Woodland girls and boys tennis teams both won the Panther Invitational Tournament Saturday at Sugar Creek Golf and Tennis Club in Atlanta. The Lady Cats captured the eight-team tournament with wins over Southwest Dekalb, Eagles Landing, and Westlake in the championship match. The Wildcats took wins over Langston Hughes and Tucker before defeating host Southwest Dekalb in the finals. In boys action, Woodland’s Bryce VanOrder won all three of his matches on the day as did Connor Gunnell at Line 2 singles. The Wildcats’ Line 2 doubles team of Garrett Wesley and Mason Tucker also went unbeaten on the day with two wins and a forfeit. The Line 1 boys double tandem of Adam Pirkle and Keegan Gallagher lost in the finals match, but had two wins on the day and Ian VanOrder picked up a semifinal win to help the Wildcats to the finals. Bella Isaacson and Monterya Morrow combined at Line 2 doubles to win all three of their matches on the day for the Lady Cats. Kayla Gales had a pair of singles victories, while Breanna Shook, Becky Wesley, Eryn Gentry, and Emma Savage all contributed singles wins at various stages throughout the day. Gentry was also part of two doubles wins.

Nic Wallin throws out the honorary first pitch Saturday to Woodland's Carter Heath at the Bartow County Little League Opening Day ceremonies at Hamilton Crossing Park. Bartow County Little League Softball and Baseball began its 2019 seasons Saturday with Opening Day Ceremonies at Hamilton Crossing Park and a full slate of games. Baseball and softball teams in all age groups were recognized on the field with ceremonies that included the honoring of Betty Teague at the softball ceremonies and Cass High School baseball player Nic Wallin at the baseball ceremony. Wallin is battling leukemia and was asked to throw out the ceremonial first pitch at the Little League Baseball ceremony. (photo) Various fund raiser activities continued throughout the day as well on behalf of Wallin. Little League Baseball Major games Saturday included the Braves against the Cardinals, Tigers vs. Mets, Orioles vs. Giants, and Rangers against the Twins. The 12U Little League softball regular season also got underway Saturday with Kentucky taking on LSU, Georgia vs. Alabama, Kansas against Florida, and Auburn taking on Georgia Tech. The regular season continues through May 16 for baseball and through May 21 for softball. 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 Georgia Highlands Chargers baseball team split a Saturday doubleheader with Gordon State CC winning the opener 9-6 but dropping the second game, 5-1, at LakePoint. With the doubleheader split, Gordon State wins the week-long, four-game series three games to one and continues to lead the Georgia Collegiate Athletic Association conference standings by a game over East Georgia CC. In the first game Saturday, the Chargers led 4-0 after two innings and never trailed. The visiting Highlanders cut Georgia Highlands’ lead to 4-1 in the third and cut it to 6-5 in the top of the fifth, but a three-run Chargers’ fifth inning pushed the lead to 9-5 and GHC held on for a three-run win. Stevie Szucs (5 IP, 5ER, 8H, 1BB, 3K) tossed five innings for the Chargers’ pitching win. Logan Ward (2 IP, 1ER, 1H, 3BB, 3K) earned a two-inning save. Alex Marquand had two hits including a double and four RBI to pace the Georgia Highlands offense. Trace Twardoski contributed two hits and two RBI. Skylar McPhee also added two hits including a double and one RBI. In Game 2 Saturday, Gordon State pitcher Kolby Johnson (7 IP, 1ER, 3H, 2BB, 7K) tossed a complete game three-hitter to lead the Highlanders past the Chargers. The Highlanders took a 1-0 lead in the first inning and added a four-run third inning that turned out to be the difference in the game. Georgia Highlands’ only run came in the bottom of the third on a solo home run by Parker Orr. Jay Pendley had two hits for Gordon State and Cole Phillips drove in two runs with a double. Jacob Meyer (3 IP, 5ER, 7H, 3BB, 1K) suffered the pitching loss for Georgia Highlands. Dalton Rhadans (4 IP, 0R, 1H, 4K) tossed four scoreless innings of relief for the Chargers. Gordon State is now 23-4 overall and 6-1 in the GCAA. Georgia Highlands (18-12, 6-5) currently sits in third place in the conference. The Chargers open a four-game series with fourth place South Georgia CC Tuesday at 5 p.m. at LakePoint. The second game of the series will be Friday night at South Georgia and the series will conclude with a doubleheader back at LakePoint on Saturday, March 30.

Two complete weeks of regular season action are in the books with the Cartersville Little League-Major Tigers and Dodgers remaining unbeaten through five games. In the Minor League, the A's are 4-0 followed by the Cubs at 3-0-1 while the Rookie League Mets lead that league with a 3-0-1 mark. Cartersville Little League Majors Thursday, March 21 DODGERS 9, COLTS 6 DODGERS: Isaiah Martin two hits including one double, two RBI; Carter Rice two hits including one double, one RBI; William Nelson one hit, one RBI; Peyton Bowen one triple; Talan Nix one hit; Mason James one RBI. Nelson (2.1 IP, 5R, 4ER, 4H, 1BB, 2K); Martin (2.2 IP, 1R, 0ER, 5H, 0BB, 4K). COLTS: Reed Ezell three hits including one double, two RBI; Clint Hosea two hits, two RBI; Collier Jordan two hits; Traver Groves one hit, two RBI; Ashton Lane one hit. Groves (2 IP, 5ER, 1H, 7BB, 4K); James Manring (2.2 IP, 4ER, 7H, 2BB, 3K). INDIANS 9, BRAVES 3 INDIANS: Jake Johnson three hit including a double; Logan Shrewsbury and Owen Dunn two hits with one double, one RBI each; Maddox Frazier one hit, one RBI. Cooper Adams (1.1 IP, 2ER, 1H, 2BB, 3K); Andrew Lutjens (2.2 IP, 1R, 0ER, 0H, 1BB, 7K); Johnson (2 IP, 0R, 0H, 1BB, 5K). BRAVES: Zeke Price one hit, one RBI; Clifton Harshaw one RBI. Davis Waddell (4 IP, 6R, 3ER, 5H, 1BB, 6K); Kamdyn Woods (2 IP, 3R, 2ER, 3H, 1BB, 2K). PHILLIES 4, PADRES 1 PHILLIES: Brodie McWhorter two hits, one RBI; Nolan Elrod one hit, two RBI; Griffin Woodall, Harris Turner, Asa Mitcham, Nic Wright one hit each. Brodie McWhorter (4.1 IP, 0R, 1H, 6BB, 11K); Woodall (1.2 IP, 1ER, 2H, 1BB). PADRES: John Brady Nichols one hit, one RBI; JP Gooch, Logan Buchanan, and Julian Cline one hit each. Tristan McKibben (4 IP, 4R, 2ER, 6H, 2BB, 5K); Cline (1 IP, 0R, 1H, 1BB, 1K). TIGERS 8, CRACKERS 7 TIGERS: Cameron Cochran one triple, one home run, two RBI; Bodie Brumlow one triple, one double; Brayden Channell one hit, one RBI; Casen Cochran, Lyle Woody one hit each. Brumlow (4.2 IP, 3R, 2ER, 6H, 2BB, 5K); Woody (1 IP, 4R, 1ER, 2H, 1BB); Cameron Cochran (0.1 IP, 1K). CRACKERS: Benjamin Turcotte three hits including one double, one RBI; JP Heater two hits including one double, three RBI; Brody Bohn one hit, one RBI; Braden Mulkey and Dallen Fuqua one hit each. Turcotte (2.1 IP, 3ER, 4H, 1BB, 1K); Heater (1.1 IP, 5R, 0ER, 2H, 2BB, 2K); Cooper Norris (2.1 IP, 0R, 1H, 2K). STANDINGS Dodgers . . . . . . . . . . . 5-0 Tigers . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-0 Indians . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-1 Phillies . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-1 Padres . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-4 Braves . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-4 Crackers . . . . . . . . . . 0-5 Colts . . . . . . . . . . . . . 0-5 Tuesday, March 26 5:45 - Crackers v. Colts - JFH 5:45 - Phillies v. Tigers - RY 7:45 - Braves v. Padres - JFH 7:45 - Dodgers v. Indians - RY Thursday, March 28 5:45 - Indians v. Dodgers - JFH 5:45 - Padres v. Braves - RY 7:45 - Tigers v. Phillies - JFH 7:45 - Colts v. Crackers - RY CARTERSVILLE LITTLE LEAGUE - MINOR STANDINGS (through March 21) A’s . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-0 Cubs . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-0-1 White Sox . . . . . . . . 2-1 Orioles . . . . . . . . . . . 1-2 Reds . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-3 Rockies . . . . . . . . . . . 0-2-1 Red Sox . . . . . . . . . . . 0-3 CARTERSVILLE LITTLE LEAGUE - ROOKIE STANDINGS (through March 21) Mets . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-0-1 Rays . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-2 Giants . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-2 Yankees . . . . . . . . . . . .1-2-1 Nationals . . . . . . . . . . . 1-3 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 Adairsville baseball team scored six runs over the last two innings for a come-from-behind 10-7 win Friday night at North Murray. The Tigers led 3-0 after one inning, but North Murray battled back to lead 7-4 through five innings. Adairsville scored three runs in the top of the sixth to knot the score at 7-7, then scored three more times in the top of the seventh for a 10-7 lead. Braden Powell, who worked the final three innings on the mound for the Tigers, limited the Mountaineers to a single in the bottom of the seventh but no other baserunners to secure the three-run Region 6-AAA win. Trace Still had three hits including a double and three RBI to pace the Adairsville offense. Chase Horn (RBI) and Jacob Ray contributed two hits each. Evan Henry and Landon Ayers had one hit and one RBI apiece. Elijah Padgett and Levi Blackwell added one hit each. Levi Blackwell (3.2 IP, 6R, 5ER, 7H, 4BB, 3K) started on the mound for the Tigers. Noah Nation (0.1 IP, 1ER, 1H, 2BB, 1K) retired the final out in the fourth inning and Powell (3 IP, 0R, 2H, 4K) earned the pitching win with three innings of relief work. With the loss, North Murray slips to 5-6 overall and 3-3 in Region 6-AAA. Adairsville (2-9, 1-4) hosts Coahulla Creek Monday at 5:55 p.m.

The Cass girls soccer team certainly kept their state playoff hopes alive Friday night with a 2-1 overtime win over visiting Villa Rica at Cochran Stadium. After the two teams battled to a 2-2 draw in regulation time, the Lady Colonels got a goal by Leidi Toribio off an assist from Maddie Shook with about two minutes remaining in overtime to secure their third region win. Logan Vermaas scored the two Cass goals in regulation. One on a feed from Lupita Pineda and the second on a penalty kick. The Lady Colonels (5-5-1, 3-3 Region 7-AAAAA) have important region contests this week with Paulding County and Kell to determine their post-season fate. Cass hosts Paulding County Tuesday, travels to non-region Cedartown Wednesday, and makes the trip to Kell on Friday. All games are 5:45 p.m. kickoffs. VILLA RICA 1, CASS BOYS 0 Later in the evening Friday, the Cass boys suffered a heartbreaking 1-0 loss to Villa Rica. The visiting Wildcats scored a first half goal for the only tally of the night. Cass had a penalty kick opportunity that failed in the second half. Colonels’ keeper Isai Romero finished with eight saves at the back of the Colonels’ defense. The Cass boys (3-8, 1-5 Region 7-AAAAA) host Paulding County Tuesday in another region game then travel to non-region Cedartown Wednesday prior to a trip to Kell on Friday. All three games are 7:45 p.m. kickoffs. EAST PAULDING 3, WOODLAND GIRLS 0 The Woodland girls trailed 1-0 at halftime and failed to score in a 3-0 loss to the Lady Raiders. The Lady Cats (2-9, 1-5 Region 7-AAAAA) play at Adairsville Wednesday at 5 p.m. WOODLAND BOYS 4, EAST PAULDING 3 The Woodland boys soccer team won a penalty shootout Friday night to defeat Region 7-AAAAA foe East Paulding 4-3. Woodland led 3-1 at the intermission on goals by Miguel Hernandez, Raul Gonzalez, and Jayson Jeske but the Raiders scored twice in the second half to send the game to overtime. Neither team scored in the two 15-minute overtime periods sending the game to a penalty shot shootout. The Wildcats (3-5-2, 2-4) play a non-region match at Adairsville Wednesday at 7 p.m.

The Purple Hurricanes scored in every inning and had little trouble in a 14-3 Region 5-AAAA win Friday at Central-Carroll. It was a fifth straight win for Class 4A second-ranked Cartersville since dropping a pair of games at the Perfect Game Showdown Tournament in Hoover, Alabama. The Canes took an 8-0 lead in the second inning before Central scored three, unearned runs in the bottom of the second. Cartersville then added single runs in the third and fourth innings and a four-spot in the fifth inning to win in five innings. Logan Martin (4 IP, 3R, 0ER, 6H, 2BB, 6K) earned the pitching victory for the Hurricanes with a four-inning start. Gage Morris (1 IP, 0R, 1K) closed out the fifth inning on the bump. Canes’ leadoff hitter Josh Davis (photo) was 4-for-5 at the plate with two doubles and two RBI. Preston Welchel followed with two hits and one RBI. J.P. Martin cleared the bases in the first inning with a bases loaded triple. Ian Inaba (2 RBI), Brant Smith (RBI), and Cohen Wilbanks (RBI) had one hit each. Jordan Wilkie added a pair of RBI with groundouts. Cartersville (14-3, 3-0) hosts Central (7-11, 0-3) in the second game of the region home-and-home series Monday at 5:55 p.m. at Richard Bell Field.

The Adairsville boys tennis team blanked North Murray 5-0 in Chatsworth Friday afternoon, but the Lady Tigers lost in a 3-2 decision to the Lady Mountaineers. ADAIRSVILLE BOYS 5, NORTH MURRAY 0 Singles Line 1 — Jack Bates won 6-1, 6-0 Line 2 — Cameron O’Neal won 6-0, 6-0 Line 3 — Oak Hemby won 6-1, 6-1 Doubles Line 1 — Landon Swanson/Cody Kimbrough won 6-1, 6-1 Line 2 — Zach Ogle/Justin Baldwin won 6-2, 6-4 NORTH MURRAY 3, ADAIRSVILLE GIRLS 2 Singles Line 1 — Megan Smith won 6-3, 6-1 Line 2 — Madison Camp lost 3-6, 1-6 Line 3 — Alexandra Kanturek won 6-0, 6-0 Doubles Line 1 — Olivia Long / Courtney Fricks lost 2-6, 3-6 Line 2 — Kate Faulk / Kayleigh Collum lost 4-6, 0-6 The Tigers (5-4, 4-3 Region 6-AAA) and Lady Tigers (4-5, 3-4) play at Chattooga Monday in a non-region match.

The Cartersville boys team finished first and the Lady Canes were second in a five-team track and field meet Thursday hosted by Darlington High School in Rome. The Canes scored 187 points and finished ahead of Cedartown (164), Darlington (125), Pepperell (98) and Model (37). The Darlington girls narrowly outscored Cartersville 159-157 with Cedartown third (130), Pepperell fourth (74), and Model fifth (73). Top three placers for the Cartersville girls: Demya Bryan — 2nd — Girls 100M (13.77) Josie Turner — 1st — Girls 400M (1:07.26) Olamide Sadiku — 2nd — Girls 400M (1:08.84) Demya Bryan — 2nd — Girls 200M (28.62) Aaliyah Daniel — 3rd — Girls 200M (29.03) Trinity Atkins — 2nd — Girls 800M (2:46.46) Trinity Atkins — 2nd — Girls 1600M (6:21.05) McKinsey Spinks — 2nd — Girls 3200M (14:07.93) Cartersville — 2nd — Girls 4x100M Relay (Demya Bryan, Aaliyah Daniel, Josie Turner, Destiny Nesbitt) (52.47) Cartersville — 2nd — Girls 4x400M Relay (Demya Bryan, Josie Turner, Aaliyah Daniel, London Moultrie) (4:41.75) Destiny Nesbitt — 3rd — Girls Long Jump (14-06) London Shaw — 1st — Girls Shot Put (35-00) London Shaw — 1st — Girls Discus Throw (112-01) Top three placers for the Cartersville boys: Donovan Dennis — 3rd — Boys 400M (54.61) Bill Archer — 1st — Boys 800M (2:11.35) Max Florence — 3rd — Boys 800M (2:14.06) Bill Archer — 1st — Boys 1600M (4:57.93) Harrison Banks — 1st — Boys 3200M (10:51.05) Parker Breedlove — 2nd — Boys 3200M (10:58.65) Daniel Ejieke — 2nd — Boys 110M Hurdles (16.47) Daniel Ejieke — 2nd — Boys 300M Hurdles (42.00) Chris Ejieke — 3rd — Boys 300M Hurdles (43.00) Cartersville — 3rd — Boys 4x400M Relay (Donovan Dennis, Matthew Wilson, Chris Ejieke, Bill Archer (3:44.11) Jadon Martin — 2nd — Boys High Jump (5-06) Nick Bebko — 1st — Boys Pole Vault (12-06) Jack Merritt — 3rd — Boys Pole Vault (10-06) Jadon Martin — 2nd — Boys Long Jump (20-05) Michael Abernathy — 2nd — Boys Discus Throw (124-10.75) COMPLETE MEET RESULTS -- LINK The Cartersville track and field teams will compete in the Dalton Invitational on Saturday.

Carrollton scored early and often Thursday at home to make short work of the Woodland Wildcats in the first game of a two-game Region 7-AAAAA home-and-home series. The host Trojans blanked Woodland 15-0 in four innings and limited the Wildcats to only one hit — a third inning single by Fisher Davis. Carrollton starting pitcher Chris Gater (3 IP, 0R, 1H, 1K) and reliever Colton Cosper (1 IP, 0R, 0H, 1K) silenced the Woodland bats. The Trojans connected for a dozen hits with Asa Awbrey (2 RBI), Brandon Prince (RBI), and Charlie Lanier (RBI) leading the way with two hits each. Koby Stansel (3 IP, 13R, 10ER, 11H, 2BB) suffered the pitching loss. Trent Porter (0.1 IP, 2R, 1ER) was on the mound in the bottom of the fourth when the Trojans ended the game with Ryan Anderson’s inside-the-park two-run home run. Woodland (9-7, 5-4) will host Carrollton (14-4, 5-2) Monday at 5:55 p.m.

Sonoraville scored a season-high 20 runs Thursday night at Adairsville to even their season record and region mark with a 20-7 win over the Tigers. The visiting Phoenix sent twelve men to the plate and scored eight runs in the top of the first inning and eased to a five-inning Region 6-AAA victory. Beau Bullard (3 IP, 4R, 1ER, 7H, 1BB, 2K) garnered the pitching win for Sonoraville. Matthew Parrott (2 IP, 3ER, 5H, 2BB, 1K) closed out the final two innings for the Phoenix. Five different Tigers pitched in the loss with half of Sonoraville’s runs unearned. Adairsville committed four errors. Elijah Padgett, who did not get through the first inning, was tagged with the loss. Wade Conduff, Jacob Ray, Logan Hunt, and Brenden Carroll all pitched in the contest for Adairsville. Hagan Steely, Jacob Cornette, and Cole Gross had two hits each for Sonoraville. Tyler Sheriff (2 RBI), Padgett (RBI), and Conduff (RBI) finished with two hits each for Adairsville. Chase Horn (RBI), Trace Still (RBI), B.J. Roper, Hunt, and Ray added one hit apiece. Sonoraville improved to 7-7 overall and 2-2 in Region 6-AAA. Adairsville (1-10, 0-5) hosts Coahulla Creek Tuesday.

Georgia Highlands’ baseball led conference leader Gordon College 4-1 through five innings Thursday at LakePoint, but the visiting Highlanders scored seven unanswered runs over the next three innings to beat the Chargers, 8-4. Georgia Highlands out hit Gordon 18 to 11, but the Highlanders made more of their opportunities and had a pair of long balls. Sam Kuchinski and Ethan Scott both homered for Gordon. Jason Fointno, Sam Sly, Paul Grazzini, and Kuchinski all had two hits each. Lavoisier Fisher, Bryson Horne, and Skylar McPhee finished with three hits apiece for Georgia Highlands. Trace Twardoski (1.2 IP, 1ER, 2H) suffered the pitching loss for the Chargers in relief of starter Brant Brown (5.1 IP, 4R, 3ER, 5H, 4BB, 6K). Ryan Smithson (1 IP, 3R, 2ER, 4H) and Brady Barker (1 IP, 1BB, 1K) worked the eighth and ninth innings on the mound. Gordon improved to 23-4 overall and 6-1 in the GCAA. Georgia Highlands (18-12, 6-5) hosts a doubleheader between the two teams Saturday at 1 p.m. at LakePoint to conclude the four-game conference series.