Conference leader Gordon College pounded out 17 hits Tuesday in Barnesville to cruise past visiting Georgia Highlands 13-3 in the first game of a four-game series this week between the two GCAA rivals. The Chargers cut Gordon’s lead to 4-2 in the fourth inning, but the host Highlanders scored five runs in the fifth, two in the sixth, and two more in the eighth inning to pull away. Jason Fointno and Sam Sly combined for seven hits and four RBIs to pace Gordon College at the plate. Three more Highlanders — Cole Phillips who homered, Jay Pendley, and Sam Kuchinski — added two hits apiece. The Chargers managed only four hits in the loss — a home run by Skylar McPhee, a triple by Trace Twardoski, and singles by Bryson Horne and Hunter Moody. Georgia Highlands’ starting pitcher Zach Fordham (2 IP, 4ER, 2H, 5BB, 2K) suffered the loss after only going two innings. Levi Ayers (2.1 IP, 3ER, 4H, 1BB, 1K), Brady Barker (1.2 IP, 4ER, 6H, 1K), Ethan Underwood (1 IP, 0R, 1H), and Casey Thurmond (0.1 IP, 2ER, 4H) all pitched in relief for the Chargers. Gordon College improved to 22-4 overall and 5-1 in GCAA action. Georgia Highlands (18-11, 6-4) will host the final three games of the series with a single game Thursday and a doubleheader Saturday.

The current best performances of the 2019 season for local high school track and field athletes. Updated through March 18, 2019 SP= Shot Put DT = Discus Throw LJ = Lone Jump TJ = Triple Jump HJ = High Jump PV = Pole Vault

Bartow County Little League Softball and Baseball will begin its 2019 season this Saturday with Opening Day Ceremonies and a full slate of games. The Little League Baseball Opening Day ceremonies will begin at 9 a.m. at Hamilton Crossing Park with all teams and participants asked to arrive for line-up on their assigned field by 8:30 a.m. T-ball, 6-year-old, and 8-year-old baseball will be recognized on Field 11. The 8/9-year-old AA, and Minor AAA teams will be recognized on Field 9 and the Little League Major teams will be recognized on Field 10. All three of the Bartow County high school baseball teams — Adairsville, Cass, and Woodland — will participate in the Opening Day ceremonies and there will be a Challenger League game to immediately follow the ceremony. Bartow County Little League will also be recognizing and honoring Cass High School baseball player Nic Wallin. He will throw out the season’s First Pitch and there will be on-going fund raisers throughout the day to assist Nic and his family in his battle with leukemia. The full slate of Little League baseball games will begin at 11:30 a.m. Bartow County Little League Softball will have its Opening Day ceremonies starting at 10:30 a.m. All participants are asked to arrive for lineup no later than 10 a.m. The 6U and 8U softball teams will be recognized on Field 7. The 10U and 12U softball teams will be recognized on Field 6. Bartow County Little League Softball will recognize Betty Teague for her years of service to youth programs throughout Bartow County. She will also throw out the season’s first pitch.

Cass took an early 3-0 lead off Woodland pitcher Peyton Posey Monday night, but the sophomore right hander settled in after a three-run second inning to get through six innings and defeat the Colonels, 6-4. Posey (6 IP, 3ER, 7H, 2BB, 5K, photo) was followed by Ben Ammons (1 IP, 1R, 0ER, 1H, 3K) who gave up an unearned run in the seventh, but struck out the side to record a save. Bailey Ward had a four-hit game at the top of the Wildcats’ order including a double. Toby Queen (2 RBI) and Peyton Posey (double) followed with two hits each. Carter Heath, Koby Stansel, and Marco Haro all contributed one hit and one RBI for Woodland. Zach Wilson had the remaining Wildcats’ hit. Logan Nelson (3.2 IP, 4ER, 8H, 2BB, 1K) started on the mound for Cass and suffered the pitching loss. Trey Scott (2.1 IP, 2ER, 3H, 2BB) entered in the fourth inning and worked through the sixth. Thomas Botts (1 IP, 0R, 2H) pitched the seventh for the Colonels. Jordan Gani (RBI), Bryson Markley, and Nelson (RBI) had two hits apiece for Cass. Matt Shook doubled home a run in the seventh inning. Clay Means had a double and Sam Melton added one hit. Woodland (7-7, 4-3) will host Cass (7-8, 3-4) in the second game of this region home-and-home series Wednesday at 5:55 p.m.

Updates for local athletes in professional basketball plus college hoops, golf, tennis, and track & field for the week ending March 17. The baseball and softball updates for the week may be viewed at this LINK. PRO BASKETBALL A.J. Mosby (Erie Bayhawks, NBA G League; Cartersville) — Mosby saw plenty of action in three games for the Bayhawks this past week, but the Atlanta Hawks affiliate lost all three contests. He started at shooting guard and played 21 minutes Tuesday against Capital City, finishing with six points, three assists and two rebounds. The next day, Mosby saw 33 minutes off the bench against Long Island. He scored eight points with four steals, three rebounds and three assists. On Saturday versus Canton, Mosby started and played 42 minutes, shooting 6-for-12 from the field, including 4-for-7 from deep. He wound up with 16 points, seven rebounds, two steals and an assist. Due to the recent success, Mosby has upped his season averages to 4.7 points, 1.8 rebounds, 1.8 assists and 0.9 steals per game. He has seen an average of 16.2 minutes across his 16 games (five starts). Mosby has connected on 42 percent of his field goal attempts, 37.5 percent of his 3-point tries and 83.3 percent of his foul shots. Elijah Robinson (Villa San Martin, Argentina; Excel Christian) — Robinson struggled coming off the bench in both of Villa San Martin’s games this past week. He finished with four points, six rebounds and two assists in a 103-102 victory over Ameghino on Friday. Two days after, Villa San Martin dropped a 74-64 decision to Barrio Parque. Robinson wound up with two points, five rebounds and an assist in the loss. COLLEGE BASKETBALL Ryan Davis (Francis Marion Sr., Cartersville) — Davis saw his outstanding senior season and Francis Marion career come to an end in the first round of the NCAA Division II Tournament. The Patriots forced overtime against Augusta in a game Saturday in Charlotte, North Carolina. However, Francis Marion wound up on the short end of a 77-70 result. Davis capped his collegiate career with 20 points on 9-of-16 shooting, while adding eight rebounds, two assists and two blocks. Ashton Hagans (Kentucky Fr., Cartersville native) — Kentucky landed a No. 2 seed in the Midwest Region of the NCAA Division I Tournament. Hagans and the Wildcats will open the tourney at 7:10 p.m. Thursday against 15th-seeded Abilene Christian in Jacksonville, Florida. Jaylon Pugh (Furman Fr., Cartersville) — Pugh and Co. received a No. 3 seed for the 32-team National Invitation Tournament. As such, the Paladins, who finished the regular season at 25-7, will host sixth-seeded Wichita State in the first round at 7 p.m. Wednesday. GOLF Lindsey Bonner (York So., Cartersville) — Bonner finished in a tie for 15th individually at the adidas Intercollegiate tournament last Monday and Tuesday in Dataw, South Carolina. Bonner carded a first-round 90 and a second-round 86 in helping York place second as a team — just five strokes back of Indiana Tech. TENNIS Peyton Gollhofer (Ball State Sr., Cartersville native) — Gollhofer returned to her dominant self in Saturday’s match against Wright State. In singles play, she rallied from a 6-4 defeat in the opening set to win the next two sets 6-2 and 6-4, respectively. The doubles match couldn’t have been more different, as Gollhofer and Isabelle Dohanics cruised to a 6-0 win. TRACK AND FIELD Spencer Fields (Rhodes Sr., Kingston native) — Fields placed fifth in the men’s 5000-meter run at the Rhodes College Track and Field Invitational over the weekend in Memphis, Tennessee. Note: Nicholas Sullivan of The Daily Tribune News contributed to this report.

Cartersville baseball went to the fourth inning Monday night at LaGrange in a scoreless tie, but posted eleven runs over the next three frames to complete an 11-0 Region 5-AAAA victory in six innings. The Class 4A 2nd-ranked Canes had only one hit through the first three innings off Grangers’ starter Jake Cardwell, but finished with ten hits over the final three innings including four extra base hits. Cohen Wilbanks (5 IP, 0R, 4H, 1BB, 6K, photo) tossed five strong innings to earn the win for the Hurricanes. Hayden Davidson (1 IP, 0R, 0H, 1BB) finished off the final frame. Preston Welchel had three hits including a double and one RBI for the Cartersville offense. Ian Inaba contributed two hits including a double and three RBI. Jordan Wilkie had two hits and one RBI and Kolby Adams finished with a pair of hits and one RBI. Wilbanks had a double and two RBI. Josh Davis doubled. Mason Barnett drove in a run with a bases loaded walk in the sixth inning and Brant Smith plated a run with a sacrifice fly in the fifth inning. The loss drops LaGrange to 5-12-1 on the season and 0-1 in Region 5-AAAA. Cartersville (12-3, 1-0) hosts Game 2 of the home-and-home region series Wednesday at Richard Bell Field at 5:55 p.m.

The Adairsville tennis teams completed a clean sweep of visiting Lakeview-Fort Oglethorpe Monday in Region 6-AAA action. The Lady Tigers and Tigers both won by 5-0 team scores. ADAIRSVILLE GIRLS 5, LAKEVIEW-FT. OGLETHORPE 0 Singles Line 1 — Megan Smith won 6-0, 6-0 Line 2 — Madison Camp won 6-2, 6-0 Line 3 — Alexandra Kanturek won 6-0, 6-1 Doubles Line 1 — Olivia Long / Courtney Fricks won 6-0, 6-2 Line 2 — Joie Bryant / Kayleigh Collum won 6-0, 6-0 ADAIRSVILLE BOYS 5, LAKEVIEW-FT. OGLETHORPE 0 Singles Line 1 — Jack Bates won 6-0, 6-0 Line 2 — Cameron O’Neal won 7-6 (7-4), 6-1 Line 3 — Oak Hemby won 6-0, 6-0 Doubles Line 1 — Landon Swanson / Cody Kimbrough won 6-1, 6-2 Line 2 — Gideon Conant / Justin Baldwin won 6-3, 6-0 The Lady Tigers are 4-3 overall and 3-2 in Region 6-AAA. The Tigers are now 3-4 overall and 2-3 in Region 6-AAA. Adairsville’s next match is Tuesday at Haralson County.

The Cass girls tennis team edged Rome Monday night 3-2 for a Region 7-AAAAA road win while the Cass boys lost 5-0. The Lady Colonels won all three singles lines for their victory. Emily Surcey won on Line 1, 6-1, 6-0. Emma Wickenheiser won a rugged three-set match at Line 2, 0-6, 6-1, 6-4 and Carlie Rideger captured a Line 3 win by a 6-2, 6-2 final. Cass will be back in action Tuesday with the girls at Hiram and the boys hosting the Hornets.

Local college softball players Sierrah Gani and Paris Poston continue to be key offensive producers for their respective teams at Georgia Highlands College and Columbus State University while MLB spring training continues and multiple local players contribute on the college baseball diamonds. Auburn pitcher Elliott Anderson was credited with his third win of the season this past week and former Woodland standout Mason Robinson had a solid week at the plate for Louisiana Tech. At the professional level, Anthony Seigler (photo) is dealing with a quad injury while Sam Howard made another Cactus League appearance with Colorado and middle infielder Connor Justus continues his reserve role with the Los Angeles Angels. SOFTBALL SARAH FOX — Agnes Scott College (Fr., Inf., Cass HS)… finished the week 2-for-13 this past week as the Scotties struggled on offense as a team. Fox scored a pair of runs and walked three times with a stolen base. Agnes Scott lost eight games, falling in doubleheaders at Birmingham Southern, at Pfeiffer, at home to West Georgia Tech, and at Salem College. The Scotties (2-14) play at Piedmont College Wednesday before hosting Brevard College and Maryville (TN) College over the weekend. SIERRAH GANI — Georgia Highlands CC (So., Inf., Cass HS)… went 4-for-5 with a double and a walk in a doubleheader at Andrew College Saturday driving in six runs and scoring three. She then went 2-for-5 with one RBI as the Chargers split a conference doubleheader at ABAC. GHC (12-12, 5-5 Georgia Collegiate Athletic Association) has a conference doubleheader at West Georgia Tech Saturday. PARIS POSTON — Columbus State University (Fr., OF, Cartersville HS)… was 3-for-13 last week with a walk, two doubles, and two RBI as the Cougars won three of four road conference games. CSU swept Peach Belt foe USC-Aiken Friday and split at Lander University on Sunday. Poston is hitting .253 with a SLG% of .387 and an OPS of .716 through 26 appearances this season with 75 at-bats. Columbus State (20-9, 3-1) hosts Emmanuel College Wednesday before traveling to Augusta University for a PBC doubleheader Sunday. HANNAH TODD — Kansas University (So., P, Cartersville HS)… made a pair of one inning appearances Friday and Saturday against Tulsa. She gave up three earned runs on three hits and a walk Friday with one strikeout. Saturday Todd worked a shutout frame with a walk and two strikeouts. The Jayhawks were 2-2 for the weekend against Tulsa and Nebraska in the Rock Chalk Challenge. Kansas (7-19) has a final week of tuneups before beginning Big 12 Conference play. They host Omaha Monday, travel to Wichita State Wednesday, and entertain University of Green Bay Friday and Saturday. ANNALYN YANTIS — Samford University (Sr., P, Cartersville HS)… started, but received no decision in three innings of work during a 6-5 win last Monday over Northern Iowa. Yantis also started and worked two innings in a 15-2 loss at Ole Miss last Friday. She gave up six earned runs on six hits and hit two batters. Samford (9-21) hosts Tennessee Tech Tuesday afternoon before opening Southern Conference play this weekend with a three-game series at UNC-Greensboro. PRO BASEBALL SAM HOWARD — Colorado Rockies (6th yr. pro; LHP; Georgia Southern; Cartersville HS)… worked a successful eighth inning allowing no base runners and struck out two in a 2-1 win over Kansas City last Friday. Howard has a 2.25 ERA in four innings of work this spring in three relief appearances with a WHIP of 1.75. The Rockies are currently 10-12 in Cactus League action. CONNOR JUSTUS — L.A. Angels (4th yr. pro; MIF; Georgia Tech; Cartersville HS)… was 0-for-1 but scored a run last Thursday in a 7-7 tie with the Milwaukee Brewers. Justus entered off the bench to play second base. He also entered defensively at third base and started a double play, but did not have a plate appearance in Friday’s 2-1 win over Arizona. Saturday he again entered to play third base and was 0-for-1 at the plate. This spring with the MLB club, the 24-year-old is 5-for-16 (.313 BA / .353 OBP / .853 OPS). ANTHONY SEIGLER — N.Y. Yankees (2nd yr. pro; C; Cartersville HS)… Sam Dykstra of MiLB.com reported last week that Seigler is dealing with a quad strain and may be held back in extended spring training to start the year. The report also states that he would have likely opened the year at Low-A, but this injury will delay his full-season debut. COLLEGE BASEBALL ELLIOTT ANDERSON — Auburn University (So., LHP, Cartersville HS)… made three appearances last week for the 12th-ranked Tigers who were 4-0 for the week including a home, three-game SEC sweep of Tennessee. Anderson worked two innings allowing three hits with six strikeouts Tuesday in a 6-2 win at South Alabama. He then picked up his third win of the year in the series opener with the Vols on Friday. The southpaw entered in the seventh inning with two outs in a scoreless game and walked a batter before the next hitter reached on an error. On the same play, however, the lead runner was cut down trying to advance to third to end the inning. Auburn went ahead in the bottom of the frame with Anderson as the pitcher of record. In Saturday’s win, he retired the final four outs without a run. He allowed a pair of hits and a walk while fanning one. Auburn (18-2, 3-0) has now reeled off 13 straight wins and plays at Alabama-Birmingham Tuesday night prior to a trip to Mississippi State this weekend for a three-game conference series. CARRINGTON EVANS — Augusta University (R-So., OF, Cartersville HS)… entered off the bench in four games last week, Evans walked twice and scored a run in a 6-5 home win over Newberry. He doubled and was hit by a pitch with two RBI and two runs scored in a 19-10 win over Paine College on Wednesday. In his only plate appearance Friday, the outfielder walked in a 17-6 home conference win over Flagler College while Saturday he entered to play centerfield and failed to reach in his only at-bat during a 13-1 loss. The Jaguars (13-12, 4-11 Peach Belt Conference) play at Anderson University Wednesday and travel to Dahlonega for a three-game set at University of North Georgia this weekend. LANE GRIFFITH — University of West Georgia (Jr., C, Adairsville HS)… went 3-for-12 last week in four games with the Wolves. UWG lost to 24th-ranked Columbus State last Wednesday, but swept a three-game Gulf South Conference series with Alabama-Huntsville over the weekend. Griffith scored three runs, walked twice, and drove in a pair of runs across the four games as well. West Georgia (10-15, 7-7) plays at Emmanuel College Wednesday then takes on University of Montevallo in a three-game GSC series this weekend. HARRISON OSBORN — Point University (So., RHP, Cartersville HS)… had a rough outing Sunday in a 12-4 loss at Truett-McConnell University. Osborn allowed five runs in the first inning and did not record an out in the second of his seventh start of the year. He finished the day with seven earned runs allowed on nine hits. For the season, Osborn is 3-2 with a 6.55 ERA in 33 innings. The Skyhawks (18-10, 4-5) host NAIA 3rd-ranked Faulkner University Tuesday and travel to Milligan College this weekend for a three-game Appalachian Athletic Conference series. MASON ROBINSON — Louisiana Tech (Sr., OF, Woodland HS)… Robinson fared much better than his Bulldog squad this past weekend. Louisiana Tech was swept by Southern Miss in a Conference USA opening series, but did manage a mid-week win Tuesday over Sam Houston State. Robinson finished the week 5-for-15 with two walks, a stolen base, and two RBI in the four games. The Bulldogs (11-8, 0-3) host Mississippi Valley State Tuesday and travel to Middle Tennessee for a three-game conference series this weekend. TRISTIN SMITH — Young Harris College (Sr., Inf., Adairsville HS)… went 5-for-16 in five games last week for the Mountain Lions. His production included a double, four RBI, and two runs scored. YHC was 4-1 for the week with a doubleheader sweep at Lee University and two wins in a three-game home Peach Belt Conference series with Francis Marion University. Young Harris (17-8, 6-4) hosts Lee Wednesday before traveling to St. Augustine, Florida for a three-game PBC series at Flagler College over the weekend. TYLER WASHINGTON — Young Harris College (Sr., OF, Adairsville HS)… was 1-for-4 in Saturday’s 10-4 loss to Francis Marion. He then had a pinch hit appearance, was hit by a pitch, and played left field in Sunday’s 14-0 win over the Patriots. Washington also entered as a pinch runner and played the outfield in a 6-3 win in Game 2 of Sunday’s doubleheader with FMU. Young Harris (17-8, 6-4) went 4-1 for the week and will now host Lee Wednesday prior to a trip to Flagler College this weekend for a three-game conference series.

Georgia Highlands College softball won three of four conference games on the road this past weekend sweeping Andrew College 16-1 and 8-0 on Saturday, before splitting a doubleheader with Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College Sunday. In the two wins over Andrew, the Chargers’ bats exploded for 28 hits. Right fielder Jazzmyn Shelton paced GHC with six hits and one RBI in the twinbill. Kayla Laukka finished the day with four hits including a home run, two doubles, and six RBI. Sierrah Gani had four hits including a double and six RBI. Mya Adams also contributed a four-hit day with four RBI. ____ PHOTO: Freshman pitcher Kara Kight earned all three pitching wins for the Chargers on last weekend's conference road trip._____ Kara Kight (RBI), Lexi Palazzo (double, RBI), Sydney McDonald (RBI), and Alexis Davis (double, RBI) all finished the doubleheader at Andrew with two hits apiece. Emma McDonald (2 RBI) and Deyonce Lewis added one hit each. In Sunday’s win over Abraham Baldwin, Laukka had one hit and two RBI. Gani had one hit and one RBI. Palazzo and Mallory Alford had the other Chargers’ hits. In the loss to ABAC (19-13, 7-3 GCAA), Palazzo hit a two-run home run. Adams, Gani, Laukka, Davis, Shelton, and McDonald finished with one hit each. Kight, a freshman right-hand pitcher from Flowery Branch High School, picked up all three pitching wins for the Chargers over the weekend. Haley Robinson suffered the loss in the circle at ABAC, but also earned a save in one of the two wins at Andrew. Georgia Highlands (12-12, 5-5) travels to West Georgia Tech this Saturday at 2 p.m. for a conference doubleheader before hitting the road for trips to NAIA Thomas University JV Monday and conference foe South Georgia on Wednesday.

It required extra innings in the nightcap, but Georgia Highlands baseball earned a doubleheader split Sunday with a 4-3 win over West Georgia Tech at LakePoint in Emerson. West Georgia Tech, playing as the home team this weekend at LakePoint, won the first game Sunday 6-4 with a pair of late runs. The Chargers returned the favor in the second game on Keith Lyle’s RBI double that scored Blake Brady and also earned Georgia Highlands a split in the four-game series this week with the Knights. In Game 1, the Chargers held leads of 1-0 after one inning and 3-1 through four, but three runs by West Georgia Tech in the fifth and two more in the sixth broke a 4-4 tie and lifted the Knights to their win. Anthony Reneo (1 IP, 2ER, 3H, 0BB, 2K) suffered the pitching loss for Georgia Highlands in relief of starter Stevie Szucs (5 IP, 4R, 2ER, 7H, 0BB, 6K). Justin Guyton led the Knights’ offense with three hits including a triple and two RBI. Brady and Bryson Horne had two hits each for the Chargers. Lavoisier Fisher hit a two-run home run in the loss. In Game 2, Logan Ward (3 IP, 0R, 0H, 3BB, 4K) picked up the pitching win for the Chargers in relief of starter Jacob Meyer (6 IP, 3ER, 5H, 1BB, 8K). Ward got a game-ending double play to retire the side in the ninth after the Knights put the potential tying run on base with only one out. Keith Lyle led the GHC offense with three doubles and three RBI. Skylar McPhee had a two-hit game that included a double and a triple. Malik Spratling had the other Chargers’ RBI with one hit. With the Sunday and series split, West Georgia Tech is now 12-14 overall and 3-6 in the Georgia Collegiate Athletic Association. Georgia Highlands (18-10, 6-3) starts a four-game conference series with Gordon College Tuesday in Barnesville.

The Adairsville girls soccer team played non-region Southeast Whitfield to a 1-1 draw Saturday in Dalton. The Lady Tigers’ season scoring leader, Cat Wheeler, gave the Lady Tigers a 1-0 lead in the 19th minute off an assist from Sadye Johnson. Adairsville then carried that one goal advantage to halftime, but the Lady Raiders knotted the score in the 56th minute off a direct free kick. Adairsville keeper Havyn Isaac made 12 saves in the contest. The Lady Tigers (7-2-1) will host North Murray Tuesday before traveling to Ringgold on Thursday. Both are Region 6-AAA contests. Adairsville also has Model on the schedule for a non-region home game on Friday.