Cartersville High School juniors Chandler Shook and Caz Smith (photo) won the Amateur High School Bass Anglers Tournament on Saturday at Lake Guntersville, Alabama. The event winners had a winning weight of 18.5 pounds. Peyton Ray (Cartersville HS) and Gabriel Franklin (Cass HS) {photo} teamed up for second place in the tourney. Dean Rice (Calhoun) and Colton Cleveland placed third. The tournament wrapped up the 2018-19 season for the AHSBA. In the junior division, Caiden Moore (Woodland MS) and Tucker Ivester (Cass MS, photo) finished first while the largest catch of the day went to Tyler Smith (Cass) and Gavin Aikens (Sonoraville) with a 5.32-pound large-mouth bass. AHSBA will begins a new season in August. Those with a child age 11 or older interested in competitive tournament fishing are encouraged to email ahsbafishing@gmail.com for more information.

The Georgia Collegiate Athletic Association softball coaches selected their All-Conference teams along with Player of the Year, Pitcher of the Year, and Coach of the Year for the 2019 season. The Georgia Highlands College Chargers had three players named to the All-Conference First Team and two more to the GCAA All-Conference Second Team. Former Cass standout Sierrah Gani led all hitters in the GCAA with a .463 batting average in 44 games. The sophomore hit one home run, drove in 42 runs, scored 27, and stole five bases. GHC center fielder Mya Adams and right fielder Mallory Alford were also named to the First Team. Adams finished the year with a .367 batting average with 22 RBI and 25 stolen bases. Alford hit for a .380 average. First baseman Lexi Palazzo and pitcher Haley Robinson of Georgia Highlands were named to the All-GCAA Second Team. Two weeks ago, it appeared the Chargers had locked down another spot in the GCAA post season playoffs, but a clerical error was discovered by the Georgia Highlands’ athletic department that forced GHC to forfeit most of its games in 2019. Those forfeits turned a 25-19 overall record and 16-12 mark in conference play to a 2-42 season with a 1-27 conference mark. Only the top four conference teams qualify for the conference championship tournament May 3-4 in Locust Grove, so the Chargers’ season is over. Sheila Jones, a spokesperson for the GHC athletic department and Athletic Director Phil Gaffney, released a media statement regarding the forfeitures. "As soon as Georgia Highlands College discovered one of the members on the softball team was ineligible to play due to an issue in paperwork, GHC self-reported the mistake to the NJCAA and withdrew from the GCAA tournament. GHC’s athletics department has reached out to other teams across its division to inform them of this action. This will not have an impact on other individual player stats," the statement concludes. ALL GCAA AWARDS GCAA Player of the Year: Taylor Layfield – ABAC GCAA Pitcher of the Year: Sarah Middleton - GMC GCAA Coach of the Year: Ashley Bunn - GMC First Team Infield Taylor Layfield- ABAC Sierrah Gani- GHC Emily Dansby- GMC Casey Sims- East Ga Kaedy Borst- GMC Outfield Alexis Meadows- ABAC Lindsey South- GMC Mya Adams- GHC Mallory Alford- GHC Pitchers Sarah Middleton- GMC Samantha Davis- ABAC Mackensie Poynter- GMC Catchers Ryla Christian- Andrew Kennedy Coffey- GMC DP/UT Cathleen Nugue - GMC Second Team Infield Lexi Palazzo- GHC Taylor Knight- West Ga Tech Breanna Lee- Gordon Sutton Bridges- ABAC Destiny Herrera- East Ga Outfield Hunter Meadows- GMC Abigail McIntosh- Andrew Taylor Morgan- East Ga Jordan Wells- East Ga Pitchers Haley Robinson- GHC Harlee Rewis- East Ga Kati Mills- West Ga Tech Catchers Hunter Lee- Gordon Reese Stalvey- East Ga DP/UT Mary Tillman- South Ga

The Cartersville High School baseball team held off visiting Flowery Branch Thursday in a pair of closely contested games and will advance to the Class AAAA state quarterfinals for the 21st time in the last 24 seasons. The two-game sweep also garnered the Hurricanes' senior class their 100th and 101st career wins. Canes’ senior ace and Auburn commit Mason Barnett (photo from earlier this season) pitched another gem in the opening 2-0 win and Game 2 starter Logan Martin (5 IP, 2ER, 3H, 3BB, 5K) -- a University of the South signee -- went five solid innings before giving way to Gage Morris. Morris, a LaGrange College signee, picked up saves in both games needing only two pitches for the final out of the first game. He then escaped a bases loaded jam in the bottom of the seventh in the second game to secure the Hurricanes’ 3-2 win. Morris recorded the final six outs in Game 2 allowing three hits and no walks with three strikeouts. The pitching was almost as good for Flowery Branch. Florida State commit Andrew Armstrong (6 IP, 2ER, 2H, 1BB, 9K) went all six innings of the opener for the Falcons. Then in the nightcap, Tennessee commit Zander Sechrist (5 IP, 3ER, 7H, 2BB, 5K) pitched the Falcons into the sixth inning before giving way to Zack Wagner (1 IP, 3K) and Nick Linkowski (1 IP, 1H, 1K) for a pair of scoreless innings. Cartersville’s two runs in Game 1 came in the fifth inning. Ian Inaba and Brant Smith were both hit by pitches. Kolby Adams followed with an RBI single and Smith scored on a fielder’s choice one out later with some heads-up base running. Barnett and Morris made the 2-0 lead hold up for the Canes’ third straight playoff shutout. In Game 2, Cartersville scored all three of its runs in the top of the third after two outs. Singles by Josh Davis, Preston Welchel, and Mason Barnett along with a walk to Cohen Wilbanks plated the Canes’ first run. Jordan Wilkie then lined home two more runs with a single into right centerfield that scored Wilbanks’ courtesy runner Davis Williams and Josh Davis. The Falcons narrowed the margin to 3-2 in the fifth inning and threatened again in the seventh. Grant Lackey had a two-out, two-run bloop single Flowery Branch in the fifth but Logan Martin was able to end that threat with a strikeout of the next batter. In the seventh, the Falcons loaded the bases off Morris with only one out. Connor Larson and Lackey singled and J Beaver reached on an infield error, but Morris — who has not allowed an earned run all season — ended the game with a strikeout and a deep fly out to right field. Freshman Baxley O’Brien had the only hit of Game 1 for Flowery Branch. Lackey paced the Falcons in Game 2 with a pair of hits and two RBI. Kaleb Freeman, Jake Beaver, Larson, and Armstrong had the other Flowery Branch hits. Wilkie and Davis led Cartersville in the doubleheader with three hits each. Wilkie, a Lipscomb signee, drove in two runs. Davis had one RBI. Barnett, Kolby Adams, Smith, and Welchel had the other Canes’ hits on the night. The season ends for Flowery Branch with a 16-14 record. Cartersville (28-4) will host Northside-Columbus in the Class AAAA state quarterfinals next Wednesday at Richard Bell Field. The best-of-three series will begin with a doubleheader. If a third game is needed, it will also be hosted by Cartersville the next day. The Hurricanes will be seeking a trip to the state semifinals for the 13th time in the last 31 years. The Patriots (26-7) swept Perry Thursday night in their second round series. Northside won the opener 8-1 and the nightcap 11-3.

The Cartersville boys soccer team had its season come to a close Thursday night in Dalton with a 1-0 loss at Southeast Whitfield. The game’s only goal was scored by the Raiders in the final five minutes of the game. Southeast Whitfield (6-11-2) advances to the Class AAAA quarterfinals to face the Spalding/Luella winner. The Hurricanes’ season ends with a 10-7-1 mark.

Oakland Heights Baptist Church is offering an inexpensive youth basketball camp for rising third through eighth grade players Thursday through Saturday, July 25-27. "CAMP 9:25" will feature instruction from multiple high school and middle school head coaches. The cost of the camp is $15 and that will include a camp t-shirt and a meal each day. For more information or to register, call Drew McKaig at 404-626-6802. You may also reach McKaig by email: drewmckaig@comcast.net.

Local Little League baseball results from Bartow County and Cartersville Major League games played Monday and Tuesday. CARTERSVILLE LITTLE LEAGUE MAJORS Monday, April 29 TIGERS 9, INDIANS 4 TIGERS (14-0): Casen Cochran two hits including a double and a triple; Logan Woody two hits, three RBI; Bodie Brumlow one hit, one RBI; Noah Pogue, Cameron Cochran, and Logan Woody one hit each; Brayden Channell one RBI. Channell (5.2 IP, 4R, 3ER, 6H, 2BB, 7K); Brumlow (0.1 IP, 0R, 0H). INDIANS (11-3): Jake Johnson three hits including two home runs, three RBI; Maddox Frazier one hit, one RBI; Owen Dunn one double; Halen Bennett one hit. Dunn (2 IP, 6R, 2ER, 4H, 2BB); Johnson (3 IP, 3ER, 3H, 4BB, 3K); Andrew Lutjens (1 IP, 0R, 1H, 2K). BRAVES 18, CRACKERS 10 BRAVES (4-10): Braylon Hill three hits including one triple, five RBI; Devon Beavers three hits including one double, three RBI; Clifton Harshaw two hits, two RBI; Thomas Peters and Luke Parker two hits including one double each with one RBI apiece; Kamdyn Woods two hits, one RBI; J.T. Herr one hit, one RBI; Davis Waddell and Zeke Price one hit each. Woods (2.1 IP, 5ER, 4H, 3BB, 1K); Waddell (1 IP, 3ER, 3H, 2BB, 2K); Sydney Seigler (1.2 IP, 1ER, 3H, 1K); Beavers (1 IP, 1ER, 1H, 1BB). CRACKERS (3-11): Braden Mulkey two hits including one double, two RBI; Landon Gore two hits, one RBI; Gavin Baxter one double, two RBI; Benjamin Turcotte one double, one RBI; J.P. Heater one hit, one RBI; Dallen Fuqua one hit. Turcotte (0.2 IP, 5ER, 3H, 3BB, 1K); Jackson Montgomery (2.1 IP, 4ER, 4H, 2BB, 3K); Mulkey (1.2 IP, 3ER, 4H, 2K); Baxter (0.1 IP, 6ER, 7H, 2BB). Tuesday, April 30 COLTS 5, PADRES 4 COLTS (1-13): Reed Ezell two hits; Brant Rutledge one hit, two RBI; Traver Groves and James Manring one hit each; #Garrett Hewlett one RBI. Manring (2 IP, 2ER, 4H, 2BB, 1K); Clint Hosea (1.2 IP, 0R, 1H, 1BB, 2K); Hewlett (2.1 IP, 2R, 0ER, 3H, 1BB, 5K). PADRES (6-8): Tristan McKibben one double, two RBI; Will Camp one double; Sam Sabaka and Jay Sheldon one hit, one RBI each; Julian Cline, Logan Buchanan, JP Gooch, and Hudson Amos one hit each. Cline (3 IP, 5R, 2ER, 3H, 5BB, 5K); Sheldon (2 IP, 0R, 2H, 5K). DODGERS 13, PHILLIES 12 DODGERS (9-5): Landen Heath two hits, three RBI; Caden Benson and William Nelson two hits, two RBI each; Isaiah Martin two hits, one RBI; Peyton Emery two hits including one double; Will Feuerbach one hit, two RBI; Talan Nix, Mason James, and Clayton McArdle one hit each. Nix (3.1 IP, 7R, 2ER, 8H, 1BB, 2K); Heath (1.2 IP, 0R, 0H, 2BB, 3K). PHILLIES (8-6): Nolan Elrod three hits including two doubles, two RBI; Bear McWhorter two hits including one double, two RBI; Nic Wright one hit, one RBI; Griffin Woodall and Hayden Freeland one hit each. Elrod (5 IP, 13ER, 14H, 4BB, 8K). Wednesday/Thursday schedule: Wed May 1 — 5:45 — JFH — Braves vs. Crackers Wed May 1 — 5:45 — RY — Indians vs. Tigers Thur May 2 — 5:45 — JFH — Dodgers vs. Phillies Thur May 2 — 5:45 — RY — Colts vs. Padres BARTOW COUNTY LITTLE LEAGUE MAJORS Tuesday, April 30 TWINS 6, ORIOLES 1 TWINS (7-1-1): Robert Mitchell two hits; Antonio Barnabus, Graham Cohely one hit each. Pitchers: Mitchell and Luke Hight. ORIOLES (8-1): no hits. Pitchers: Austin Daves and Dayson Ward. RANGERS 5, GIANTS 3 RANGERS (6-3): Brody Shiflett and Daniel Stevenson two hits each; Clayton Blackman and Righley Worthington one hit each. Pitchers: Shiflett and Hudson Parr. GIANTS (2-7): Kayden Cothran two hits; Cliffton Parker and Kason Miller one hit each. Pitchers: Parker and Carson Waits. BRAVES 11, METS 0 BRAVES (4-4): Conner Lujan two hits including a double; Noah Williams one hit. Pitcher: Jackson Nelson. METS (0-9): Landon Cassidy two hits. Pitchers: Damian Hale and Jayden Evans. CARDINALS 7, TIGERS 6 CARDS (3-5): Derris Reece triple; Lucas Baker, Noah King, and Jonathan Ryan one hit each. Pitchers: Jeremiah Lavette, Ryan, and Baker. TIGERS (4-4): Kolt McCord double; Benjamin Abernathy one hit. Pitcher: Joshua Churchwell. Thursday’s schedule: 6 p.m. — HC F11 — Twins vs. Braves 6 p.m. — HC F12 — Giants vs. Mets 7:30 p.m. — HC F11 — Cardinals vs. Rangers 7:30 p.m. — HC F12 — Orioles vs. Tigers Little League results are provided to Bartow Sports Zone by Bartow County Little League and Cartersville Little League. The game data is shared by the leagues via GameChanger reports from the respective teams and/or leagues. Results and capsules are sponsored on Bartow Sports Zone by Play It Again Sports and CiCi's - Beyond Pizza, both located in the Cartersville Main Street - Cherokee Place Shopping Center.

Georgia Highlands baseball was edged 4-3 by visiting South Georgia State CC Tuesday in a Georgia Collegiate Athletic Association contest at LakePoint in Emerson. The game was the Chargers' regular season home finale'. The Hawks took a 1-0 lead in the third inning on a sacrifice fly by Justin Brooks and never trailed, although the game was close throughout. South Georgia extended its lead to 3-0 on a J.T. Rice two-run home run in the sixth, but the Chargers made it 3-2 in the bottom of the frame on back-to-back home runs by Skylar McPhee and Malik Spratling. Brooks singled home the Hawks’ fourth run in the seventh and Georgia Highlands answered with a run to make the score 4-3 when Hunter Moody and Lavoisier Fisher singled prior to Moody crossing the plate on a wild pitch. The Chargers did not manage another base runner until the bottom of the ninth with no outs, but a pop up and a double play ended any potential threat. Landon Nevill (7 IP, 3ER, 6H, 2BB, 7K) started on the mound for South Georgia and picked up the win. Matt Thompson (0.2 IP) was credited with a ninth inning save. Ethan Underwood (6.1 IP, 4ER, 9H, 1BB, 2K) started for Georgia Highlands and suffered the pitching loss. Trace Twardoski (1.2 IP, 0R, 0H) and Levi Ayers (1 IP, 0R, 0H) pitched in relief for the Chargers. The Hawks improved to 25-26 overall and 11-17 in the GCAA. Georgia Highlands (29-23, 15-14) plays its final regular season game Saturday afternoon at Andrew College. The Chargers have qualified for the GCAA post-season tournament May 8-10 at the former Darton State Field which is now a satelite campus for Albany State University.

The Woodland High School girls golf team qualified for the GHSA Class 5A State Tournament by placing second Tuesday at the Area 4-AAAAA Tournament at Sunset Hills Country Club in Carrollton. The Carrollton girls team finished first with a team score of 297. The Lady Cats shot 307 with their three best scores. Woodland was led by Emily Nycum with a 100, followed by Elizabeth Nycum (102) and Erin Evans (105). Kaylee Jones fired a 124. “I’m very proud of them,” said Woodland coach Colman Roberts. “That was our goal after last year’s area tournament. We wanted every player to make the turn and qualify for the state tournament. They have work hard this season.” The Lady Cats will return to Sunset Hills Country Club in Carrollton May 20-21 for the Class 5A State Tournament.

The Cartersville High School girls golf team did not qualify for the Class AAAA State Tournament Tuesday at The Fields Golf Club in LaGrange, but did shoot a score at the Area 4-AAAA Tournament that beat the state’s qualifying score had the team finished within the top five. A tough area assignment had the Lady Canes finish seventh among the 12 competing teams. The GHSA sets a cut-off score for qualifying and Cartersville achieved that number, but only five teams advance to state from the area. Central-Carroll won the area tournament with a 259 team total led by tournament medalist Loralie Cowart who shot a 1-over-par 73. Heritage-Catoosa placed second (277), followed by LaGrange (296), Troup (306), and LaFayette (311). Those five teams advance to the state tournament May 20-21. Pickens just missed qualifying with a 318 total and Cartersville was next at 330 led by Brianna Kim (101), Addie Evans (111), Hannah Rhodes (118), and Aimee Odom (132).

The Cartersville High School boys golf team won the Region 5-AAAA Championship and their Area Tournament Monday at The Fields Golf Course in LaGrange with a team total 298 led by individual medalist Buck Brumlow’s 3-under-par 69. The Canes finished 21 shots ahead of their nearest chaser, Heritage-Catoosa. The Generals shot 319 to finish Area runner-up and were the low team from Region 6-AAAA. They were followed by Northwest Whitfield (322) and Cedartown (327). For Cartersville, Brumlow was followed by Carson Harris with a 1-over-par 73. Jake Lawson fired a 77 and Dalton Henson added a 79. Camden Meadows and Blane Davis rounded out the Canes’ with an 80 and 85, respectively. Cartersville advances to the Class AAAA State Championship Tournament at Country Club of Columbus May 20-21.

The Cartersville girls tennis team had its 2019 season come to an end Monday afternoon at Dellinger Park with a 3-0 loss to three-time defending state championsNorth Oconee in the Class AAAA state semifinals. The Lady Canes did not pick up a win at any position on the day, but did contest the Titans fiercely on four of the five lines. Monday night after the conclusion of the semifinal loss, Cartersville head coach Brett Tolbert remained excited for the future of his team that included no seniors this season. “It was a great season,” said Tolbert. “We had a great year and we have great things to come from this group.” North Oconee advances to face Marist for the state championship Saturday at the Rome Tennis Center. Marist was a 3-0 winner Monday over Columbus in the other semifinal.

Elite Stone Supply, in conjunction with WBHF and Bartow Sports Zone, presents the ELITE ATHLETES OF THE MONTH. Each month, local high schools are provided opportunity to name an Elite Athlete of the Month from their varsity programs and present the information on their honoree through Bartow Sports Zone and on 100.3FM and AM1450, WBHF in Cartersville. Recipients for April 2019: Brady Craig -- Cartersville High School Nathan Gant -- Cass High School Danarous Johnson -- Adairsville High School John Shropshire -- Woodland High School The April 2019 Elite Athlete of the Month representing Cartersville High School is Brady Craig. A junior forward on the Hurricanes’ soccer team, Craig led the team in scoring over the past month and created even more chances for other to score. He is a three-year member of the varsity team. “Brady has shown great composure on the field,” said Canes’ head coach D.J. Paradis. “He plays with an aggressive style and has a scored a pair of goals in each of our last three matches.” The son of Chris and Rhonda Craig, Brady is a strong forward that requires attention from other teams defensively and has the skill and speed to attack any defense on the field. Craig maintains a 3.5 GPA and plans on going to college where he would like to continue his soccer playing career. Nathan Gant is the April 2019 Elite Athlete of the Month from Cass High School. A senior member of both the Colonels’ football and track and field team for four years, Grant carries a 3.46 GPA and is in the top fifty percent of his graduating class. The son of Michelle Rowell, Nathan has been a consistent point scorer for the Cass track and field team and has shown constant leadership from his freshman year forward. He is the 2019 Bartow County discus throw champion with a mark of 137 feet, 9 inches and has qualified for the State Sectionals with a runner-up finish in the discus at the Region 7-AAAAA Championships. He has also moved himself into third place in the school track and field record book with his top distance this season. “Nathan has a strong work ethic and always maintains a desire to improve,” said Cass Director of Athletics Dr. Nicky Moore. “There is no doubt he will be successful at the next level.” Following high school graduation, Nathan plans to continue his education and plans to throw the discus and hammer in college. Adairsville High School’s Elite Athlete of the Month for April 2019 is Danarous Johnson. The son of Waylon Johnson and Tracy James, Danarous is a three-sport senior and a member of the Tigers’ football, basketball, and track and field teams. He is the track and field team’s leading scorer this season. Johnson recently qualified for the GHSA Class AAA State Sectional Meet in the long jump but also played receiver and cornerback for the Adairsville football team. He was a guard on the basketball squad and also competed in the 100 meters, 200 meters, high jump, and was on the Tigers’ 4x100 and 4x400 relay teams. “Danarous is extremely coachable and competitive,” noted Adairsville football and track and field coach Terry Gough. “He is very eager to learn, never complains, and is always willing to do anything to help out his team. He is a real pleasure to coach.” Johnson remains undecided in his collegiate plans. The April 2019 Elite Athlete of the Month representing Woodland High School is John Shropshire. A junior member of Wildcats’ track and field and cross country teams, he is the son of Sam and John Shropshire. Shropshire won two individual events at the recent Region 7-AAAAA Track & Field Championships in Rome taking the 800 meter and 1600 meter runs. As a result, he has qualified for the GHSA State Sectional Meet in those two events and also qualified as a member of the Wildcats’ 4x400 meter relay team. Editors Note: Photos and bios are supplied to Bartow Sports Zone and WBHF by the respective schools and their athletic departments. Elite Stone Supply Co., LLC is the monthly sponsor. Athletes receive a plaque along with recognition during a radio feature on WBHF.