Reno. Las Vegas (26-13) began the week first in the Pacific Coast League West Division. They host six games this week against the El Paso Chihuahuas. LOGAN MARTIN — Quad Cities River Bandits (Kansas City Royals High-Class A affiliate; 3rd-year pro; Kentucky; Cartersville HS) … was the losing pitcher in a 9-1 loss last Thursday at the Lake City Captains. Martin went 2-⅓ innings and allowed four earned runs on four hits and two walks. He recorded two strikeouts. Quad Cities (21-11) started the week in first place in the Midwest League’s West Division. The River Bandits host the Dayton Dragons for six games this week. ANTHONY SEIGLER — Nashville Sounds (Milwaukee Brewers Triple-A affiliate; 8th-year pro; Cartersville HS) … hit safely in all five games last week as the Sounds went 4-2 at home against the Norfolk Tides. Seigler was 5-for-18, including two walks, three RBI, and one stolen base. Nashville (23-16) began the week with a two-game International League West Division lead. The Sounds play a six-game series Tuesday through Sunday at the Memphis Redbirds.  TRACK AND FIELD KENDRICK PRICE — Troy University (Fr., Cartersville HS) … finished 23rd (10.79) in the 100-meter dash as the Trojans finished ninth of 13 teams at the Sun Belt Outdoor Championships last weekend in Harrisonburg, Virginia.  GOLF Buck Brumlow BUCK BRUMLOW — University of Georgia (Sr., Cartersville HS) … was voted to the 2025 Second Team All-SEC by the league’s 14 head coaches. Brumlow has a stroke average of 70.5, which is the fourth lowest in program history. In his UGA career, he has counted in 32 of 33 rounds. He was at even par or better in 25 rounds and carded 13 rounds in the 60s. Brumlow never missed a tournament in his four-year career with the Bulldogs and joins former UGA stars Russell Henley, Kevin Kisner, Brian Harman, and Trent Phillips as the only five to accomplish the feat. He won the 2025 Ford Collegiate for his first individual title and spot in the Korn Ferry Tour’s Club Car Championship in Savannah. Brumlow is currently 18th in the PGA Tour University rankings. The Bulldogs begin the NCAA Men’s National Tournament on Monday at the 14-team Tallahassee Regional at Seminole Legacy Golf Club, where they are the No. 4 seed. SOFTBALL MEGAN GREGORY — Campbell University (So., Adairsville HS) … made three starts last week in the Coastal Athletic Association Tournament with two wins and one loss. She pitched all nine innings of a 3-2 win over Delaware and all seven innings in a 6-2 victory over Elon University. Gregory was also the pitcher of record in a 6-2 championship game loss to Elon. In 21 innings pitched during the tournament, she yielded 11 runs (six earned)  on 15 hits, 13 walks, and two hit batters. She completed the regular season and conference tournament with a 13-6 record and a 1.87 ERA in 138-⅔ innings pitched.  Ansley Hight ANSLEY HIGHT — Reinhardt University (So., Cass HS) … was selected as the Appalachian Athletic Conference Player of the Year after leading the league in home runs with 12. She was also second in the conference in batting average (.474) and RBI (54). The Eagles won the AAC regular season title with a 23-5 mark and entered the NAIA National Tournament with a 28-10 overall record. Reinhardt begins play in the double-elimination Opening Round segment of the national tournament at Indiana Wesleyan University in Marion, Indiana. The Eagles face Coastal Georgia in their first game on Monday. Madonna (MI), Rio Grande (OH), and host Indiana Wesleyan are also in the five-team Opening Round bracket.  ALEXIS WOODS — Tennessee State University (So., Cass HS) … went 0-for-3 in the Tigers’ 10-2 loss to Tennessee Tech in the first round of the Ohio Valley Conference Tournament in Peoria, Illinois. TSU finished the season with a 23-22 record. Woods hit .285 in 130 official at-bats and started all 45 games. She had four extra-base hits, 22 RBI, and a .333 on-base percentage. She stole three bases in three attempts and had a .962 fielding percentage in 156 total chances.  BASEBALL DREW BILLINGS — Trinity Baptist College (Jr., Woodland HS) … made three pitching appearances May 7 and 8 as the Eagles went 1-2 in the National Christian College Athletic Association South Region. Billings totaled 5-⅓ innings and earned a one-inning save in a 9-6 win over Southeastern Baptist. He allowed eight runs (five earned) on seven hits and two walks in the three games. TBC was 27-18. He had a 3-1 record with 11 saves. Billings had a  3.22 ERA in 21 appearances covering 36-⅓ innings. He compiled 29 strikeouts. CALEB DANIEL — Georgia Tech (Fr., Cartersville HS) … went 3-for-13 last week with one walk, two doubles, and one run scored. The Yellow Jackets won at Mercer on May 7 and took two of three home games against Louisville last weekend. Georgia Tech (37-15, 17-10 Atlantic Coast Conference) finishes regular-season conference play Thursday through Saturday at Duke. COLIN EATON — East Tennessee State University (Jr., Cartersville HS) … made two pitching appearances last week with no decision. He worked two-thirds of an inning May 6 at UNC-Asheville in a 12-5 win, allowing two earned runs on three hits with one strikeout. He also worked one inning without yielding a run on one hit in an eventual 7-5 home loss to Wofford University last Friday. The Buccaneers (37-13, 13-5 Southern Conference) will complete regular-season conference play on Thursday through Saturday at The Citadel. RYAN JOHNSON — Georgia Tech (Fr., Cartersville HS) … made his fifth appearance of the season last Friday in a 16-2 home loss to Louisville. Johnson allowed three earned runs on three hits without retiring an out. The Yellow Jackets (37-15, 17-10 Atlantic Coast Conference) wrap up regular-season conference play Thursday through Saturday at Duke. LUKE MILLER — Columbus State University (Fr., Cartersville HS) … went 1-for-7 with one walk and scored one run in the Cougars’ two losses last Thursday and Friday at Lander University in the Peach Belt Conference Championship Series. Miller hit .327 in his freshman season in 48 games and 202 official at-bats. He hit six homers and had 33 RBI. DREW ROTHSCHILD — University of West Georgia (Jr., Cartersville HS) … went 0-for-2 on May 6 in a 17-1 home loss to Kennesaw State University. The Wolves host UAB on Tuesday and finish the Atlantic Sun Conference regular season schedule at Queens University with a three-game series on Thursday through Saturday. HANK SMITH — University of West Georgia (R-So., Cartersville HS) … went 1-for-3 and scored one run last Friday in a 4-2 home loss to Florida Gulf Coast University. The Wolves lost all three games in the series with the Eagles. West Georgia (18-30, 9-18 Atlantic Sun Conference) hosts UAB on Tuesday and visits Queens University for three games on Thursday through Saturday. DAVIS WILLIAMS — University of West Georgia (R-So., Cartersville HS) … retired all four batters faced with no decision in a 1-⅓ inning relief appearance during a 4-2 home loss to Florida Gulf Coast University last Friday. UWG (18-30, 9-18 Atlantic Sun Conference) hosts UAB on Tuesday before traveling to Queens University for a three-game conference series on Thursday through Saturday.

May 11, 2025 The Cartersville boys' track and field team finished second at the GHSA Class AAAA State Championships. 2025 GHSA Class AAAA State Runner-Up trophy For the first time in school history, the Cartersville Purple Hurricanes boys’ track and field team claimed a state runner-up finish at the GHSA Class 4A Championships at East Jackson High School in Commerce. The Starrs Mill boys won the Class AAAA title with 42 team points. Cartersville and Benedictine Military School were next with 40. Marist was fourth with 33, and Eagles Landing and Mays were next with 30 points.  The top eight placers in each state championship event final earned team points. First place in each event was worth 10 points, second place received 8, and third place received 6. Fourth place through eighth place received five points down to 1 point. The Cass boys and Cartersville girls finished 28th in Class AAAA. The Cass girls were 34th. Event results from the state finals: Class AAAA State Finals at East Jackson HS, Commerce, GA 2nd — Xavier Lowe — High Jump — Cass — 6-4 2nd — Thoreau Lipscomb — Shot Put — Cartersville — 55-3.50 3rd — Kenneth Wilkey — High Jump — Cartersville — 6-4 4th — Thoreau Lipscomb — Discus Throw — Cartersville — 152-5 4th — Cartersville Boys 4x400-meter Relay (8:07.38) — Barrett Stepp, Tripp Chitwood, Will Feuerbach, Actavious Thompson 5th — Langston Hogg — Shot Put — Cartersville — 52-7 5th — Will Feuerbach — 800-meter Run — Cartersville — 1:56.20 5th — Cartersville Boys 4x100-meter Relay (43.28) — Bryson Everett, Madoxx Davis, Brady Marchese, Tyon Coe 6th — Laney Saunders — Pole Vault — Cartersville — 11-0 6th — Cartersville Boys 4x200-meter Relay (1:29.65) — Bryson Everett, Madoxx Davis, Tyon Coe, Actavious Thompson 7th — Bayley Stanley — Long Jump — Cartersville — 17-6 7th — Nakayla KK Evans — High Jump — Cass — 5-0 8th — Kiana McDaniel — Shot Put — Cass — 35-11 8th — Cartersville Boys 4x800 Meter Relay (8:07.38) — Tripp Chitwood, Kyle Camper II, Ethan Empie, Will Feuerbach 10th — Actavious Thompson — 400-meter Dash — Cartersville — 49.33 11th — Cam’ren Collum — High Jump — Cartersville — 6-0 11th — Cartersville Girls 4x800 Meter Relay (10:18.01) — Genevieve Alessandro, Sofia Burns, Hadley Finnemore, Kimberly Guerra 12th — Bryson Everett — 200-meter Dash — Cartersville — 22.32 13th — Cam’ren Collum — 110-meter Hurdles — Cartersville — 15.12 14th — Brady Marchese — 100-meter Dash — Cartersville — 11.04 15th — Madoxx Davis — 100-meter Dash — Cartersville — 11.09 15th — Bayley Stanley — 100-meter Dash — Cartersville — 12:54 16th — Laney Saunders — 100-meter Hurdles — Cartersville — 17.74 Clockwise from top left: Xavier Lowe; Thoreau Lipscomb; Cartersville boys' 4x400-meter team: Actavious Thompson, Will Feuerbach, Tripp Chitwood, and Barrett Stepp; Kenneth Wilkey; and Laney Saunders Class AAA State Finals in Albany 10th — Blaine Leighly — Adairsville -- Shot Put — 47-1

May 8, 2025 Avery Shiflett The Cartersville Purple Hurricanes won the third and deciding game of their Class 4A quarterfinal series at St. Pius X Catholic on Thursday to advance to the GHSA Baseball Final Four for the third time in the last four seasons. Starting pitcher Avery Shiflett tossed six solid innings to secure Cartersville’s 5-1 victory. The southpaw allowed just one earned run on six hits and four walks while recording six strikeouts. Maddox Frazier entered in the final inning and retired the final three outs. Frazier yielded one hit and one walk. Julez Pratt Canes’ center fielder Thomas Peters had three hits and two RBI to pace the offense. Catcher Julez Pratt and shortstop David Vargas produced two hits and one RBI. Nolan Elrod added a hit, and Andrew Purdy drove in a run in the second inning with a bases-loaded walk. Michael Dee went 3-for-3 with a walk at the top of the Golden Lions’ order. Bobby Frierson had two hits and drove in the only St. Pius run in the sixth inning. The season ended for the Golden Lions with a 34-4 record. Cartersville (29-8) advanced to a state semifinal appearance and a best-of-three series at Wayne County next Tuesday and Wednesday if needed. In their quarterfinal series, the Yellow Jackets (32-5) defeated Kell 3-2 and 5-4. Allatoona (31-3) will play in the other state semifinal series against Blessed Trinity (27-7). The Titans edged Marist in Game 3 of their quarterfinal series with a walk-off RBI single in the bottom of the eighth to advance with a 9-8 win. Allatoona won two one-run games over Kell in the quarterfinals.

May 8, 2025 Charles Wilson / BartowSportsZone.com Georgia Highlands College baseball won the 2025 Georgia Collegiate Athletic Association title on Thursday with a 10-7 victory over the Gordon State Highlanders. The bottom portion of the Chargers’ lineup came up big in the victory, producing seven of Georgia Highlands’ nine hits, four walks, eight runs, and four RBI. The Highlanders scored two runs in the first inning to take an early lead, but the Chargers grabbed their initial lead with three runs in the second. GHC scored four runs in the bottom of the fifth to go ahead 7-2, but Gordon State cut that advantage to 7-5 in the top of the seventh. Three more runs by the Chargers in the bottom of the seventh made it 10-5, and GHC held on from there. Kaiden Krak made the pitching start for Georgia Highlands and picked up the win. He allowed five runs (four earned) on six hits and four walks in 6-⅓ innings. Jackson Greer wrapped up the final 2-⅔ innings. Greer allowed two earned runs on three hits and had five strikeouts. Caden Marcos went 3-for-3 with a home run, a walk, and three RBI in the ninth position in the batting order. He scored two runs. Tyler Phillips doubled and homered in the seventh spot of the order. Ian Fullerton and Wyatt Gatlin also added hits from the sixth and eighth spots in the order. The quartet at the bottom of the Chargers’ order also reached base four times on a walk. Kenskey Thomas (two RBI) and Ryan Martin (RBI) added one hit and one walk. The loss ended the season for Gordon State with a 32-26 record. Chargers celebrate their conference title around coach Dash O'Neill. Georgia Highlands (45-10) won the GCAA regular season and championship tournament for a second consecutive season. The win gives GHC three titles in the last four years. The Chargers will carry a nine-game win streak into the NJCAA Appalachian District Championship Series. They will play the best-of-three series next Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday at Walters State, the Tennessee Community College Athletic Association champion, in Morristown, Tennessee. The Appalachian District winner advances to the NJCAA World Series May 29-June 5 in Grand Junction, Colorado. CHARGERS WELL REPRESENTED ON THE ALL-REGION TEAM Coach of the Year — Dash O’Neill Pitcher of the Year — Max Eichenberger First Team Infielder — Grayson Godbee First Team Outfielder — Ryan Martin First Team Outfielder — Kenskey Thomas First Team Catcher and Gold Glove Team — Tyler Phillips First Team Pitcher — Andrew Arnold Second Team Infielder — Andrew Bishop Second Team Pitcher — Kaiden Krak Gold Glove Team Shortstop — Caden Marcos

May 7, 2025 Cartersville and St. Pius X Catholic split their doubleheader Wednesday night and will play a rubber game on Thursday in Atlanta to decide their GHSA Class AAAA quarterfinal series. The middle of the Purple Hurricanes’ lineup produced ten hits and eight RBI in Wednesday's first game in an 11-7 win. The host Golden Lions bounced back with a 5-3 victory in Game 2 behind a complete-game, twelve-strikeout pitching performance by McKale Stevenson. The deciding game is scheduled for a 5:30 p.m. start on Thursday. GAME 1: CARTERSVILLE 11, ST. PIUS X 7 Julez Pratt The Purple Hurricanes won the best-of-three series opener with a 15-hit attack led by the middle of the batting order. Julez Pratt, Cole Crawford, and Cameron Cochran combined for ten Canes’ hits and eight RBI from the 3-4-5 spots in the order. Pratt was 4-for-5 with three RBI. Crawford was 3-for-5 with a double and three RBI. Cochran was also 3-for-5 with two RBI. The Golden Lions kept the game tight, trailing 5-4 through the first five innings, but the Hurricanes posted six runs over the next two innings to build an 11-4 advantage. St. Pius scored three runs in the bottom of the seventh, but a comebacker to relief pitcher Maddox Frazier ended the threat. Cartersville pitcher Nate Russell collected the pitching victory by working into the seventh inning. He yielded six runs (four earned) on four hits and five walks while striking out five. Frazier allowed one earned run on two hits and one walk with one strikeout. Tristan McKibben produced two hits for the Canes in the victory. Brayden Logan (RBI), Andrew Purdy (double), and Nolan Elrod added one hit.  GAME 2: ST. PIUS X 5, CARTERSVILLE 3 Logan Shrewsbury Golden Lions’ starting pitcher McKale Stevenson struck out twelve, scattered five hits, four walks, and one hit batter to help St. Pius X Catholic earn a doubleheader split with Cartersville. St. Pius X, batting first and playing as the visitors in Game 2, took an early lead with two runs in the top of the third inning on a walk and three singles.  Cartersville (28-8) tied the game in the bottom of the fourth on RBI singles by Pratt and Elrod, but the Golden Lions (34-3) took advantage of four walks and an error in the fifth to regain the lead. Another Canes’ error in the sixth inning helped add another St. Pius X run, giving them a 5-2 advantage. Thomas Peters hit a leadoff double and later scored in the bottom of the seventh, but the comeback threat ended abruptly. Purdy started on the mound for Cartersville and was charged with the loss after working into the fifth inning. He allowed four earned runs on four hits and five walks, recording five strikeouts. Logan Shrewsbury recorded the final nine outs from the bump. He allowed one unearned run on two hits and three walks. Shrewsbury fanned six. Casen Cochran, Peters, Elrod (RBI), Pratt (RBI), and Logan had one hit each for Cartersville. McKibben added one RBI. The Hurricanes' loss snapped a 23-game winning streak—the second-longest in program history. The winner of Thursday’s series rubber game will advance to the state semifinals and a best-of-three series at Wayne County. The Yellow Jackets (32-5) eliminated Kell on Wednesday with two one-run wins — 3-2 and 5-4.

May 7, 2025 Ryan Martin On Wednesday, right fielder Ryan Martin contributed four hits, including two-run home runs in the third and fourth innings, leading the Georgia Highlands Chargers to a 12-4 victory over Andrew College in an eight-inning conference tournament game. The victory sent the Chargers into the championship round of the Georgia Collegiate Athletic Association tournament, which is being played at Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College in Tifton. As the visiting team, the Andrew Tigers held a 3-1 lead halfway through the third inning. However, GHC pitchers Andrew Arnold (6 IP, 4R, 3ER, 7H, 2BB, 6K) and Jackson Greer (2 IP, 0R, 0H, 0BB, 3K) restricted the Tigers to just one additional run over the next five innings, ultimately securing the victory by an eight-run rule after seven innings. Martin’s first homer tied the game at 3-3 in the bottom of the third inning. His second round tripper in the fourth inning was part of a three-run frame.  The Tigers narrowed the margin to 6-5 in the top of the fifth inning, but the Chargers scored six unanswered runs in the sixth through eighth innings to put the game out of reach. Georgia Highlands out-hit Andrew 17 to 7. Kenskey Thomas, Grayson Godbee (double, two RBI), and Tyler Phillips had three hits for GHC.  Wyatt Gatlin had two hits, including a solo home run to walk off the game in the bottom of the eighth. Ian Fullerton hit a two-run homer in the sixth, and Andrew Bishop added a double with two RBI. Georgia Highlands (44-10) awaits the survivor of an elimination game between Gordon State (31-25) and Andrew (30-25) to be played Wednesday night.  The Chargers, already regular-season champions, need one win on Thursday to claim the conference title. The Gordon State/Andrew survivor must defeat Georgia Highlands twice on Thursday in the double-elimination format.  The championship round begins Thursday at 10 a.m. The conference tournament champion will advance to the NJCAA Appalachian District Championship Series at the Tennessee champion May 13-15 for the right to advance to the NJCAA World Series in Grand Junction, Colorado.

May 6, 2025 The Georgia Highlands Chargers easily dispatched East Georgia State 11-1 Tuesday afternoon in the double-elimination Georgia Collegiate Athletic Association Tournament opening round. The tournament is being played at a former conference member, Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College in Tifton. GHC scored runs in the first four innings to lead 9-1 and closed out the run-rule decision in the bottom of the sixth.  Max Eichenberger earned the pitching win for the Chargers by tossing all six innings. He allowed one earned run on three hits and two walks. Eichenberger recorded six strikeouts.  Andrew Bishop had three hits and two RBI for Georgia Highlands. Ian Fullerton had two hits, including a two-run home run and three RBI. Kenskey Thomas also produced two hits with one RBI. In the first inning, Ryan Martin hit a three-run homer to launch the Chargers’ offense. Tyler Phillips and Caden Marcos added one hit for GHC. The Chargers (43-10) advanced to face Andrew College (30-24) in the second round on Wednesday afternoon. The winner will advance to the championship round on Thursday. The loser will be forced to play an elimination game on Wednesday against the East Georgia State/Gordon State survivor.

May 6, 2025 The Adairsville High girls’ soccer team lost at Whitewater Monday night in the GHSA Class AAA state quarterfinals. The Lady Tigers (15-4) were shut out for only the second time all season, and the loss snapped a six-game win streak in April and May. Adairsville goalkeeper Chikondi Banda had 15 saves in the loss. The Lady Wildcats won their thirteenth straight match and improved to 16-3. On Thursday, Whitewater will host Oconee County in the state semifinals. The other semifinal is Cherokee Bluff at Jefferson.

May 5, 2025 Charles Wilson / BartowSportsZone.com (L-R): Anthony Seigler, Mason Barnett, Logan Martin MiLB MASON BARNETT — Las Vegas Aviators (Oakland A’s Triple-A affiliate; 4th-year pro; Auburn; Cartersville HS) … made two five-inning starts in wins at home (April 29 and last Sunday) against Tacoma with no decision in either start. He allowed seven earned runs on ten hits and six walks. Las Vegas won all six games last week in their series with the Rainiers. The Aviators play six games this week at the Reno Aces. Las Vegas (23-10) started the week with a five-game lead in the Pacific Coast League West standings. LOGAN MARTIN — Quad Cities River Bandits (Kansas City Royals High-Class A affiliate; 3rd-year pro; Kentucky; Cartersville HS) … improved his season record to 3-1 last Friday with a six-inning start at the Great Lakes Loons. He gave up two earned runs on four hits with no walks in a 7-5 win for the River Bandits. Quad Cities won four of six games at Great Lakes, improving to 18-8. Entering the week, the Bandits lead the Midwest League West Division by one game over Cedar Rapids. They play a six-game series this week at the Lake County Captains. ANTHONY SEIGLER — Nashville Sounds (Milwaukee Brewers Triple-A affiliate; 8th-year pro; Cartersville HS) … appeared in all seven games for the Sounds at the Gwinnett Stripers last week. He was 9-for-18 at the plate, including eight walks, one home run, one double, one triple, six runs scored, and two RBI. Seigler also stole two bases. Nashville won four of seven games at Gwinnett and improved to 19-14 entering this week. The Sounds trail the International League West leader, Memphis, by one game as they host the Norfolk Tides for six games this week.  SOFTBALL MEGAN GREGORY — Campbell University (So, Adairsville HS) … tossed a complete game and earned the pitching victory last Friday in a 3-1 conference home win over Elon University. Gregory allowed one earned run on five hits and six walks with nine strikeouts for her eleventh win. The Camels (34-18, 19-8) will host the Coastal Athletic Association tournament on Wednesday through Saturday in Buies Creek, North Carolina. Campbell faced Stony Brook University on Wednesday in the first round. ANSLEY HIGHT — Reinhardt University (So., Cass HS) … hit safely in all four of the Eagles’ Appalachian Athletic Conference tournament games last week, going 6-for-11 with one walk, one home run, two doubles, and seven RBI. The Eagles (28-10, 23-5 AAC) went 2-2 in the conference tournament. They will learn their NAIA Opening Round assignment on Tuesday evening. ERYN LEE — Reinhardt University (Jr., Cass HS) … went 4-for-10 with two doubles and one RBI in four conference tournament games last week in Kingsport, Tennessee. The Eagles beat Columbia International twice, but suffered losses to Johnson University (TN) and Tennessee Wesleyan University. Lee drew six walks in the four games and stole two bases. Reinhardt (28-10, 23-5 Appalachian Athletic Conference) will be assigned to an NAIA Opening Round site on Tuesday. RACHAEL LEE — Valdosta State University (Jr., Cass HS) … went 2-for-5 with one walk, but the Blazers were shut out in two straight Gulf South Conference tournament games last week in Oxford, Alabama. VSU (26-25) lost 5-0 to Alabama-Huntsville and 3-0 to Trevecca Nazarene University. Lee finished her season with a .267 batting average in 51 games and 161 official at-bats. She hit six homers and drove in 26 runs. She made only one defensive error all season in 76 chances. ALEXIS WOODS — Tennessee State University (So., Cass HS) … went 3-for-10, including one double, one triple, one run scored, and three RBI as the Tigers won two of three over visiting Southeast Missouri State last weekend. Woods also stole one base. Tennessee State (23-21, 13-13 Ohio Valley Conference) begins the conference tournament in Peoria, Illinois, on Wednesday with games against Tennessee Tech and Southeast Missouri. BASEBALL CURT BONNER — LaGrange College (Jr., Cartersville HS) … went 2-for-11 at the plate as the Panthers went 1-2 at the Collegiate Conference of the South Tournament. Bonner had one double, three walks, and two RBI. He also stole one base. He finished the season with a .365 batting average in 36 games and 148 official at-bats with six homers and 32 RBI. LaGrange finished the year with a 19-23 record. HARRISON CHILDERS — Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College (So., Cartersville HS) … had seven hits in 15 plate appearances during the Southern States Athletic Conference Tournament last week, including a 6-for-6 game that included one double and one RBI in a win over the University of Mobile. The Stallions also beat Thomas University, but lost to Loyola University (LA). Childers hit .301 for the season with one home run and 22 RBI. ABAC (35-14) awaits Wednesday's NAIA national tournament field announcement. CALEB DANIEL — Georgia Tech (Fr., Cartersville HS) … had multiple hits in all three games of last weekend’s home series with Western Carolina University. Daniel was 7-for-13 with one home run, two RBI, and scored six runs in a three-game sweep of the Catamounts. Georgia Tech (33-14, 15-9 Atlantic Coast Conference) hosts Georgia Southern Tuesday night, visits Mercer University on Wednesday, and entertains the University of Louisville for a three-game conference series the weekend. MICAH EARWOOD — Southeastern University (Jr., Cartersville HS) … retired one out in the ninth inning of an eventual 16-4 home win last Friday over Ave Maria University (FL). He faced five batters and allowed four earned runs on three hits and one hit batter. The Fire (41-13, 18-10 The Sun Conference) will host a double-elimination NAIA National Tournament Opening Round segment in Lakeland on May 12-15. ELLIOTT EASTIN — Covenant College (R-So., Cartersville HS) … the Scots lost two straight games at the Collegiate Conference of the South Tournament, but Eastin was 5-for-9 with one walk and one RBI. The losses came to host Maryville College (TN) and Huntingdon College. Eastin hit .339 for the season in 32 games and 115 official at-bats. He had five doubles and 18 RBI. Covenant finished the year with a 19-22 mark. COLIN EATON — East Tennessee State University (Jr., Cartersville HS) … made pitching appearances April 29 against UNC Asheville and last Sunday at VMI. He totaled 2-⅓ innings and allowed four earned runs on four hits and one walk. He fanned two and did not receive a decision in either game — both were Bucs’ wins. ETSU (34-12, 11-4 Southern Conference) plays at UNC Asheville on Tuesday and hosts Wofford University this weekend in a three-game conference series. DAVID JINKS — University of Maine-Augusta (Fr., Excel Christian Academy) … went 1-for-5 in games April 30 at Southern Maine CC and home against York County CC. The Moose finished the season with a 10-21 record. Jinks hit .326 for the season with one home run and 25 RBI. COLT McKIBBEN — Lee University (Jr., Cartersville HS) … did not appear in the two Flames' losses at the Gulf South Conference Tournament last week. He completed the season with a 2.86 ERA in 34-⅔ innings of work with 28 strikeouts. Lee finished the year with a 24-26 record. LUKE MILLER — Columbus State University (Fr., Cartersville HS) … hit safely in all four of the Cougars’ Peach Belt Tournament games this past Saturday through Monday afternoon and was 7-for-20, including one double, two home runs, one walk, one hit by pitch, eight runs scored, and seven RBI. CSU won its conference tournament pool over Augusta, Georgia Southwestern, and the University of North Georgia. The Cougars (30-21) advanced to the PBC Championship Series to face Lander University on Thursday and Friday for the title. The Bearcats will host the games in Greenwood, South Carolina.  HANK SMITH — University of West Georgia (R-So., Cartersville HS) … in two starts at Stetson University last weekend, Smith was 1-for-6 with two walks, one hit by pitch, and scored one run. The Wolves (18-26, 9-15 Atlantic Sun Conference) lost two of three to the Hatters. They host Kennesaw State on Tuesday and will entertain a three-game conference series with Florida Gulf Coast University Friday through Sunday. SCOTTY SMITH — Covenant College (Sr., Woodland HS) … made a seven-inning start and received no decision in an eventual 8-6 conference tournament loss April 30 at Maryville College (TN). Smith gave up four earned runs on seven hits and two walks. He struck out seven. The Scots dropped two straight at the Collegiate Conference of the South tournament and finished with a 19-22 record. Smith was 4-2 in his senior season with a 4.20 ERA in 11 starts and 60 innings. PRESTON WELCHEL — Cumberland University (Sr., Cartersville HS) … in five games at the Mid-South Conference Tournament in Bowling Green, Kentucky, Welchel was 5-for-20 with three walks, two homers, one double, one hit by pitch, four runs scored, and three RBI. The Phoenix went 4-1 to win the tournament, winning over Campbellsville University (KY) and Freed-Hardeman University (TN) to reach the title series. Cumberland won two of three against the 8th-ranked host, the University of the Cumberlands (KY). The Phoenix (37-16-1) await their assignment to an NAIA National Tournament Opening Round site. SAWYER WILSON — Columbus State University (Fr., Cartersville HS) … was the pitcher of record Monday afternoon in the deciding game of the Peach Belt Conference Dahlonega pool as the Cougars defeated the University of North Georgia 16-11 to advance to the PBC Championship Series. Wilson entered in the seventh inning with one out and finished the seventh and eighth innings. He allowed two earned runs on three hits with no walks. Trailing 11-4, CSU rallied for twelve runs in the top of the ninth to gain the win. The Cougars (30-21) advanced to the best-of-three PBC Championship Series to face Lander University on Thursday and Friday. The Bearcats will host the games in Greenwood, South Carolina. TRACK AND FIELD ERIC TOVIAVE — Belmont University (Jr., Cartersville HS) … was on the Bruins' fifth-place 4x400-meter relay team (3:18.23) and was 26th (22.20) in the 200-meter dash this past weekend in Nashville at the Vanderbilt University Music City Challenge. Belmont competes next at the Missouri Valley Conference Outdoor Championships in Carbondale, Illinois, on May 17-18. GOLF BUCK BRUMLOW — University of Georgia (Sr., Cartersville HS) … the Bulldogs received their NCAA Regional assignment last Wednesday and will be the No. 4 seed at the 14-team Tallahassee Regional on May 12-14. The 54-hole regional will be played at Seminole Legacy Golf Club. Georgia is seeded behind Ole Miss, Florida State, and San Diego State. Other teams in the regional are Louisville, Northwestern, Notre Dame, New Mexico, Southern California, Michigan State, Furman, Augusta, Davidson, and Florida A&M. The top five teams from each regional advance to the NCAA Men’s Championship at LaCosta Resort in Carlsbad, California, on May 23-28.

May 3, 2025 Local track and field athletes were in action Saturday at Georgia High School Association State Sectional sites. Cartersville had 19 athletes to qualify for the Class AAAA State Finals next weekend, with several earning spots in multiple events. Cass will send three to the State Finals, and Adairsville advanced two in Class AAA. The top four placers at each region meet were included in the state sectionals on Saturday. The top eight at each sectional advanced to the GHSA State Finals next Friday and Saturday. The Class AAAA State Finals will be held at East Jackson High School, and the Class AAA State Finals will be held in Albany. Each event will include sixteen qualifiers. Results from the State Sectionals: CARTERSVILLE  at GHSA Class 4A Sectional B — North Oconee High School in Bogart 1st — Boys 4x200-meter relay (1:28.23) — Bryson Everett, Madoxx Davis, Tyon Coe, Actavious Thompson Cartersville's 4x200-meter relay team won their State Sectional 2nd — Bayley Stanley — Long jump — 18-3 2nd — Thoreau Lipscomb — Discus throw — 151-0 3rd — Thoreau Lipscomb — Shot put — 52-0.25 3rd — Actavious Thompson — 400-meter dash — 49.43 4th — Laney Saunders — Pole vault — 9-6 4th — Cartersville 4x800 meter relay (8:15.59) — Tripp Chitwood, Kyle Camper II, Ethan Empie, Will Feuerbach 5th — Kenneth Wilkey — High jump — 6-0 6th — Cam’ren Collum — High jump — 6-0 6th — Langston Hogg — Shot put — 48-2 6th — Cartersville 4x800-meter relay (10:19.28) — Genevieve Alessandro, Sofia Burns, Hadley Finnemore, Kimberly Guerra 7th — Cam’ren Collum — 110-meter hurdles — 15.24 7th — Brady Marchese — 100-meter dash — 10.94 7th — Boys 4x100 meter relay (42.73) — Bryson Everett, Madoxx Davis, Brady Marchese, Tyon Coe 7th — Bryson Everett — 200-meter dash — 22.21 8th — Madoxx Davis — 100-meter dash — 10.96 8th — Laney Saunders — 100-meter hurdles — 16.46 8th — Bayley Stanley — 100-meter dash — 12.56 — Did not advance — 9th — Amira Davis — Shot put— 4-10 10th — Karlee Christian — High jump — 4-10 10th — Langston Hogg — Discus throw — 128-7 10th — Sydney Jackson — Pole vault — 8-6 11th — Madoxx Davis — 200-meter dash — 22.64 12th — Leyla Booth — 300-meter hurdles — 50.16 12th — Bayley Stanley — 200-meter dash — 26.93 13th — Sofia Burns — 1600-meter run — 5:49.52 13th — Tyon Coe — 100-meter dash — 11.12 13th — Thomas Smith — 300-meter hurdles — 41.82 13th — Ethan Empie — 3200-meter run — 10:37.36 13th — Kylie Ham — 800-meter run — 2:38.86 13th — Cartersville girls 4x400-meter relay (4:21.26) — Alex Hampton, Addi Burns, Sofia Burns, Leyla Booth 14th — Kimberly Guerra — 1600-meter run — 5:55.50 15th — Karlee Christian — Triple jump — 31-2.25 15th — Kimberly Guerra — 3200-meter run — 13:40.77 CASS  at GHSA Class 4A Sectional B — North Oconee High School in Bogart 1st — Xavier Lowe — High jump — 6-0 3rd — Kiana McDaniel — Shot put — 35-0 7th — Nakayla KK Evans — High jump — 4-10 — Did not advance — 11th — Adrian Dye — Shot put — 116-8 12th — Yvonne Ellison — Shot put —29-7.75 16th — Malik Henry — Discus throw — 109-9 16th — Nakayla KK Evans — 100-meter hurdles — 18.54 WOODLAND at GHSA Class 4A Sectional B — North Oconee High School in Bogart — Did not advance — 10th — Rowen Lee — 400-meter dash — 51.16 11th — Allison Snead — 3200 meter run — 12:29.83 13th — Girls 4x200-meter relay (1:52.55) — Ja’zavia Bryan, Alana Carnes, Kirae Grayson, Brynna Roberts 13th — Girls 4x100-meter relay (53.53) — Alana Carnes, Brynna Roberts, Kirae Grayson, Ja’zavia Bryan 14th — Girls 4x400-meter relay (4:27.04) — Brynna Roberts, Kirae Grayson, Cyler Williams, Miranda Pelow ADAIRSVILLE at GHSA Class 3A Sectional A — Peach County High School in Fort Valley 6th — Anthony Acie — 300-meter hurdles — 41.50 8th — Blaine Leighly — Shot Put — 46-9.50 — Did not advance —   9th — Ella Bailey — 300-meter hurdles — 49.41 10th — Westin Crisp — 200-meter dash — 23.30 12th — Ella Bailey — 100-meter hurdles — 17.26 14th — Norman Poch — 400-meter dash — 52.94 14th — Ben Abernathy — Triple jump — 40-10 14th — Boys 4x100-meter relay (44.89) — Norman Poch, Michael Stanley, Anthony Acie, Westin Crisp 15th — Aaron Souders — 800-meter run — 2:20.67

Charles Wilson / BartowSportsZone.com In conjunction with WBHF and Bartow Sports Zone, Elite Stone Supply presents the ELITE ATHLETES OF THE MONTH. Each month, local high schools name an Elite Athlete of the Month from their varsity programs and present the information on their honoree through Bartow Sports Zone and on 100.3FM and AM1450, WBHF in Cartersville. Malik Henry is the April 2025 Elite Athlete of the Month representing Cass High School. Henry has competed in varsity football and track and field for four years as a senior two-sport athlete. As a testament to his hard work and dedication, he has been named a permanent captain in football. He broke the school record for the discus throw in track and field — a mark established more than two decades ago. His throw of 152 feet and one inch shattered the previous mark by more than eleven feet. The son of Natasha Henry, he has a 3.3 GPA and plans to become an electrician following graduation. Rowan Lee is the Elite Athlete of the Month for Woodland High School for April 2025. The son of Kristy and Darrell Lee, he is a junior on the Wildcats’ track and field team and plays offensive and defensive line on the football team. Lee recently qualified for the GHSA sectionals in the 400-meter dash and was a leader on the 4x400-meter relay team that also qualified. “Rowan has stepped up in a leadership position on the track team this season,” noted Woodland coach Rebecca Beard-Arndt. “He gives it his all.”  Coach Robert Forbes agreed, “Rowan gives 100% in his sports and in the classroom. He is willing to help others and inspire them if needed. He is a great example of a Woodland Wildcat.” Lee is on the Woodland A/B Honor Roll and is a Woodland Scholar Athlete. He plans to continue his track and field career in college if the opportunity presents itself. He plans to pursue a Logistics degree. Andrew Purdy is the Elite Athlete of the Month representing Cartersville High School. He is a third baseman and pitcher on the Purple Hurricanes baseball team and played an integral role as a dual-threat quarterback on the football team. Through 34 games at the end of April, Purdy has a .579 batting average (55-for-95), including nine home runs, 18 doubles, one triple, and 33 RBI. His on-base percentage sits at .685 with a 1.074 slugging percentage.  On the mound, the right-hander has an 8-0 record with two saves in eight starts and 12 appearances. He has 64 strikeouts with only 17 walks in 38 innings. His ERA is a mere 0.37, and opponents have been limited to a .152 batting average.  In four state playoff games in April, Purdy was 11-for-14 (.786) with three home runs, six doubles, two walks, eight runs scored, and five RBI. He is 2-0 on the mound in two playoff starts, covering 11 innings with 18 strikeouts and a 0.00 ERA. “Andrew is such an outstanding athlete,” stated Canes’ head coach Kyle Tucker. “More importantly, however, he is an outstanding student and citizen. His hard work is second to none, and he handles himself with utmost humility. He is a joy to be around.” The son of Andy and Amy Purdy, Andrew will continue his academic and athletic career at the University of Alabama as a Crimson Tide baseball team member. Jackson Taylor is the April 2025 Elite Athlete of the Month for Adairsville High School. The son of Chris and Natalie Taylor is a junior and the top golfer on the Tigers’ golf team. “Jackson is hard-working, humble, and level-headed,” raved Adairsville golf coach Troy Hester. “He has consistently lowered his scores yearly through diligence during the off-season. Jackson is mentally tough, so you can’t tell if he made a birdie or a bogey. I joke that his only flaw is that he is a Tennessee fan.” Taylor has a 4.0 grade point average and is a BETA Club member.  He plans to attend college to become a teacher. Editor's Note: The respective schools and athletic departments supply Bartow Sports Zone and WBHF with photos and bios. Elite Stone Supply Co., LLC is the monthly sponsor. Athletes receive a plaque and recognition during a radio feature on WBHF. #EliteAthletesoftheMonth #Cass #Cartersville #Woodland #Adairsville #highschool