Cartersville pitchers Mason Barnett and Gage Morris combined for a four-hit shutout Thursday night as the Hurricanes defeated Bob Jones (AL) 2-0 at the Perfect Game High School Showdown in Hoover, Alabama. Barnett (photo) tossed five innings, scattered four hits and two walks, while striking out six in a head-to-head battle with fellow Auburn University signee, Cam Hill. Morris, the Canes’ reliever and recent LaGrange College signee, needed only four pitches to get three pop up outs for a scoreless sixth and induced two more pop ups and a strikeout in the seventh inning to preserve the shutout. Hill (5 IP, 2ER, 3H, 1BB, 9K) and his reliever Andrew Wright (1 IP, 0R, 0H, 1BB) were almost as effective in a classic high school pitchers’ duel. Preston Welchel got the Canes started offensively with a second inning solo home run over the right field wall. Then with Cartersville leading 1-0 in the third, Kolby Adams singled to left field and later took advantage of a wild pitch and a catcher throwing error to plate the only other run in the game. Cartersville loaded the bases with only one out in the sixth inning, but Wright got the Patriots out of the jam by inducing a ground ball double play. The Canes’ shutout didn’t occur without some drama. Barnett pitched through some tough situations and received help from his defense throughout the night. The Patriots got a runner to third in the second inning, but the Canes’ right-hander got a fly out to end the threat. Bob Jones also had a baserunner cut down at the plate on a two-out hit in the third inning. First baseman J.P. Martin had the assist with catcher Cohen Wilbanks applying the tag to negate a run. Bob Jones threatened again in the fifth inning against Barnett. A walk followed by a passed ball and a wild pitch put Logan Hittle at third. Caden Rose walked to put runners on the corners, but Barnett induced a groundout to first to keep the Patriots off the scoreboard. Bob Jones (7-3) is the No. 2 team in Alabama's Class 7A and was ranked 43rd nationally by Perfect Game entering the tournament. The Patriots finished Thursday with a split of two games. Thy beat Sumrall (MS) 3-1 earlier in the day. Cartersville (8-1) plays Sumrall at 3:30 p.m. Friday with single-elimination bracket play for the tournament starting Friday night.

The Adairsville boys tennis split a pair of matches Thursday night at the Calhoun Recreation Center earning a 3-2 win over Ringgold, but falling to host Calhoun by the same 3-2 score. The Lady Tigers lost to Calhoun, 5-0. The boys completed a match with Ringgold since there was a light failure earlier in the season. Thursday’s results: ADAIRSVILLE BOYS 3, RINGGOLD 2 Singles Line 1 — Cody Kimbrough lost 1-6, 1-6 Line 2 — Cameron O’Neal won 7-5, 7-6 (8-6) Line 3 — Gideon Conant lost 3-6, 2-6 Doubles Line 1 — Landon Swanson / Oak Hemby won 6-2, 6-2 Line 2 — Zach Ogle / Tristin Alford won 6-0, 6-0 CALHOUN 3, ADAIRSVILLE BOYS 2 Singles Line 1 — Oak Hemby lost 0-6, 0-6 Line 2 — Cameron O’Neal lost 1-6, 1-6 Line 3 — Jack Bates lost 5-7, 2-6 Doubles Line 1 — Landon Swanson / Cody Kimbrough won 6-2, 6-4 Line 2 — Zach Ogle / Tristin Alford won 7-5, 6-4 CALHOUN 5, ADAIRSVILLE GIRLS 0 Singles Line 1 — Alexandra Kanturek lost 0-6, 0-6 Line 2 — Madison Camp lost 0-6, 0-6 Line 3 — Courtney Fricks lost 2-6, 0-6 Doubles Line 1 — Olivia Long / Joie Bryant lost 1-6, 3-6 Line 2 — Kayleigh Collum / Kate Faulk lost 1-6, 0-6 NEXT: The Adairsville boys (2-3, 1-2 Region 6-AAA) and Lady Tigers (3-2, 2-1) return to the courts Tuesday for a region match at Murray County. CASS TEAMS DROP MATCHES WITH CARROLLTON The Cass boys and girls tennis teams lost Thursday to Carrollton. The boys fell 4-1 with Line 2 singles player Max McCauley picking up the Colonels' Cass’ only win, 7-6, 7-3. The Cass girls lost 3-2. Line 1 singles player Emily Surcey won her match 6-1, 6-0, and the Line 1 doubles duo of McKenley King and Carli Rediger won 3-6, 6-0, 6-2.

The Cass girls soccer team was blanked 7-0 by Northwest Whitfield last Spring, so the Lady Colonels had some motivation Wednesday night at home against the visiting Lady Bruins. Cass did not finish with a win, but finished the night in a 3-3 draw with the 5-1-1 Lady Bruins. Cass senior Logan Vermaas chased down the first pass of the night and found Michelle Escobar for a goal in the opening minute of the game. That lead held until the final two minutes of the first half when Northwest Whitfield scored to send the game to halftime tied 1-1. Fifteen minutes into the second half, Vermaas scored off a free kick from Maddie Shook to regain the lead at 2-1, but the visiting Lady Bruins scored the next two goals to take a 3-2 second half lead. Vermaas nailed a penalty kick in the final minute of the contest to lift the Lady Colonels to a 3-3 draw. The Cass boys were blanked by undefeated Northwest Whitfield in the nightcap, 6-0. The Lady Colonels (2-4-1, 0-2) and Colonels (2-5, 0-2) return to Region 7-AAAAA action Friday at Woodland. WOODLAND TEAMS EDGED AT KELL The Woodland boys (1-2-2, 1-1) got a second half goal from Orlando Mendoza Tuesday night at Kell, but it was not enough to overcome the Longhorns in a 2-1 Region 7-AAAAA loss. The Lady Cats (1-5, 1-1) were also edged by Kell, 1-0. Woodland hosts Cass Friday night.

Two nights after Cass baseball knocked off Class AAAAA 7th-ranked Villa Rica at home, the Wildcats made fast work of the Colonels on their home field Wednesday evening 12-2 in five innings. Cass scored the first two runs of the game in the top of the second, but Villa Rica took a 3-2 lead in the third and added on four runs in the fourth and five more in the fifth. The Colonels managed only one hit on the night — a two-run double off the bat of Bryson Markley (photo). Johnny Bravy tossed a complete game for the Wildcats who belted out 10 hits in their win. Cass starter Logan Nelson (4 IP, 7ER, 9H, 3BB, 2K) took the loss. Villa Rica is now 4-6 overall and 1-1 in region action. Cass (5-5, 1-1) plays at Hiram Friday at 5:55 p.m.

On a day that began with sunny skies and game time temperatures in the lower 40s, the temperatures eventually dipped near the freezing mark and Woodland split a Region 7-AAAAA doubleheader at Paulding County. Woodland won the opener 4-1, but Paulding County outlasted the Wildcats in the nightcap 6-5 in extra innings. PHOTO: Zach Wilson had three hits and three RBIs in Woodland's doubleheader Wednesday at Paulding County. In addition, as of Tuesday, Colby Coursey is no longer the head coach of the Wildcats. Assistant Matt Montgomery has replaced Coursey as the interim head coach. A reason for the change was not provided by the school. Bartow County School System spokesperson Alisha Evans wrote in an emailed statement Wednesday to The Daily Tribune News, "As customary with personnel matters and out of respect for Bartow County School System employees and their privacy, the District respectfully declines to comment on the recent Woodland High School baseball coaching change." Woodland Athletic Director John Howard confirmed Coursey is still a Bartow County employee but no longer the head baseball coach. Baseball continues, however, and Woodland scored a single run in the fourth inning of the opener without benefit of a hit. J.T. Hampton entered as a courtesy runner after catcher Bailey Ward wangled a base on balls. Hampton advanced to third on a wild pitch and defensive indifference and eventually scored on another wild pitch. The Wildcats added a run in the fifth when Zach Wilson singled to open the frame and Peyton Posey doubled him home. Wilson smacked a two-run home run to left field to add on in the bottom of the sixth inning. The Patriots threatened in the top of the seventh scoring a run and had the potential go-ahead run to the plate, but the rally was thwarted when the final out was recorded in a rundown between home and third after a Marco Lopez RBI single. Koby Stansel (6 IP, 0R, 2H, 5BB, 4K) started on the mound for Woodland and earned the win. Peyton Posey (1 IP, 1R, 0ER, 2H, 1BB, 2K) worked the final frame for the Wildcats. Wilson and Scotty Smith finished with two hits. Posey and Ben Ammons had the other Woodland base hits. Four Patriots finished with one hit each. In Game 2, Woodland out hit the Patriots ten to five but Paulding County came away with the victory. Paulding County took a 3-1 lead through three innings before Woodland gained a 4-3 lead in the top of the fifth. The Patriots went ahead 5-4 in the bottom of the fifth, but the Wildcats sent the game to an extra inning with a run in the seventh. After Woodland failed to score in the top of the eighth, Paulding County took advantage of two walks, a wild pitch, and an error to plate the game-winning run. Woodland’s Bailey Ward (2.1 IP, 1ER, 2H, 2BB, 5K) was saddled with the pitching loss in relief of starter Ben Ammons (5 IP, 5ER, 4H, 5BB, 7K). Toby Queen had two hits for the Wildcats with one RBI. Carter Heath and Koby Stansel both doubled and had one RBI apiece. Fisher Davis (RBI), Zach Wilson (RBI), Carter Heath (RBI), Phoenix Cramer, and Scotty Smith added one hit each for the Wildcats. Paulding utilized four pitchers in their win with Robbie Reeves (2.2 IP, 1ER, 3H, 2B, 3K) earning the decision. Karson Cofer homered for the Patriots. Jacob Harper had a three RBI game for Paulding County. Paulding County is now 2-4 overall and 1-1 in Region 7-AAAAA. Woodland (3-5, 1-1) hosts Rome Friday at 5:55 p.m.

The Woodland girls tennis team defeated Hiram 3-2 Wednesday evening in a Region 7-AAAAA match at Woodland. The Lady Cats earned wins at both doubles lines and Breanna Shook won 6-2, 6-4 at Line 2 singles. Emma Savage and Eryn Gentry won at Line 1 doubles, 6-2, 6-7, 6-2. Monterya Morrow and Abby Spaulding took Line 2 doubles for the Lady Cats, 6-4, 6-3. The boys were not in action. The next match for Woodland is Tuesday against Cass at Hamilton Crossing Park.

Georgia Highlands baseball bounced back from a one-sided loss to East Georgia CC Saturday afternoon at LakePoint to even the Chargers’ conference record with a 9-5 win Wednesday night at Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College in Tifton. Georgia Highlands started fast to take a 5-0 lead into the fourth inning. ABAC scored three runs across the fourth and fifth innings, but GHC maintained a 6-3 advantage heading to the eighth. The Chargers added three runs in the top of the ninth to secure the win and held on for a four run victory. Georgia Highlands starting pitcher Zach Fordham (3.2 IP, 1ER, 4H, 1BB, 5K) was credited with the win. Skylar McPhee (1.1 IP, 2ER, 1H, 2BB, 2K), Brant Brown (2.2 IP, 1R, 0ER, 2H, 1BB, 6K), Logan Ward (1 IP, 1ER, 0H, 7BB) worked in middle relief. Ryan Smithson was called on to strike out the final ABAC batter and earned a save. McPhee had a 4-for-4 day at the plate with a double, triple, walk and two RBIs. Malik Spratling (photo) hit a pair of solo home runs. Parker Orr homered and had three RBIs. Hunter Moody (double, 2 RBIs), Bryson Horne, and Blake Brady added one hit apiece. Georgia Highlands (13-8, 1-1 Georgia Collegiate Athletic Association) completes a four-game series with ABAC this weekend at LakePoint with a single game Friday at 5 p.m. and a doubleheader Saturday at 1 p.m.

Fresh off their win of the inaugural Battle for Bartow Baseball Classic last weekend at LakePoint, the Cartersville baseball team will take on some of the elite programs in the nation this weekend at the PG High School Showdown at the Hoover Met Sports Complex in Hoover, Alabama. Games begin Thursday evening for the 24-team field with the Purple Hurricanes opening play at 8:30 p.m. CT against the Bob Jones Patriots of Madison, Alabama. Canes’ ace Mason Barnett is the schedule starter and will square off against the Patriots’ Camden Hill, a fellow Auburn commit. On Friday, Cartersville will play the Sumrall High School Bobcats of Sumrall, Mississippi at 3:30 p.m. to complete preliminary pool games. A championship bracket will begin Friday evening and continue Saturday along with consolation games. The teams in the 7th annual PG Showdown are divided into two, 12-team divisions for two pool games prior to a single-elimination championship bracket. All teams are guaranteed four games which may include consolation games. Since the event began in 2013, the PG Showdown has produced 131 MLB drafted players and over 1,100 collegiate commitments. Cartersville (7-1) will play Sonoraville on Saturday, March 16 at State Mutual Stadium in Rome before opening Region 5-AAAA play Monday, March 18 at LaGrange.

The Cartersville girls and boys soccer teams defeated Sandy Creek Tuesday night at home to begin their 2019 Region 5-AAAA slates with victories. Kalyn Donegan scored both goals in the Lady Canes’ 2-0 victory. She was assisted by Kendyl Anderson on the first goal 17 minutes into the game. In a similar amount of time into the second half, Donegan found the net again off a feed from Abbey Craig. Junior keeper Brittany Lewis secured the shutout at the back end of the Lady Canes’ defense. Cartersville (4-2-1, 1-0) plays at Chapel Hill Friday. In the boys match with the Patriots, Pedro Ghanem scored the game-deciding goal in the final two minutes as the Hurricanes escaped with a 2-1 win. Joel Zazueta assisted on the game winner. Cartersville scored first on an Elian Abeja goal from 35 yards out. Ricardo Torres was credited with an assist. Sandy Creek knotted the score at 1-1 before halftime and the score remained that way until the final two minutes. Cartersville (3-3, 1-0) faces another Region 5-AAAA challenge Friday night at Chapel Hill.

The Adairsville High School tennis teams split matches with Region 6-AAA rival Sonoraville Tuesday night with the Lady Tigers winning 5-0 and the Sonoraville boys winning by an identical score. The Adairsville girls improved to 3-1 overall and 2-0 in region action. The Tigers are 1-2 overall and 0-1 in the region. ADAIRSVILLE GIRLS 5, SONORAVILLE 0 SINGLES Line 1 — Alexandra Kanturek won 7-5, 6-2 Line 2 — Madison Camp won 6-2, 6-2 Line 3 — Courtney Fricks won 6-2, 6-2 DOUBLES Line 1 — Olivia Long / Megan Smith won 6-0, 6-3 Line 2 — Kayleigh Collum / Kate Faulk won 6-7 (5-7), 6-1, 10-8 SONORAVILLE 5, ADAIRSVILLE BOYS 0 SINGLES Line 1 — Cody Kimbrough lost 3-6, 7-5, 2-6 Line 2 — Cameron O’Neal lost 4-6, 2-6 Line 3 — Oak Hemby lost 3-6, 2-6 DOUBLES Line 1 — Landon Swanson / Zach Ogle lost 4-6, 3-6 Line 2 — Justin Baldwin / Tristin Alford lost 4-6, 3-6 Next: Thursday — Adairsville at Calhoun (both) — Adairsville vs. Ringgold (at Calhoun Rec Center)

The Woodland tennis teams swept to a pair of 5-0 wins Tuesday evening over Region 7-AAAAA opponent, East Paulding. Bryce VanOrder at Line 1 and Connor Gunnell at Line 2 won their singles matches in straight sets without dropping a game and the remainder of the Raiders’ lines were forfeited as the Wildcats won 5-0. The Lady Cats got singles wins from Becky Wesley at Line 1 (6-2, 7-5); Breanna Shook at Line 2 (6-1, 6-0); and Kayla Gales (6-0, 6-4). Emma Savage and Eryn Gentry won Line 1 doubles for the Lady Cats (7-6, 6-2). Abigail Spaulding and Monterya Morrow won Line 2 doubles 6-0, 6-0. The Woodland girls host Hiram Wednesday and both teams play Cass next Tuesday at Hamilton Crossing Park.

The Cass High School boys' basketball coaching staff will be holding a pair of skills camps on May 30 and June 1 for players in grades 5 through 12. The May 30 event will be a Shooting Academy. On June 1, the staff will host a Ball Handling Boot Camp. For more information, and to download a registration form, visit the Cass Basketball website -- https://www.cassbball.com/blog/cass-bball-summer-skills-camps