Cartersville baseball suffered a second straight loss at the 2019 Perfect Game High School Showdown Saturday, falling to host Hoover (AL) 8-4 in a consolation game for the tournament’s Championship Blue Bracket. Hoover went ahead 3-0 through the top of the fourth and led 8-1 heading into the bottom of the fifth on their way to a four-run win. The Buccaneers out hit Cartersville nine to seven in the contest with Hoover hitters connecting for a total of seven doubles. J.P. Martin, Brant Smith, and Preston Welchel all homered for the Canes. The Hurricanes scored single runs in the fourth through seventh innings to narrow Hoover leads to 3-1, 8-2, 8-3, and 8-4 along the way. Hoover pitchers Austin Cornelius (1.1 IP, 0R, 0H, 2BB), Jack Henry Milligan (3.2 IP, 3ER, 5H, 1BB, 6K), and Lawrence Hammonds (2 IP, 1ER, 2H, 1BB, 2K) combined to limit the Canes’ offense. Cartersville utilized four pitchers in the game. Kolby Adams (3 IP, 2R, 0ER, 4H, 0BB, 5K), Davis Williams (1.1 IP, 4ER, 3H, 2BB), Reece Thompson (0.2 IP, 2R, 0ER, 2H), and Hayden Davidson (2 IP, 0R, 0H, 1K) all saw mound time for the Hurricanes. In addition to the three solo shots by Cartersville hitters, Cohen Wilbanks had a double. Welchel, Ian Inaba, and Jordan Wilkie added base hits. Hoover improved to 12-4 on the season. Cartersville (9-3) is scheduled to face Sonoraville next Saturday at State Mutual Stadium in Rome.

The Cartersville girls and boys soccer teams swept Region 5-AAAA contests Friday night at Chapel Hill with the Lady Canes earning a 3-1 win over the Lady Panthers and the Hurricanes striking for a 5-1 win in Douglasville. In the girls match, the backline defenders of Devondria Johnson, Janet Zazueta, Chloe Williams, and Emma Baker limited a normally high-scoring Chapel Hill team to a single goal. The Lady Canes led 1-0 at halftime on a successful penalty kick by Micah Vance. Vance scored again in the second half off an assist from Linet Chege. Chapel Hill narrowed the lead to 2-1, but Kalyn Donegan found the net in the game’s 78th-minute off an assist from Kendyl Anderson to secure Cartersville’s 3-1 victory. The Lady Canes (5-2-1, 2-0) travel to Central-Carroll Monday. CANES 5, CHAPEL HILL 1 Pedro Ghanem scored twice and three other Canes added one goal each as Cartersville rolled to a 5-1 win at Chapel Hill Friday night in Douglasville. Brady Craig and Ghanem scored in the opening half to give the Canes a 2-0 lead at the intermission. Javier Morillon, Elian Abeja and Ghanem had the second half goals for Cartersville. The Canes (4-3, 2-0) make a trip to Central-Carroll Monday evening.

Logan Vermaas and Leidi Toribio each scored a hat trick; Lupita Pineda scored twice and added one assist; Briana Ochoa scored one goal and contributed a pair of assists; and Madison Shook assisted on four goals to lead the Cass Lady Colonels past Woodland Friday night, 10-2. Irelyn Stone scored a late first half goal for Woodland to make the score 4-1 at halftime and Grace Webb added the Lady Cats’ second goal late in the game off a set piece. Woodland (1-6-1, 1-2) hosts Rome Tuesday night. Cass (3-4-1, 1-2) entertains East Paulding Tuesday evening. WOODLAND-CASS BOYS SOCCER GAME POSTPONED Inclement weather Friday night forced the postponement of the Woodland-Cass boys soccer game Friday night. While the two schools were able to complete the earlier girls’ game, lightning and heavy rains caused postponement of the boys’ contest. No makeup date was announced.

In a wild game that saw Cass bang out 13 hits with five lead changes and two ties, the Colonels held off Hiram in the seventh inning for a 14-13 Region 7-AAAAA win. The host Hornets led 3-0 in the first inning, but Cass tied the game in the third inning, 3-3. After the Colonels went ahead 6-3 in the top of the fourth, Hiram regained the lead 7-6 in the bottom of the frame. Cass went back ahead 8-7 in the fifth, but the Hornets knotted the score once more in their half of the sixth inning. Then a high scoring seventh inning saw the teams combine for 11 runs with Cass finishing on top, 14-13. Hiram had the tying run on third and the potential winning run on first when Cass reliever Jayden Smith struck out the tenth Hornet to bat in the final inning to preserve the one-run victory. Cass pitcher Matt Shook (2.1 IP, 1ER, 2H, 0BB, 1K, photo) picked up the pitching win in relief of starter Blaine Ingram (3.2 IP, 7ER, 4H, 8BB, 4K). Thomas Botts (0.2 IP, 5R, 1ER, 1H, 4BB) also pitched for the Colonels in the seventh inning. Shook paced the Colonels at the plate with three hits and four RBIs. Smith also had three hits and one RBI. Ingram had two hits including a double and two RBIs. Bryson Markley (4 RBI), Clay Means (RBI), Botts, Logan Nelson, and Hunter Lee (double) had the other Cass base hits. Cass (6-5, 2-1) hosts Hiram Monday at 5:55 p.m.

Cartersville baseball was shutout by Blessed Trinity Friday night in a championship semifinal of the Blue Bracket at the 2019 Perfect Game High School Showdown in Hoover, Alabama. Titans’ junior starting right-hand pitcher Trey Baker (6 IP, 0R, 2H, 2BB, 4K) and reliever Dom Marcoccio (1 IP, 0R, 0H, 0BB) kept the Hurricanes off the scoreboard and sent Cartersville to a third place consolation game Saturday morning. Canes’ pitcher and Lee University signee, Cohen Wilbanks (5.1 IP, 2ER, 6H, 3BB, 9K) suffered the pitching loss despite a consistent outing. Gage Morris (0.2 IP, 0R, 0H, 0BB) finished up the sixth inning in relief for Cartersville. Josh Davis and J.P. Martin managed the only Cartersville base hits. Michael Mitchler had two hits for Blessed Trinity. Baker and University of Alabama commit C.J. Abrams drove in one run each for the Titans. Cartersville -- currently ranked No. 1 in Class AAAA by the Georgia Dugout Club -- and Blessed Trinity, ranked No. 2 in Class AAAA, have now split a pair of head-to-head games this season. The Hurricanes won the first meeting at LakePoint on February 23, 8-2. Blessed Trinity (11-2) will now face IMG Academy (FL) for the Blue Bracket championship Saturday. Cartersville (9-2) will play Hoover (AL) in the third place game at 11:30 a.m. (CT). IMG blanked Hoover Friday night, 17-0.

The Woodland-Rome Region 7-AAAAA baseball game Friday night at The Ballpark at Woodland was suspended in the top of the seventh inning when lightning and a heavy downpour sent the teams home for the night. Rome was ahead 5-2 and had runners at first and third with two outs in the top of the seventh when play was called. Woodland will have three outs to try for a comeback, likely Monday when the two teams square off again in Rome.

Cartersville got a solid start from pitcher Logan Martin and the Canes’ bats built a 7-0 lead in the top of the sixth inning and then held on for an 8-4 win over Sumrall, Mississippi. The win clinched the Canes’ three-team pool in the 2019 Perfect Game High School Showdown. The game was played in Hoover Metropolitan Stadium, home of the Birmingham Barons. The Southern League team is the Double-A affiliate of the Chicago White Sox. Cartersville moved to the top of the Georgia Dugout Club’s Class AAAA rankings this week and Martin — a senior right-hand pitcher and Sewanee: University of the South commit (photo) — worked into the sixth inning to help the Hurricanes to their seventh straight win. Martin held the Bobcats hitless through five frames but ran into some trouble in the sixth. After Sumrall picked up three hits and a hit batsman off Martin, Cartersville head coach Kyle Tucker turned to Ian Inaba on the mound in the sixth with one Bobcats’ run in and the bases loaded. Inaba walked in Sumrall’s second run, but then induced back-to-back ground balls to get out of the frame. The first was a double play that scored a run to make the score 7-3 and the second ended the inning. Tucker had to call on reliever Gage Morris in the seventh to close out the game. Inaba walked the bases loaded with no outs, but Morris got an infield pop up and a strikeout before issuing a walk for the Bobcats’ fourth run. Morris then recorded the game’s final out with a fly out to right field. Meanwhile, Cartersville’s offense produced the cushion needed. J.P. Martin and Inaba started the second inning with base hits and the Canes’ loaded the bases when Kolby Adams reached on an error by Bobcats’ third baseman. Following a force out at home, Josh Davis put Cartersville on the scoreboard with a two-run single into left field. Cartersville tacked on a run in the third when Sumrall committed three errors. Jordan Wilkie scored on the third miscue of the inning and Inaba made the Bobcats pay again with a sacrifice fly to center field that gave the Hurricanes a 4-0 lead. The Canes extended their lead in the sixth inning. J.P. Martin walked, Alan Thacker doubled as a pinch hitter to drive in a run and Adams followed with an RBI single. After two outs, Wilkie reached on the Bobcats’ fifth error of the game allowing Cartersville to take a 7-0 lead. Cartersville added a run in the top of the seventh when Preston Welchel led off with a triple and later scored on an Adams RBI single to centerfield. Adams and Davis finished with two hits and two RBIs each. Inaba also had two hits and a run batted in. Welchel (triple), Thacker (double, RBI), and J.P. Martin added the other Cartersville hits. Cartersville (9-1) moves into the Blue Championship Bracket of the tournament Friday night at 8:30 p.m. (CT) as the No. 3-seed where they will face second-seeded Blessed Trinity in a rematch of an earlier game this season played at LakePoint. The Hurricanes won that game 8-2 back on February 23. Like Cartersville, Blessed Trinity (10-2) won its three-team pool with wins over Winder-Barrow (GA) 4-2 and North Broward Prep (FL) 2-1. The Titans are currently ranked No. 2 in Georgia’s Class AAAA.

The Adairsville girls soccer team picked up a key Region 6-AAA road victory Thursday night by defeating Sonoraville 2-1. The host Phoenix -- one of the favorites in the region along with Calhoun -- took a 1-0 lead in the first two minutes of the game, but the Lady Tigers’ sent the game to the intermission tied 1-1 after Kaylee Jordan scored off an assist from Sadye Johnson. Jordan gave Adairsville a 2-1 lead in the first portion of the second half, this time assisted by Taylor Rhodes. Down the stretch, the Lady Tigers’ defense and keeper Havyn Isaac kept Sonoraville off the board to pull out the win. The Lady Tigers (4-2, 2-0) travel to Murray County Tuesday. SONORAVILE 2, ADAIRSVILLE BOYS 1 (Overtime) After 80 scoreless minutes, Sonoraville edged the Adairsville boys Thursday night, 2-1 in overtime. Tyrek Bryant gave the Tigers an outstanding performance in net making 12 saves. Emanuel Lopez scored an unassisted goal for Adairsville's lone tally.

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.