August 31, 2026 Charles Wilson / BartowSportsZone.com MLB / MiLB MASON BARNETT — Las Vegas Aviators; 5th-year pro; Auburn; Cartersville HS) … made a five-inning start this past Saturday at home against the Sugar Land Space Cowboys and was saddled with a loss. The 25-year-old right-hander gave up three earned runs on six hits and four walks with one strikeout. Barnett, who is 1-4 in 18 appearances with the MLB Athletics this season, is now 3-2 with a 4.97 ERA and 43 strikeouts in 12 starts for Las Vegas in 2026. The Aviators have secured a postseason playoff berth by winning the first-half West Division race in the Pacific Coast League. The Aviators play six games this week at the El Paso Chihuahuas. LOGAN MARTIN — Richmond Flying Squirrels (San Francisco Giants Double-A affiliate; 4th-year pro; Kentucky; Cartersville HS) … made two relief appearances last week at home against the Portland Sea Dogs, picking up a win on August 25 and a no-decision last Friday in an eventual loss. He pitched a total of four innings in the two appearances and yielded four earned runs on eight hits and four walks. He struck out four. Martin is 6-1 in 25 appearances for the Squirrels this season, covering 57 innings. He has one save and 66 strikeouts with a 3.79 ERA. Richmond, who has clinched a postseason berth already by winning the first-half race in their division, plays six games this week at the Akron RubberDucks. ANTHONY SEIGLER — Worcester Red Sox (MiLB; 9th-year pro; Cartersville HS) … played in four games last week for the MLB Boston Red Sox and went 2-for-9 with four walks, one triple, one run scored, and one RBI. He appeared in three games at the Miami Marlins and one at the New York Yankees. On Sunday, the 27-year-old was optioned back to the Worcester Woo Sox. He had been with the Boston MLB club since June 20. Seigler and fellow utility teammate Mickey Gasper were sent to the Triple-A club, making room on the 26-man roster for Roman Anthony and Trevor Story. Boston is second in the American League Wild Card race as this week began. Worcester plays six games this week at the Buffalo Bisons. PGA TOUR CHAMPIONS JASON BOHN — 34-year pro; 53, Acworth resident; Cartersville CC; Alabama … carded rounds of 71-71-70 — 212 (4-under par) this past weekend and tied for 34th place at The Ally Challenge played at Warwick Hills Golf and Country Club in Grand Blanc, Michigan. The finish helped Bohn climb two spots to 85th in the current Schwab Cup standings, where the top 72 players will qualify for the playoffs. The next PGA Tour Champions event is the Sanford International on September 11-13 at Minnehaha Country Club in Sioux Falls, South Dakota. BOO WEEKLEY — 29-year pro; 52; Cartersville Country Club member; Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College; Jay, Florida resident — shot 72-69-69— 210 (6-under par) and tied for 22nd at The Ally Challenge this past weekend, played at Warwick Hills Golf and Country Club in Grand Blanc, Michigan. His finish helped him remain sixth in the season-long Schwab Cup points race. Up next on the schedule is the Sanford International in Sioux Falls, South Dakota on September 11-13. FOOTBALL CAM COLLINS — Shorter University (Fr., Woodland HS) … made one tackle last Saturday in the Hawks’ 65-6 home win over Andrew College (GA). Shorter (1-0) hosts Benedict College on Saturday afternoon at Barron Stadium. JACHAI DELGADO — Shorter University (So., Cass HS) … made two tackles (one solo) this past Saturday as the Hawks beat visiting Andrew College (GA) 65-6. Shorter (1-0) welcomes Benedict College on Saturday afternoon to Barron Stadium. JD DeROCHE — University of the Cumberlands (So., Cass HS) … the Patriots’ inside linebacker made two tackles and added one pass breakup last Thursday in a 41-28 home victory over Union Commonwealth University (KY). UC (1-0) visits Bluefield University (VA) on Saturday. BRAYLON HILL — Kentucky Wesleyan University (Fr., Cartersville HS) … had one catch for 37 yards last Thursday in a 44-24 loss at Kentucky Christian University. Wesleyan (0-1) hosts William Jewell College on September 12. KHRISTIAN LANDO — Jacksonville State University (Jr., Cartersville HS) … had one reception for 6 yards this past Saturday in a 33-7 loss at North Dakota State. The Gamecocks host Eastern Kentucky on Saturday. ZAY NALLS — Anderson University (So., Adairsville HS) … made three solo tackles last Thursday in a 20-3 loss at Furman University. The Trojans (0-1) host Keiser University (FL) on Saturday. JAKE PARKER — Cumberland University (R-Sr., Cartersville HS) … completed 13 of 28 passes for 134 yards with one interception last Thursday as the Phoenix lost to visiting 16th-ranked St. Thomas University (FL), 27-6. He also had 19 rushing attempts, including sacks, for -36 net yards (45 yards gained, 81 yards lost). Cumberland (0-1) visits Ave Maria University (FL) on September 12. BRAXTON RYAN — Kentucky Wesleyan University (So., Adairsville HS) … was a starter at right guard for an offense that totaled 334 yards (108 rushing) in a 44-24 loss last Thursday to Kentucky Christian University. Wesleyan (0-1) hosts William Jewell College on September 12. LUKE SURRETT — University of Richmond (Jr., Cartersville HS) … saw action in the offensive line rotation that helped produce 393 total yards during a 35-14 home win over Bucknell this past Saturday. The Spiders (1-0) travel to Washington, D.C. to play Howard University on Saturday night. SOCCER BRIONNA CARVER — Johnson University (Fr., Woodland HS) … saw 53 minutes of pitch time at outside back in the Royals’ 3-1 win last Saturday at home against Berea College. Johnson (1-0) hosts Rio Grande University (OH) on Thursday night and Dalton State (GA) on Monday night. LIBBY MORGAN — Thomas University (So., Woodland HS) … logged 111 minutes on August 22 and this past Sunday as the Night Hawks won 10-0 at Florida College and lost 5-1 at SCAD Savannah. Thomas (1-1) hosts New College of Florida on Saturday. MALLORY NICKLAS — Northeastern State University (Cartersville HS) … has totaled 56 minutes of pitch time as the Riverhawks defeated Ouachita Baptist 2-1 last Thursday and Harding University 1-0 on Sunday. Northeastern State (2-0) hosts Oklahoma Christian on Tuesday and the University of Texas-Tyler on Saturday. HALEY SKLBA — Point University (So., Cass HS) … totaled 73 minutes of pitch time at defender last Thursday and Saturday as the Skyhawks lost to Columbia International University 3-0 and beat Bryan College (TN) 4-0. Point visits Freed-Hardeman (TN) on Thursday night and hosts Florida College on Saturday.

Scott Barkley / CanesAthletics.com Even miscues turned into points for the Canes on Friday night. Chance Brown (18) escorts Grayson Warmack (2) to the end zone after Warmack picked up a Canes fumble, which made the score 21-0. Photo by Russell Andrews/sportsfurnacephotography.shootproof.com Two first-half takeaways from Cartersville’s defense paired with a renewed middle school connection as the Purple Hurricanes overran Mt. Zion Friday night at Weinman Stadium by a final score of 49-14. Junior quarterback Brayden Doss split time with starter Harris Turner in last week’s Hiram win. But with Turner out due to injury, Doss took all the snaps with the starting offense through the first drive of the third quarter, by which time CHS had built a 49-0 lead. “He played great,” said head coach Conor Foster. “Brayden was kind of thrown into that position, as we had an injury late in the week. It just speaks volumes about his attention to detail and daily preparation. He’s the guy we expected him to be.” Doss connected 10 times on 13 attempts for 129 yards and three touchdowns while rushing for a team-high 56 yards on four carries. The 278 yards of total offense came through a balanced attack of 131 through the air and 147 on the ground. Madoxx Davis caught only four passes on the night, but three of them went for scores from Doss. “We played at Walton Middle School together, so we kind of have a connection,” said Doss. “Our guys out there give me the confidence to just get the ball to them, and they’ll take it to the crib.” One particular play near the end of the first half bore that out. The 5A top-ranked Canes (2-0) were up 35-0 when Davis returned a punt 30 yards into Mt. Zion territory. On first down from the 41, Doss dropped back, scrambled, evaded a sack by ducking under the arm of a defender, and wheeled around to roll right. Meanwhile, Davis broke off his route to circle back near the home sideline. The junior receiver took in Doss’ throw at the 15 and darted across the goal line, pushing the lead to 42-0 after Jaden Nevarez’s extra point kick. “We’re both instinctive players and click like that,” said Davis, who finished with 82 yards receiving. “Going back to middle school, when I saw him roll out, I knew he was going to scan the field. He looked and found me down the field, and it was money.” Doss credited his coaches with his performance. “They do a really good job in practice of getting us ready,” he said. “Everyone is prepared, so any of our quarterbacks, if we go in, can execute and make plays.” The visiting Bulldogs managed 36 yards in the first half and two first downs. Those came on their third possession, the first after a roughing-the-passer call on third-and-long and the second on fullback Mikhail Walker’s second effort on third-and-1. That drive ended on the next play, though, with Grayson Villar’s hit on Mt. Zion quarterback Arthur Holt IV that jarred the ball loose for Elijah Peeks’ fumble recovery near midfield. Late in the half, Cole Crawford’s interception, also near midfield, set up a Canes possession highlighted by a 39-yard run from Doss to inside the five. AJ Townsend’s 2-yard run up the middle moments later pushed the score to 35-0. “Coach Foster keeps our intensity up in practice,” said Peeks. “He’s hard on us to stay consistent, so that’s the main goal for us. Grayson and I have been on the line for three years now, and our chemistry and energy make both of us want to make a play.” The Bulldogs got on the board twice with a running clock in the second half. The first came on a 65-yard pass play after a busted coverage by the Canes defense, and the second with five minutes remaining after a 9-yard run by Walker and a 2-point conversion by Holt for the final score. A sack from Villar and Cooper Melvin ended Mt. Zion’s first possession, forcing the Bulldogs to punt. The kick, however, went into the offensive line to give the Canes the ball on the Mt. Zion 18. After a penalty on the first offensive snap pushed the Cartersville offense into first-and-20, Doss found Davis for a 19-yard gain to the Mt. Zion 9-yard line. On the next play, Davis received a jet sweep toss from Doss, reaching the edge for a 7-0 lead with 8:35 left in the first quarter. A Kylen Pope sack pushed Mt. Zion behind the sticks again, leading to another punt to set CHS up on the visitors’ 39-yard-line. Seven plays later, Tyon Coe carried around left end for a 14-0 advantage. The Canes’ third score started with Davis fielding a punt at his team’s 47 and dodging three tackles before losing the ball in a crowd. Grayson Warmack picked it up near the 37 and raced to the right side of the end zone for a 21-0 lead after Nevarez’s kick with 7:14 to play in the half. Another Doss-to-Davis jet sweep flip, this time from left to right, covered 13 yards for a 28-0 cushion. The Canes’ final score came on the first drive of the third quarter, as CJ McClendon burst up the middle for a 31-yard touchdown. The Canes travel to Woodstock next week. The 6A Wolverines moved to 1-1 on Friday with a 38-20 win over Cambridge. The evening began by naming Brett Opaleski as Cartersville City Schools’ Teacher of the Year as well as recognizing the Cartersville 2016 state champions. “Big thanks to Trotter, Deems and King law firm for putting on our pregame tailgate. It was incredible,” said Foster. “Thanks to Bryce Wilkins and Jonathan Cruz for organizing our anniversary of the 2016 team. It was so much fun to see all those guys and so many coaches. Ms. Opaleski was my daughter’s teacher last year, so it was really cool to see her win that award. “Our community is so supportive, and it’s a great example that it takes so many people to make this place its best. Thanks to the band, the cheerleaders, athletic trainers – the football team is just a small part of the production on Friday night.” The popularity of that tailgate certainly received a boost from a Conor Foster bobblehead giveaway. His observation suggested someone more comfortable deflecting praise and attention elsewhere. “I wasn’t loving it, but it generated some excitement,” he said. “I got quite a few messages this week from people giving me a hard time about it, but I can handle it. I’m glad everybody got a good laugh about it. “Apparently, they had a good turnout, but I told them next year to go with an Edgar Moore bobblehead.”

August 29, 2026 Charles Wilson / BartowSportsZone.com Tigers' running back Jayvian Carson finds some running room on Friday night (Aug. 28) during Adairsville's 33-25 win at Woodland. PHOTO: Randy Parker / The Daily Tribune News Adairsville used a strong running game and a pair of late touchdowns to pull away from Woodland on Friday night, defeating the Wildcats 33-25 at Wildcats Stadium in a Bartow County intra-county rivalry game. The Tigers improved to 2-0 with the victory, while Woodland dropped to 1-1. After a scoreless opening quarter, Adairsville broke through with 9:35 remaining in the second quarter when its quarterback, Braxton Elrod, scored on a 14-yard run. The extra point by Alex Ochoa made it 7-0. Woodland answered with a 30-yard field goal by Chad Waller with 6:46 left in the half, cutting the deficit to 7-3. Adairsville added to its lead just before halftime when running back Jayvian Carson scored on a 7-yard run with 51 seconds remaining. The Tigers took a 14-3 advantage into the locker room. Woodland came out of halftime with momentum. Solomon James broke loose for a 35-yard touchdown run with 7:56 left in the third quarter, trimming Adairsville's lead to 14-10. Woodland's Solomon James, who had three rushing touchdowns, breaks into the Adairsville secondary on August 28. PHOTO: Randy Parker / The Daily Tribune News The Tigers responded, however, with a 9-yard touchdown run by running back Ezequiel Carter with 5:22 remaining in the third quarter. Adairsville carried a 21-10 lead into the final period. Adairsville extended its advantage to 27-10 on a 2-yard touchdown pass from Elrod to Torron Hale with 8:11 remaining. The ensuing extra point failed. Woodland refused to go quietly. James scored his second touchdown of the night on a 3-yard run with seven minutes remaining, bringing the Wildcats within 27-17. Adairsville answered with another touchdown from Carson, who scored on a 15-yard run with 2:17 left. The extra point failed, but the Tigers had a 33-17 cushion. James completed his big night with his third rushing touchdown, scoring from 2 yards with 42 seconds remaining. Woodland then converted a two-point pass from Sam Ray to Trevor Mann, cutting the margin to 33-25. Adairsville QB Braxton Elrod. PHOTO: Randy Parker / The Daily Tribune News The Wildcats could get no closer. Woodland coach Andy Scott pointed to two first-half turnovers that he said proved costly. “We committed two costly turnovers in the first half that pretty much made the difference in the game,” Scott said. “We gave a good Adairsville team a short field, which led to 14 points.” Scott took responsibility for both miscues. “Both were my fault; as a coach, you should never change punt returners during the game, and running a reverse backed up was a bad call as well,” he said. “I’ve got to do a better job as the coach to put our players in a better position to win.” Scott also credited the Tigers. “Hats off to Adairsville; they are well coached and have a great program,” he said. Adairsville coach Jon Cudd described the game as “a tale of two halves,” praising his defense for limiting Woodland's running game and taking advantage of opportunities in the opening half. Cudd said the Tigers' offense found its rhythm after a second-half turnover and highlighted the play of the offensive line and running game. “I thought our offensive line took a big step and our running game really got on track,” Cudd said. Cudd credited big runs by Carter, Carson and Elrod down the stretch for helping Adairsville maintain its lead. He was less pleased with the Tigers' defensive finish but credited Woodland for making plays late. “They have some dudes, and they made plays to put them in position to make it a one-score game,” Cudd said. Adairsville will look to remain unbeaten Friday night when the Tigers welcome North Murray (0-1) to Tiger Stadium for a 7:30 p.m. kickoff. The Mountaineers were idle on Friday. Woodland will host North Springs (1-1) at 7:30 p.m. Friday. The Spartans are coming off a 57-12 loss at Creekview. ~~ Stuart Morse contributed to this report.

August 29, 2026 Charles Wilson / BartowSportsZone.com The Cartersville High cross country teams competed on Saturday at the Bob Blastow Invitational in Douglasville. The Cartersville boys finished seventh of 36 teams. Lakeside-DeKalb won the team race that included 328 competitors. The Lady Canes placed 13th of 29 teams. Milton captured the team title in a race that included 246 runners. Top performers for the Lady Canes included Sydney Burris (22nd, 21:15), Sofia Burns (33rd, 21:25), Kylie Ham (65th, 22:26), Kyla Poole (112th, 23:23), and Adalin Empie (123rd, 23:44). Top performances for the Hurricanes included Ethan Empie (9th, 16:22), Carson Robinson (38th, 17:17), Malachi Weir (52nd, 17:39), Brock Morris (74th, 18:04), and Knox Matthews (82nd, 18:11). In Ringgold on Saturday at the Five Star Stride, Adairsville fielded a group of individual runners but not enough to record a team score. The Lady Tigers were led by Fernanda Singer (34th, 24:15). Reese Fuller (42nd, 25:02), Bella Smith (66th, 26.21), and Kelsie Crosby (84th, 28:49) also competed for Adairsville. Jaxson Stanfield (80th, 20:45) was the top finisher for the Tigers. Jackson Steele (112th, 22:04), Canyon East (124th, 22:42), and Aiden Viktora (135th, 23:25) also ran for Adairsville. Next for Adairsville is the Dalton Saturday Night Lights on September 12. Cartersville will run in the OrthoWest Invitational on September 12.

August 29, 2026 Charles Wilson / BartowSportsZone.com Cass overcame two costly early miscues and a 14-point first-quarter deficit Friday night, erupting for 34 unanswered points over a stretch spanning the second and third quarters to defeat Sprayberry 50-29 at Doug Cochran Stadium. The Colonels improved to 2-0 with the victory, while the Yellow Jackets fell to 1-1. Cass struggled to find its footing early. After receiving the opening kickoff, the Colonels went three-and-out, and Anthony Quijada’s punt attempt from his own end zone was blocked. Sprayberry’s Noah Wideman recovered the ball for a touchdown with 10:34 remaining in the first quarter. Max Madayag’s extra point gave the Yellow Jackets a 7-0 lead. Cass suffered another setback on its next possession when quarterback Noah Rogers was intercepted by Wideman, who returned the pick to the Cass 21-yard line. Three plays later, Sprayberry quarterback Durrell Wilson connected with Edris Nickerson on a 15-yard touchdown pass, putting the Yellow Jackets ahead 14-0 with 7:44 left in the opening quarter. Colonels’ head coach Steve Gates talked about the slow start on Saturday morning. “We don’t have a lot of game experience, but we are very talented. This group only knows one speed: fast. So the mistakes they make, they make them flying around. You can’t coach effort, and these kids give it their all regardless. For example, our QB is still 14 years old, so he’s going to make mistakes, but man, he threw some dimes last night. He’s such a great kid too.” The Colonels began their comeback early in the second quarter. Defensive back Tyson Beauford recovered a Sprayberry fumble, and Cass turned the takeaway into its first touchdown. Defensive end-turned-fullback Codey Dean powered into the end zone from one yard out, and Anthony Diaz added the PAT to cut the deficit to 14-7 with 9:01 remaining in the first half. Sprayberry answered with a 10-play drive that ended with Madayag’s 27-yard field goal with 4:35 left before halftime, extending the Yellow Jackets’ lead to 17-7. Cass then put together its most important drive of the first half, marching 80 yards before intermission. The Colonels leaned heavily on running backs Kalil and Kalel Charles, while a key pass from Rogers to Jah Abdullah-Kortey helped set up the score. Rogers finished the drive with a 4-yard touchdown keeper with 2:45 remaining in the second quarter. Diaz’s PAT made it 17-14 at halftime. Cass seized control in the third quarter. The Colonels opened the second half with a five-play, 91-yard touchdown drive that took little time. Kalil Charles broke loose for a 60-yard run to launch the march, then finished it with a 9-yard touchdown run. Diaz’s extra point gave Cass its first lead, 21-17, with 6:07 remaining in the third quarter. Gates was excited about some of the adjustments his staff made at the break. “I can tell you this: we’ve never had a group of wide receivers that have blocked like this at Cass. I challenged Coach Price preseason about our wide receivers' lack of blocking in the run game. He has done an outstanding job with Jahlil (Abdullah-Korrtey), Jeremy (Barrett), Raymond (Woodard) and King (Lloyd). They all four blocked their tails off last night. It was fun to watch. All I heard on the headset all night from our OL coach was, “We can mash them up front,” and we did. Plus, having Kalil and Kalel makes things a little easier if you know what I mean.” From there, the Colonels capitalized on three consecutive Sprayberry kickoff return fumbles. Beauford, Marcus Daniels and Kalel Charles each recovered a Yellow Jackets fumble, and Cass turned all three takeaways into touchdowns. Rogers connected with Raymond Woodard for a 29-yard touchdown, Kalel Charles added a 4-yard touchdown run, and Charles scored again on a 1-yard run. With 2:16 remaining in the third quarter, Cass had turned a 17-14 halftime deficit into a 41-17 advantage. Gates talked about ultimately winning the turnover battle. “Coach Spencer runs our special teams, and he takes extreme pride in it. He found areas we could exploit, and the guys executed the plan perfectly, resulting in several turnovers. Anthony Diaz and Trent Cullifer had an incredible night for us on special teams.” Sprayberry, however, refused to go quietly. The Yellow Jackets drove 78 yards in seven plays, with Wilson throwing a 15-yard touchdown pass to Kamren Scott. The two-point conversion failed, leaving Cass with a 41-23 lead with 11:50 remaining. Sprayberry then ran into more trouble when a low snap on a punt attempt from its own end zone resulted in a safety with 8:59 left, extending Cass’ lead to 43-23. The Colonels added one more touchdown when Rogers hit Jeremy Barrett for a 45-yard touchdown with 6:11 remaining. Sprayberry closed the scoring with 2:39 left when Wilson connected with Nickerson for a 3-yard touchdown pass, producing the final 50-29 margin. Coach Gates praised the efforts of the Colonels’ defense. “The defense played fast and physical. Just like our offense, we don’t have a lot of experience, but man, they love to play the game, and they love to hit. They’ve learned to practice the right way, and it’s translated to Friday nights. Zach (Stiles) and Eli (Simmons) had big plays all over the field; Tyson (Beauford) had several big hits. We had one busted coverage which resulted in a touchdown, but outside of that, Demarcus (Ballenger), Holden (Hoopingarner) and Zxavion (Turner) played great. The entire defense played hard; they limited a very good Sprayberry team to only two offensive touchdowns. The other two were the result of a tipped ball by our offense and on special teams.” Cass returns home Friday night for a matchup of unbeaten teams as the 2-0 Colonels host 2-0 Creekview at 7:30 p.m. The Class 6A Grizzlies enter the game with victories over Forsyth Central, 33-0, and North Springs, 57-12. The game will be broadcast live on BartowSportsZone.com. Sprayberry will host Kell on Friday at 7:30 p.m.

August 28, 2026 Charles Wilson / BartowSportsZone.com Cartersville volleyball defeated Harrison and Kell on Thursday night in Cobb County, improving to 15-1 this season. In other Thursday volleyball action, Adairsville beat Gordon Central in two sets in Calhoun; Woodland lost to Cedartown and Chattooga in Summerville; and Cass lost to host Etowah and River Ridge. The Lady Canes outlasted Harrison in straight sets, 25-23 and 26-24, before winning two straight sets against Kell (scores/stats not available at publication time). Adairsville (5-8) defeated Gordon Central 25-14 and 25-11. The Lady Cats (3-10) lost 22-25 and 17-25 at Chattooga as Abygail Childs and Reese Martinak combined for nine kills. Karissa Williamson had three blocks, while Dayanna Jaimes and Emily Guin combined for 22 digs. The loss to Cedartown was 15-25 and 10-25. Cass (0-11) fell to Etowah 5-25, 10-25, and River Ridge 6-25, 7-25. Cartersville welcomes Mount Paran Christian and Allatoona on Tuesday at 5 p.m. Adairsville hosts Northwest Whitfield and Southeast Whitfield on Tuesday starting at 5 p.m., and Cass hosts Woodland and Pepperell on Tuesday at 5 p.m.

August 27, 2026 Charles Wilson / BartowSportsZone.com Cartersville remained perfect in Region 7-5A play Thursday, riding a dominant performance from pitcher Presley Crabbe to take sole possession of first place, while Adairsville picked up an important region victory over Calhoun and Woodland mounted a late rally before falling just short at Cedartown. CARTERSVILLE 9, VILLA RICA 0 Lady Canes’ pitcher Presley Crabbe tossed a five-inning no-hitter and perfect game on Thursday to lead Cartersville to a shutout win at Villa Rica. She struck out 10 of the 15 batters she faced. The victory gave Cartersville sole possession of first place in Region 7-5A. Taryn Bradley had three hits for the Lady Canes, including a home run. Izzy Tummins doubled, homered, and drove in five runs. Kennedy Crenshaw contributed two hits, including a solo home run. Sam Porter (RBI) and LaKiaya Banks each added one hit, and Avaree Sellers drove in one run for the Hurricanes. Villa Rica dropped to 7-4 overall and 5-1 in Region 7-5A. Cartersville (14-2, 7-0) hosts Dalton at 5:30 p.m. on Tuesday and visits Allatoona at 5 p.m. on Thursday. ADAIRSVILLE 4, CALHOUN 2 All of the scoring occurred in the first two innings Thursday, but it was the Adairsville Lady Tigers who came out on top. Adairsville led 1-0 after one inning, trailed 2-1 in the middle of the second, and gained the lead for good with three runs in the bottom of the second inning. Chloe Hill collected the pitching win for Adairsville by working all seven innings in the circle. She allowed two earned runs on five hits and one walk with one strikeout. Ansley Powell (triple, two RBI), Hynleigh Statham (RBI), Hill (RBI), and Paislee Rooks (double) each had two hits. Lily Brookshire added one hit for the Tigers. Calhoun fell to 2-8 overall and 2-4 in Region 7-4A. Adairsville (10-4, 5-1) visits Chattooga on Monday at 5:30 p.m. and welcomes Southeast Whitfield on Tuesday at 5:30 p.m. CEDARTOWN 5, WOODLAND 4 The Lady Cats rallied in the top of the seventh, but came up a run short at Cedartown, 5-4. Cedartown held a 5-1 lead through six innings, but the Wildcats capitalized on three hits and a Bulldogs’ error, putting the potential tying runner in scoring position before a groundout ended the rally. Evelyne Tucker (6 IP, 5R, 2ER, 10H, 1BB, 3K) was the losing pitcher for the Lady Cats. Dallyah Callahan (triple, two RBI), Bella Kuykendall, Kylee Poston, Lillian Hollis, Jarah Thorne, and Charlotte Petersen each had one hit for Woodland. Cedartown improved to 4-5 overall and 1-4 in Region 7-5A. Woodland (5-9, 2-5) hosts Sonoraville on Monday at 5:55 p.m., and returns to region play on Tuesday at Dalton at 5:55 p.m.

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 select an Elite Athlete of the Month from their varsity programs and share the information about their honoree through Bartow Sports Zone and on 100.3 FM and AM 1450, WBHF in Cartersville. Presley Crabbe is the August 2026 Elite Athlete of the Month representing Cartersville High School. The daughter of Trent and Samantha Crabbe, the junior pitcher on the Lady Canes softball team is currently leading the state in strikeouts.“Presley has worked hard over the offseason and has played competitive softball all summer long. She has come into this season throwing the ball really well and getting a lot of swing and misses,” Cartersville softball coach Glen Woodard said. “Presley is a fantastic teammate and does everything the coaching staff asks her to do.’ Currently ranked No. 3 academically in her junior class with a 98.7 GPA, she plans to continue her playing career into college. Kylie Gentry is the August 2026 Elite Athlete of the Month for Cass High School. Gentry has been a standout for the Lady Colonels again this season. In 36-2/3 innings pitched, she has a 4-1 record with 41 strikeouts, a 0.95 ERA, and a 0.955 WHIP. On offense, she has a .310 batting average with four runs scored and five RBIs. Off the field, she serves as the Junior Class Public Relations Officer in SGA, is involved in FCA, and is a member of the Cass High School Magnet Program. Her success on the field, in the classroom, and as a school leader makes her an excellent candidate for Elite Athlete of the Month. She is the daughter of Kristen and Jake Gentry. The Elite Athlete of the Month representing Adairsville High School is Chloe Hill. A junior pitcher and corner infielder for the Lady Tigers softball team, she is the daughter of Robby and Michelle Hill. “Chloe has been vital offensively and for our pitching staff,” said Adairsville coach Justin Evans. “She leads the team in batting average and hits. She has also logged 50-plus innings in the circle. She’s a hard worker on the field and in the classroom.” After high school, Hill wants to become a teacher and coach. Bailey Ryan has been selected as the August 2026 Elite Athlete of the Month to represent Woodland High School. A senior two-sport athlete for the Lady Cats’ softball and basketball teams, she is the daughter of Pete and Tiffany Ryan. A shortstop, center fielder, and pitcher for the Woodland softball team, Ryan has a .367 batting average and a 1.072 OPS. She leads the Lady Cats in hits, runs scored, and stolen bases and is tied for the team lead in home runs. “When natural talent meets hard work, you get Bailey Ryan. She is a grinder, ultimate competitor, and great teammate. Give me nine like her,” noted coach Carey Carnes. “Bailey is our only senior and in many ways another coach out there,” added softball head coach Jackson Cargle. “She is a Swiss army knife for this team. She can play anywhere in the field, she is fast, hits for average and power, and makes my job easier.” Ryan is a Dual Enrollment student with a 3.9 GPA. She plans to attend Georgia Highlands College and then Kennesaw State University to become a teacher and coach. 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 WBHF radio feature. #EliteAthletesoftheMonth #Cass #Cartersville #Woodland #Adairsville #highschool

August 26, 2026 Charles Wilson / BartowSportsZone.com The visiting Trion Lady Bulldogs pounded out 17 hits and cruised to a 14-2 non-region win Wednesday night at Woodland. The Lady Cats struggled for only three hits offensively and committed six errors in the loss. Trion led 6-0 early, and after Woodland narrowed the margin to 6-2 in the bottom of the third, the Bulldogs added three runs in the fifth and five in the sixth to secure the win. Lillian Hollis had two hits for Woodland. Bella Kuykendall had one double and one RBI. Kuykendall (5 IP, 9R, 6ER, 12H, 3BB, 4K) made the pitching start for the Lady Cats and was tagged with the loss. Rilynn DeBoard (1 IP, 5R, 1ER, 5H) also pitched for Woodland. Trion improved to 6-3. The Lady Cats (5-8, 2-4 Region 7-5A) travel to Cedartown on Thursday for a 5:30 p.m. start, and will host Sonoraville on Tuesday.

August 26, 2026 Charles Wilson / BartowSportsZone.com Zoie Shiflett / File photo Zoie Shiflett tossed a six-inning, two-hit shutout Wednesday at Dellinger Park to blank Rockmart, 8-0. The right-hand hurler issued no walks and struck out three. The Lady Canes scored two runs in the first and five in the second inning to build an early 7-0 lead. They added an insurance run in the bottom of the sixth. Allana Williams and Carder Brock both hit solo home runs. Taryn Bradley tripled and had three RBI. Shiflett doubled, while LaKiaya Banks, Kennedy Crenshaw (RBI), Sophia Harper (two RBI), and Sam Porter each added one hit. The loss dropped the Yellow Jackets to 5-3. Cartersville (13-2, 7-0 Region 7-5A) visits Villa Rica on Thursday night at 7 p.m. and will host Dalton on Tuesday at 5:30 p.m.

August 26, 2026 Charles Wilson / BartowSportsZone.com The Lady Tigers scored nine runs on ten hits, and pitcher Paislee Rooks limited the Lady Mustangs to only one run on five hits and two walks Wednesday night as Adairsville won at Kennesaw Mountain, 9-1. Rooks, who also had one hit and two RBI, struck out five in her six innings in the pitching circle. Adairsville broke open a 1-1 game in the top of the third inning with five runs. The Tigers took advantage of five hits, a walk, and a Kennesaw Mountain infield error to take a 6-1 lead. They added another run in the fourth and two in the sixth to secure the victory. Hynleigh Statham led the Adairsville bats with three doubles and two RBI. Chloe Hill followed with two hits, including one double and two RBI. Khloe Shinall (RBI), Ansley Powell (double), Sydney Saterfield, and Lillianne Gunter each added one hit for the Tigers. Adairsville hosts Calhoun on Thursday at 5 p.m. and will travel to Chattooga on Monday for a 5:30 p.m. start.

August 26, 2026 Charles Wilson / BartowSportsZone.com Cartersville volleyball defeated North Cobb Christian and Cedartown in straight sets Tuesday night at the Storm Center, improving to 13-1 on the season. The Lady Canes topped North Cobb Christian 25-21, 25-12 in a non-region match, and swept three straight sets in a Region 7-5A match with Cedartown, 25-14, 25-11, 25-14. Amara Ejieke totaled 17 kills, two blocks, and six digs across the five sets. Adelynn England amassed 13 kills, two blocks, and six digs. Holly Dufrene finished with 11 kills and four blocks. Blakely Morris contributed eight kills, four blocks, and six digs. Mckenzie Wilkie had nine aces and 16 digs. Brooke Belarmino produced 25 assists, and Emma Wall finished with nine aces and 23 assists. Cartersville (13-1, 2-0 Region 7-5A) visits Harrison on Thursday and will also face Kell. The Lady Canes host Mount Paran Christian on Tuesday in a non-region match and will also play region foe Allatoona.