Cass baseball fell behind early and was not able to recover in an 11-7 home loss to Rome Saturday. The Wolves scored nine runs in the first two innings and although Cass narrowed the margin to 9-4 in the middle innings, Rome was really never threatened. Three Rome pitchers — Hayden Filetti, Tristan Tillery, and Knox Kadum — combined to limit the Colonels to six hits and six walks while fanning ten. Kadum, Sevie Andrews, and Alden Astin combined for six hits and seven RBI for the Wolves. Cass starting pitcher Jayden Smith (1 IP, 8R, 5ER, 7H, 1BB, 1K) suffered the loss on the mound. Trey Scott (2 IP, 1ER, 2H, 2BB, 4K), Jordan Gani (3 IP, 2ER, 2H, 1BB, 2K), and Thomas Botts (1 IP, 0R, 1H, 1K) also pitched for the Colonels. Blaine Ingram and Matt Shook both doubled and drove in two runs apiece for Cass. Bryson Markley added two hits. Clay Means finished with one hit and two RBI. Gani had one hit and Sam Melton drove in one run. Rome improved to 6-4 overall and 4-2 in Region 7-AAAAA. Cass (7-7, 3-3) starts a region home-and-home series with Woodland Monday at 5:55 p.m. at the Cass Athletic Complex. The second game of the series will be Wednesday at The Ballpark at Woodland.

Georgia Highlands held a 5-1 lead at one time and carried a 5-4 lead into the sixth inning Saturday evening, but a three-run sixth by host West Georgia Tech handed the Chargers a 7-5 defeat at LakePoint in Emerson. As a result, the Georgia Collegiate Athletic Association conference series stands at one game each heading into Sunday afternoon’s doubleheader back at LakePoint. The weekend games were moved from Carrollton to LakePoint earlier in the week. Chargers’ pitcher Trace Twardoski (0.1 IP, 3R, 3ER, 0H, 4BB) was saddled with the pitching loss in relief of starter Dalton Rhadans (5 IP, 4R, 3ER, 6H, 0BB, 5K). Ryan Smithson (0R, 4H, 2K) worked across the final three innings. Malik Spratling homered and doubled twice with two RBI to pace the GHC offense. Lavoisier Fisher had two hits. Skylar McPhee drove in a pair of runs and had one hit. With Saturday’s win, West Georgia Tech improved to 11-13 overall and 2-5 in conference. Georgia Highlands is 17-9 overall and 5-2 in GCAA games.

With winter sports now posted by the Georgia Athletic Directors’ Association, the 2018-19 Directors’ Cup standings are updated with only this spring’s sports remaining. Schools earn points toward the Directors’ Cup standings by their final placement in the state playoffs. Cartersville currently stands sixth in Class 4A to lead all local schools in their respective classifications. The Cartersville boys are fifth in the classification and the girls’ sports for the Lady Canes are in ninth place. Cartersville has earned points in football, girls and boys cross country, wrestling, cheerleading, volleyball, and boys basketball. Class 4A is currently led by St. Pius X with Marist, Blessed Trinity, Woodward Academy, and North Oconee rounding out the top five. Woodland is 16th overall in Class 5A with Cass currently 34th. Lady Cats’ sports are 15th in the classification and Woodland boys’ sports are 18th. Cass girls are 28th with the boys in 38th place. Woodland has earned points for wrestling, girls and boys cross country, cheerleading, and softball. Cass was credited points for wrestling, cheerleading, and girls basketball. Starr’s Mill leads Buford and Carrollton at the top of Class 5A. Adairsville is 34th overall in Class 3A. The girls sports at Adairsville are currently 28th and the boys sports are 45th in the classification. Adairsville earned points in wrestling, cheerleading, volleyball, and girls swimming. Jefferson holds a slight edge over Westminster and Calhoun to lead Class 3A. For a complete look at all standings, use this LINK.

The Hurricanes posted six runs in the top of the first inning Saturday morning on their way to an 8-1 non-region victory over Sonoraville at State Mutual Stadium in Rome. That turned out to be plenty of offense for a quintet of Cartersville pitchers who combined to allow only two hits by the Phoenix and no earned runs. Logan Martin (3 IP, 0R, 2H, 0BB, 1K) earned the pitching win in a starting role. J.P. Martin (1 IP, 0R, 0H, 0BB, 1K), Reece Thompson (1 IP, 1R, 0ER, 0H, 2BB), Ian Inaba (1 IP, 0R, 0H, 1BB, 1K), and Hayden Davidson (1 IP, 0R, 0H) all pitched in relief. Sonoraville leadoff hitter Wyatt Castoe had both Phoenix base hits. The Cartersville offense produced eleven hits. Inaba had two hits including a double, a walk, and one RBI. Josh Davis (photo) also had a perfect day at the plate with two hits, a pair of walks, and one RBI. Jordan Wilkie contributed a pair of hits. Kolby Adams (RBI), Mason Barnett (RBI), Preston Welchel (RBI), Alan Thacker, and Gage Morris finished with one hit each. Brant Smith drove in a run with a sacrifice fly and J.P. Martin tossed in an RBI after being hit by a pitch with the bases loaded in the opening inning. The loss dropped Sonoraville to 6-6 on the season. Cartersville (11-3) opens play in Region 5-AAAA Monday at LaGrange at 5:55 p.m. The Canes and Grangers will play the second game of their two-game series Wednesday at Richard Bell Field.

Woodland finished fourth in the Class 4A-5A division at the inaugural GHSA Game Day Invitational cheer competition on February 23 in Eatonton. The members of the Wildcats cheer team are Abi Adams, Madison Carter, Madison Cornwall, Braden Foster, Lily Gartin, Megan Gilstrap, Gabe Jones, Jaylee Kilgo, Molly Plott, Gracen Pruitt, Paige Reaves, Xavier Rosario and Aspen Sorrells. The squad is led by head coach Lori Kilgo and assistants Kathi Shedd and Carole Payne. Woodland competed in the Class 4A-5A division of the first-ever Game Day Invitational February 23 at Putnam County High School in Eatonton. The preliminary round included sections of crowd-leading cheer, band chant and fight song. Five of the 11 teams advanced from the preliminary round to the finals, and scores were reset for the final round. In the finals, a situational segment was also added, forcing the team to make a split-second decision about which cheer to do based on what an announcer called out. Joining Woodland in the top five of the 4A-5A division were champion Denmark, Wayne County, Mary Persons and Carrollton. Morgan County won the Class A- Class 3A championship and North Gwinnett was the 6A-7A champ.

Adairsville baseball opened region play this past week and suffered one-sided losses to both Lakeview-Fort Oglethorpe on Wednesday and Calhoun on Friday. The Tigers only trialed 3-1 through four innings Wednesday and out hit the Warrors 12-11, but eventually committed six errors and fell 16-8. Calhoun blanked the Tigers Friday at LakePoint, 14-0. In the loss to LFO, Wade Conduff had three hits and one RBI. Trace Still followed with a pair of hits, including a three-run home run. Landon Ayers finished with a double and one RBI. B.J. Roper, Kyler Smith, Elijah Padgett, Levi Blackwell, Jacob Ray, and Logan Hunt (RBI) had the other Tigers’ hits. Padgett (4 IP, 5R, 3ER, 4H, 3BB, 4K) started on the mound for Adairsville against the Warriors and suffered the pitching loss. Braden Powell, Noah Simpson, and Conduff all took pitching duties. Although the Tigers were shutout by Calhoun Friday, they managed seven hits. Smith and Padgett had two hits apiece. Jacob Ray, Chase Horn, and Simpson each added singles. Brady Drummond (5 IP, 0R, 7H, 0BB, 4K) earned the pitching win for the Yellow Jackets. Conduff (3.1 IP, 12R, 8ER, 9H, 2BB, 5K) was the Adairsville starter. Roper (0.2 IP, 1ER, 1H, 3BB, 1K), and Simpson (1 IP, 1ER, 1H, 1BB, 1K). pitched in relief. Adairsville (1-6, 0-2 Region 6-AAA) plays at Haralson County Tuesday, hosts Sonoraville Wednesday, and travels to North Murray Thursday.

The Northwest Georgia Tip-Off Club senior girls all-star team including Bartow County players won their game Thursday night at Georgia Highlands College 92-79. The team, mentored by Cass girls head coach Burt Jackson, included Cass players Amber Brittian, Sharia Wade, Payton Stoddard, and Alexis Ware. Nakiyah Washington of Adairsville and Madgie Robinson of Woodland were also on the team Megan Kent of Model scored a team-high 16 points and was named MVP of the game. Among the locals, Washington finished with 13 points. Wade scored seven. Ware and Stoddard totaled five each. Brittian and Robinson added four and one point, respectively. Twenty-four senior girls and twenty-four senior boys were selected from a group of 26 different schools in the Rome area to participate in the event. Local senior boys in the all-star game included Perignon Dyer and Isaac Gridley of Cartersville; Jacquez Fountain of Cass; and Hunter Johnson of Woodland. No game report for the boys contest was available.

The Cass girls soccer team traveled to Hiram Friday night and evened their overall season record with a 4-0 blanking of the Lady Hornets. Logan Vermaas (photo) scored all four Cass goals with Briana Ochoa assisting twice and Leidi Toribio and Maddie Shook also contributing assists on goals. Jailyn Padilla and Yecenia Hernandez split time at goalkeeper and shared the Lady Colonels’ first shutout of the season. Cass (4-4-1, 2-3 Region 7-AAAAA) hosts Villa Rica next Friday at 6 p.m.

London Shaw set a new discus throw school record as Cartersville High School's track and field teams both finished second Thursday in a three-way meet with Dalton and Pickens at Weinman Stadium. The meet was only partially completed with rain moving into area during the competition. Coach Matt Terry said about two-thirds of the events were completed. Woodland also had pole vaulters to compete, but the Lady Cats and Wildcats not field full teams. London Shaw (photo) set a new Cartersville school record with a 117 foot, nine inch discus throw. The 25-year old record had stood since 1994. Of the events completed, the Dalton girls finished with 157 points. Cartersville was next with 116 and Pickens totaled 64 points. The Dalton boys scored 179.5 points followed by Cartersville (155) and Pickens (79.5). Event winners for Cartersville included: Josie Turner -- Girls 400M London Shaw -- Girls Discus Throw London Shaw -- Girls Shot Put Michael Abernathy -- Boys Discus Throw Nick Bebko -- Boys Pole Vault Woodland's Bella Carnes won the girls pole vault. For full results of all completed events, please see this LINK.

Inclement weather moved across Atco Thursday night and caused the postponement of two Cartersville Little League games, but the early games were completed with the Phillies and Indians both picking up their second wins of the 2019 season. Cartersville Little League Majors Thursday, March 14 PHILLIES 11, BRAVES 2 PHILLIES: Nolan Elrod three hits including a double, four RBI; Harris Turner two hits, two RBI; Griffin Woodall and Brodie McWhorter two hits; Nic Wright one hit, one RBI; Asa Mitcham one double. Brodie McWhorter (3.2 IP, 2R, 0ER, 2H, 6BB, 8K); Mitcham (0.1 IP, 0R, 0H, 0BB). BRAVES: Thomas Peters and Luke Parker one hit each. Davis Waddell (3 IP, 7ER, 8H, 2BB, 3K); Kamdyn Woods (0.1 IP, 4R, 3ER, 2H, 2BB); Peters (0.2 IP, 0R, 1H, 1BB). INDIANS 3, PADRES 1 INDIANS: Andrew Lutjens one double, two RBI; Maddox Frazier one double; Blake Lutjens, Owen Dunn, and Jake Johnson one hit each; Cooper Adams one RBI. Andrew Lutjens (3 IP, 0R, 2H, 4BB, 5K); Johnson (2 IP, 1R, 0ER, 0H, 2BB, 6K). PADRES: Will Camp and Tristan McKibben one hit each. Logan Buchanan (3.1 IP, 2R, 0ER, 2H, 1BB, 4K); Camp (1 IP, 1R, 0ER, 2H, 1BB, 2K); Jay Sheldon (0.2 IP, 0R, 1H). Tigers vs. Colts and Crackers vs. Dodgers were rescheduled for Monday due to rain Thursday night. Updated Standings Tigers . . . . . . . 2-0 Dodgers . . . . . 2-0 Indians . . . . . . 2-1 Phillies . . . . . . 2-1 Padres . . . . . . 1-2 Braves . . . . . . 1-2 Crackers . . . . . 0-2 Colts . . . . . . . . 0-2 Updated Minor League Standings (thru March 14) A’s . . . . . . . . . 3-0 Orioles . . . . . . 1-0 Cubs . . . . . . . 2-0-1 Reds . . . . . . . 1-2 Rockies . . . . . 0-1-1 White Sox . . . 0-1 Red Sox . . . . . 0-3 Updated Rookie League Standings (thru March 14) Mets . . . . . . . . 3-0 Giants . . . . . . . 2-1 Yankees . . . . . . 1-1 Rays . . . . . . . . . 0-2 Nationals . . . . . 0-2 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 girls and boys tennis teams swept visiting Central-Carroll Thursday at Dellinger Park with the Canes winning 5-0 and the Lady Canes taking a 4-1 Region 5-AAAA victory. CARTERSVILLE GIRLS 4, CENTRAL-CARROLL 1 Singles Line 1 —Ashley Popham (photo) won 6-0, 6-1 Line 2 — Emily Bush won 6-4, 6-2 Line 3 — Chloe Satterfield lost 0-6, 7-6, 8-10 Doubles Line 1 — Lydia Wiedetz / Alice Terry won 6-2, 6-3 Line 2 — Mason Cline / Mia Shaw won 6-0, 6-0 CARTERSVILLE BOYS 5, CENTRAL-CARROLL 0 Singles Line 1 — Will Allen won 6-0, 6-1 Line 2 — Luke Kotteman won 6-2, 6-0 Line 3 — Griffin Shaw won 6-3, 6-3 Doubles Line 1 — Nate McDonald / Luke Gambill won 6-2, 6-2 Line 2 — Jackson Cline / John Blackhall won 6-0, 6-0

The Adairsville Lady Tigers soccer team blanked Coahulla Creek 3-0 Thursday night in Region 6-AAA action. Cat Wheeler scored a pair of first half goals. The first off an assist from Kaylee Jordan and the second on a corner kick by Megan Hardin that Wheeler sent home with a header. In the second half, Hannah DeBoard scored the Lady Tigers’ third goal assisted by Hardin’s free kick. Havyn Isaac made 12 saves in goal to preserve the shutout. Coahulla Creek slipped to 1-1-1 overall and 0-1 in region games. The Adairsville girls (6-2, 4-0) will host North Murray Tuesday.