Former Cartersville High School southpaw Sam Howard was called up from Triple-A Albuquerque on Saturday to join the major league Colorado Rockies. The move came as left-handed relief pitcher Harrison Musgrave was placed on the bereavement list. This will be Howard’s first appearance on the Rockies’ active roster. His last work with the Isotopes was June 2 against Fresno where he allowed three runs on four hits over five innings of work. In nine starts this season with the Isotopes, Howard is 3-4 with a 4.68 ERA across nine starts. The 25-year-old, fifth-year pro who played at Georgia Southern University, has 33 strikeouts this season. He was a third round draft choice by the Rockies in the 2014 MLB draft. Howard has a career minor league record of 29-33 with a 3.68 ERA in 513 innings. He has 97 starts in the minors since 2014 and will wear jersey number 61 for the Rockies. After learning of the call up to the big leagues Howard told the Denver Post, ““I haven’t found my groove yet (in Triple-A) in terms of cashing in quality starts week after week, but it’s been a good learning experience because I faced some adversity early and I had to work on a couple things in my delivery.” Howard was injured in April in a home plate sliding incident as a baserunner. As a result, he spent some time on the Isotopes’ disabled list. He has a low-90s fastball with a slider, curve, and a change-up in his repertoire. “My slider’s been my strength, although I haven’t been throwing it as well to start this year,” Howard told Denver Post reporter Kyle Newman. “But I’ve been throwing my changeup well, fastball well, and I’m throwing a curveball now. I’ve actually been throwing (the curve) pretty well, and hitters have been taking it for a strike.” Rockies manager Bud Black expects Musgraves back with the team by Wednesday, so time to work in Howard may be limited during this call-up. Musgraves has a 2.65 ERA in 15 innings this season with Colorado. The Rockies close out a home series with the Arizona Diamondbacks Sunday afternoon and travel to Philadelphia to start a three-game set with the Phillies on Tuesday.

Anthony Seigler received another accolade this week recognizing an impressive senior season and four-year career for the Cartersville High School baseball team. Friday he was named the 2018 all-classification Player of the Year in baseball by the Atlanta Journal-Constitution. The switch-hitting senior catcher batted .421 with 10 doubles, three triples, 13 home runs, 16 stolen bases and a .587 on-base percentage for the Class AAAA runner-up Purple Hurricanes. He also threw out 12 of 21 runners attempting to steal a base. Seigler is also an ambidextrous pitcher who compiled a 3-1 record with five saves and a 1.09 ERA his senior season. Seigler has committed to play baseball for the University of Florida but was picked in the first round of this week’s MLB Draft by the New York Yankees at No. 23 overall, the first Georgia high school player selected. He is expected to forego the college route and sign with the Yankees to begin his professional career this summer.

Six different Bartow County high school baseball players were selected by the Georgia Dugout Club as All-State players for the 2018 season. Kyler Pelfrey of Adairsville was a first team selection in Class AAA, while Mason Barnett, Jake Gooch, and Anthony Seigler of Cartersville were all chosen first team in Class AAAA. Gage Morris of Cartersville was named second team all-state in Class AAAA and Garrett Mishoe of Adairsville received Honorable Mention in Class AAA.

Former Cartersville High School quarterback and current Clemson Tigers freshman, Trevor Lawrence, was honored Thursday night by the Atlanta Sports Council as the 2018 High School Athlete of the Year. The 2018 Atlanta Sports Awards took place at The Fairmont in northwest Atlanta. Lawrence was recognized along with several other award winners including Lifetime Achievement Award recipient John Schuerholz. The National Baseball Hall of Fame inductee and former Atlanta Braves general manager joins some of Atlanta’s best in receiving the Lifetime Achievement Award, including most recently Arthur Blank (2017), John Smoltz (2016), Tom Glavine (2015), Tommy Nobis (2014), Chipper Jones (2013), Dominque Wilkins (2012) and Bobby Cox (2011). The award for Lawrence adds to an already long list of accolades including: - USA Today National Offensive Player of the Year - U.S. Army National Player of the Year - Georgia Gatorade Player of the Year 2016 and 2017 - four-year starter at QB for Cartersville - 52-2 record as a starter in high school - led program to a 41-game winning streak - four high school region titles, two state titles, and three state playoff Final Fours - passed for 13,908 yards and 161 touchdowns - broke state records for passing yards and TD passes previously held by Deshaun Watson - 41 TD passes and only one interception in 2017 - .700 completion percentage and 19.6 yards per completion as a senior compiling 3,396 yards on 177 of 256 passes - competed in the Elite 11 finals / named Elite 11 QB / participated in The Opening, 2017 - first-team All-State in Class AAAA his last three years of high school 2018 Atlanta Sports Council Awards Moment of the Year College Football Playoff National Championship Team of the Year Atlanta United FC Community Spirit Award Ben Garland - Atlanta Falcons Coach of the Year Gerardo Martino - Atlanta United Pro Athlete of the Year Miguel Almiron - Atlanta United College Athlete of the Year Roquan Smith - University of Georgia High School Athlete of the Year Trevor Lawrence - Cartersville High School Created in 2006 by the Atlanta Sports Council, the Atlanta Sports Awards has become a way to rally the Atlanta sports community to recognize athletic excellence on a yearly basis. The Atlanta Sports Awards honors those who distinguish themselves from among the five million people living in Atlanta. That includes all professional sports teams, universities, junior colleges and more than 250 public and private high schools in Atlanta.

Devin Warner starred for four seasons with the Cartersville High Purple Hurricanes and was a key ingredient with his travel program, the East Cobb Yankees. Wednesday, the 6-2, 205-pound switch hitting shortstop was drafted by the Arizona Diamondbacks in the 30th round of the 2018 MLB draft where most scouting services have him projected as an eventual third baseman. Warner, who admittedly struggled through portions of his senior year at the plate, returned to form in the Canes’ Class 4A state playoff run. He hit .321 with three doubles and a pair of home runs during that stretch to help lead Cartersville to the state championship series. His defense and hustle never suffered throughout the year and his baseball IQ was constantly evident as well. The Diamondbacks’ selectee has decided to go the collegiate route, however, and will stick with his commitment to play for Auburn University for at least the next three seasons. Players enrolling at a four-year college must complete three years to regain draft eligibility, unless they reach age 21 before starting their third year of attendance. The Euharlee resident joins an exclusive group of recent Cartersville High players selected in the MLB draft, including classmate Anthony Seigler who went in Monday’s first round (23rd overall) to the New York Yankees. Former Hurricane Donavan Tate was selected third overall in 2009 by San Diego. Russ Mitchell (15th rd., 2003, L.A. Dodgers), Stephen Collum (40th rd., 2011, Washington Nationals), Will Startup (5th rd., 2005, Atlanta Braves), Josh Morris (12th rd., 2006, Atlanta Braves), Ronnie Brown (42nd rd., 2000, Seattle Mariners), Jason Tidwell (14th rd., 1992, Florida Marlins), and current minor leaguers Connor Justus (5th rd., 2016, L.A. Angels) and Sam Howard (3rd rd., 2014, Colorado Rockies) are previously drafted Hurricanes. Howard was also previously drafted out of high school, but went to Georgia Southern prior to his 3rd round selection. Warner told The Daily Tribune News he was comfortable with his decision to move on to Auburn for now. “It’s a pretty cool feeling, not everybody gets picked in the draft,” said Warner. “I wasn’t selected as high as I wanted, but it will motivate me in college to try to get picked higher next time.” “I’m really happy for Devin,” said Cartersville High head coach Kyle Tucker. “It was great to see him selected. It’s another great memory added on to an already memorable season. Having two seniors drafted is a great way to cap off the year.”

The Cartersville Little League Sandlot (9U) team battled back through the loser’s bracket of the 2018 Northwest Georgia Sectional Tournament at Rudy York Field, but lost in the championship round to Smyrna Little League Sandlot, 19-7. Cartersville lost its tournament opener to Smyrna Blue, but rallied for wins over Bartow County and Smyrna Red to face Smyrna Blue in the championship round needing two wins. CARTERSVILLE ROSTER: Clint Hosea, Westin Barfield, Dallen Fuqua, Zach Hall, Cole Henson, Dixon Lindsey, Blake Lutjens, Payton Paul, Cash Priest, Noah Cagle, Ben Cagle, and Garrett Hewlett. Manager: David Henson. Assistant coaches: Brian Barfield, Jay Paul, Dewayne Fuqua, and Chris Hall. Smyrna Blue won the tournament title without dropping a game in the double-elimination format and will advance to the three-team Georgia Little League State Sandlot Tournament June 16-17 at the Southeast Regional Complex in Warner Robins. Wednesday night, Smyrna Blue took control early and led 10-0 after just two innings. Cartersville scored four times in the bottom of the third inning to narrow the lead to 12-4, but seven more runs crossed the plate for Smyrna in the top of the fourth to essentially put the game away. Cartersville added three more runs in the fourth for a 19-7 final score. Smyrna Blue out hit Cartersville 15 to four and the locals committed eight errors for 11 unearned runs in their loss. Seven of Smyrna’s hits went for extra bases. Westin Barfield had two hits for Cartersville in their finale’. Payton Paul contributed a double with two RBI and Clint Hosea added a hit and one RBI. Barfield (1.2 IP, 10R, 2ER, 8H, 0BB, 2K), Paul (1 IP, 2R, 1ER, 1H, 3BB), and Dallen Fuqua (0.0 IP, 7R, 5ER, 5H, 1BB) all pitched for Cartersville. The Cartersville Sandlot team concludes its Georgia Little League tournament schedule with the District 1 title and a Northwest Georgia Sectional runner-up finish. Bartow County Little League and Cartersville Little League game results are provided to BartowSportsZone.com by the two leagues and are sponsored on Bartow Sports Zone by Play It Again Sports at 410 Cherokee Place in Cartersville.

Coach Dash O’Neill may have some roster spots to fill in coming days following this week’s 2018 MLB draft. The Chargers' baseball program had one established player and one signee drafted by MLB organizations. Both players will be deciding in coming days whether they will continue with the Cartersville-based junior college or will sign with their respective professional organizations. Noah Bryant — a right-hand relief pitcher for the Chargers out of Bainbridge High School — was selected in the 17th round by the Kansas City Royals while L.J. Fisher, a signee out of North Gwinnett High School, was drafted in the 37th round by the Pittsburgh Pirates. Bryant spent just one semester of his freshman year at Georgia Highlands. He transferred to the Chargers from the University of North Georgia, a four-year NCAA D-II program in Dahlonega. Bryant, who starred as a catcher in high school, has made the transition to pitcher while at GHC at is still new to the position. He appeared in a dozen games (1-2, 2 saves, one start) and had 22 strikeouts in 18.1 innings with a 5.40 ERA. The pro attraction is his fastball, clocked at 97 miles per hour with the ability to sit at the 93-94 mph level. Fisher is a speedy outfielder that hit .344 in his senior season at North Gwinnett with three home runs and 34 RBI.

The Cartersville Little League Rookie level (8U) team fell to Smyrna Little League Blue 18-0 Tuesday night in the championship round of the Georgia Little League Northwest Sectional Tournament at Smyrna Little League. Smyrna Blue went unbeaten in the double-elimination tournament and advances to the 2018 Georgia Rookie Baseball State Tournament June 16 and 17 in Warner Robins. Cartersville finished 2-2 in the Sectional Tournament after winning District 1 in a best-of-three series over Rockmart May 26-28. Playing as the visiting team Tuesday, Smyrna Blue scored twice in the top of the first​​ inning and added four or more runs in each of the next three frames on their way to the tournament title. Smyrna Blue out hit Cartersville twelve to one and utilized three different pitchers to shutout the locals. Blake Genrich had Cartersville’s lone hit. It came in the bottom of the fourth. He also reached base on a walk. CARTERSVILLE LL SANDLOT (9U) REACHES NW GA SECTIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP ROUND The Cartersville Little League Sandlot level (9U) team defeated Smyrna Little League Red Tuesday night, 11-10, in an elimination game to reach the championship round. Cartersville hosts Smyrna Little League Blue Wednesday night at 6 p.m. at Rudy York Field in Atco. Smyrna can win the title Wednesday. A Cartersville win forces an additional winner-take-all game Thursday in the double-elimination tournament. Game details were not provided but will be updated when they become available. Bartow County Little League and Cartersville Little League game results are provided to BartowSportsZone.com by the two leagues and are sponsored on Bartow Sports Zone by Play It Again Sports at 410 Cherokee Place in Cartersville.

The Cartersville Little League Sandlot team (9U) took advantage of 13 walks and five defensive miscues Monday night to defeat Bartow County Little League (9U) 13-3 at Rudy York Field. The Georgia Little League Northwest Georgia Sandlot Sectional win advances Cartersville to another elimination game Tuesday night. In Monday's victory, Cartersville scored in every offensive frame and only had one hit in the game. Although Bartow County scored first, Cartersville held a 3-1 lead after one inning before Bartow narrowed the margin to 4-3 in the top of the third. From there Cartersville scored nine unanswered runs to close out the game in the fourth inning. Blake Lutjens tossed a complete game to earn the pitching win for Cartersville. He gave up a pair of earned runs on three hits and one walk. Lutjens fanned five and worked ahead in the count throwing 13 first pitch strikes to the 17 batters he faced. Garrett Hewlett had Cartersville’s only hit. Dallen Fuqua walked three times and drove in three runs at the top of the Cartersville order. Cartersville also stole eight bases, led by Fuqua with three. Westing Barfield and Payton Paul both swiped two bags and Cash Priest stole a base. Cooper Reynolds had two hits, including a double and one RBI to pace the Bartow County offense. Taylor Hicks also had a base hit. Zaylen Cochran added one RBI. McCayden Hufstetler and Braxton Elrod each stole a base for Bartow. Bartow pitchers Jabari Burleson (2.2 IP, 8R, 1ER, 1H, 5BB, 2K), Reynolds (0.1 IP, 0R, 0H, 2BB, 1K), Maddox Raughton (0.2 IP, 5ER, 0H, 6BB, 1K), and Weston Wilson combined to allow only one hit, but walked 13 while striking out four. The loss eliminates Bartow County who finished 0-2 in the tournament. Cartersville, now 2-1 in the tournament, plays Monday’s Smyrna Red vs. Smyrna Blue loser in another elimination game Tuesday night at 6 p.m. at Rudy York Field. The winner of Cartersville's Tuesday game will reach the championship round with one loss to face Monday's Smyrna Red/Smyrna Blue winner. CARTERSVILLE LITTLE LEAGUE 8U REACHES SECTIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP ROUND The Cartersville Little League Rookie level (8U) defeated Smyrna Little League Red 8U Monday night 11-9 to advance to the championship round of the Northwest Georgia Sectional Tournament at Smyrna Little League. Cartersville, who defeated Smyrna Red Saturday in the opening round also, took an 8-0 lead through two innings Monday night only to have Smyrna stay in contention with a five-run third inning. The locals pushed their lead to 11-5 in the top of the fifth and held off another threat by Smyrna in the bottom of the fifth for a two-run victory. Three Cartersville pitchers combined for nine strikeouts. Blake Genrich (3.1 IP, 5R, 1ER, 4H, 3BB, 5K) picked up the pitching win. River Wade (1 IP, 4ER, 1H, 3BB, 2K) and Avery Slye (0.2 IP, 0R, 1H, 0BB, 2K) closed out the contest. Genrich had a hit, walk twice, scored twice, stole a base and drove in two runs for Cartersville. Mason Davis had one hit and one RBI. Wade doubled for the game’s only extra base hit. Slye walked twice and had one RBI. Andy Holstein added one walk and one RBI. John Brady Nichols and Price Startup each stole a base. Cartersville reaches the championship round with one loss to play Smyrna Little League Blue (8U) Tuesday night at 6:30 p.m. at Smyrna Little League. Cartersville must win to force a second championship game Wednesday in the double-elimination tournament. Bartow County Little League and Cartersville Little League game results are provided to BartowSportsZone.com by the two leagues and are sponsored on Bartow Sports Zone by Play It Again Sports at 410 Cherokee Place in Cartersville.

The New York Yankees made Cartersville High School’s Anthony Seigler the No. 23 overall pick in the first round of the MLB draft Monday night. The 2018 grad becomes the second Cartersville High baseball player ever selected in the first round. Donovan Tate was taken third overall in 2009 by the San Diego Padres. Seigler, a catcher and ambidextrous pitcher, led the Hurricanes to the Class 4A championship series this season to cap a spectacular high school career and senior season. Seigler is projected as a catcher at the professional level and is expected to take the pro route and sign with the Yankees although he has a college option as a University of Florida commit. According to MLB.com, the assessed value for Seigler is a little more than $2.8 million and most teams stay within 5 percent of the assessed value. Seigler was in attendance at the MLB Network’s studios in Secaucus, NJ when his selection by the Yankees was announced. He hit .567 during the high school playoffs this season with six home runs. He added 11 more extra base hits, 16 walks, a hit-by-pitch, 20 runs, and 15 RBIs. He also did not strikeout during the postseason. For his senior season, he finished with 13 homers, 34 RBI, and hit for a .421 average.

Former Cartersville High School pitcher Sam Howard came off the Albuquerque Isotopes' disabled list this past week to pick up a win in a pair of starts, while another former Hurricane -- Elliott Anderson -- and his Auburn Tigers won the Raleigh Regional in the NCAA Tournament. The pro and college baseball weekly update for the week ending Sunday, June 3. MiLB SAM HOWARD — Albuquerque Isotopes (5th yr. pro; Colorado Rockies organization; Triple-A Pacific Coast League; Georgia Southern; Cartersville HS)… made a pair of starts this week in his return from the DL. The southpaw picked up his third win of the year on Memorial Day in a 4-2 victory over the Sacramento River Cats. Howard allowed only one earned run on seven hits and a walk in five innings. He struck out two. Saturday he was tagged with a pitching loss in a 5-2 decision to the Fresno Grizzlies. He again went five innings, allowing three earned runs on four hits and two walks. He fanned one. Howard is 3-4 in nine starts this season with a 4.68 ERA in just over 42 innings. Albuquerque (29-28) is in second place in the PCL’s Pacific Southern Division, 5 and 1/2 games behind Salt Lake. CONNOR JUSTUS — Mobile BayBears (3rd yr. pro; L.A. Angels organization; Double-A Southern League; Georgia Tech; Cartersville HS)… was 0-for-13 at the plate with two walks and scored two runs in four games this past week. The BayBears went 3-2 in a series at the Tennessee Smokies and dropped their series opener at Chattanooga Sunday. Mobile (29-26) continues a five-game set at the Lookouts through Thursday and hosts the Jackson Generals for a five-game series Friday through June 12. The BayBears are currently in second place in the Southern League’s South Division, 4 and 1/2 games behind Biloxi. COLLEGE BASEBALL ELLIOTT ANDERSON — Auburn University (Soph., LHP, Cartersville HS)… worked the eighth inning Saturday in the Tigers’ 12-1 win over Army at the NCAA Tournament’s Raleigh Regional. Anderson struck out two of the four batters he faced and alowed one hit. Auburn (42-21) also defeated Northeastern and host N.C. State to win the regional and advance to next weekend’s Super Regionals where they will play at top-ranked Florida unless Florida Atlantic can beat the Gators twice on Monday to steal the Gainesville Regional.

The Cartersville Little League Sandlot team (9U) bounced back from its opening round loss on Saturday to defeat South Fulton Sunday afternoon 15-0 on a combined no-hitter by Blake Lutjens and Ben Cagle. Lutjens fanned five and did not walk a batter in his two innings of work. Cagle struck out two and walked two in his inning on the bump. Cartersville 9U jumped out to an early 7-0 lead in the bottom of the first inning and never looked back adding six runs in the second inning and two more in the third to close out the game. Dixon Lindsey had two hits, two RBI and scored three runs to pace the Cartersville 9U attack. Dallen Fuqua also added a pair of hits. Lutjens drove in a two runs and had one hit. Payton Paul, Clint Hosea, and Westin Barfield added one hit and one RBI each. Cole Henson had the other Cartersville base hit. BARTOW COUNTY SANDLOT TEAM (9U) DROPS TOURNEY OPENER The Bartow County Little League Sandlot team (9U) lost its Northwest Georgia Sectional Tournament opener Sunday to Smyrna Blue, 21-2. Bartow fell behind 8-0 before scoring its two runs in the bottom of the second inning to narrow the margin to 8-2. From there, it was all Smyrna Blue who added 13 more unanswered runs. Bartow County’s lone hit came off the bat of Taylor H. Cooper R drew a pair of walks and scored once. McCayden H (2 IP, 13R, 8ER, 11H, 1BB, 1K) suffered the pitching loss for Bartow. Taylor H (1.1 IP, 5R, 3ER, 3H, 1BB, 1K) and Cooper R (0.1 IP, 3R, 1ER, 2H, 1BB) also took the mound for Bartow County. Georgia Little League Baseball Northwest Georgia Sandlot (9U) Championship Double-elimination at Cartersville Little League Monday, June 4 6pm — GM 5 — Smyrna Blue (2-0) vs. Smyrna Red (1-0) 7:45pm — GM 6 — Cartersville (1-1) vs. Bartow County (0-1) Tuesday, June 5 6pm — GM 7 — Game 5 loser vs. Game 6 winner Wednesday, June 6 6pm — GM 8 — Game 5 winner vs. Game 7 winner Thursday, June 7 (if needed) 6pm — GM 9 — Game 5 winner vs. Game 7 winner CARTERSVILLE ROSTER: Clint Hosea, Westin Barfield, Dallen Fuqua, Zach Hall, Cole Henson, Dixon Lindsey, Blake Lutjens, Payton Paul, Cash Priest, Noah Cagle, Ben Cagle, and Garrett Hewlett. Manager: David Henson. Assistant coaches: Brian Barfield, Jay Paul, Dewayne Fuqua, and Chris Hall. BARTOW COUNTY ROSTER: Jabari Burleson, Preston Hazelwood, McCayden Hufstetler, Weston Wilson, Zaylen Cochran, William Wilson, Maddox Raughton, Cooper Reynolds, Jayce Little, Tavaris Burleson, Braxton Elrod, Taylor Hicks. Manager: Wade Wilson. Assistant coaches: Jonathan Raughton and Tony Hufstetler. CARTERSVILLE ROOKIE LEVEL TEAM (8U) FALLS INTO ELIMINATION BRACKET The Cartersville Little League Rookie level (8U) baseball team lost its second round game at the Northwest Georgia Sectional Tournament to Smyrna Blue 8U Sunday, 15-4. Smyrna Blue scored seven runs in the bottom of the first inning to take a 7-1 lead and added on in each inning. Cartersville scored single runs in the first and second innings before adding two more in the top of the third to narrow the Smyrna Blue lead to 8-4, but Smyrna tacked on seven more runs in the third to seal the game. Blake Genrich had a hit, a stolen base and two RBI to lead the Cartersville offense. Braden Slocumb also had one hit. John Brady Nichols walked twice and scored a run. Drake Bailey and Parker Huth both walked and scored. Both teams utilized three pitchers each in the contest. Price Startup (0.2 IP, 7ER, 2H, 4BB), Genrich (1 IP, 1R, 0ER, 0H, 2BB, 1K), and Huth (0.2 IP, 7R, 4ER, 4H, 4BB, 1K) each pitched for Cartersville. Cartersville, now 1-1 in the double-elimination tournament, must now play the winner of Sunday’s Rockmart/Smyrna Red matchup on Monday evening at 6:30 p.m in an elimination game. CARTERSVILLE ROSTER: Blake Genrich, Brandt Rutledge, Parker Huth, Avery Slye, Price Startup, River Wade, Braden Slocumb, John Brady Nichols, Drake Bailey, Mason Davis, Andy Holstein, Brody Jones, Ty King. Manager: Nick Wade. Assistant coaches: Drew Startup and Joe Slye. Bartow County Little League and Cartersville Little League capsules and game results are provided to BartowSportsZone.com by the two leagues and are sponsored on Bartow Sports Zone by Play It Again Sports at 410 Cherokee Place in Cartersville.