Bartow County Senior Little League (16U) built an 11-2 lead through five innings Monday night and then held off a late charge by Oconee County to survive an elimination game 11-9 at the Georgia Senior Little League State Tournament in Hamilton. Tyler Strickland paced Bartow County with a 2-for-4 performance at the plate. He also stole two bases and scored twice. Seven more Bartow players contributed one hit each including Bryce Richards, Brandon Pittman, Trevor Montgomery, TJ Grimes, Mason Brown, Hunter Blackmon, and Austin Phillips. Wade Conduff walked three times, stole a base, and scored a run. Pittman coaxed a pair of walks and scored twice. Montgomery scored a run, was hit by a pitch, and drew a base on balls. Brown collected a walk and Grimes scored a run. Bartow utilized six different pitchers in the win. Conduff started on the bump before moving to catcher. Pittman and Strickland both recorded a pair of strikeouts and logged two innings each. Montgomery and Evan Henry worked late inning relief before Blackmon closed out the game. Conduff was also credited with a strong performance behind the plate. He cut down five base runners including four steal attempts and a pick off of a runner at third base. Bartow County (1-1) advances to play Hart County (1-1) in the double-elimination tournament Tuesday night at 8:15 p.m. at Harris County High School in Hamilton. Georgia Senior Little League (16U) State Tournament schedule: Sat. July 7 -- Martinez-Evans 15, Bartow County 3 Sat. July 7 -- Northern-Columbus 11, Hart County 1 Sun. July 8 -- Martinez-Evans 12, East Marietta 2 Sun. July 8 — Northern-Columbus 22, Oconee County 6 Mon. July 9 — Bartow County 11, Oconee County 9 (Oconee eliminated) Mon. July 9 — Hart County 27, East Marietta 14 (East Marietta eliminated) GM 7 — Tue. July 10 — Martinez-Evans vs. Northern-Columbus GM 8 — Tue. July 10 — Bartow County vs. Hart County (elimination game) GM 9 — Wed. July 11 — 6 pm — GM 7 loser vs. GM 8 winner (elimination game) GM 10 — Thr. July 12 — 6 pm — GM 7 winner vs. GM 9 winner (championship round) GM 11 — Fr. July 13 — 6 pm — GM 10 winner vs. GM 10 loser (if necessary) Georgia winner advances to Southeast Region Tournament that begins July 20 in Safety Harbor, FL. CARTERSVILLE LITTLE LEAGUE 10U DROPS DECISION TO MARTINEZ EVANS Cartersville Little League 10U baseball lost 8-3 to Martinez Evans Monday night to slip into the loser’s bracket of the double-elimination Georgia Little League 10U State Tournament in Dudley, GA Martinez Evans took a 4-0 lead in the second inning and led 5-1 after three frames. Cartersville 10U narrowed the margin to 6-3 with two runs in the fifth inning, but that would be as close as the locals would get. Will Camp started on the mound for Cartersville and suffered the pitching loss. Matthew Morris and Kamdyn Woods also pitched in relief. Lyle Woody led Cartersville at the plate with a pair of singles. Asa Mitcham, Logan Buchanan, and Griffin Woodall each added one hit apiece. Woods reached on an error and scored a run in the fifth inning. Brayden Channell walked and scored in the third. Cartersville (1-1) plays Smyrna Blue (1-1) Tuesday night at 6 p.m. Georgia Little League 10U State Tournament schedule: Sat. July 7 — Smyrna Blue 11, Chatham County 1 Sat. July 7 — Cartersville 5, Toccoa 0 Sat. July 7 — Martinez-Evans 16, Peachtree City 0 Sun. July 8 — Northern-Columbus 13, Oconee County 3 Sun. July 8 — Warner Robins 7, Smyrna Blue 2 Sun. July 8 — Toccoa 6, Chatham County 2 (Chatham eliminated) Mon. July 9 — Smyrna Blue 14, Oconee County 13 (Oconee eliminated) Mon. July 9 — Toccoa 18, Peachtree City 3 (Peachtree City eliminated) Mon. July 9 — Martinez-Evans 8, Cartersville 3 Mon. July 9 — Northern-Columbus 4, Warner Robins American 3 GM 11 — Tue. July 10 — 6 pm — Smyrna Blue vs. Cartersville (elimination game) GM 12 — Tue. July 10 — 8 pm — Warner Robins American vs. Toccoa (elimination game) GM 13 — Wed. July 11 — 6 pm — Martinez-Evans vs. Northern-Columbus GM 14 — Wed. July 11 — 8 pm — Game 12 winner vs. Game 11 winner (elimination game) GM 15 — Thr. July 12 — 6 pm — Game 13 loser vs. Game 14 winner (elimination game) GM 16 — Fri. July 13 — 6 pm — Game 13 winner vs. Game 15 winner (championship round) GM 17 — Sat. July 14 — 11 am — Game 16 winner vs. Game 16 loser (if necessary) Georgia winner advances to the Tournament of State Champions that begins July 20 in Greenville, NC. Cartersville Little League 11U continues action in the Georgia Little League 11U baseball tournament Tuesday night. Georgia Little League 11U State Tournament schedule: Sat. July 7 — Smyrna Blue 10, Peachtree City National 2 Sat. July 7 — Warner Robins American 13, Toccoa 3 Sat. July 7 — Cartersville 8, Athens 4 Sun. July 8 — Northern-Columbus 5, Smyrna Blue 4 Sun. July 8 — Cartersville 7, Warner Robins American 5 Sun. July 8 — Athens 4, Toccoa 3 (Toccoa eliminated) Mon. July 9 — Warner Robins American 4, Peachtree City National 0 (PCN eliminated) Mon. July 9 — Athens vs. Smyrna Blue 11, Athens 3 (Athens eliminated) GM 9 — Tue. July 10 — 6 pm — Northern-Columbus vs. Cartersville GM 10 — Tue. July 10 — 8 pm — Warner Robins American vs. Game 8 winner (elimination game) GM 11 — Wed. July 11 — 7 pm — Game 9 loser vs. Game 10 winner (elimination game) GM 12 — Thr. July 12 — 7 pm — Game 9 winner vs. Game 11 winner (championship round) GM 13 — Fri., July 13 — 7 pm — Game 12 winner vs. Game 12 loser (if necessary) The Georgia champion advances to the Tournament of State Champions that begins July 27 in Greenville, NC. Results for Bartow County Little League and Cartersville Little League provided by the respective leagues and Georgia Little League Baseball and Softball. Bartow County Recreation Department and Cartersville Recreation Department baseball and softball teams participating in Georgia Recreation and Parks Association are reported to Bartow Sports Zone by the respective recreation departments and presented on Bartow Sports Zone by Play It Again Sports at 410 Cherokee Place in Cartersville.

The three local athletes at the Minor League Baseball level each had productive weeks in their respective leagues. Pitcher Sam Howard made his fourteenth start of the year for Albuquerque this past weekend. Connor Justus continued a hot hitting streak, and Anthony Seigler continued his consistent work in the Rookie Gulf Coast League. SAM HOWARD — Albuquerque Isotopes (5th yr. pro; LHP; Triple-A Pacific Coast League; Colorado Rockies organization; Georgia Southern; Cartersville HS)… made his 13th and 14th starts of the year for the Isotopes last week in games at El Paso and at home against Tacoma. Howard was tagged with the pitching loss July 2 at El Paso after allowing five earned runs on nine hits in five innings. He struck out five. Saturday’s six inning performance at home against Tacoma resulted in a no-decision for the southpaw. Howard yielded just one earned run on six hits and a walk. He fanned six. For the year, he has worked 68 innings for the ‘Topes and has a 3-6 record. Howard has struck out 55 and walked 26 with a 5.43 ERA. Albuquerque (44-45) is currently third in the PCL’s Pacific Southern Division and trails division leader El Paso by five games at the Triple-A all-star break. The Isotopes return to action Thursday through Sunday in a four-game series at Las Vegas. CONNOR JUSTUS — Inland Empire 66ers (3rd yr. pro; MIF; Adv. Class A California League; L.A. Angels organization; Georgia Tech; Cartersville HS)… since his demotion from Double-A Mobile on June 22, the middle infielder’s bat has been productive. Justus has now hit safely in 13 of 16 games at Inland Empire (17 for 60, .283 BA) and has four, two-hit games with the 66ers. In his last 16 games, he has eight extra base hits including four doubles and four home runs with 13 RBI and five walks. In 73 MiLB games this season with Mobile and Inland Empire, Justus is now up to a .210 batting average in 248 official at bats. The 66ers (8-10, California League second half) already trail the South Division leading Rancho Cucamonga Quakes by eight games. The LA Dodgers’ affiliate is off to a 16-2 start in the second half. Inland Empire starts a four-game series at Lake Elsinore Monday night before returning home to host the Quakes in a four-game set Friday through Monday, July 16. ANTHONY SEIGLER — GCL Yankees West (1st yr. pro; C; Rookie Gulf Coast League; NY Yankees organization; Cartersville HS)… As one of six catchers on the roster, Seigler has started half of his team’s fourteen games through Sunday. He has hit safely in six of those games with a pair of two-hit games. The switch-hitter is 8-for-21 (.381) with two RBI, two doubles, four runs scored, and five walks. Defensively behind the dish, Seigler has not committed an error and has denied two of nine would-be base stealers. The GCL Yankees West are currently 7-7 and trailing Tigers West by two games in the GCL Northwest Division. The Yanks West have a home doubleheader with Yankees East Tuesday followed by games this week at the GCL Braves, home against the GCL Phillies, and finish the week with road games at Phillies West, Tigers West, and the GCL Pirates.

Bartow County Little League Softball has two teams still alive in their respective Georgia Little League State Tournaments as play continues Monday in the 10U and 12U divisions. The Bartow County 10U softball all-stars were blanked by Northern-Columbus Sunday in their first state tournament game. The Bartow County 12U softball all-stars routed Oconee County Saturday afternoon in the opening round, but lost Sunday to Dudley. Oglethorpe County swept Columbus American 10-5 and 6-1 Saturday to win the Georgia Junior Little League (14U) Softball state championship. Oglethorpe County advances to the Little League Southeast Junior Region Tournament that begins July 19 in Salisbury, NC. The Georgia Senior Little League Softball state championship is down to its championship round starting Monday afternoon at Hamilton Crossing Park. West Point can capture the title with a win Monday over Vine Ingle. A second state championship game will be required on Tuesday at 10 a.m. if Vine Ingle can win on Monday. The Georgia champion advances to the Little League Southeast Senior Region Tournament that begins July 19 in Salisbury, NC. Georgia Little League 10U State Softball Tournament schedule: (all games at Hamilton Crossing Park) Sat. July 7 -- Northern-Columbus 8, West Point 6 Sat. July 7 -- Oconee County 11, Toccoa 3 Sun. July 8 -- Northern-Columbus 10, Bartow County 0 Sun. July 8 -- Oconee County 5, Vine Ingle 3 GM 5 — Mon. July 9 — 10 am — West Point vs. Vine Ingle (elimination game) GM 6 — Mon. July 9 — 12 noon — Toccoa vs. Bartow County (elimination game) GM 7 — Mon. July 9 — 2 pm — Northern-Columbus vs. Oconee County GM 8 — Mon. July 9 — 4 pm — Game 5 winner vs. Game 6 winner (elimination game) GM 9 — Tue. July 10 — 10 am — Game 7 loser vs. Game 8 winner (elimination game) GM 10 — Tue. July 10 — 12 noon — Game 7 winner vs. Game 9 winner (championship round) GM 11 — Wed. July 11 — 10 am — Game 10 winner vs. Game 10 loser (if necessary) Georgia state tournament winner advances to the Tournament of State Champions that begins July 20 in Clarksville, TN. Georgia Little League 12U State Softball Tournament schedule: (all games at Hamilton Crossing Park) Sat. July 7 — Harris County 16, West Point 2 Sat. July 7 — Bartow County 21, Oconee County 1 Sun. July 8 — Harris County 20, Hart County 2 Sun. July 8 — Dudley 11, Bartow County 1 GM 5 — Mon. July 9 — 10 am — West Point vs. Bartow County (elimination game) GM 6 — Mon. July 9 — 12 noon — Oconee County vs. Hart County (elimination game) GM 7 — Mon. July 9 — 2 pm — Harris County vs. Dudley GM 8 — Mon. July 9 — 4 pm — Game 5 winner vs. Game 6 winner (elimination game) GM 9 — Tue. July 10 — 10 am — Game 7 loser vs. Game 8 winner (elimination game) GM 10 — Tue. July 10 — 12 noon — Game 7 winner vs. Game 9 winner (championship round) GM 11 — Wed. July 11 — 10 am — Game 10 winner vs. Game 10 loser (if necessary) Georgia state tournament winner advances to Southeast Region Little League Tournament that begins July 26 in Warner Robins, GA Bartow County 12U photos: Click on image to enlarge. Results for Bartow County Little League and Cartersville Little League provided by the respective leagues and Georgia Little League Baseball and Softball. Bartow County Recreation Department and Cartersville Recreation Department baseball and softball teams participating in Georgia Recreation and Parks Association are reported to Bartow Sports Zone by the respective recreation departments and presented on Bartow Sports Zone by Play It Again Sports at 410 Cherokee Place in Cartersville.

The Cartersville Little League 11U baseball all-star team improved to 2-0 in the Georgia Little League State Tournament Sunday with a 7-5 victory over Warner Robins American Little League. The Cartersville Little League 10U baseball all-star team and the Bartow County Senior Little League baseball team (16U) will return to state tournament action Monday. The Cartersville Little League 11U baseball all-stars broke open a 4-4 game with three runs in the bottom of the fifth Sunday afternoon and held off Warner Robins American 11U, 7-5, in the second round of the Georgia Little League 11U State Tournament at Rudy York Field in Atco. Cartersville scored four runs in the bottom of the second inning to take a 4-1 advantage, but Warner Robins American scored a run in the third and two more in the fourth inning to knot the score at 4-4. A three-run fifth for the locals gave them a 7-4 lead and Warner Robins American managed only a single run in the top of the sixth for a 7-5 final score. Warner Robins out hit Cartersville eight to five, but a trio of Cartersville pitchers closed out innings when needed. Brodie McWhorter (3.2 IP, 4ER, 5H, 4BB, 2K) was the Cartersville starting pitcher. Maddox Frazier (2 IP, 1ER, 3H, 2BB, 2K) picked up the pitching win in middle relief, and Julian Cline (0.1 IP, 0R, 1BB) took the mound with two outs in the sixth to retire the game’s final out. Logan Woody walked to get Cartersville’s fourth inning started. Cameron Cochran doubled and Thomas Peters tied the game 1-1 with an infield single. Cam Williams forced home another run when he reached on an infield error. Special runner Andrew Lutjens and Williams both added runs on wild pitches. In Cartersville’s three-run fifth, Lutjens was hit by a pitch, Logan Shrewsbury singled, and Casen Cochran singled to load the bases. McWhorter forced in the go-ahead run with a bases loaded walk and Woody was hit by a pitch to give Cartersville a 6-4 lead. After a pitching change, Casen Cochran scored on a wild pitch and the locals had a 7-4 advantage. Warner Robins coaxed three walks and had a single in the top of the sixth, but Cline got an infield pop out with the bases loaded to end the threat. The loss sends Warner Robins American to an elimination game in the double-elimination tournament Monday night at 6 p.m. against Peachtree City American. Cartersville (2-0) advances to a third round game Tuesday night at 6 p.m. against Northern-Columbus (1-0). Georgia Little League 11U State Tournament schedule: Sat. July 7 — Smyrna Blue 10, Peachtree City National 2 Sat. July 7 — Warner Robins American 13, Toccoa 3 Sat. July 7 — Cartersville 8, Athens 4 Sun. July 8 — Northern-Columbus 5, Smyrna Blue 4 Sun. July 8 — Cartersville 7, Warner Robins American 5 Sun. July 8 — Athens 4, Toccoa 3 (Toccoa eliminated) GM 7 - Mon. July 9 — 6 pm — Peachtree City National vs. Warner Robins American (elimination game) GM 8 — Mon. July 9 — 8 pm — Athens vs. Smyrna Blue (elimination game) GM 9 — Tue. July 10 — 6 pm — Northern-Columbus vs. Cartersville GM 10 — Tue. July 10 — 8 pm — Game 7 winner vs. Game 8 winner (elimination game) GM 11 — Wed. July 11 — 7 pm — Game 9 loser vs. Game 10 winner (elimination game) GM 12 — Thr. July 12 — 7 pm — Game 9 winner vs. Game 11 winner (championship round) GM 13 — Fri., July 13 — 7 pm — Game 12 winner vs. Game 12 loser (if necessary) The Georgia champion advances to the Tournament of State Champions that begins July 27 in Greenville, NC. Other Little League baseball state tournament results from this weekend: Georgia Little League 10U State Tournament schedule: Sat. July 7 — Smyrna Blue 11, Chatham County 1 Sat. July 7 — Cartersville 5, Toccoa 0 Sat. July 7 — Martinez-Evans 16, Peachtree City 0 Sun. July 8 — Northern-Columbus 13, Oconee County 3 Sun. July 8 — Warner Robins American 7, Smyrna Blue 2 Sun. July 8 — Toccoa 6, Chatham County 2 GM 7 — Mon. July 9 — 12 noon — Smyrna Blue vs. Oconee County (elimination game) GM 8 — Mon. July 9 — 2:30 pm — Peachtree City vs. Toccoa (elimination game) GM 9 — Mon. July 9 — 5 pm — Cartersville vs. Martinez-Evans GM 10 — Mon. July 9 — 7:30 pm — Warner Robins American vs. Northern-Columbus GM 11 — Tue. July 10 — 6 pm — Game 7 winner vs. Game 9 loser (elimination game) GM 12 — Tue. July 10 — 8 pm — Game 10 loser vs. Game 8 winner (elimination game) GM 13 — Wed. July 11 — 6 pm — Game 9 winner vs. Game 10 winner GM 14 — Wed. July 11 — 8 pm — Game 12 winner vs. Game 11 winner (elimination game) GM 15 — Thr. July 12 — 6 pm — Game 13 loser vs. Game 14 winner (elimination game) GM 16 — Fri. July 13 — 6 pm — Game 13 winner vs. Game 15 winner (championship round) GM 17 — Sat. July 14 — 11 am — Game 16 winner vs. Game 16 loser (if necessary) Georgia winner advances to the Tournament of State Champions that begins July 20 in Greenville, NC. Georgia Senior Little League (16U) State Tournament schedule: Martinez-Evans 15, Bartow County 3 Northern-Columbus 11, Hart County 1 Martinez-Evans 12, East Marietta 2 Northern-Columbus 22, Oconee County 6 GM 5 — Mon. July 9 — 5:45 pm — Bartow County vs. Oconee County (elimination game) GM 6 — Mon. July 9 — 8:15 pm — Hart County vs. East Marietta (elimination game) GM 7 — Tue. July 10 — 5:45 pm — Martinez-Evans vs. Northern-Columbus GM 8 — Tue. July 10 — 8:15 pm — GM 5 winner vs. GM 6 winner (elimination game) GM 9 — Wed. July 11 — 6 pm — GM 7 loser vs. GM 8 winner (elimination game) GM 10 — Thr. July 12 — 6 pm — GM 7 winner vs. GM 9 winner (championship round) GM 11 — Fr. July 13 — 6 pm — GM 10 winner vs. GM 10 loser (if necessary) Georgia winner advances to Southeast Region Tournament that begins July 20 in Safety Harbor, FL. Results for Bartow County Little League and Cartersville Little League provided by the respective leagues and Georgia Little League Baseball and Softball. Bartow County Recreation Department and Cartersville Recreation Department baseball and softball teams participating in Georgia Recreation and Parks Association are reported to Bartow Sports Zone by the respective recreation departments and presented on Bartow Sports Zone by Play It Again Sports at 410 Cherokee Place in Cartersville.

The SEBL Summer Metro Men's A-League started Saturday at Aubrey Street Gym in Cartersville. The SEBL Men's City B-League and the Women's SEBL also got underway on Sunday. Capsules for games played July 7-8, 2018 Baseline-1 ’05 95, OG’s 46 After trading buckets in the opening moments, Baseline began to gradually, but convincingly pull away from the OG’s. Behind the crafty scoring of Hakeem Winters (Point Univ) and Bryce Gober (Concordia). Combining for 24 points, they helped Baseline build a 49-26 spread by halftime. Chris Brown (Chatt Tech) was a bright spot for the OG’s with 14 first half points, including three treys. In the second half the onslaught continued for Baseline, as Ryan Davis (Francis Marion), Cade Archer (Reinhardt) and AJ Mosby (Alcorn) fueled the offense, joining for 32. Brown finished with 21 for the OG (0-1) while KJ Stallworth netted nine and Dominique Richards (Chatt Tech) seven. For Baseline (1-0), Davis led all scorers with 26, while Winters finished with 18, Gober and Archer 14 each. Mosby tallied 10 points, but dished out 12 assists in the season-opening win. Dream Chaserz 69, Shaw Industries 68 After leading for much of the first half, the Dream Chaserz found themselves fighting from behind for most of the second half, after Shaw rallied and took the lead early in the final stanza. With Shaw up 65-63, DC’s Brannon Hopkins (Point Univ.) nailed a long trey, but put his team back up 66-65 with 1:20 left, capping a furious 8-0 run. Randy McClure (Albany State) then answered to put Shaw back up 67-66. With about 22 seconds remaining, Shon Redding (West Ga) drew a foul and make one of the two freethrows to knot the count back up at 67. McClure was able to draw another foul, making the first, but missing the second attempt – Shaw was back up 68-67. On the ensuing possession, Travien Geter (Life Univ.) broke free for a bucket with only :07 remaining, to give DC the slim 69-68 edge. Shaw’s shot at the buzzer was off, giving the Dream Chaserz the opening day victory. For Shaw (0-1), McClure led all scorers for the game with 25, while Kevin Hammitt (West Ga) had 24. For the Dream Chaserz (1-0), Hopkins downed 19, while Redding, Chevelan Pearson (Life Univ) and Arrington Perry (Ga Southern) each shared 13. Opening Day photos - Click on image to enlarge. Brighter Days 85, Franklin Ford 66 Brighter Days debuted with a solid win over a roster-depleted Franklin Ford squad, who has returned to the league after a 20-year absence. Behind Kevin Hobbs, Brighter Days quickly built a 14-5 lead, then extended their lead to 43-24 by halftime. Hobbs exploded for 24 first half points. A cold-shooting Franklin Ford team, finally found some fight in the second half, as JR Davis (Ga Highlands) and LaChaz Phillips (Chatt Tech) stepped up their defensive efforts, pressuring the ball, triggering several comeback opportunities. In the effort Davis and Phillips also combined for six treys. But, with the usual sharp-shooting Chris Brock (Kennesaw State) never finding his mark for FF, coupled with Elijah Hirsh (Berry) and Marcus Dortch (West Ga) taking over offensively in the second stanza for Brighter Days, the comeback never amounted to anything significant. For Franklin Ford (0-1), Latrel Moore had 21, Davis 17 and Phillips 11. Pacing Brighter Days (1-0), Hobbs, who attended LSU, led all scorers with 33, while Hirsh had 21 and Dortch 20. Bartow Braves 90, Toyo Tires-1 62 The Bartow Braves opened defense of their 2017 crown in good fashion with a relatively easy win over Toyo-1. After putting up a good battle for much of the first half, Toyo-1 faltered to allow the Braves to take a 33-21 cushion into the intermission. The offense for both teams opened up after the break, but the Braves had a better combination of nine combined threes from Tim Fortenberry (Bryan College), Richard Olson (GA NW Tech) and Marquise Brown, coupled with the athletic slashing of Josh Wilson, to the tune of 57 second half points. Josh Christian did his best to keep pace with 18 of his own. Toyo-1 (0-1) was led by Christian’s 25, as LD Strickland had 13 and Bryan Owens (Chatt Tech) 10. For the Braves (1-0), Wilson had 27, Olson 25, Fortenberry 22 and Brown 13. Nick Highbear chipped in three. SEBL City B-League Opening Day Results SH-Baseline-2 73, BC Infinity 66 Baseline-2, who breezed through the City Conference last summer, opened up with a solid 73-66 win over a talented BC Infinity squad. 2017 B-League MVP, Jeremiah Shaw (Vermont Tech) didn’t disappoint as he sank three treys in the early going, helping SH2 to a 16-7 spread. Infinity’s Latrel Jones (Vermont Tech commit) tallied 10 first half points and Vincent Wallace hit two treys, to help them keep pace, but they went into the intermission down 36-27. SHB2 was able extend their lead in the opening moments of the second half, with buckets from Korley Grier (Reinhardt) and Markel Williams (Chatt Tech). Down as many as 15 at one point, Infinity began mounting a comeback, behind Kingsley Okezie and Kaylon Aker, who decided to wake up and contribute. SEBL newcomer Hunter Johnson’s long-range three, along with a mid-range bucket, saw Infinity trim their deficit to 56-51. But, clutch baskets from Antoine Wesley, Shaw and Grier all aided SHB2, as they were able to hold on for the win. Jones paced BC Infinity (0-1) with 19, while Okezie had 15 and Wallace 10. Aker finished with nine and Johnson eight. Shaw took game-high honors with 23 for SH-Baseline-2 (1-0), as Williams scored 13 and Grier 12. Wesley finished with eight, along with six from Kameron Whitfield and Brett Role’. SH Warriors 57, Team Alumni 35 In a defensive minded match-up, the SH-Warriors were able to gradually build a 9-point cushion by half-time, going in with the 23-14 lead, after holding Alumni to only six baskets in the opening stanza. The defensive trend continued well into the second half. Talique Cochran was finally able to generate some offense for Alumni offenses began to open up a bit, scoring six straight at one point to trim the SHW lead to 35-29 with about nine minutes left. But, the Warriors’ Jalen McKeller (Chatt Tech) answered with two free throws, then a transition bucket on a pass from Cody Henderson, and Cade Archer drilled consecutive threes, to thwart any comeback attempt. Archer would score 14 of his game-high 20 down the stretch, as Alumni couldn’t generate any more offense. Cochran would be the only Alumni (0-1) player in double-figures, as he finished with 18. Dustin Glenn contributed six and Ken Shaw four. For the SH-Warriors (1-0), LaChaz Phillips supported with eight, while Henderson, McKeller and Kevane Washington each had seven. Toyo-2 66, GSM Ballers 63 After building a comfortable 39-25 lead heading in to the half, Toyo-2 had to overcome bad shot selection and internal personnel issues in order hang on for the win, fighting off a scrappy GSM team in the waning minutes. Leading by as many as 55-39 mid-way through the second half, GSM began to take advantage of Toyo-2’s failure to share the ball when LD Strickland got free for a couple of buckets in the lane, followed by a trey and several drives to the cup by Patrick Printup, where he drew fouls and sank four of six at the line. The stretch produced a 20-5 run, that saw Bryan Owens sink a long-range bomb and Strickland connect on another drive to the basket, cutting the Toyo-2 lead to 60-59 with only about 2:15 on the clock. Donlin Hinton’s left side attack to the basket gave Toyo the 62-59 spread, followed by another Strickland bucket for GSM. 62-61. Josh Christian then put Toyo back up by three with an another athletic drive to the hole, 64-61, but GSM answered again with a lay-in by Justin Beaver with only :08 showing. Forced to foul, GSM sent Toyo’s Eddie Melvin to the line with only :04 left. He calmly sank both, pushing the lead back to 66-63. After a timeout advanced the ball to half court. With a chance to potentially force overtime, GSM miscued on a double-screen play for Owen, as Toyo deflected the pass as time expired. Strickland and Beaver paced, GSM (0-1), with 19 and 15, respectively, while Printup and Owen each finished with 10. For Toyo-2 (1-0), Christian scored 17, Willie Woods 13 and Eddie Melvin 12. Hinton finished with nine. WSEBL Women's Capsules: RAK 62, Summer Hill-3 44 RAK, the reigning 2017 Champs, got off to a good start with a 62-44 win over Summer Hill-3 on Sunday afternoon at JH Morgan Gym in Cartersville. Summer Hill-3 fought valiantly, but the combination of Bethany Headrick and Carrie Cheeks were simply too much. The 5’9 Headrick battled her way to 26 points on the afternoon, with an array of scoring from inside and out, while Cheek, a 6’3 post from Lee University, pounding the paint for 19 points and load of rebounds. Summer Hill-3, in contrast, collectively sank eight threes and made several runs, but just couldn’t keep over the long haul. Tess Wright and Becca Cheeks helped RAK (1-0), with six and five, respectively, while Re’Tevia Floyd drilled five treys for 15 points to lead Summer Hill-3 (0-1). Kaelyn Irby and Miesha Dozier each scored six in the losing effort. Elite77 52, Lady Lions 49 (OT) Elite77 re-entered the WSEBL scene with a bang, hanging on to a season-opening OT thriller against the Lady Lions. After falling behind 27-22 going into the half, Elite77 grabbed the lead a few minutes into the second on back-to-back tri-fectas by Tanisha Woodard and Madison McKinney and looked to be in control headed down the stretch. But, the Lady Lions got key buckets from Taylor Delasbour and Lochlain Corliss, to fight back and force overtime at 49-all. In the OT, Taya Gibson was the only to muster up a basket, as she drew a foul and also sank the charity shot, giving Elite77 the win. For the Lady Lions (0-1), Delasbour led the way with 14, while Hope Forrester had 11 and Corliss 10. Allison Smith also contributed eight in the losing cause. Elite77 (1-0) was paced by Woodard’s game-high 19, as Gibson got 12 and McKinney five.

Georgia Little League baseball state championship tournaments began Saturday for three different local teams. Cartersville Little League 10U and 11U teams won their tournament openers, while the Bartow County Senior Little League (16U) team lost a first round game. CARTERSVILLE 11U 8, ATHENS 4 The Cartersville Little League 11U baseball all-stars scored four runs in the bottom of the first inning and three more in the fourth on their way to an opening round 8-4 victory over Athens Little League 11U Saturday night in the Georgia state tournament at Rudy York Field in Atco. Maddox Frazier was 2-for-3 with a pair of doubles, three RBI, and a pair of runs scored to pace the Cartersville offense. On the mound, a trio of Cartersville pitchers fanned ten and limited Athens to only two hits. Davis Waddell (4 IP, 2R, 0ER, 1H, 3BB, 7K) picked up the pitching win with four innings of relief work without allowing an earned run. Waddell took the mound in the third inning and closed out the game. Logan Shrewsbury (1 IP, 1ER, 0H, 4BB, 1K) started on the bump for Cartersville and Brodie McWhorter (1 IP, 1ER, 1H, 2BB, 2K) worked in middle relief. Logan Woody and Cameron Cochran finished with one hit and one RBI each for Cartersville. Shrewsbury doubled in the fourth inning and walked twice to score two runs. Cam Williams added a hit and scored a run. Thomas Peters, Casen Cochran, and Andrew Lutjens also crossed the plate for the locals. Cartersville 11U advances to the second round Sunday afternoon at 2 p.m. at Rudy York Field and will play Warner Robins American Little League 11U. Warner Robins defeated Toccoa in the first round Saturday, 13-3. Georgia Little League 11U State Tournament schedule: Sat. July 7 — Smyrna Blue 10, Peachtree City National 2 Sat. July 7 — Warner Robins American 13, Toccoa 3 Sat. July 7 — Cartersville 8, Athens 4 GM 4 — Sun. July 8 — 12 noon — Northern-Columbus vs. Smyrna Blue GM 5 — Sun. July 8 — 2 pm — Warner Robins American vs. Cartersville GM 6 — Sun. July 8 — 4 pm — Toccoa vs. Athens (elimination game) GM 7 — Mon. July 9 — 6 pm — Peachtree City National vs. Game 5 loser (elimination game) GM 8 — Mon. July 9 — 8 pm — Game 6 loser vs. Game 4 loser (elimination game) GM 9 — Tue. July 10 — 6 pm — Game 4 winner vs. Game 5 winner GM 10 — Tue. July 10 — 8 pm — Game 7 winner vs. Game 8 winner (elimination game) GM 11 — Wed. July 11 — 7 pm — Game 9 loser vs. Game 10 winner (elimination game) GM 12 — Thr. July 12 — 7 pm — Game 9 winner vs. Game 11 winner (championship round) GM 13 — Fri., July 13 — 7 pm — Game 12 winner vs. Game 12 loser (if necessary) The Georgia champion advances to the Tournament of State Champions that begins July 27 in Greenville, NC. CARTERSVILLE 10U 5, TOCCOA 0 The Cartersville Little League 10U baseball team won its opener at the Georgia Little League State Tournament Saturday in Dudley, GA with a 5-0 blanking of Toccoa Little League 10U. Logan Buchanan and Isaiah Martin combined to scatter five hits and keep Toccoa off the scoreboard. Buchanan (4.2 IP, 0R, 2H, 3BB, 4K) picked up the pitching victory in his 52 pitch effort. Martin(1.1 IP, 0R, 3H, 0BB) needed only a dozen pitches to retire the final four outs for Cartersville. Cartersville took a 1-0 lead in the top of the first inning when Asa Mitcham scored on a passed ball. Carter Rice was hit by a pitch to get the inning started. Mitcham grounded into a fielder’s choice and advanced to third base on a single by Buchanan. The locals added two more runs in the third inning. Lyle Woody and Rice walked in the inning. Griffin Woodall and Buchanan added singles in the frame as Cartersville also took advantage of an error on the Toccoa shortstop to plate their runs. Cartersville’s final two runs scored in the top of the sixth on five consecutive singles by Woodall, Woody, Rice, Mitcham, Buchanan. Cartersville banged out a dozen hits overall led by Buchanan’s 4-for-4 performance. Woodall was also a perfect 3-for-3 and scored a run. Rice finished 2-for-2 with a walk, one RBI, and two runs scored. Brayden Channell, Mitcham, and Woody had the other Cartersville base hits. Cartersville 10U advances to face Martinez-Evans 10U Monday afternoon at 5 p.m. Georgia Little League 10U State Tournament schedule: Sat. July 7 — Smyrna Blue 11, Chatham County 1 Sat. July 7 — Cartersville 5, Toccoa 0 Sat. July 7 — Martinez-Evans 16, Peachtree City 0 GM 4 — Sun. July 8 — 1 pm — Northern-Columbus vs. Oconee County (susp. from Sat. night) GM 5 — Sun. July 8 — 3 pm — Warner Robins vs. Smyrna Blue GM 6 — Sun. July 8 — 5:30 pm — Chatham County vs. Toccoa (elimination game) GM 7 — Mon. July 9 — 12 noon — Game 5 loser vs. Game 4 loser (elimination game) GM 8 — Mon. July 9 — 2:30 pm — Peachtree City vs. Game 6 loser (elimination game) GM 9 — Mon. July 9 — 5 pm — Cartersville vs. Martinez-Evans GM 10 — Mon. July 9 — 7:30 pm — Game 5 winner vs. Game 4 winner GM 11 — Tue. July 10 — 6 pm — Game 7 winner vs. Game 9 loser (elimination game) GM 12 — Tue. July 10 — 8 pm — Game 10 loser vs. Game 8 winner (elimination game) GM 13 — Wed. July 11 — 6 pm — Game 9 winner vs. Game 10 winner GM 14 — Wed. July 11 — 8 pm — Game 12 winner vs. Game 11 winner (elimination game) GM 15 — Thr. July 12 — 6 pm — Game 13 loser vs. Game 14 winner (elimination game) GM 16 — Fri. July 13 — 6 pm — Game 13 winner vs. Game 15 winner (championship round) GM 17 — Sat. July 14 — 11 am — Game 16 winner vs. Game 16 loser (if necessary) Georgia winner advances to the Tournament of State Champions that begins July 20 in Greenville, NC. BARTOW SENIOR LITTLE LEAGUE DROPS STATE TOURNEY OPENER In other Georgia Little League State Tournament action Saturday involving local teams, Bartow County Little League 16U lost its first round game to Martinez-Evans 16U, 15-3, at the Senior Little League State Tournament at Harris County High School in Hamilton, GA. Martinez-Evans took a 4-1 lead after one inning and led 5-2 through the first four frames. A three-run fifth inning and a seven-run seventh inning bolstered the Martinez-Evans lead to 15-2. Bartow County added a final run in the seventh inning for a 15-3 final score. Wade Conduff, Joseph Richards, and Tyler Strickland were all 2-for-3 at the plate for Bartow. Conduff stole four bases in the game and scored twice. Strickland added a walk and scored the other Bartow run. Trevor Montgomery reach base three times with a triple, hit-by-pitch, and a walk. Both Conduff and Richards also reached base after being hit by a pitch. Defensively, Conduff threw out a pair of would-be-base stealers to limit some of the Martinez-Evans running game. Montgomery also added an outfield assist on a play at the plate. Bartow County utilized three pitchers in their loss. Brandon Pittman, Richards, and Strickland took the mound with Richards covering 5 and one-third innings in middle relief. Bartow County 16U slips to the loser’s bracket to face the loser of Sunday afternoon’s game between Northern-Columbus and the District 10 champion in an elimination game. Bartow’s game is slated for 5:45 p.m. Monday afternoon again at Harris County High School. Georgia Senior Little League (16U) State Tournament schedule: Martinez-Evans 15, Bartow County 3 Northern-Columbus 11, Hart County 1 GM 3 — Sun. July 8 — 11 am — District 2 winner vs. Martinez-Evans GM 4 — Sun. July 8 — 1:30 pm — District 10 winner vs. Northern-Columbus GM 5 — Mon. July 9 — 5:45 pm — Bartow County vs. GM 4 loser (elimination game) GM 6 — Mon. July 9 — 8:15 pm — Hart County vs. GM 3 loser (elimination game) GM 7 — Tue. July 10 — 5:45 pm — GM 3 winner vs. GM 4 winner GM 8 — Tue. July 10 — 8:15 pm — GM 5 winner vs. GM 6 winner GM 9 — Wed. July 11 — 6 pm — GM 7 loser vs. GM 8 winner (elimination game) GM 10 — Thr. July 12 — 6 pm — GM 7 winner vs. GM 9 winner (championship round) GM 11 — Fr. July 13 — 6 pm — GM 10 winner vs. GM 10 loser (if necessary) Georgia winner advances to Southeast Region Tournament that begins July 20 in Safety Harbor, FL. Results for Bartow County Little League and Cartersville Little League provided by the respective leagues and Georgia Little League Baseball and Softball. Bartow County Recreation Department and Cartersville Recreation Department baseball and softball teams participating in Georgia Recreation and Parks Association are reported to Bartow Sports Zone by the respective recreation departments and presented on Bartow Sports Zone by Play It Again Sports at 410 Cherokee Place in Cartersville.

Georgia Little League baseball state championship tournaments begin Saturday for three different local teams. Cartersville Little League will host the 11U (9-11 year olds) state tournament at Rudy York Field in Atco and the Cartersville 10U team (8-10 year olds) will play in Dudley, GA. Bartow County Little League baseball will also be represented. The Bartow County Senior Little League team (13-16 year olds) will play at Harris County High School in Hamilton, GA Cartersville Little League 10U baseball begins play in the 2018 Georgia state tournament Saturday at Dudley Little League just west of Dublin, GA. Cartersville plays Toccoa Little League in the first round Saturday at 12:30 p.m. 10U Georgia Little League Tournament schedule: GM 1 — Sat. July 7 — 10 am — Smyrna Blue vs. Chatham County GM 2 — Sat. July 7 — 12:30 pm — Toccoa vs. Cartersville GM 3 — Sat. July 7 — 3 pm — Peachtree City vs. District 6 champion GM 4 — Sat. July 7 — 5:30 pm — Northern-Columbus vs. Oconee County GM 5 — Sun. July 8 — 2 pm — Warner Robins vs. Game 1 winner GM 6 — Sun. July 8 — 4:30 pm — Game 1 loser vs. Game 2 loser GM 7 — Mon. July 9 — 12 noon — Game 5 loser vs. Game 4 loser GM 8 — Mon. July 9 — 2:30 pm — Game 3 loser vs. Game 6 loser GM 9 — Mon. July 9 — 5 pm — Game 2 winner vs. Game 3 winner GM 10 — Mon. July 9 — 7:30 pm — Game 5 winner vs. Game 4 winner GM 11 — Tue. July 10 — 6 pm — Game 7 winner vs. Game 9 loser GM 12 — Tue. July 10 — 8 pm — Game 10 loser vs. Game 8 winner GM 13 — Wed. July 11 — 6 pm — Game 9 winner vs. Game 10 winner GM 14 — Wed. July 11 — 8 pm — Game 12 winner vs. Game 11 winner GM 15 — Thr. July 12 — 6 pm — Game 13 loser vs. Game 14 winner GM 16 — Fri. July 13 — 6 pm — Game 13 winner vs. Game 15 winner GM 17 — Sat. July 14 — 11 am — Game 16 winner vs. Game 16 loser (if necessary) Georgia winner advances to the Tournament of State Champions that begins July 20 in Greenville, NC. Cartersville Little League 10U: Logan Buchanan, Will Camp, Brayden Channell, Peyton Emery, Isaiah Martin, Asa Mitcham, Matthew Morris, Carter Rice, Griffin Woodall, Kamdyn Woods, Lyle Woody. Manager: Ty Mitcham. Coaches: Jeff Osborn, Jonty Rice. Cartersville Little League 11U baseball will host and begin play in the Georgia state tournament Saturday at Rudy York Field in Atco. Cartersville opens the first round Saturday at 4 p.m. against Athens Little League. 11U Georgia Little League Tournament schedule: GM 1 — Sat. July 7 — 12 noon — Smyrna vs. Peachtree City National GM 2 — Sat. July 7 — 2 pm — Warner Robins American vs. Toccoa GM 3 — Sat. July 7 — 4 pm — Athens vs. Cartersville GM 5 — Sun. July 8 — 12 noon — Northern-Columbus vs. Game 1 winner GM 6 — Sun. July 8 — 2 pm — Game 2 winner vs. Game 3 winner GM 7 — Mon. July 9 — 6 pm — Game 1 loser vs. Game 5 loser GM 8 — Mon. July 9 — 8 pm — Game 6 loser vs. Game 4 loser GM 9 — Tue. July 10 — 6 pm — Game 4 winner vs. Game 5 winner GM 10 — Tue. July 10 — 8 pm — Game 7 winner vs. Game 8 winner GM 11 — Wed. July 11 — 7 pm — Game 9 loser vs. Game 10 winner GM 12 — Thr. July 12 — 7 pm — Game 9 winner vs. Game 11 winner GM 13 — Fri., July 13 — 7 pm — Game 12 winner vs. Game 12 loser (if necessary) The Cartersville 11U roster includes: Julian Cline, Casen Cochran, Cameron Cochran, Maddox Frazier, Andrew Lutjens, Brodie McWhorter, Thomas Peters, Logan Shrewsbury, Davis Waddell, Cameron Williams, and Logan Woody. Manager: Lee Daniel. Coach: Luke Daniel. Bartow County Senior Little League (16U) begins play in the 2018 Georgia state tournament this Saturday at Harris County High School in Hamilton, GA. Bartow County plays the District 6 champion Saturday at 11 a.m. Georgia Senior Little League State Tournament schedule: GM 1 — Sat. July 7 — 11 am — Bartow County vs. District 6 champion GM 2 — Sat. July 7 — 1:30 pm — Hart County vs. Northern-Columbus GM 3 — Sun. July 8 — 11 am — District 2 champion vs. GM 1 winner GM 4 — Sun. July 8 — 1:30 pm — District 10 champion vs. GM 2 winner GM 5 — Mon. July 9 — 5:45 pm — GM 1 loser vs. GM 4 loser GM 6 — Mon. July 9 — 8:15 pm — GM 2 loser vs. GM 3 loser GM 7 — Tue. July 10 — 5:45 pm — GM 3 winner vs. GM 4 winner GM 8 — Tue. July 10 — 8:15 pm — GM 5 winner vs. GM 6 winner GM 9 — Wed. July 11 — 6 pm — GM 7 loser vs. GM 8 winner GM 10 — Thr. July 12 — 6 pm — GM 7 winner vs. GM 9 winner GM 11 — Fr. July 13 — 6 pm — GM 10 winner vs. GM 10 loser (if necessary) Georgia winner advances to Southeast Region Tournament that begins July 20 in Safety Harbor, FL. Bartow Senior Little League roster: Wade Conduff, Bryce Richardson, Mason Brown, Hunter Blackmon, Austin Phillips, TJ Grimes, Brandon Pittman, Tyler Sheriff, Tyler Strickland, Trevor Montgomery, Evan Henry. Manager: Bucky Conduff. Coaches: Joseph Richardson, Austin Phillips. Results for Bartow County Recreation Department and Cartersville Recreation Department baseball and softball teams participating in Georgia Recreation and Parks Association are reported to Bartow Sports Zone by the respective recreation departments and presented on Bartow Sports Zone by Play It Again Sports at 410 Cherokee Place in Cartersville.

Bartow County Little League softball will host four different age group state championship tournaments that begin Saturday morning and continue through next Wednesday. Bartow County Little League will have teams in the 10U (8-10 year old) and 12U (10-12 year old) divisions at Hamilton Crossing Park. The local facility will also play host to the Georgia Little League softball state tournaments for Junior (14U) and Senior (16U) softball. Oglethorpe County and Columbus American will play a best-of-three series Saturday through Monday for the state Junior League softball title with the winner advancing to the Southeast Region Tournament starting July 19 in Salisbury, NC. Columbus Northern, Vine Ingle, and West Point will play a double-elimination tournament Saturday through Monday for the Georgia Senior League championship. The winner of that state tournament will also advance to Salisbury, NC for the Southeast Region starting July 19. Bartow County Little League 10U softball will host and begin play in the Georgia state tournament that begins Saturday at Hamilton Crossing Park. Bartow 10U will play its first game Sunday afternoon at 2 p.m. against the winner of Saturday’s game between West Point Little League and Northern Little League of Columbus. Georgia Little League 10U State Softball Tournament schedule: GM 1 — Sat. July 7 — 10 am — West Point vs. Northern-Columbus GM 2 — Sat. July 7 — 12 noon — Oconee County vs. Toccoa GM 3 — Sun. July 8 — 2 pm — Bartow County vs. Game 1 winner GM 4 — Sun. July 8 — 4 pm — Game 2 winner vs. Vine Ingle GM 5 — Mon. July 9 — 10 am — Game 1 loser vs. Game 4 loser GM 6 — Mon. July 9 — 12 noon — Game 2 loser vs. Game 3 loser GM 7 — Mon. July 9 — 2 pm — Game 3 winner vs. Game 4 winner GM 8 — Mon. July 9 — 4 pm — Game 5 winner vs. Game 6 winner GM 9 — Tue. July 10 — 10 am — Game 7 loser vs. Game 8 winner GM 10 — Tue. July 10 — 12 noon — Game 7 winner vs. Game 9 winner GM 11 — Wed. July 11 — 10 am — Game 10 winner vs. Game 10 loser (if necessary) Bartow 10U softball roster: Carley Aspenwell, Lakiaya Banks, Cayce Brown, Haley Collum, Nakayla Evans, Harley Hannah, Elizabeth Hartsfield, Jocelyn Hazelwood, Kyndell Hembree, Alivia Joslin, Brie Patterson, Kamryn Smith, Harlee Thomason, Savannah Viktora The Georgia winner advances to the Tournament of State Champions that begins July 20 in Clarksville, TN. ​ Bartow County Little League 12U softball will host and begin play in the Georgia state tournament that begins Saturday at Hamilton Crossing Park. Bartow 12U will play Oconee County Little League in the opening round Saturday at 12 noon. Georgia Little League 12U State Softball Tournament schedule: GM 1 — Sat. July 7 — 10 am — West Point vs. Harris County GM 2 — Sat. July 7 — 12 noon — Oconee County vs. Bartow County GM 3 — Sun. July 8 — 2 pm — Hart County vs. Game 1 winner GM 4 — Sun. July 8 — 4 pm — Dudley vs. Game 2 winner GM 5 — Mon. July 9 — 10 am — Game 1 loser vs. Game 4 loser GM 6 — Mon. July 9 — 12 noon — Game 2 loser vs. Game 3 loser GM 7 — Mon. July 9 — 2 pm — Game 3 winner vs Game 4 winner GM 8 — Mon. July 9 — 4 pm — Game 5 winner vs. Game 6 winner GM 9 — Tue. July 10 — 10 am — Game 7 loser vs. Game 8 winner GM 10 — Tue. July 10 — 12 noon — Game 7 winner vs. Game 9 winner GM 11 — Wed. July 11 — 10 am — Game 10 winner vs. Game 10 loser (if necessary) Bartow County 12U roster: Kelsey Gleason, Kylie Perine, Jordan Clay, Hayley Dillow, Chacy Gosselin, Heather Gilbert, Chelsea Bates, Taff Bradley, Grace Childers, Madison Abernathy, Harley Owens, Savannah Mayfield. The Georgia winner advances to the Southeast Region Tournament that begins July 26 in Warner Robins, GA. Results for Bartow County Recreation Department and Cartersville Recreation Department baseball and softball teams participating in Georgia Recreation and Parks Association are reported to Bartow Sports Zone by the respective recreation departments and presented on Bartow Sports Zone by Play It Again Sports at 410 Cherokee Place in Cartersville.

The Bartow County Parks & Recreation Department 10U baseball team captured the Georgia Recreation and Parks Association District 5 championship Monday night in Calhoun with a 4-1 victory over host Calhoun. Calhoun took a 1-0 lead in the first inning and held that advantage until Bartow struck for four runs in the bottom of the fifth inning. Rush Faulk, Drew Nida, and Noah Janssen all walked to load the bases in Bartow’s fifth. Graham Coheley followed with a base hit. Luke Hight then walked and Jaden Daise added another key hit in the decisive inning. Drazen Jones closed out the sixth inning on the mound for Bartow by striking out the side to secure the three-run victory and the championship. Bartow was 4-0 in winning the District title with victories over Gordon County, Calhoun, Rome, and Calhoun again in the finals. Bartow 10U advances to the GRPA State Tournament that begins Tuesday, July 10 at the Bill Reynolds Sports Complex in Bainbridge. Bartow will square off against District 4 winner Clayton County in the first round. The double-elimination event continues through Friday, July 13. Other teams represented at the GRPA State Tournament include host Bainbridge, Dublin-Laurens, Burke County, South Bryan, East Point, and Worth County. Bartow 10U roster: Drew Nida, Jaden Daise, Kaiden Coker, Evan Hardin, Drazen Jones, Landon Lamb, Mateo Faulk, Noah Janssen, Graham Coheley, Luke Hight. Results for Bartow County Recreation Department and Cartersville Recreation Department baseball and softball teams participating in Georgia Recreation and Parks Association are reported to Bartow Sports Zone by the respective recreation departments and presented on Bartow Sports Zone by Play It Again Sports at 410 Cherokee Place in Cartersville.

The Cartersville Parks and Recreation Department’s 12U baseball team won the Georgia Recreation and Parks Association District 5 Major Division championship Monday night in Rome by defeating Gordon County 12-11. The win for Cartersville was their fourth straight in the tournament after losing their opening game in the double-elimination event last Tuesday. In Monday night’s winner-take-all championship game, Cartersville took a 9-2 lead into the fourth inning, but Gordon County outscored the locals 8-1 in the next two frames to send the game into extra innings. The California tie-breaker rule was utilized in the extra frame where each inning begins with a runner placed at second base. Gordon County scored a run in the top of the seventh to take an 11-10 lead, but Cartersville answered with a pair of runs in the bottom of the inning for a walk-off title victory. Lee Camp, Adam Cornwell, and Luke Altizer all had key singles for Cartersville in the decisive frame. Brett Goode (3 IP, 1ER, 2H, 3BB, 3K) picked up the pitching win for Cartersville by working the final three innings. Hunter Shirley (1.2 IP, 7R, 3ER, 3H, 3BB, 1K) and Cornwell (2.1 IP, 2R, 0ER, 1H, 1BB, 5K) also pitched for the locals. Cartersville out hit Gordon County 15 to six in the contest as five different players had a multi-hit game. Altizer paced Cartersville with three hits including a double and the walk-off RBI in the seventh. Drew Perry had a pair of hits that included a double and three RBI. Camp and Cornwell had two hits and two RBI each. Charlie Crum also added two hits and one RBI. Davis Wilkey contributed a hit and two RBI. Eli Jones, Collin Genrich, and Trevor Harris collected one hit apiece. Cartersville was also productive on the base paths swiping 11 bases. Harris had three stolen bases. Cornwell and Camp had two each. Crum, Altizer, Perry, and Jones all swiped one base each. Following their opening round 5-3 loss to Calhoun last Tuesday, Cartersville battled back through the double-elimination tournament’s losers’ bracket to win four straight games. Cartersville defeated Rome, Calhoun, and Gordon County twice to capture the title. The GRPA 12U Major State Tournament begins Tuesday, July 10 at E.B. Hamilton Complex in Tifton. Cartersville will play East Point in the opening round. The double-elimination tournament will continue through Friday, July 13. Other teams in the state tournament include Grady County, Clayton County Braves, Savannah, Tift County, and Clayton County Pirates. Cartersville roster: Luke Altizer, Lee Camp, Adam Cornwell, Charlie Crum, Collin Genrich, Brett Good, Trevor Harris, Eli Jones, Drew Perry, Davis Wilkey. Manager: Ben Genrich. Coaches: Chance Altizer, Blake Wilkey. Results for Bartow County Recreation Department and Cartersville Recreation Department baseball and softball teams participating in Georgia Recreation and Parks Association are reported to Bartow Sports Zone by the respective recreation departments and presented on Bartow Sports Zone by Play It Again Sports at 410 Cherokee Place in Cartersville.

The Bartow County 12U softball all stars finished runner-up in the GRPA District 5 Tournament hosted by Rome/Floyd County Parks and Recreation. After falling to Murray County on Saturday, Bartow needed to win against Whitfield County to ensure a rematch. Bartow benefited from several walks by Whitfield pitchers en route to a commanding 14-1 victory, in three innings. Chelsea Bates got the win in the circle for Bartow allowing one run on three hits, walking one, and recording four strikeouts. Bates, Chacy Gosselin, and Kelsey Gleason had hits for Bartow. In the rematch with Murray, Bartow jumped out to a 3-0 lead in the top of the first, but could not push anymore runs across. Murray scored in every frame and defeated Bartow 11-3 in five innings. Bates took the loss in the circle, allowing eleven runs on seven hits with six walks, and striking out five. Hayley Dillow led Bartow at the plate with two hits, Bates, Heather Gilbert, Gosselin, Gleason, and Savannah Mayfield each recored one hit. Bartow now turns its attention to Little league Softball Tournament play beginning this Saturday at Hamilton Crossing Park. Results for Bartow County Recreation Department and Cartersville Recreation Department baseball and softball teams participating in Georgia Recreation and Parks Association are reported to Bartow Sports Zone by the respective recreation departments and presented on Bartow Sports Zone by Play It Again Sports at 410 Cherokee Place in Cartersville.

As the calendar rolls into the month of July, the three former Cartersville High School baseball players in minor league baseball continue their summer work. Pitcher Sam Howard made his twelfth start of the year for Albuquerque this past week. Connor Justus continued a six-game hitting streak, and Anthony Seigler made his fifth professional start in the Gulf Coast League. SAM HOWARD — Albuquerque Isotopes (5th yr. pro; LHP; Triple-A Pacific Coast League; Colorado Rockies organization; Georgia Southern; Cartersville HS)… the southpaw made his twelfth start of the year for Albuquerque last Friday and was tagged with the loss after going six innings and facing 27 batters. He left the game with the Isotopes trailing 4-2 in an eventual 4-3 loss to the Sacramento River Cats. All four runs off Howard were earned off seven hits, a walk, and one hit batsman. Two of the hits were solo home runs with the wind blowing out at Isotopes Park. Howard fanned five. He is now 3-5 for the season with a 5.53 ERA and 57 innings pitched. He has 44 strikeouts and 25 walks. Albuquerque (41-41) is in third place in the PCL Pacific Southern Division trailing co-division leaders El Paso and Salt Lake by 2 and 1/2 games. The Isotopes complete a five-game series in El Paso Monday and Tuesday against the Padres’ affiliate before hosting Mariners’ affiliate Tacoma for five straight nights starting Wednesday. CONNOR JUSTUS — Inland Empire 66ers (3rd yr. pro; MIF; Adv. Class A California League; L.A. Angels organization; Georgia Tech; Cartersville HS)… has hit safely in six straight games and has hits in seven of nine games since his return to the 66ers from Double-A Mobile. The stretch with Inland Empire also includes a pair of two-hit games where he has gone 9-for-35 (.257) with two doubles, two walks, three RBI, four runs, and a pair of stolen bases. Defensively, the middle infielder has 42 games at shortstop and 22 at second base this season with both Mobile and Inland Empire. He has a .950 fielding percentage in 260 total chances across 447 innings. Only 11 games into the California League’s second half, the 66ers are 4-7 and five games behind Rancho Cucamonga in the South Division. Inland Empire completes a series at Rancho Cucamonga Monday and Tuesday nights prior to hosting Stockton for five straight evenings beginning Wednesday. ANTHONY SEIGLER — GCL Yankees West (1st yr. pro; C; Rookie Gulf Coast League; NY Yankees organization; Cartersville HS)… has started five of his team’s first eight games and has been slotted in the two-hole of the batting order in each of his last four starts. The rookie first round selection is 5-for-15 with three walks, a double, one RBI, and four runs scored. Behind the dish in 35 innings, Seigler has thrown out one of four stolen base attempts and has not committed an error although he has been charged with three passed balls. Yankees West (5-3) trails Tigers West by one-half game in the GCL Northwest Division and has games this week against Tigers East, Phillies West, Tigers West, Pirates, Blue Jays, and Phillies East. The 18-team Rookie League plays a 60-game schedule in major league spring training facilities throughout Florida. Yankees West plays home games at Steinbrenner Field in Tampa.