The 2019 MiLB season moves into the final days of its first month and Cartersville’s Connor Justus (photo) had his best offensive week of the year with the Mobile BayBears of the Double-A Southern League. The former Canes’ and Georgia Tech shortstop hit safely in five of six games and raised his batting average more than 25 points in that span. At the Triple-A level, Cartersville native Sam Howard made three relief appearances last week for the Albuquerque Isotopes of the Pacific Coast League. In college softball, former Cass star Sierrah Gani wrapped up her career at Georgia Highlands and finished her sophomore season with a .477 batting average and averaged one RBI per game. Freshman Paris Poston and Columbus State move into post-season play this week. The former Canes’ outfielder continues to be productive in the middle of the Cougars lineup. Also, former Cartersville pitcher Hannah Todd made a pair of appearances last week for her Kansas Jayhawks’ squad. The college baseball season is transitioning into the post-season at the NAIA and NCAA Division II and III levels, while the NCAA Division I season has only three weeks remaining in the regular season. Former Cartersville High shortstop Devin Warner made his first career start for Auburn in a mid-week game at Jacksonville State and came up big. He had his first collegiate hit in a 3-for-4, three RBI performance. MiLB SAM HOWARD — Albuquerque Isotopes (6th yr. pro; LHP; Triple-A Pacific Coast League; Colorado Rockies’ organization; Georgia Southern; Cartersville HS)… made three relief appearances last week for the Isotopes earning his first hold of the year on Monday in an 8-6 home loss to Tacoma. Howard faced three batters with a walk and a strikeout to retire the final two outs of the seventh inning. Last Thursday, he worked the fifth and sixth innings of an 8-7 loss at Salt Lake. He walked two and fanned five in the outing. Sunday, he entered in the seventh inning and went one and two-thirds in a no-decision. He was charged with five earned runs on five hits and a walk while striking out two in a 14-8 loss at Salt Lake. For the season, Howard (1-0) has made nine appearances and worked just over 14 innings with a 5.65 ERA and 16 strikeouts. The Isotopes (14-10) are currently third in the PCL Pacific Southern Division. CONNOR JUSTUS — Mobile BayBears (4th yr. pro; SS/2B; Double-A Southern League; L.A. Angels organization; Georgia Tech; Cartersville HS)… hit safely in five of six games last week and was 5-for-17 at the plate with a two-run homer, a double, a walk and three RBI to lift his season batting average to .240 in 50 at bats over 19 games. He also swiped his first two bases of the season during the week. Mobile (10-13) is currently fourth in the SL South Division, 6.5 games behind Pensacola. COLLEGE SOFTBALL SIERRAH GANI — Georgia Highlands College (So., OF, Cass HS)… went 4-for-12 with a double, a sacrifice, a run scored, and three RBI as the Chargers went 1-3 for the week against ABAC and West Georgia Tech. Gani finished the season with a .477 batting average with 47 RBI in 47 games and 132 at bats. She had one home run and 16 extra base hits along with five stolen bases. Her average led the conference. According to GHC coach Melissa Wood, Gani received a lot of next level recruiting interest to continue her playing career, but she has decided to attend Kennesaw State University for school only. PARIS POSTON — Columbus State University (Fr., OF, Cartersville HS)… had a 2-for-3 game with one RBI and a pair of runs Saturday in a 12-1 win over Georgia Southwestern, but was only 2-for-12 for the week with a walk, two RBI, and three runs scored. CSU swept the doubleheader with the Hurricanes and took two games from UNC-Pembroke Friday to finish the regular season 35-15 overall and second in the Peach Belt Conference with a 15-5 mark. The Cougars finished one game behind nationally 4th-ranked University of North Georgia who will host the single-elimination conference tournament this Friday and Saturday in Dahlonega. HANNAH TODD — Kansas University (So., RHP, Cartersville HS)… made a pair of brief appearances in Jayhawks’ losses last week. She recorded the final three outs in a 3-0 loss Friday night and recorded two outs in the third inning of a 10-1 loss Saturday — both home games with 12th-ranked Texas. Kansas (15-32, 3-12 Big 12 Conference) completes the regular season this Friday through Sunday with conference games at Iowa State. TAYLOR WAITS — Brewton-Parker College (Jr., OF, Cartersville HS)… made two home appearances for the Barons this past weekend in losses to Martin Methodist. She entered as a pinch runner in a game on Friday and failed to reach in a pinch hitting appearance Saturday. BPC lost all four games of the weekend set. The Barons (16-31, 10-22 Southern States Athletic Conference) will open the conference tournament Thursday morning against Stillman College in Decatur, Alabama. COLLEGE BASEBALL ELLIOTT ANDERSON — Auburn University (Jr., LHP, Cartersville HS)… entered in the third inning of Thursday’s 12-6 loss at 5th-ranked Vanderbilt. Anderson faced fifteen batters allowing three earned runs on five hits with a pair of walks and three strikeouts. 20th-ranked Auburn (27-17, 10-11 SEC) was swept in the series in Nashville and will try to bounce back this weekend at home in a three-game conference series with Alabama. LEVI AYERS — Georgia Highlands CC (Fr., RHP, Cartersville HS)… retired the only two sixth inning batters he faced Saturday in a 5-3 Chargers’ loss at East Georgia State CC. Ayers recorded one strikeout. For the season, he is 2-0 with a 4.34 ERA and 17 strikeouts in 11 appearances and just under 19 innings pitched. Georgia Highlands (29-22, 15-13 GCAA) hosts South Georgia State Tuesday and concludes regular season play Saturday at Andrew College. NOAH DANIEL — Reinhardt University (So., Inf., Cartersville HS)… entered as a pinch hitter and had a RBI-single up the middle in Friday’s 15-5 win over visiting Truett-McConnell University. He also scored a run. The Eagles were 3-1 for the week beating Cumberland University (TN) Wednesday and winning two of three games with NAIA 18th-ranked Truett-McConnell. Reinhardt (27-22, 15-12) finished fourth in the in the Appalachian Athletic Conference and begins the conference tournament Wednesday in Kingsport, Tennessee. CLIFTON DEMPSEY — Toccoa Falls College (Jr., Inf., Cartersville HS)… hit safely in three of four games for the Screaming Eagles this past week. Toccoa Falls went 2-2 for the week with a loss to Truett-McConnell and won two of three games at home with Piedmont International University (NC). Dempsey went 4-for-16 in the four games including a double, a walk, two RBI, and four runs scored. Toccoa Falls (23-22) has a doubleheader Thursday afternoon at Hiwassee College (TN). CARRINGTON EVANS — Augusta University (R-So., OF, Cartersville HS)… had three hits including a three-run home run, scored twice, and added a sacrifice hit in a 13-12 home loss Saturday to Lynn University. In a second game Saturday Evans was 0-for-3 with a walk as the Jaguars fell 8-3. He appeared in 27 games this season (15 starts) and hit .188 with 12 RBI. Augusta finished the season 18-30 and was 7-21 in the Peach Belt Conference. LANE GRIFFITH — University of West Georgia (Jr., C, Adairsville HS)… reached base on a catcher’s interference and had one RBI last week in a 13-3 win at 4th-ranked North Georgia. He was also 2-for-12 with a walk, one RBI, and one run scored as the Wolves won one of three Gulf South Conference games over the weekend at Valdosta State University. UWG (26-23, 15-14) will open the conference tournament Friday in Oxford, Alabama as the 7-seed and will play 2-seed Mississippi College in double-elimination play. HARRISON OSBORN — Point University (So., RHP, Cartersville HS)… was roughed up in a two inning start last Tuesday at NAIA 4th-ranked Faulkner (AL). He allowed eight earned runs on five hits and three walks and suffered the pitching loss in an eventual 16-5 loss. He also allowed three earned runs on three hits and a walk tossing an inning and one-third of relief in a 12-9 win at St. Andrews (NC). For the season, Osborn (3-3) has appeared in 14 games (10 starts) and has worked 52 innings with 33 strikeouts. Point (29-21, 13-14 AAC) opens the Appalachian Athletic Conference Tournament Wednesday through Saturday at Kingsport, Tennessee. MASON ROBINSON — Louisiana Tech (R-Sr., OF, Woodland HS)… went 3-for-18 with a walk and one RBI in five games last week as the Bulldogs won only one game. They beat Little Rock 5-4, but lost at McNeese and were swept in a three-game Conference USA series at Rice. Louisiana Tech (28-16, 12-9) travels to Northwestern State (LA) Tuesday and heads to Norfolk, VA Friday through Sunday at Old Dominion. DEVIN WARNER — Auburn University (Fr., Inf., Cartersville HS)… made his first career start and had his first collegiate hit while going 3-for-4 with three RBI in a 14-2 win at Jacksonville State last Tuesday. He was also hit by pitch and scored a run. Warner also made an unsuccessful ninth inning appearance as a pinch hitter last Thursday night in a 12-6 loss at 5th-ranked Vanderbilt. Auburn (27-17, 10-11 SEC) hosts Alabama in a three-game conference series Friday through Sunday. TYLER WASHINGTON — Young Harris College (Sr., OF, Adairsville HS)… went 2-for-6 with a solo home run and a pair of runs scored last Wednesday in the Mountain Lions doubleheader sweep of visiting West Alabama. Young Harris (31-16, 15-10) has already secured a spot in the Peach Belt Conference tournament May 10-12 in St. Augustine, but will play its final regular season series at USC-Aiken this Friday through Sunday. PRO BASKETBALL ELIJAH ROBINSON -- Villa San Martin (Argentine League; Emmanuel College; Excel Christian Academy)... Robinson and Co. bowed out of the playoffs in the first round after Obera TC overcame a 2-1 deficit to win the best-of-five series. Having entered last week at 1-apiece, Villa San Martin moved one step closer to advancing with a 71-61 victory on Wednesday. Robinson led his team in scoring for the third consecutive game, finishing with 17 points and six rebounds. He made it four in a row during Friday's 87-79 defeat, scoring 14 points and pulling down seven boards. However, Robinson struggled in Game 5, ending with seven points and five rebounds, as Villa San Martin suffered a 79-73 defeat. He added three assists in each of last week's games. TENNIS PEYTON GOLLHOFER -- Ball State University (Sr., Cartersville, GA; Laurel Springs Academy)... saw her fantastic senior season come to an end in the semifinals of the Mid-American Conference tournament in Williamsville, New York. Fourth-seeded Ball State advanced past 5 seed Toledo in the first round, beating the Rockets by a 4-1 score. Gollhofer and Isabelle Dohanics dropped a 6-4 decision on Line 2 doubles to help Toledo score its lone point. Gollhofer was leading 3-6, 7-5, 2-1 in the third set of her Line 2 singles match, when Ball State clinched the victory. No. 1-seeded Miami (Ohio) rolled to a 4-0 win in the semis although Gollhofer certainly had the best showing of the Ball State competitors. She and Dohanics just missed out on a Line 2 doubles win, as the Redhawks clinched the overall doubles point with the pair leading 5-3. Miami dominated in the singles matches with Gollhofer only dropping the first set 7-5 on Line 2. She was actually leading 4-2 in the second set, when the overall match ended. TRACK AND FIELD SPENCER FIELDS -- Rhodes College (Sr., Kingston, GA; Darlington HS)... narrowly missed out on a conference title in the 10000-meter run, but he still helped the Lynx capture a second straight Southern Athletic Association championship over the weekend in Conway, Arkansas. Fields completed the race, which is roughly 6.2 miles, in 33 minutes, 6.6 seconds. He finished runner-up to a teammate by less than a half-second. -- Nicholas Sullivan, The Daily Tribune News, contributed to this report.

The current best performances of the 2019 season for local high school track and field athletes. Updated through the Region meets: SP= Shot Put DT = Discus Throw LJ = Lone Jump TJ = Triple Jump HJ = High Jump PV = Pole Vault

The Calhoun Middle School track and field teams won the 2019 Bartow-Gordon Middle School Athletic Association championships for both girls and boys Saturday at Calhoun High School. The Cass Middle School girls and boys finished in second place. The remainder of the participating field included Adairsville Middle, Cartersville Middle, Red Bud Middle, South Central Middle, and Woodland Middle. Complete results for each event and the final team standings may be viewed HERE.

Cartersville High School sophomore golfer Buck Brumlow teamed with Westminster senior Sam Lape this weekend to win the 2019 Georgia State Golf Association’s Four Ball Championship at Governors Towne Club in Acworth. The youthful duo fired a 19-under-par 197 during the three day event to win the 54-hole, four-ball stroke play event that was open to all two-man teams of amateurs in Georgia. Governors Towne Club plays to par-72 and 7,250 yards from the championship tees. The two high school golfers defeated a field of amateur golfers of all ages. Both players will continue their playing careers at the collegiate level. Lape is a Furman University commit. Brumlow is a University of Georgia commit. Brumlow/Lape shot 69 on Friday followed by a pair of 64s on Saturday and Sunday to win by two shots over the Athens tandem of Kyle Stiles and Keith Guest (67-64-68). Kyle Hosick of Cartersville and Cres Dodd of Calhoun placed third with a 16-under-par 200 (68-69-63). Bill Faith of Cartersville teamed with Andy Burris of Atlanta to tie for tenth place at 11-under par 205 (65-69-71). Greg Johnson and Chase Jones — both of Cartersville — also finished in the top twenty with a 16th place tie at 10-under-par (72-65-69). The 80-team starting field was cut to the low 40 teams and ties for Sunday’s final round.

The Georgia Highlands College baseball team split a doubleheader at East Georgia State CC Saturday and, as a result, split the four game series with the Bobcats. The Chargers shutout East Georgia in Saturday’s opener 5-0, but the Bobcats won Game 2, 5-3. Parker Orr hit a pair of solo home runs and Bryson Horne also homered in the opening game. Malik Spratling also drove in two runs with a hit and a sacrifice fly. Stevie Szucs (4.1 IP, 0R, 5BB, 3K) picked up the pitching victory for Georgia Highlands and Logan Ward (1 IP, 0R, 0H, 1BB, 2K) earned his eighth save of the year by closing out the seventh inning. Ryan Smithson (0.0 IP, 1BB), Trace Twardoski (1 IP, 0R, 0H, 2BB, 1K), and Skylar McPhee (0.2 IP, 0R, 0H, 2K) also worked middle relief in the victory. In Game 2, East Georgia State led 2-1 after two innings and built a 5-1 lead through six frames. GHC scored twice in the top of the seventh on a McPhee home run but still came up a pair of runs short. Horne doubled and tripled in the second game and Spratling added the only other Chargers’ base hit. Jacob Meyer (5.1 IP, 5R, 3ER, 7H, 6BB, 3K) started on the bump and suffered the pitching loss. Levi Ayers (0.2 IP, 0R, 0H, 1K) entered in the sixth inning and retired the only two batters he faced. The split leaves East Georgia with a 32-14 season record. The Bobcats are in second place in the Georgia Collegiate Athletic Association with a 19-8 conference mark. Georgia Highlands (29-22, 15-13), third in the GCAA, wraps up the regular season schedule with two conference games this week. The Chargers host South Georgia State CC Tuesday at 5 p.m. at LakePoint and travel to Andrew College Saturday for a 3 p.m. start. GHC will then travel to the GCAA post-season tournament May 8-10 to be played at the former Darton State Community College campus which is now a campus of Albany State University.

The Adairsville track and field teams had six athletes qualify for the GHSA Class AAA State Sectionals in five separate events The qualifying took place April 22-25 at the Region 6-AAA Championship Meet hosted by Calhoun High School. Nakiyah Washington qualified for the state sectionals in the two throwing events; the girls’ 4x100 meter relay team advanced; and Amya Arnold and Danarous Johnson advanced in the long jump. The top four finishers from each event advance to one of two Class AAA state sectionals. The 6-AAA qualifiers will compete at the Pace Academy Riverview Sports Complex in Mableton May 4. Adairsville High School Region 6-AAA Top Fours 1st - Discus Throw - Nakiyah Washington - 107-1 3rd - Shot Put - Nakiyah Washington - 34-2 3rd - Girls 4x100 meter relay team - 54.23 (Amya Arnold, Havyn Isaac, Kedra Bailey, Ji’Leyah Mitchell) 3rd - Long Jump - Amya Arnold - 15-4.5 4th - Long Jump - Danarous Johnson - 19-1.75

Game results from Wednesday, April 24 and Thursday, April 25 in the Cartersville Little League Majors and Bartow County Little League Majors. CARTERSVILLE LITTLE LEAGUE MAJORS Wednesday, April 24 CRACKERS 4, PHILLIES 3 CRACKERS (3-10): Braden Mulkey triple, RBI; J.P. Heater one hit, RBI; Cole Henson, Landon Gore, Carter Callan, and Blake Genrich one hit each. Benjamin Turcotte (2 IP, 1ER, 2H, 3BB, 1K); Mulkey (3 IP, 2R, 0ER, 4H, 2BB, 5K); Dallen Fuqua (1 IP, 0R, 0H, 2BB). PHILLIES (8-5): Nic Wright two hits including one double, RBI; Nolan Elrod two hits, RBI; Griffin Woodall one hit, RBI; Brodie McWhorter triple. Asa Mitcham (2 IP, 0R, 2H, 1BB, 3K); Elrod (2 IP, 2R, 1ER, 1H, 1BB, 4K); Woodall (1 IP, 1ER, 1H, 1BB, 1K); Brodie McWhorter (1 IP, 1ER, 0H, 2BB, 2K). TIGERS 8, PADRES 2 TIGERS (13-0): Casen Cochran two hits, RBI; Bodie Brumlow triple, three RBI; Cam Williams double, RBI; Cameron Cochran and Dawson Sutton one hit, RBI each. Brumlow (6 IP, 2R, 0ER, 3H, 2BB, 6K). PADRES (6-7): John Brady Nichols one hit, RBI; Tristan McKibben and Will Camp one hit each. Julian Cline (1 IP, 5R, 2ER, 3H, 2BB, 1K); McKibben (4 IP, 3R, 2ER, 2H, 2BB, 5K); Jay Sheldon (1 IP, 0R, 1H, 2K). Thursday, April 25 DODGERS 6, BRAVES 5 DODGERS (8-5): Peyton Bowen two hits including a double, two RBI; Talan Nix and Landen Heath two hits, one RBI each; Carter Rice two hits; Caden Benson one hit, two RBI; Isaiah Martin, Peyton Emery, Will Feuerbach, and Clayton McArdle one hit each. Martin (3 IP, 4ER, 4H, 3BB, 3K); Heath (3 IP, 1R, 0ER, 2H, 1BB, 9K). BRAVES (3-10): Davis Waddell and Sydney Seigler one hit, RBI each; Luke Parker, Thomas Peters, Kamdyn Woods, and J.T. Herr one hit each; Zeke Price one RBI. Woods (4 IP, 4ER, 8H, 1BB, 2K); Peters (1 IP, 1ER, 1H, 2BB, 2K); Siegler (1 IP, 1ER, 4H, 0BB, 1K). INDIANS 8, COLTS 4 INDIANS (11-2): Jake Johnson two hits including one triple, three RBI; Halen Bennett two hits including one double, RBI; Owen Dunn two hits, two RBI; Caiden Moore double, RBI; Cooper Adams and Maverick Madonna one hit each. Adam Reed (1 IP, 1ER, 1H, 2BB, 1K); Blake Lutjens (2 IP, 0R, 1H, 2K); Madonna (0.0 IP, 3ER, 0H, 4BB); Dunn (3 IP, 0R, 0H, 1BB, 7K). COLTS (0-13): Peyton Paul and Ashton Lane one hit each. Reed Ezell (4 IP, 7ER, 8H, 3BB, 4K); James Manring (2 IP, 1R, 0ER, 1H, 1BB). BARTOW COUNTY LITTLE LEAGUE MAJORS Wednesday, April 24 TWINS 6, GIANTS 2 TWINS (4-1-1): Dutch Hernandez two hits; Colton O’Neal, Graham Coheley, and Elisha Moore one hit each. Pitcher: Luke Hight and Antonio Barnabas. GIANTS (2-5): James Lee and Carson Waits one hit each. Pitchers: Kayden Cothran TWINS 8, BRAVES 7 TWINS (5-1-1): Antonio Barnabas, Reece Heaton, Robert Mitchell, Luke Hight, Colton O’Neal, and Dutch Hernandez one hit each. Pitchers: Isaac Burnett and Colton O’Neal. BRAVES (3-4): Conner Lujan two hits including a triple; Jackson Nelson double; Noah Williams, Joshua McBroom, Price Higgins, and Logan Smith one hit each. Pitchers: Nelson and Lujan. Thursday, April 25 TWINS 7, RANGERS 1 TWINS (6-1-1): Robert Mitchell two hits including a triple; Colton O’Neal and Dutch Hernandez one hit each. Pitcher: Mitchell. RANGERS (5-3): Brody Shiflett and Righley Worthington one hit each. Pitcher: Harrison Cole. TIGERS 9, METS 3 TIGERS (4-3-1): no hits. Pitcher: Benjamin Abernathy METS (0-8): Landon Cassidy, Andrew Ray, and Anthony Alcazar one hit each. Pitchers: Damian Hale, Joseph McGrew, and Ray. ORIOLES 8, GIANTS 2 ORIOLES (8-0): Kamarion Profit double; Kaiden Coker, Jayden Jinks, Branden Spurgeon, Bryan Gayton, and Hudson Hamilton one hit each. Pitchers: Austin Daves and Dayson Ward. GIANTS (2-6): Carson Waits, Dawson Holbrook, Kayden Cothran, and Cliffton Parker one hit each. Pitchers: Parker and Waits. 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.

The Cartersville High School boys soccer team defeated visiting Madison County 4-1 Friday night to advance to the Sweet Sixteen round of the GHSA Class AAAA State Tournament. Pedro Ghanem and Elian Abeja scored two goals each. John Robinson added the other Hurricanes' goal. The Canes broke the ice in the first half and took a 1-0 lead at the intermission on an unassisted goal by Ghanem in the 35th minute. Abeja put Cartersville up 2-0 in the first five minutes of the second half with an unassisted score and Madison County narrowed the margin to 2-1 with their only goal of the night on a free kick. Ghanem found the net for the second time and lifted the Hurricanes to a 3-1 lead in the game's 55th minute. This time scoring off an assist from Ricardo Torres. Up 3-1, Abeja took a feed from Ghanem four minutes later to make the Canes' lead 4-1 and Robinson added his goal in the 64th minute with the assist coming from Abeja. Cartersville took 27 shots in the game with 18 of those on frame. "We had a great game," said Cartersville head coach D.J. Paradis after the contest. "We dominated possession and played some stout defense." Cartersville (8-7), the 2-seed from Region 5-AAAA, will hit the road for the next round at Region 7-AAAA champion Southeast Whitfield next Thursday. The Raiders defeated Flowery Branch in the first round.

Georgia Highlands College baseball scored three runs in the top of the eighth Friday afternoon to narrow East Georgia State’s lead to one run, but the Chargers would get no closer in a 6-4 conference loss in Swainsboro. East Georgia built a 5-0 lead by the end of the fifth inning, but Georgia Highlands stayed close with a run in the sixth and three more in the eighth to trail 5-4. The Bobcats added a single run in the bottom of the eighth and reliever Jacob Tate closed out the Chargers in the ninth with a pair of groundouts and a strikeout. Scott LeSieur (8 IP, 4ER, 8H, 1BB, 2K) went eight innings on the mound to pick up the pitching win for East Georgia. Dalton Rhadans (5.2 IP, 5R, 4ER, 11H, 2BB, 4K) suffered the pitching loss for Georgia Highlands. Brant Brown (2.1 IP, 1ER, 2H, 1BB, 2K) entered in the sixth and finished the pitching duties for the Chargers. East Georgia out hit GHC thirteen to eight in the contest. Indiana Stanley paced the Bobcats’ offense with three hits and one RBI. Andrew Giles (RBI), Nathan Fancher, and Ryan DelNegro contributed a pair of hits each. Jonathan Brand had two hits including a double for East Georgia. Connor Strickland hit a two-run, fourth inning home run that gave Bobcats a 3-0 lead at the time. Skylar McPhee had two hits including a sixth inning solo home run for Georgia Highlands. Bryson Horne also had a pair of hits. Hunter Moody doubled home three runs for the Chargers in the eighth. Malik Spratling, Willis Kemp, and Austin Foster added one hit apiece. The week-long, four-game series is now even at one game each. The loss drops the Chargers’ season mark to 28-21 overall and 14-12 in the Georgia Collegiate Athletic Association. The two teams will conclude their series Saturday at East Georgia (31-13, 18-7) with a doubleheader.

The Cartersville High School boys’ golf team fired its best round of the 2019 season Thursday and won the Five Star Invitational at Windstone Golf Club in Ringgold by two shots over Christian Heritage. Cartersville’s Buck Brumlow, (photo) a high school sophomore and University of Georgia commit, shot a five-under-par 67 to also win medalist honors. Carson Harris was next for the Canes with a 75, followed by Camden Meadows (76), Jake Wehunt (78), Dalton Henson (78), and Blane Davis (80) for Cartersville. Other teams competing in the one-day event included Heritage-Catoosa, Northwest Whitfield, Dalton, Calhoun, Lafayette, Gordon Lee, Coahulla Creek, North Murray, and Ringgold.

The Woodland High School and Cass High School track and field teams competed in the 2019 Region 7-AAAAA Championship Meet Thursday at Barron Stadium in Rome with the Woodland teams coming away with four girls’ event titles and three boys’ event titles. Woodland’s McKenna Trapheagen won the 1600 meter and 3200 meter runs. Grace Webb won the girls’ high jump, and the Lady Cats’ 4x800M relay team of Marlee Bowles, Erica Boatner, Makenzie Stephenson, and Molly Williams won their event. Overall, the Woodland girls placed third with 103 points. Rome won the girls’ region title with 163 points. The Carrollton girls were second with 143. Paulding County (66) and Villa Rica (59) rounded out the top five teams. Cass placed ninth. In the boys’ championship, Woodland’s John Shropshire took gold in both the 800 meter and 1600 meter runs. Jeven Reliford won the 400 meter dash. The Woodland boys placed fourth and the Cass boys were seventh overall. Rome won the boys region championship with 155 points. The Wolves were followed by Carrollton (118), Paulding County (63), Woodland (62), and East Paulding (53) to round out the top five. Villa Rica (50) was sixth and Cass (46) seventh, followed by Kell (44) and Hiram (33). LOCAL TOP FOUR PLACERS GIRLS 1st - 1600M Run - McKenna Trapheagen - Woodland - 5:02.50 1st - 3200M Run - McKenna Trapheagen - Woodland - 11:12.33 1st - High Jump - Grace Webb - Woodland - 5-04 1st - Woodland 4x800 Relay - 11:51.46 (Marlee Bowles, Erica Boatner, Makenzie Stephenson, Molly Williams) 2nd - 1600M Run - Rylee Evans - Woodland - 5:26.36 2nd - 3200M Run - Rylee Evans - Woodland - 11:48.26 2nd - Discus Throw - Skylar Chappell - Woodland - 105-11 3rd - 800M Run - Baylee Evans - Woodland - 2:28.86 3rd - Pole Vault - Brooke Cooper - Woodland - 8-06 3rd - Discus Throw - Tatiana Christian - Cass - 101-03 4th - 400M Dash - Bella Carnes - Woodland - 1:00.55 4th - 100M Hurdles - Mya Moffit - Woodland - 17.29 4th - High Jump - Sydney Molinaro - Woodland - 5-0 BOYS 1st - 400M Dash - Jeven Reliford - Woodland - 49.77 1st - 800M Run - John Shropshire - Woodland - 2:02.98 1st - 1600M Run - John Shropshire - Woodland - 4:37.18 2nd - Pole Vault - Stephen Smith - Cass - 14-06 2nd - Discus Throw - Nathan Grant - Cass - 137-09 2nd - Woodland 4x800 Relay - 9:19.09 (Kobe Cochran, Kaleb Chance, Pierre Brunet, Bryant Knox) 3rd - 3200M Run - Dylan Stermer - Woodland - 10:19.78 3rd - High Jump - Josh Varnum - Cass - 6-4 3rd - Long Jump - Titus Jones - Woodland - 20-08.5 4th - High Jump - Brandon Martin - Cass - 6-0 4th - Cass 4x100 Relay - 43.15 (Malik Grimes, Josh Varnum, Jaquez Fountain, Ethan Carter) 4th - Woodland 4x400 Relay - 3:32.56 (Zach Avery, John Shropshire, Markal Brown, Jeven Reliford)

The Cartersville girls soccer team had its 2019 season come to a close Thursday night with a 2-0 loss to visiting Oconee County in the first round of the Class AAAA state tournament. With their win, the Lady Warriors improved to 11-7 on the season and will now face the White County / Heritage-Catoosa winner in the second round next Wednesday. Oconee, the 3-seed from Region 8-AAA, would have to travel to Heritage-Catoosa but would host White County. The Lady Canes’ season ends with a 10-7-1 record and was Region 5-AAAA runner-up. The Cartersville boys soccer team will host its first round state tournament game Friday night against Madison County.