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May 9, 2026 Charles Wilson / BartowSportsZone.com Georgia Highlands players celebrate as Athens Hudson completes her home run, giving the Chargers the 2026 GCAA conference championship. / Photos courtesy GHC Softball Facebook and GHCChargers.com. Athens Hudson hit a walk-off home run in the bottom of the seventh inning — her second of the game — and Emily Ferro pitched her third consecutive complete game from the circle, leading Georgia Highlands on Saturday to a 4-3 victory over Georgia Military College and securing the Chargers’ first-ever conference championship. Athens Hudson Georgia Highlands began play in the GCAA in 2013. GHC, hosting the double-elimination Georgia Collegiate Athletic Association tournament, went 3-0, including victories over Gordon State on Thursday and the top-seeded GMC Bulldogs on Friday and Saturday. Georgia Military led 2-0 on Saturday, heading into the bottom of the fourth inning when the Chargers cut that advantage in half. Anslee Logan singled to start the frame and moved into scoring position on a sacrifice bunt by CeCe Williams. Emmalee Freeman reached on an infield error, and Logan scored on the same play. Emily Ferro Hudson, a Calhoun product, led off the bottom of the fifth inning with her first home run of the day, and Logan’s sac fly later in the inning gave the Chargers a 3-2 lead. Kaiden Bradford hit a solo home run for the Bulldogs to knot the score at 3-3 in the top of the seventh, and Hudson’s second round-tripper won it for the Chargers. GHC pitcher Emily Ferro went the distance in the circle for a third-straight tournament game. She yielded eight hits and two walks while fanning three. Hudson’s two. Homers accounted for half of the Chargers’ hits in the decisive game. Logan (RBI) and Gracie Azpeitia had the other GHC hits. Coach Tanner Robertson reflected on the title run and the season. "I’m really proud of these girls and everything Team 13 has accomplished this season. This group has faced adversity, stayed together, and continued to compete every single day. They’ve bought into the culture we’re building here at Georgia Highlands, and winning the conference tournament is a reflection of the work they’ve put in all year." "What makes this team special is the toughness, resilience, and belief they have in each other," Robertson continued. "Watching this group grow throughout the season and accomplish something like this together has been really rewarding as a coach. This championship means a lot to our program, and I’m excited for these players to enjoy the moment they’ve earned." Georgia Highlands (32-16) advances to play a best-of-three series versus Gaston College (NC) for a spot in the NJCAA Women’s World Series. The Chargers and Rhinos will play a doubleheader on Tuesday, starting at 4 p.m. for the Mid-Atlantic District Championship. If a third game is needed, it will be on Wednesday at noon. Georgia Highlands will host.

May 9, 2026 Charles Wilson / BartowSportsZone.com Gianni Gandy and his Cartersville teammates celebrate following his walkoff hit to win the Canes' state quarterfinal series versus St. Pius X Catholic. The Cartersville Hurricanes won the deciding game of their Class 4A quarterfinal series Saturday afternoon in dramatic fashion, earning a come-from-behind 4-3 walk-off victory over St. Pius X Catholic at Richard Bell Field. Cartersville trailed 3-0 through the first four innings, but rallied down the stretch to win Game 3 and capture the series, two games to one. Gianni Gandy / Photo: Russell Andrews, Sports Furnace Photography Two bases loaded walks in the bottom of the fifth cut the Golden Lions’ lead to 3-2. Nolan Elrod’s RBI single in the sixth inning tied, and Gianni Gandy drove home the walk-off run with a bases-loaded single in the bottom of the seventh. Elrod picked up the pitching victory by working a spotless top of the seventh. Logan Buchanan (4 IP, 3R, 2ER, 5H, 3BB, 4K) started and covered the first four innings. Cole Crawford struck out three and did not allow a hit in two scoreless innings. Crawford had three hits for the Canes’ offense. Harris Turner (RBI) and David Vargas each contributed two hits. Clint Hosea (double, RBI), Parker Lively (RBI), Elrod (RBI), and Gandy (RBI) had the other Cartersville base hits. Cartersville head coach Kyle Tucker commented Saturday night on his team’s tenacity in the series. “These last two games have had unbelievable endings for our team. We were down to our final out Friday night and got back-to-back hits to eventually tie it and take the lead. That was a credit to our team's competitive spirit. Today, down 3-0 in the fifth, and we battled to tie it, and the eventual walk-off has literally left me speechless. I have no explanation other than the young men keep competing and enjoy playing the game together. The best part is they’ll get to do it at least one more week.” The Golden Lions had their season end with a 22-15 record. The Canes (29-9) advance to the Class 4A semifinals for a third-straight season and will host the Kell Longhorns (23-15). The best-of-three series will begin with a doubleheader on Thursday at 4:30 p.m. at Richard Bell Field.

May 8, 2026 Charles Wilson / BartowSportsZone.com It took extra innings in the seventh game of the Georgia Collegiate Athletic Association Championship Tournament in Tifton, but the Georgia Highlands Chargers walked off with a 9-8 win over South Georgia State on Friday afternoon to claim the 2026 title. The Hawks defeated Georgia Highlands 9-5 on Wednesday to reach the championship round unbeaten and send the Chargers into the losers’ bracket of the double-elimination tournament. GHC responded, winning three straight elimination games to add the tournament title to their regular-season championship. The Chargers beat Gordon State 12-2 on Wednesday evening and then edged South Georgia State 8-7 and 9-8 on Friday. Georgia Highlands’ deciding runs came on Carson Page’s sacrifice fly in the top of the ninth inning of Friday’s first win, and a tenth-inning RBI double by Gavin Savage to walk off the victory in the final game. The lead changed hands four times in Friday’s first game. The Hawks led 2-1 through four innings, but GHC scored six runs in the fifth to regain the lead. Aidan Larkin’s grand slam and a two-run single by Hayden Miller gave the Chargers a 7-2 lead, but the Hawks answered with five runs over the next four innings to knot the score heading into the ninth. In the final game, the Chargers led 8-0 through the first four innings, but the Hawks roared back with eight runs across the next three innings to tie the score. Jack Burns pitched a scoreless eighth and ninth innings of the first game, and retired the final two outs of the tenth inning in the second game to collect both pitching victories out of the bullpen. Matthew Perkins (3 IP, 1R, 0ER, 2H, 0BB, 1K) made the pitching start in Friday’s first game. Noah McMahon (1 IP, 1ER, 1H, 2BB, 1K) and Braxton Wade (3 IP, 5R, 1ER, 7H, 0BB, 2K) worked middle relief. Reed Thursby (5.2 IP, 6ER, 8H, 1BB, 4K) made the pitching start in the final game and worked into the sixth inning. Jackson Scali (0.0 IP, 1BB), Evan Doss (0.2 IP, 2ER, 2H), and Heath Whitlock (3 IP, 0R, 2H, 0BB, 2K) also pitched. Andrew Bishop paced the Chargers’ offense in the two championship round games with six hits, including a homer and two RBI. Harper Davenport followed with five hits. Mason Moore (four RBI) and Page (sac fly, RBI) each contributed three hits on the day. Emiliano Dominguez (RBI), Caden Marcos (RBI), and Kenton Collier each had two hits. Larkin (grand slam, five RBI), Miller (two RBI), and Savage (RBI) added one hit. "What an unbelievable display of guts and courage by these young men," said GHC coach Dash O'Neill on Saturday morning. "They held together when it would have been easy to give in and stayed resilient. I can’t say enough about the grit our pitching staff put on display and the way our offense found a way to get us exactly what we needed to win. Just an incredible day and an incredible performance. I’m just so proud of my players and my phenomenal assistant coaches for getting it done." The season ended for South Georgia State with a 34-26 record. Georgia Highlands (47-13) will host the NJCAA Appalachian District Championship Series against the Tennessee champion. The best-of-three series is scheduled for Tuesday through Thursday (if needed) with a 1 p.m. first pitch each day at Robert Bentley Field in Cartersville. The series winner advances to the NJCAA World Series in Grand Junction, Colorado, from May 23-30.

May 8, 2026 Charles Wilson / BartowSportsZone.com After losing Game 1 of their Class 4A state quarterfinal series against St. Pius X on Friday afternoon at Richard Bell Field, 7-1, the Purple Hurricanes rallied late to win Game 2, 3-1, setting up a decisive winner-take-all game on Saturday afternoon. Nolan Elrod struck out six and tossed a seven-inning complete game Friday night, sending Cartersville to a Game 3 showdown with St. Pius X in their Class 4A state quarterfinal series. Down a game in the series, the Canes trailed 1-0 heading into the seventh inning. Singles by David Vargas, Nolan Elrod, and Cooper Reynolds plated a run, and an error by the Golden Lions’ catcher allowed two more runs to score on the play. That was all Elrod needed on the mound. He struck out the side in the bottom of the seventh to finish off a 3-1 win. Elrod scattered four hits and three walks while striking out six in his complete-game effort. Vargas had three hits for the Hurricanes. Elrod contributed two. Reynolds (RBI), Harris Turner, and Gianni Gandy each added one hit in the victory. Cartersville (28-9) and St. Pius X (22-14) will play a deciding Game 3 in the series on Saturday at 3 p.m. Kell awaits the series winner in the Class 4A semifinals starting next Thursday. The Longhorns defeated East Forsyth 10-0 and 2-1 in their quarterfinal series. ST. PIUS X 7, CARTERSVILLE 1 David Vargas had four hits in the first two games of the Canes' series with St. Pius X. The visiting Golden Lions rallied for seven runs in the top of the sixth inning on Friday afternoon to win Game 1 of their state quarterfinal at Cartersville, 7-1. The Canes took a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the third inning on an RBI single by David Vargas, but St. Pius X sent thirteen men to the plate in the top of the sixth inning to score seven runs. The Golden Lions’ big inning included an infield error, an intentional walk, a hit batter, and six singles. Colton Sumpter (6 IP, 1ER, 4H, 0BB, 9K) struck out nine in collecting the pitching win for St. Pius X. Connor Tysver closed out the final inning for the Lions on the mound and had one strikeout. Wyatt Earwood (0.0 IP, 4R, 3ER, 5H) was charged with the Canes’ pitching loss in relief of starter Nate Russell (5.1 IP, 3R, 2ER, 4H, 5BB, 7K). Collier Jordan (1.2 IP, 0R, 1H, 2K) pitched in the sixth and seventh innings. Vargas (RBI), Brayden Logan, Cooper Reynolds, and Parker Lively each had one hit for Cartersville in the loss.

May 8, 2026 Charles Wilson / BartowSportsZone.com Georgia Highlands College softball pitcher Emily Ferro went the distance in the circle Friday afternoon as the Chargers defeated Georgia Military College 4-1 and earned a spot in the Georgia Collegiate Athletic Association’s championship round on Saturday. Ferro, a sophomore and Villa Rica product, scattered four hits and two walks to keep the Bulldogs off balance. She struck out five. The Chargers scored in the top of the first inning on an RBI single by Emmalee Freeman. They later added three runs in the fourth on a solo home run by Ahmani Green, an RBI triple by Emma Darrow, and a line drive RBI single by Anslee Logan. Georgia Military put a walk, a sacrifice bunt, and an RBI single together in the bottom of the fourth to cut the margin to 4-1, but got no closer. Freeman (two doubles, one RBI), Green (solo home run), and Darrow (triple, RBI) each finished with two hits in the game. Logan (RBI) and Gracie Azpeitia each added one hit. Georgia Military (38-15) will play the winner of Friday’s late game between Gordon State and East Georgia State in an elimination game on Saturday at 10 a.m. The survivor will then face Georgia Highlands in the championship round and must defeat the Chargers twice to win the tournament title. Georgia Highlands (32-15) will need one win on Saturday to take the double-elimination tournament crown. The championship round is scheduled to begin at 1 p.m.

May 7, 2026 Charles Wilson / BartowSportsZone.com Georgia Highlands pitcher Emily Ferro tossed a seven-inning, complete-game shutout Thursday night at Carol Brown Field in Cartersville to defeat Gordon State 5-0 in the Chargers’ first game of the GCAA Championship Tournament. Ferro scattered six hits and three walks and kept the Highlanders off the scoreboard. She struck out four. GHC scored three runs in the bottom of the second to take an early lead and added two insurance runs in the fifth. Mary Catherine Kimball and Emma Darrow doubled home runs in the second. Anslee Logan and Emmalee Freeman doubled home runs in the fifth inning. Freeman, Ferro, and Ahmani Green had two hits in the game. Kimball, Darrow, Grace Azpeitia, Anslee Logan, and Cece Williams each contributed one hit. The tournament host Chargers (31-15) will play top-seeded Georgia Military College (38-14) at 4 p.m. on Friday. The winner will advance to the championship round on Saturday at 1 p.m. and will need only one additional win in the double-elimination tournament to capture the conference title. The loser will play an elimination game on Saturday morning at 10 a.m.

May 6, 2026 Charles Wilson / BartowSportsZone.com The Georgia Highlands Chargers couldn't hold onto an early lead against South Georgia State in a GCAA second-round game in Tifton on Wednesday afternoon, but bounced back in an elimination game against Gordon State to reach the conference championship round on Thursday. South Georgia State beat Georgia Highlands 9-5, and the Chargers defeated Gordon State for a second time in the tournament, 12-2. Georgia Highlands led South Georgia State 5-0 through five innings, but the Hawks scored two runs in the sixth and erupted for seven runs in the seventh to advance to the championship round unbeaten in the double-elimination tournament. Facing elimination, the Chargers scored four runs in the first inning against Gordon State and added seven more in the fourth, winning in just five innings. Matthew Perkins (5 IP, 2 ER, 7 H, 2 BB, 3 K) pitched a five-inning complete game in the GHC victory. The Chargers used six pitchers in Wednesday’s loss. Noah McMahon (6 IP, 2 R, 1 ER, 4 H, 2 BB, 3 K) started on the mound. Reed Thursby (0.0 IP, 2 R, 0 ER, 1 H, 1 BB), Heath Whitlock (0.2 IP, 4 R, 0 ER, 3 H), Ian Mihalopolous (0.0 IP, 1 ER, 1 H, 1 BB), Evan Doss (0.1 IP), and Jack Burns (2 IP, 0 R, 1 H, 4 K) also pitched. Kenton Collier (double, solo home run) and Aidan Larkin (double, two RBI) each had two hits for the Chargers in the loss to South Georgia State. Hayden Miller (home run, double, five RBI) led the Chargers’ offense in Wednesday’s win over the Highlanders. Mason Moore (three RBI), Andrew Bishop (two RBI), Larkin (RBI), Collier (double), Carson Page (double), Joe Johnson, and Caden Marcos each added one hit. Georgia Highlands (45-13) and South Georgia State (34-24) will face off in the championship round on Thursday at noon. The Chargers need two wins to claim the tournament title, while the Hawks only need one. The tournament winner will host the Tennessee JUCO champion in a best-of-three series for a shot at playing in the JUCO World Series.

May 6, 2026 Charles Wilson / BartowSportsZone.com The Georgia Highlands College baseball team won its first game of the 2026 Georgia Collegiate Athletic Association conference tournament on Tuesday in Tifton. The Chargers defeated Gordon State 5-3. GHC scored two runs in the bottom of the first inning on just one hit. The inning also included two walks, a hit batter, a sacrifice fly, and a passed ball, making the score 2-0. In the fourth inning, Caden Marcos homered to give the Chargers a 3-0 lead. Gordon State’s Hunter Chiappetta homered in the fifth inning to put the Highlanders on the scoreboard, and an RBI single by Devin Elsenpeter made the score 3-2. Marcos doubled to lead off the sixth inning for Georgia Highlands and moved to third on a passed ball. He then scored on a groundout by Aidan Larkin to give the Chargers a two-run cushion. The Highlanders again cut the margin to one in the top of the seventh on a Chiappetta double, followed by a groundout and a passed ball. With three singles loading the bases in the bottom of the seventh, Wyatt Gatlin’s sacrifice fly secured a 5-3 victory for the Chargers. Marcos, who hit a home run and a double, along with Emiliano Dominguez, each had two hits to lead the Chargers’ offense. Kenton Collier, Mason Moore (who had a sacrifice fly and an RBI), and Carson Page each contributed one hit. Larkin and Savage added one RBI each. David McKechnie (5.2 innings, 2 earned runs, 5 hits, 1 walk, 5 strikeouts) started for GHC and worked into the sixth inning to earn the win. Braxton Wade pitched 3.1 innings, allowing one unearned run on two hits with three strikeouts, and earned a save. Georgia Highlands (44-12) will face South Georgia State (33-24) in the second round of the tournament on Wednesday afternoon. The Hawks defeated Andrew College 8-3 in their opener on Tuesday. The loser of the Georgia Highlands/South Georgia State game will play an elimination game on Wednesday evening, while the winner will advance to the championship round.

Scott Barkley / CanesAthletics.com Left to right: Reese Hertel, Addie Feuerbach, Mia Miller, Anna Joe Culverhouse, Ginny Hackney | Photo: CanesAthletics.com All five Lady Canes’ golfers shot their best rounds of the year for a fourth-place finish at sectionals on Monday, May 4, punching the team’s ticket to the state championships on May 18-19. The tournament was held at the Georgia National Golf Club in McDonough. The 4A girls state championship rounds are at Crosswinds Golf Club in Savannah. Anna Jo Culverhouse hasn’t played like a freshman all season and continued that mindset yesterday, leading Cartersville with a 93. Addie Feuerbach fired a 94 with fellow sophomore Reese Hertel close behind at 98. Freshman Mia Miller and junior Ginny Hackney finished at 106 and 112, respectively. “We told them that if we could get three scores into the 90s, we’d have a puncher’s chance, and they all responded,” said head coach Chad Murray. “It’s a lot to ask of a freshman to play in the number one spot,” he said of Culverhouse. “But she rose to the occasion and is only going to get better. Addie and Reese have been steady all year because of their experience. They were in the same spot last year on the same course.” Cartersville finished behind Cambridge, North Oconee, and Druid Hills. The Lady Canes finished third at the region tournament last week, with Feuerbach, Culverhouse, and Hertel finishing in the top ten.

May 4, 2026 The Cartersville boys’ soccer team lost 5-0 on Friday at Walnut Grove and was eliminated from the GHSA Class 4A state tournament. The host Warriors led 2-0 at the intermission and finished off the contest with three second-half goals. Walnut Grove (17-3) advanced to the state quarterfinals on Tuesday against Clarkston. The Canes’ season ended with an 11-8 record.

May 4, 2026 Charles Wilson / BartowSportsZone.com L-R: Anthony Seigler, Ansley Hight, Luke Miller (23), and Sawyer Wilson Cartersville High product Anthony Seigler had a strong week of performances as the Worcester Red Sox faced the Rochester Red Wings last week in the MiLB Triple-A International League. Meanwhile, at the college level, former Hurricanes Sawyer Wilson and Luke Miller stepped up for the Columbus State Cougars in the Peach Belt Conference baseball tournament, and Cass softball product Ansley Hight was named an All-Tournament selection for Reinhardt at the Appalachian Athletic Conference tournament. MiLB MASON BARNETT — Las Vegas Aviators (MLB Athletics Triple-A affiliate; 5th-year pro; Auburn; Cartersville HS) … made a 3-2/3 innings start last Friday, allowing five earned runs on six hits and one walk. He struck out five and received no decision in an eventual 11-7 Aviators win at the Tacoma Rainiers. Barnett is 2-0 in five starts covering 23-1/3 innings this season for Las Vegas. He has 26 strikeouts and a 3.86 ERA. The Aviators began the week with a 17-13 record. Vegas hosts a six-game series against the St. Paul Saints this week. LOGAN MARTIN — Richmond Flying Squirrels (San Francisco Giants Double-A affiliate; 4th-year pro; Kentucky; Cartersville HS) … picked up his first pitching win of the season with a 4-1/3 innings relief appearance this past Saturday at the Altoona Curve. Martin allowed no runs on one hit and three walks while striking out four in a 7-2 victory. The first-place Flying Squirrels began the week with a 20-6 record, and lead Harrisburg by four games in the Eastern League’s Southwest Division. ANTHONY SEIGLER — Worcester Red Sox (Boston Red Sox Triple-A affiliate; 9th-year pro; Cartersville HS) … went 7-for-13 in four games last week at the Rochester Red Wings. Seigler had two doubles, one triple, four walks, two stolen bases, and four RBI, raising his batting average to .273. Worcester (18-14) begins the week in third place in the International League’s East Division, hosting the Scranton/Wilkes-Barr RailRiders in a six-game series. PGA TOUR CHAMPIONS JASON BOHN — 34-year pro; Acworth resident; Cartersville CC; Alabama … carded rounds of 73-72-74-73—292 (4-over par) and tied for 59th this past weekend at the Regions Tradition held at Greystone Golf & Country Club in Birmingham, Alabama. Stewart Cink (18-under par) won the tournament, three shots ahead of Scott Hend and five ahead of Colin Montgomerie. The next event on the PGA Tour Champions is the Insperity Invitational in Woodlands, Texas, this weekend. TRACK AND FIELD DANIELLE THAYER — Augusta University (Jr., Woodland HS) … finished sixth (11:49.11) in the 3000-meter steeplechase and was 15th (18:58.64) in the 5000-meter run at the Peach Belt Conference Championships this past weekend in Daytona Beach, Florida. SOFTBALL ANSLEY HIGHT — Reinhardt University (Jr., Cass HS) … in six games at the Appalachian Athletic Conference Tournament, Hight, who was selected to the All-Tournament Team, went 10-for-30 at the plate as the Eagles finished 4-2 and runner-up to Truett-McConnell. She had three doubles, three walks, and three RBI. Reinhardt (27-11, 19-7) awaits the at-large selections by the NAIA National Committee to learn their postseason fate. ALYSSA JARRETT — Piedmont University (Jr., Adairsville HS) … went 2-for-9 with one sacrifice hit and one RBI in four starts at the Collegiate Conference of the South conference tournament last week. The Lions went 2-2 with wins over Covenant College and LaGrange College. Piedmont’s losses were to runner-up Huntingdon College (AL) and tournament winner Belhaven University (MS). Jarrett appeared in 29 games and made 26 starts. The catcher batted .175 with a .232 on-base percentage. The Lions finished 26-16 this season. ERYN LEE — Reinhardt University (Sr., Cass HS) … made three starts at the Appalachian Athletic Conference Tournament in Kingsport, Tennessee. She was 0-for-7 at the plate. The Eagles (27-11, 19-7) went 4-2 at the tournament and await selections by the NAIA National Committee to see if their postseason will continue. The selection show is on Wednesday at 6 p.m. RACHAEL LEE — Valdosta State University (Sr., Cass HS) … in two home wins over Union University (TN) last Friday, Lee went 3-for-6, including one double, two walks, one run scored, and one RBI. The Blazers (24-24, 16-16 Gulf South Conference) face the University of West Alabama on Wednesday afternoon to open play in the double-elimination conference tournament in Oxford, Alabama. AVA PERKINS — Lander University (Jr., Cartersville HS) … made two starts at Columbus State University as the Bearkats split two games and went 1-for-5 at the plate, including a two-RBI single, a bases-loaded walk, one hit by pitch, and scored one run. Lander also lost one other game in the series. Up next for the Bearkats is the conference tournament in Dahlonega on Friday through Sunday. ALEXIS WOODS — Tennessee State University (Jr., Cass HS) … went 5-for-7, including two walks, one stolen base, and scored two runs in three losses last weekend at Eastern Illinois University. Woods hit for a .319 average in 39 games and 113 official at-bats during the 2026 season. The Tigers’ year ends with a 2-38 record. BASEBALL CURT BONNER — LaGrange College (Sr., Cartersville HS) … went 2-for-14 and scored one run as the Panthers went 1-2 and were eliminated at the Collegiate Conference of the South Championship Tournament in Pearl, Mississippi, last week. Bonner hit .353 this season in 39 games and 153 official at-bats. He hit one home run and had 51 RBI with a .469 on-base percentage. He also stole 12 bases. LaGrange was 20-19. CALEB DANIEL — Georgia Tech (So., Cartersville HS) … in two home starts against Xavier, Daniel went 1-for-8 with a double. The third-ranked Yellow Jackets (39-8, 19-5 Atlantic Coast Conference) went 2-1 in the series with the Musketeers. Tech hosts Duke this Friday through Sunday in a three-game ACC series. COLIN EATON — East Tennessee State University (Sr., Cartersville HS) …made a fifth-inning appearance and retired two outs in a 10-7 home win April 28 over UNC Asheville. He gave up two unearned runs on one hit and one walk with one strikeout and received no decision. The Buccaneers (29-16, 9-6 Southern Conference) also won two of three at UConn over the weekend. ETSU hosts Radford University on Tuesday evening and plays a three-game conference series at Wofford University on Friday through Sunday. JACKSON HARWELL — Wallace State CC-Dothan (Fr., Cartersville HS) … made a one-inning scoreless relief appearance and retired the side in order on April 24 in a 19-0 home win over Wallace CC-Selma. Wallace-Dothan lost two straight at the Region 22, Division II NJCAA Tournament and finished the season with a 29-27 record. DAVID JINKS — Bethany College (So., Excel Christian Academy) … made a scoreless two-inning relief appearance last Friday in a Bison 11-1 home loss to Washington & Jefferson College (PA). Jinks allowed one hit, issued one walk, and hit two batters in the sixth and seventh innings. Bethany (25-15, 14-8 Presidents’ Athletic Conference) will play Allegheny College (PA) on Wednesday night to begin action in the conference tournament. RYAN JOHNSON — University of Illinois (Fr., Cartersville HS) … faced four batters, but did not record an out in a home sixth-inning relief appearance on April 28 against Roosevelt University (IL). Johnson was charged with four runs (three earned) on one hit, one walk, and one hit batter. He received no decision in the Illini’s 11-7 win. Illinois also dropped two of three games at Iowa over the weekend. The Illini (23-23, 10-14 Big Ten Conference) host Bradley University on Tuesday and Northwestern University for three games on Friday through Sunday. AIDAN LARKIN — Georgia Highlands College (Fr., Cartersville HS) … went 7-for-14, including one homer, one triple, one double, two walks, seven runs scored, and seven RBI as the Chargers split a doubleheader at South Georgia State and won at Gordon State College last week. Larkin’s batting average through 55 regular-season games is .444 with 16 home runs and 67 RBI. The Chargers (43-12, 23-5) are the top-seeded team in the Georgia Collegiate Athletic Association Tournament, which begins Tuesday at Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College in Tifton. HUNTER LOVETT — Oglethorpe University (Fr., Cass HS) … made two relief appearances totaling 3-1/3 innings last week as the Stormy Petrels beat Emory University and lost to Sewanee-University of the South in Brookhaven. Lovett allowed one earned run on six hits and one walk. Oglethorpe (21-19, 11-10 Southern Athletic Association) faces Centre College (KY) in the opening round of the conference tournament on Thursday at AdventHealth Stadium in Rome. LUKE MILLER — Columbus State University (So., Cartersville HS) … went 8-for-19, including a sixth-inning grand slam at Lander University on Sunday night in a PBC tournament elimination game that gave the Cougars a 6-2 lead in an eventual 8-2 victory. The win sent CSU (30-21) to a winner-take-all game at Lander on Monday to determine which team plays the University of North Georgia in a best-of-three conference championship series starting on Thursday in Dahlonega. Miller’s tournament plate appearances also included one triple, one double, one walk, three runs scored, one stolen base, and five RBI. AYDEN RAY — USC Lancaster (So., Woodland HS) … went 0-for-2, but drove in a run with a sacrifice fly in a 13-3 loss to Gaston College last Friday in the NJCAA Region 10 tournament at Lexington, South Carolina. The Lancers went 1-2 in the tournament with a win over USC Salkehatchie but a second loss to USC Union. Ray hit .359 in 128 official at-bats across 42 game appearances. He hit eight home runs and had 46 RBI. USC Lancaster finished 24-28. DREW ROTHSCHILD — Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College (Sr., Cartersville HS) … went 3-for-11 in four starts at the Southern State Athletic Conference Tournament in Jackson, Tennessee. The Stallions defeated Brewton-Parker (GA), the University of Mobile (AL), and Faulkner University (AL) before losing to Loyola University (LA) in the finals on Saturday. Rothschild walked five times and drove in two runs in the tournament. The Stallions (39-15) secured a berth in the NAIA National Tournament by reaching the conference tournament finals. The Opening Round tournament assignment will be released on Wednesday. HANK SMITH — University of West Georgia (R-Jr., Cartersville HS) … went 1-for-4 and scored one run in two appearances last week — at the University of Tennessee and at home against Queens University of Charlotte. The Wolves (13-35, 10-14 Atlantic Sun Conference) lost at Tennessee and dropped two of three games with Queens. UWG visits Florida Gulf Coast University for three games on Friday through Sunday. DAVIS WILLIAMS — University of West Georgia (R-Jr., Cartersville HS) … made a 2-2/3 innings start last Friday with no decision in an eventual 14-9 home win over Queens University of Charlotte (NC). Williams allowed one earned run on two hits, one walk, and two hit batters. The Wolves (13-35, 10-14 Atlantic Sun Conference) travel to Florida Gulf Coast University in Fort Myers, Florida, for a three-game series on Friday through Sunday. SAWYER WILSON — Columbus State University (So., Cartersville HS) … made a six-inning start and picked up a Peach Belt Conference Tournament win last Friday over USC Aiken. Wilson allowed four earned runs on four hits and two walks with two strikeouts. The Cougars won 12-7 and were 3-1 in Pool 2 of the PBC Tournament, entering a winner-take-all game at Lander. The winner will advance to the PBC Championship Series against the University of North Georgia beginning on Thursday.

May 3, 2026 Charles Wilson / BartowSportsZone.com A large group of local high school track and field athletes advanced to the Georgia High School Association State Championship Meets over the weekend at two separate State Sectional qualifiers. Athletes from Cartersville, Woodland, and Cass competed at the Class 4A Sectional B at North Oconee High School, while Adairsville had qualifiers at the Class 3A Sectional B at Jefferson High School. The Top 8 in each event advanced to the GHSA State Finals at the University of Georgia Track & Field Complex in Athens. The State Finals for Class 4A will be on Monday, May 11. Class 3A will be on Thursday, May 14. Below is a list of local athletes qualified for the State Finals: First Place Bryson Everett — Cartersville — 200-meter dash (21.78) Ethan Empie — Cartersville — 1600-meter run (4:22.76) Xavier Lowe — Cartersville — High jump (6-2) Kenneth Wilkey — Cartersville — High jump (6-2) Thoreau Lipscomb — Cartersville — Shot put (58-3.5) Adrian Dye — Cass — Discus throw (162-4) Second Place Adrian Dye — Cass — Shot put (50-10.5) Cartersville boys 4x100-meter relay — Bryson Everett, Brayden Doss, Madoxx Davis, Tyon Coe (41.85) Cartersville boys 4x200-meter relay — Bryson Everett, Madoxx Davis, Tyon Coe, Actavious Thompson (1:26.79) Third Place Laney Saunders — Cartersville — Pole vault (10-0) Allana Williams — Cartersville — Discus throw (36-5) Madoxx Davis — Cartersville — 100-meter dash (10.79) Ethan Empie — Cartersville — 3200-meter run (9:52.82) Thoreau Lipscomb — Cartersville — Discus throw (151-4) Rowe Gentry — Woodland — High jump (5-0) Fifth Place Laney Saunders — Cartersville — 300-meter hurdles (48.78) Carder Brock — Cartersville — Discus throw (116-2) Carder Brock — Cartersville — Shot put (34-6) Thomas Smith — Cartersville — 300-meter hurdles (40.04) Cyler Williams — Woodland — High jump (5-0) Rowen Lee — Woodland — 400-meter dash (49.32) Sixth Place Kylie Ham — Cartersville — 800-meter run (2:23.47) Yosiah Gunn — Cartersville — Triple jump (43-4) Henry Abernathy — Cartersville — Discus throw (140-2) Torron Hale — Adairsville — 400-meter dash (50.82) Cartersville boys 4x400-meter relay — Braylon Hill, Kaiden Kent, Kayden Blackwell, Hayden Empie (3:26.62) Seventh Place Cartersville boys 4x800-meter relay — Tripp Chitwood, Daylen Lawson, Carson Robinson, Malachi Weir (8:22.18) Woodland girls 4x800-meter relay — Allison Snead, Addison Brown, Jette Julius, and Rylee Maxwell (10:13.74) Eighth Place Actavious Thompson — Cartersville — Long jump (21-4) Brayce-Lynn Reynolds — Adairsville — Shot put (32-6) Torron Hale — Adairsville — 100-meter dash (11.24)