The Bartow County 9U and 12U Panthers youth travel football teams earned wins Saturday. The BC 9U Panthers rolled to 47-0 non-league win over the Milford Warriors while the BC 12U Panthers earned their first Northwest Georgia Youth Football League victory over Marietta, 7-0. Following the 9U Panthers win, they cracked the Georgia 9U youth football rankings — entering at the No. 10 spot. Kaiden Kent and Cooper Melvin paced BC 9U with 62 and 60 yards rushing, respectively. Both had four carries and both scored one touchdown. J’Tavyous Whatley finished with 42 yards on three attempts with one score and Kayden Blackwell carried twice for 34 yards and a touchdown. Trace Hawkins was 2-for-3 passing for 112 yards and two touchdowns. He added a three-yard rushing touchdown. Melvin caught one pass for a 70-yard touchdown and Lance Tippett had a pair of receptions for 42 yards and a touchdown. On defense, Javious Davis was the game’s top defender with five solo tackles and two forced fumbles. Melvin contributed four tackles. Solomon James had three tackles and Whatley picked off a Milford pass. The Bartow County 9U Panthers (2-0) host the Bill Arp Falcons Saturday at 12 noon at Cass High School. BARTOW COUNTY 12U PANTHERS WIN LEAGUE OPENER The Bartow County 12U Panthers likely made the rest of the Northwest Georgia Youth Football League pay attention Saturday with a 7-0 blanking of Marietta. The Marietta team placed second in the league last year, meaning the upstart Panthers are a team to be regarded as the 2019 league schedule gets underway. In the defensive battle, BC 12U quarterback Brodie McWhorter connected on 5-of-12 passes for 118 yards and Jachai Delgado rushed for 30 yards on three attempts for the bulk of the offensive production. Jacob Ellis scored the Bartow touchdown on a short run and finished with five yards rushing on four carries. Talan Nix caught two passes for 55 yards. Logan Shrewsbury had a pair of receptions for 45 yards and Keve Porter hauled in an 18 yard toss and run. In all, BC 12U ran 28 plays for 159 yards, but the rushing attack was limited to only 39 yards on 17 attempts. Isaiah Livsey had three carries for five yards. Porter gained three yards on two attempts. Baylon Long added a yard on two carries and McWhorter was sacked twice leading to a -5 yard total on three rushing plays. “The offense sputtered with some dropped passes, missed blocking assignments, and over 80 yards in penalties,” said BC 12U coach Josh McWhorter. “Fortunately the defense was great again.” “Four of our offensive linemen graded out fine,” McWhorter added. “Brice Wilson, Bear McWhorter, Peyton Emery, and Price Higgins all played well. Marietta has a solid team.” The 12U Panthers defense limited Marietta to only 59 total yards on 22 rushing attempts. They did not attempt a pass. Long led the BC 12U defense with 6.5 tackles. Ellis had 3.5 tackles. Will Feuerbach, Kelson Mitchell, and Livsey added three tackles each. The BC 12U Panthers (2-0, 1-0) will host the West Georgia Extreme (1-0 NWGYFL) Saturday at 4 p.m. at Cass High School. ​​ Youth football updates are presented by CiCi's -- Beyond Pizza in the Cherokee Place shopping center. Results and information presented by the Bartow County Parks and Recreation Department, the Cartersville Parks and Recreation Department, and local travel team representatives.

Sam Howard was recalled to the Major League Baseball Colorado Rockies this past week and was utilized right away in home games against the Boston Red Sox and Pittsburgh Pirates. Also in pro baseball, Elliott Anderson’s Burlington Royals of the Rookie Advanced Appalachian League advanced to the league’s championship series that begins Monday against Johnson City of the St. Louis Cardinals organization. College football, cross country, and soccer are also underway with several local contributors. Trevor Lawrence was in the spotlight Thursday night as he helped guide the top-ranked Clemson Tigers to a 52-14 victory over Georgia Tech. Tight end Miller Forristall scored the season’s first touchdown for the 2nd-ranked Alabama Crimson Tide and Charlotte placekicker Jonathan Cruz converted all his PATs and averaged over 60 yards per kickoff with a pair of touchbacks. All three of the aforementioned former Cartersville Hurricanes are included on 2019 preseason college football awards watch lists. Lawrence is on the Heisman Trophy watch list for the nation's top player. Forristall is among the tight ends being watched for the Mackey Award and Cruz is on the Groza Award watch list for the nation's top place kicker. Former Woodland cross country standout, Baylee Evans, performed well in her collegiate debut and Cartersville native Russell Shealy recorded a shutout at goalkeeper for the top-ranked Maryland Terrapins. -- Top image: Sam Howard, (top down on right) Lawrence, Forristall, Cruz PRO BASEBALL ELLIOTT ANDERSON — Burlington Royals (1st yr. pro; LHP; Rookie Advanced Appalachian League; Kansas City Royals organization; Auburn; Cartersville HS)… pitched the eighth and ninth innings last Tuesday in a non-save opportunity and 10-4 win at the Bluefield Blue Jays. Anderson allowed no runs on two hits and struck out two. His season ERA is now 0.91 in 19 appearances and 29 and 2/3 innings. The first year pro has three saves in four opportunities. He has walked only 12 (two intentionally) and opponents have a .211 batting average against him. In Game 3 of the Royals best-of-three Appy League playoff series with Pulaski, Anderson worked a perfect eighth inning and was one of six Royals pitchers utilized in the rubber game. Burlington outlasted Pulaski to win 5-4 in 17 innings to reach the league’s championship series. Game 1 for the Royals in the best of three title series will be Monday at the Johnson City Cardinals. Games 2 and 3 (if needed) will be at Burlington. SAM HOWARD — Colorado Rockies (6th yr. pro; LHP; Georgia Southern; Cartersville HS)… the Triple-A Albuquerque Isotopes’ 2019 Pitcher of the Year was called up to the MLB Rockies roster this past week and made home appearances against the Boston Red Sox and the Pittsburgh Pirates. Wednesday night in an eventual 7-4 loss to Boston, Howard was called in from the bullpen in the fifth inning to face a pair of batters. He issued a walk to Mitch Moreland and then struck out Brock Holt for the second out of the inning before being lifted. In Saturdays 11-4 loss to the Pirates, the southpaw worked the final two frames allowing a ninth inning run. He struck out the side in the eighth around one hit. Howard added one more strikeout in the night, but yielded a run on three hits. In Triple-A this season, he was 4-1 with a 3.91 ERA in 42 appearances with 62 strikeouts. In now eight MLB appearances in 2019, Howard has a 6.75 ERA in 10 and 2/3 innings with 13 strikeouts. The Rockies are 59-79 and are out of the playoff race trailing the NL West Division-leading Los Angeles Dodgers by 29 games. CONNOR JUSTUS — Mobile BayBears (4th yr. pro; Double-A Southern League; L.A. Angels organization; Georgia Tech; Cartersville HS)… In five games this past week, Justus was 2-for-16 at the plate with two walks. He scored four runs. For the season he has a .184 batting average through 115 games and 346 official at-bats. He has two homers and 23 RBI. Defensively, Justus has a .951 fielding average playing mostly at shortstop although he has seen time at second base and third base. Mobile (50-85) has missed the post-season and will host the Tennessee Smokies Monday in the BayBears final game of the season. LUKE SCHILTZ — AZL Rangers (1st yr. pro; Rookie Arizona League; Texas Rangers organization; Cartersville native; Stoneman Douglas (Fla.) HS)… made a five-out appearance September 25 as the Rangers fell to the AZL Royals 8-3. Schiltz did not allow a run on two hits with a strikeout. Schiltz did not make a playoff appearance, but the Rangers won four straight games in the Arizona League’s single-elimination playoffs to win the league title. FOOTBALL TREY CREAMER — Fort Scott CC (So., RB, Cartersville HS)… returned three kickoffs for an 18.7 yard average August 25 in a 20-16 win over Highland CC. (Sat. 31st 40-29 win at Coffeyville CC / stats not loaded) The Greyhounds (2-0) will host Hutchinson CC Saturday, September 14 at 8 p.m. JONATHAN CRUZ — UNC Charlotte (So., PK, Cartersville HS)… kicked off eight times for a 61 yard average and two touchbacks Thursday night in the 49ers 49-28 win over Gardner-Webb. He also made all seven of his extra point kicks. Charlotte (1-0) travels to Appalachian State Saturday afternoon for a 3:30 p.m. kickoff. MILLER FORRISTALL — Alabama (R-Jr., TE, Cartersville HS)… caught a 27-yard touchdown pass from Tua Tagovailoa to open Crimson Tide’s scoring in the second quarter of a 42-3 blowout of Duke in Atlanta. He later added another catch for a six yard gain. 2nd-ranked Alabama (1-0) hosts New Mexico State Saturday at 4 p.m. HUNTER HARDIN — Point University (Jr., OL, Woodland HS)… started at right guard for the Skyhawks in a 59-0 loss Saturday at Kennesaw State. Point was limited to only 129 total yards and 37 yards rushing. The Skyhawks (0-1) play at NAIA 13th-ranked Lindsey Wilson College (KY) Saturday afternoon. JACOREY JOHNS — Wake Forest (R-Fr., DE, Cartersville HS)… had a quarterback hurry on a 3rd and 8 play in the fourth quarter as the Demon Deacons edged Utah State Friday night, 38-35. Wake Forest (1-0) travels to Houston to play at Rice Friday night in an 8 p.m. kickoff. TREVOR LAWRENCE — Clemson (So., QB, Cartersville HS)… completed 13 of 23 passes for 168 yards and one touchdown last Thursday night as top-ranked Clemson beat visiting Georgia Tech 52-14. Lawrence also ran three times for 24 yards and one score. He did throw a pair of interceptions with his long pass completion going 62 yards to Tee Higgins in the second quarter for a touchdown. The Tigers (1-0, 1-0 ACC) will host Texas A&M Saturday at 3:30 p.m. JACOB POTTER — Kennesaw State (So., LS, Adairsville HS)… the KSU starting long snapper saw action in the FCS 7th-ranked Owls’ 59-0 shutout of visiting Point University Saturday. Kennesaw State (1-0) travels to Kent State Saturday for a 12 noon kickoff. AVERY SHOWELL — Georgia Tech (R-So., DB, Cartersville HS)… made a fourth quarter solo tackle in the Yellow Jackets’ 52-14 loss last Thursday night at top-ranked Clemson. Georgia Tech (0-1, 0-1 ACC) hosts South Florida Saturday at 2 p.m. JAKE WALKER — Furman (Jr., TE, Cartersville resident, Darlington HS)… had a first quarter catch for only one yard in the FCS 11th-ranked Paladins’ 46-13 home win over Charleston Southern. Furman (1-0) travels to Atlanta Saturday night to play at Georgia State in a 7 p.m. start. CROSS COUNTRY BAYLEE EVANS — Troy University (Fr., Woodland HS)… ran 36th overall and was sixth for the Lady Trojans in her first collegiate event. Her time was 16:26.98 in the 4K Jacksonville State University Struts XC Season Opener at Choccolocco Park in Oxford, AL. The women of Troy finished runner-up to Auburn in the 14-team event. Troy runs again Friday at the University of South Alabama Azalea City Classic. The course in Mobile is at the Old Brookley Gulf Pines Golf Course. SOCCER KURT MOORE — Birmingham Southern (Sr., GK, Euharlee resident, Darlington HS)… had seven saves Saturday in the Panthers’ season-opening 3-2 loss to visiting Pensacola Christian. Birmingham Southern (0-1) plays at Huntingdon College Wednesday night, will host Gordon College (MA) Friday, and travel to Emory University Sunday night. COURTNEY RHEA — Berry College (So., MF, Cartersville HS)… was inserted in the 80th minute of the Vikings’ 4-2 loss Sunday at University of New England. Berry (1-1) also had a win Friday at Maine Maritime. They return home to play Piedmont Wednesday and host Wesleyan Sunday afternoon. ANTHONY ROBLEDO — Reinhardt University (So., MF, Cass HS)… was inserted with about 10 minutes remaining in the first half in the Eagles’ 4-3 loss to visiting Ottawa (AZ). Reinhardt (1-2) returns to the pitch Saturday night at home against Life University. RUSSELL SHEALY — University of Maryland (So, GK, Cartersville resident, Darlington Academy)… started and had two saves in 90 minutes as the Terrapins opened the 2019 season with a 1-0 home win Thursday over South Florida. Maryland (1-0) hosts Virginia Monday night before traveling to UCLA for a Friday night tilt.

Although the Lady Cats trailed early at Cass, the Woodland softball team scored nine unanswered runs from the third inning forward to win easily at their region and county rival 9-1. Woodland, winners of three straight, pounded out thirteen hits to provide all the run support pitcher Lainey Baker (photo) would need for her complete-game win. After the Colonels’ Alexis Woods reached and came around to score in the first inning, Baker -- a sophomore -- scattered only three Cass hits over the next six innings and struck out thirteen without walking anyone. Woodland tied the game 1-1 in the third inning, then added three runs in the fourth and fifth innings before adding two more insurance runs in the seventh inning. Cass pitcher Rachael Lee (7 IP, 9R, 4ER, 13H, 1BB, 2K) also worked a complete game in the loss. Five of the runs against her were unearned as the Lady Colonels committed four errors. Hannah Miller (double), Bella Carnes (two stolen bases, 2 RBI), and Baker (double, RBI) paced Woodland with three hits each. Ansley Evans had a double and one RBI. Allyssa Motes contributed one RBI with one hit. Cassie Jones (RBI) and Kendyl Hardin added one hit each. Morgan Bailey finished with two RBI. Woods, a Cass freshman, not only scored the Colonels’ only run but had three of her team’s four hits. She doubled in the third inning and singled in the sixth. Kylee Hembree had the other Cass base hit with a double in the fourth inning. After winning five straight, the Lady Colonels have now dropped three of their last four games. Cass (6-4, 3-3 Region 7-AAAAA) will host East Paulding Wednesday at 5:55 p.m. and region-leading Carrollton Thursday. The win by the Lady Cats lands them firmly among the region’s top two or three teams in the current region standings. Carrollton is unbeaten in the league through six games. Woodland (5-5, 4-2) will host Hiram Wednesday and Paulding County Thursday. Both games are scheduled for 5:55 p.m.

The Cartersville boys cross country team raced to a sixth place finish Saturday morning at the Berry Clara Bowl Invitational at Berry College. Canes teammates Bill Archer (17:07) and Sidney Stegall (17:10) both finished in the top ten of 184 male runners to lead the Hurricanes. Archer was eighth overall. Stegall placed tenth. Lambert won the boys team competition that included 22 teams with 65 points. The Longhorns were followed by Mill Creek (86), Marietta (110), Harrison (111), and Lovett (141). Cartersville was the top team among Class 4A schools with 147 points. Oconee County (172), Rome (181), Randolph, AL (215), and Mountain View (295) rounded out the top ten boys teams. Kamari Miller of Marietta won the individual race with a time of 16:05. Rounding out the scoring for Cartersville were Alex Rios (24th, 17:37), Colin McCann (48th, 18:16), and Levi Booth (57th, 18:25). The Lady Canes finished 15th of 16 teams but saw big improvements in individual times. The race, won by Oconee County, included 155 female runners on the 5K course. Lambert and Harrison placed second and third. McKenna Croft of Douglas County won the individual competition with a time of 19:02. Cartersville was led by McKinsey Spinks (68th, 22:33). Completing the top five for the Lady Canes were Trinity Atkins (108th, 24:24), Alice Terry (116th, 24:54), Trista Kelly (126th, 25:58), and Metztli Munoz (137th, 27:19). The Cartersville teams will run next at the Carrollton Orthopedic Invitational September 7.

A week after being shutout at Chattooga, the Adairsville Tigers put enough points on the board to take Bartow County’s oldest rivalry and earn its first win of the season with a 14-7 victory over the visiting Cass Colonels. Cass got the scoring started when quarterback Logan Nelson capped off a short drive with a 1-yard sneak into the end zone. The score was set up by a bizarre special teams play that saw a bad snap on a punt and a short, line drive punt fielded by the Colonels' Cameran Hill. Adairsville punter Emmanuel Lopez chased down a snap that sailed over his head, got the line drive kick away, but Hill snagged it at the 32-yard line and raced it down to the Tigers' 1-yard line. Adairsville answered the Cass score promptly with two big runs from Ja’Maury Johnson and Eli Agnew. Agnew finished the drive with a 22-yard scamper and the first quarter closed with the teams tied 7-7. In the second quarter, it was Cass’ turn for a special teams miscue. Malachi Gardner blocked a Colonels' punt and recovered the loose ball. Conner Crunkleton then scored on a 3-yard run to give Adairsville a 14-7 lead. The Tigers recovered an onside kick on the ensuing kickoff, but the drive ended almost as quickly as it started. The Colonels recovered a Tigers fumble to end that threat. Cass was not able to convert the turnover into points and thus went into the intermission down by a touchdown. The second half of the game saw both teams struggle to move the football. As a result, the 14 points Adairsville posted in the game’s first 16 minutes wound up being enough to hold off the visiting Colonels. Cass got the ball as deep as the Adairsville 30-yard line with under four minutes to go, but was unable to convert the good field position into points. The Colonels (0-1) will host Forsyth Central next week, while Adairsville (1-1) will take a bye week. In other county action next week, Woodland (1-0) will travel to East Hall and Cartersville (1-0) will host Luella. All kickoffs are set for 7:30 p.m. WBHF will air Cartersville and Luella, while Bartow Sports Zone will broadcast Cass and Forsyth Central on bartowsportszone.com. Pregame coverage begins on both formats at 6 p.m.

Cass softball scored five unanswered runs in the final two innings Thursday night for a dramatic 7-6 come-from-behind Region 7-AAAAA win at Paulding County. The host Lady Patriots led 3-2 through three innings and extended their lead to 6-2 in the fifth inning before the Lady Colonels rallied. Cass scored twice in the top of the first inning and added a run in the sixth, but it was a four-run seventh inning that put the Colonels over the top. Cass out hit the Patriots ten to nine in the victory. Lady Colonels’ starting pitcher Rachael Lee (6.2 IP, 4R, 2ER, 8H, 1BB) picked up the victory in the circle. Kylee Hembree (0.1 IP, 2ER, 1H, 2BB, 1K) retired one batter in the fifth inning. Ansley Hight led Cass with three hits including a double, a sacrifice fly, and two RBI. Alexis Woods had two hits including a double and two RBI. Eryn Lee had two hits including a double. Haley Smith contributed a hit and one RBI. Kimberly Allen doubled and Lee added the other Lady Colonels’ base hit. Ashlan Phillips led the Lady Patriots offense with two hits. Savannah Hilderbrand (1 IP, 2ER, 3H) suffered the pitching loss in relief of starter Ashley Brice (6 IP, 5R, 4ER, 7H, 4BB, 1K). The loss drops Paulding County to 4-9 overall and 2-4 in region play. Cass (6-3, 3-2) will host county and region rival Woodland Saturday at 11:30 a.m. WOODLAND 12, ROME 0 Woodland pounded out fourteen hits and pitchers Lainey Baker and Hope Schultz combined for a three-hit shutout as the Lady Cats softball team won at Rome Thursday night, 12-0. Baker (4 IP, 0R, 1H, 0BB, 7K) started for Woodland in the circle and Schultz (2 IP, 0R, 2H, 0BB, 2K) closed out the final two frames as the Wildcats won by run-rule in six innings. Baker, who finished with two RBI, was one of five Lady Cats with two hits each. Bella Carnes (RBI), Morgan Cooper (RBI), Kendyl Hardin (triple, RBI), Hannah Miller (triple) also had two hits. Ansley Evans contributed a double and had two RBI. Morgan Bailey (2 RBI), Alyssa Motes (RBI), and Cassie Jones had the other Woodland base hits. The loss drops Rome to 1-11 overall and 0-7 in region action. Woodland (4-5, 3-2) plays a Region 7-AAAAA make-up game Saturday at 11:30 a.m. at Cass. O'NEAL, JOHNSON LEAD TIGERS TO REGION WIN Adairsville's Victoria O'Neal pitched her second shutout in three days and Sadye Johnson hit her third home run in that same span to help the Tigers to a 3-0 Region 6-AAA win at Haralson County. O'Neal fanned eight while allowing only three hits and two walks in the complete-game effort. It was a night her defense came up big as well. Adairsville head coach Amanda Nelson credited the outfield play of Taylor Fortenberry, Taylor Rhoades and Makayla Wade as key in the victory. O'Neal helped her cause at the plate with a second inning single and fourth inning walk against the Rebels (8-7, 1-2). In the second, courtesy runner Katie Smith stole a pair of bases before Alyssa Jarrett's RBI groundout produced the game's first run. Two frames later, Smith moved over on Rhoades' groundout, and Jarrett drove her home to set the final margin. Johnson gave Adairsville (6-6, 3-1) a 2-0 lead with a solo home run earlier in the fourth inning. She hit two home runs in Tuesday's 7-0 win over Murray County and is closing in on double-digit homers for the season. Adairsville plays Chattooga next Wednesday and will face Rockmart Thursday in non-region games.

The Lady Colonels volleyball team played a best-of-five sets, non-area match at Pickens County Thursday night and came away with a 3-0 win over the Dragons. According to Cass coach Alan Potter, the Lady Colonels were led by the play of Keegan Krause, Madison Philpott, Avery Merlot, and Maria Piliposyans. Cass took the straight sets victory 25-20, 25-15, and 25-20. The Lady Colonels return to action Tuesday with area matches at Paulding County. WOODLAND RALLIES LATE FOR WIN OVER PEPPERELL Woodland volleyball split a pair of non-area matches in Summerville Thursday night falling to the host Chattooga Indians in straight sets 25-22 and 25-13 before bouncing back to defeat Pepperell in three sets, 13-25, 25-18, 15-12. “We are like an unbelievable Jekyll and Hyde team this season,” commented Woodland coach David Condon following the road matches. “Our execution was bad and we were very inconsistent against Chattooga and during that first set with Pepperell, but we gave tremendous effort and had fairly tight execution to win those last two sets and pick up a win.” In the loss to Chattooga, Woodland’s Grace Webb had nine kills and four blocks. Sydney Molinaro finished with four kills and seven assists. In the come-from-behind win over Pepperell, Webb had six kills, seven blocks, three digs, and three assists. Molinaro contributed eight kills, ten assists, three digs, and three aces. Caroline Gore added eight kills, three assists, and three digs against the Dragons. “The way the girls responded tonight is very encouraging,” concluded Condon. Woodland returns to Area 7-AAAAA action at home Tuesday against Villa Rica and Kell. LADY CANES BEAT ARMUCHEE, FALL TO CREEKVIEW Cartersville won its opener against visiting Armuchee Thursday night at the Storm Center, but lost in the nightcap in straight sets to Creekview. The Lady Canes defeated Armuchee 25-18 and 25-16. The loss to the Creekview Grizzlies was 25-17 and 25-21. In the victory over Armuchee, Lauren Wenzell totaled 14 kills and ten digs. Macey Vaughn issued 20 assists as Anna Grace Brock finished with eight kills and eight digs. “We weren’t very sharp at times,” said Cartersville head coach Dutch Cothran. “I felt like a lot of our errors were unforced, but we made some plays when it mattered most.” In the loss to Creekview, Cothran was frustrated by some of the bounces and some of the calls. “We made too many mistakes and couldn’t catch a break,” said the Canes coach. “At times, it felt more like we were on the road than at home. We have to do a better job bouncing back when that happens and I can do a better job of controlling my emotions.” Wenzell had nine kills and eight digs against Creekview. Brock totaled ten digs and eight kills. Lily Gochee added eight assists and four digs. Cartersville (8-8) travels to Central-Carroll Tuesday for a tri-match with the host Lions and Cedartown to begin region play. The Lady Canes will play at 6 and 7 p.m. ADAIRSVILLE DEFEATS SOUTHEAST, FALLS IN THREE SET MATCH TO GORDON CENTRAL Adairsville defeated Southeast Whitfield, but lost to Gordon Central in three sets Thursday night in home, non-region matches on the Tigers’ court. In the 25-20, 26-24 win over Southeast Whitfield, Autumn Henderson had four kills for the Lady Tigers. Kaylee Jordan contributed two service aces and two kills. Maddie Reitz added a pair of kills. Adairsville won the opening set with Gordon Central 25-19, but the Warriors took the final two sets 25-22 and 15-11. Megan Smith had four aces and six kills for the Tigers. Kaydee Huskins contributed four kills. Annie McCormick finished with three service aces. Grace Collins added three aces and a kill. Adairsville travels to Lakeview-Fort Oglethorpe next Thursday to play Murray County and the host LFO Warriors.

Woodland’s softball team snapped a four-game skid Wednesday night with a 2-0 home shutout win over Villa Rica. Pitcher Lainey Baker scattered six hits without a walk and fanned 17 to garner the victory in the circle. Baker stayed ahead of Villa Rica batters most of the night. She threw 24 first pitch strikes to the 26 batters faced. Madi Langford led the Villa Rica offense with two hits. Bella Carnes paced Woodland with three hits including a double. Morgan Cooper and Kendyl Hardin contributed two hits each. Ansley Evans finished with a hit and one RBI. Hannah Miller added one hit. The loss drops Villa Rica to 4-7 on the season, 2-4 in Region 7-AAAAA. Woodland (3-5, 2-2) plays at Rome Thursday at 5:30 p.m. and travels to Cass for a makeup game Saturday at 11:30 a.m. LATE RUNS TOP LADY CANES The Cartersville softball team found themselves on the wrong end of a walk-off Wednesday at Rockmart in an 11-10 non-region loss. The Lady Canes held leads of 3-2 after one inning, 7-5 through four frames, and 10-6 heading to the bottom of the sixth before the host Jackets rallied for the win. McKinley Chada (5 IP, 10R, 8ER, 11H, 5BB, 1K) started in the circle for Cartersville and completed five innings. Kiley Arnold (1.1 IP, 1ER, 2H, 2BB) suffered the pitching loss in relief. Lauren McElhaney and Cio Seigler both had three hits including a double and one RBI apiece. Hope Short had two hits including a double and two RBI. Chada finished with two hits and one RBI. AnnaKate McElhaney contributed one hit and one RBI. Elizabeth Nelson added one hit. Rockmart improved to 8-1 on the season. Cartersville (6-7, 3-3) returns to Region 5-AAAA action Tuesday when the Lady Canes host Cedartown.

Adairsville pitcher Victoria O’Neal struck out eleven and tossed a complete-game three hitter Tuesday night as the Lady Tigers blanked visiting Murray County in a Region 6-AAA contest, 7-0. O’Neal (photo) also went 4-for-4 at the plate and drove in a run, but it was Sadye Johnson’s 4-for-4 performance that included a pair of home runs, a double, and three RBI that highlighted the attack. Chloe Souders (RBI) and Alyssa Jarrett had the other Adairsville base hits. Megan Gregory and Olivia Talarico both drove in a run. The Lady Tigers (5-6, 2-1) travel to Haralson County Thursday for a 5:30 p.m. start. LADY COLONELS LOSE AT HIRAM ON EXTRA INNING, WALK-OFF HOMER With two outs in the bottom of the eighth inning, Sydney Admonic hit a three run home run to center field as Hiram defeated visiting Cass 8-5 Tuesday night. The Lady Colonels held leads of 1-0 through two innings and 5-2 through six innings before Hiram tied the game in the bottom of the seventh with three hits, a walk, and a sacrifice fly. Cass failed to score in their half of the eighth inning and Hiram set up the game-winning home run with a pair of one out singles by Dallas Hardy and Xyla Quagra. Admonick (8 IP, 5ER, 11H, 1BB, 5K) was the complete-game pitching winner for the Lady Hornets. Rachael Lee (7.2 IP, 8R, 6ER, 12H, 2BB, 1K) also went the distance in the circle, but suffered the loss. Megan Smith, Admonick, and Hardy combined for eight of Hiram’s hits including five doubles, a home run, and six RBI. Lee had three hits for Cass including a double and two RBI. Kylee Hembree finished with two hits including a double and one RBI. Haley Smith and Kimberly Allen contributed one hit and one RBI each. Ansley Hight doubled while Alexis Woods, Eryn Lee, and Kelly Young added one hit apiece. Hiram improved to 4-1 in Region 7-AAAAA and 4-6 overall with their win. VILLA RICA, WOODLAND POSTPONED The Villa Rica at Woodland region game was postponed until Wednesday due to wet field conditions. Villa Rica is 4-6 overall and 2-3 in region action. Woodland is 2-5 overall and 1-2 in Region 7-AAAAA. The Lady Cats also have games this week at Rome Thursday and at Cass Saturday morning.

Playing Tuesday evening at Coosa High School in Rome, the Cartersville volleyball team split a pair of non-region matches. Cartersville dropped their opener to Holy Innocents’ 25-16 and 25-12 but bounced back to beat the host Eagles 25-22 and 25-22. Macey Vaughn had 15 assists in the opening loss. Lauren Wenzell finished with six kills and a dozen digs. Anna Grace Brock added five kills and 10 digs. “We weren’t very sharp,” said Lady Canes head coach Dutch Cothran, “but we were coming off a pretty big break in the schedule. We had some good runs, but missed too many serves and made several blocking errors. They have a good team and I’m hoping to schedule them again next year.” In Cartersville’s win over Coosa, Vaughn distributed 24 assists while Mason Cline and Mia Nicklas provided three aces each. Wenzell contributed eight kills, eight digs, and a pair of aces. Brock finished with six kills and eight digs. “We trailed by at least six points in both sets,” said Cothran. “but battled back and kept our focus. It was good to come away with a win on their floor. Cartersville (7-7) will host Armuchee and Creekview Thursday night at the Storm Center starting at 5 p.m. The JV and ninth grade teams will also play Creekview. CASS SPLITS FIRST AREA MATCHES OF SEASON The Lady Colonels, playing in their first area matches of the year at Rome High School, defeated Hiram in straight sets but lost to Carrollton. Cass, led by senior Keegan Krause (photo) who had 14 straight serves for points in the second set, topped the Hornets 25-17 and 25-21. Carrollton won the nightcap, 25-14 and 25-11. The Lady Colonels travel to Pickens Thursday for non-area action. LADY TIGERS FALL IN HOME MATCHES Adairsville dropped a pair of non-region matches Tuesday night at home falling to Dade County and Fannin County. The narrow loss to Dade County was 25-23 and 25-22. Fannin County won 25-12 and 25-10. The Lady Tigers host Southeast Whitfield and Gordon Central Thursday starting at 5 p.m. WOODLAND STARTS AREA ACTION WITH LOSSES The Lady Cats' volleyball team opened Area 7-AAAAA play Tuesday night with a pair of losses. Woodland won the opening set against Paulding County 25-20, but dropped the next two sets to the Lady Patriots 25-13 and 16-14. In the second match, the Lady Cats also went three sets with East Paulding. The Raiders won the opening set 25-18, Woodland took the middle set 25-17, and East Paulding won the deciding set 15-8. "Too much inconsistency and lack of focus for us tonight," said Woodland head coach David Condon. "Those two factors plagued us all night." Woodland, along with Pepperell, travels to Chattooga for non-area matches Thursday evening starting at 5 p.m.

The Woodland Middle School boys cross country team won the 28th annual Ridge Ferry Invitational Saturday at Ridge Ferry Park in Rome and the Woodland Middle School girls team placed third in the 23 team competition. Kain Tanturri led the Wildcats with a first place individual finish among 122 runners in 11:45. He was followed by Landan McSwain (6th, 12:16), Zachary Wiggins (16th, 12:42), Will Parker (20th, 12:58), and Heath Tatum (21st, 13:00). The Woodland Middle School girls were paced by Olivia Berry with a fourth place individual finish among 129 runners in 16:51. She was followed by fellow Lady Cats Miranda Pelow (13th, 18:11), Autumn Lottner (16th, 18:13), Libby Morgan (26th, 19:00), and Megan Shultz (28th, 19:10). Red Top Middle School also competed in the invitational placing 13th among the boys teams and 18th in the girls race. Juan Mendoza (17th, 12:44) paced the Miners. He was followed by Eri Palma (55th, 13:53), J.P. Morris (73rd, 14:47), Jordy Gonzalez (91st, 15:47), and Will Warnock (96th, 16:15). The Red Top girls were led by Mallory Rose (59th, 20:58), Leigha Wheeler (60th, 20:59), Kaitlyn Godwin (80th, 22:07), Brionna Carver (119th, 26:06), and Kaylee Chambers (122nd, 27:47). NOTE: The girls race was mistakenly marked at 2.4 miles instead of two miles.

A few of the Bartow County ‘Athletes Beyond Bartow’ at the collegiate level had their 2019 Fall seasons begin this past week as Reinhardt University football played its season opener, the Eagles’ men’s soccer team opened with a road win, and Brewton-Parker College volleyball played its opening match. FOOTBALL TERRY BERDIN — Reinhardt University (So., RB, Cartersville HS)… Berdin recorded one solo tackle and had two carries for negative-four total yards in Reinhardt's 16-6 win over Webber International Saturday at home. The Eagles (1-0) will host University of Pikeville September 7. BRYCE BURGESS — Reinhardt University (So., RB, Adairsville HS)… recovered a fumble on a punt to help set up the Eagles' first points of the game. He also assisted on one tackle in helping the team to a season-opening victory. NAIA 10th-ranked Reinhardt (1-0) hosts University of Pikeville September 7. SOCCER ANTHONY ROBLEDO — Reinhardt University (So., MF, Cass HS)… Robledo came off the bench to play the final 11-plus minutes of the first half in Reinhardt's 3-0 road win Saturday over Piedmont to begin the season. Reinhardt (1-0) will host the RU Invitational Thursday and Saturday where the Eagles will face Dalton State College and Ottawa University Arizona. VOLLEYBALL GRACE HUNTER — Brewton-Parker College (Fr., S/RS, Cartersville HS)… Hunter played in two of three sets in a 25-18, 25-19, 25-13 loss to Pensacola Christian College on Thursday. The Barons (0-2) travel to Florida Saturday to play host Pensacola Christian and Columbia International University. -- contributions from Nicholas Sullivan - The Daily Tribune News