Kingston native and Rhodes College junior distance runner Spencer Fields landed two USTFCCCA All-South Region honors last Tuesday. Fields earned them for a second-place showing in the 10k and third-place finish in the 5k among NCAA D-III region distance runners. Fields will compete in the NCAA Division III Outdoor Track and Field Championships this weekend in La Crosse, Wisconsin. Fields broke the Rhodes College 10k record twice this year. His best time is ranked 14th among fellow qualifiers.

At the professional level, Connor Justus is hitting .350 over the last couple of weeks while Sam Howard has been placed on the disabled list with an injury to his left shoulder. On the collegiate diamonds, teams including local players at non-Division I levels have all concluded their seasons while the D-I programs begin their conference tournaments this week. MiLB SAM HOWARD — Albuquerque Isotopes, Colorado Rockies organization; Triple-A Pacific Coast League (5th-yr. pro; LHP; Georgia Southern University; Cartersville HS)… Howard is currently on the 7-day disable list for the Isotopes following an injury to his left shoulder in a game May 12 at Las Vegas. The injury occurred during a base running incident at home plate in the fourth inning. Howard had reached on a fielder’s choice and eventually reached third base. On a wild pitch, Howard scored but the collision at the plate on the slide forced him out of the game with discomfort and eventually to the DL. Howard is 2-3 this season in seven starts. He has a 5.01 ERA with a 30:17 strikeout-to-walk ration in just over 32 innings. PCL hitters have a .273 batting average against him. Albuquerque is 24-21 and in second place, one game behind the Salt Lake Bees in the PCL’s Pacific Southern Division. The ‘Topes continue a three-game home series with Salt Lake through Thursday before hitting the road for a five-game set at Sacramento. CONNOR JUSTUS — Mobile BayBears, L.A. Angels organization; Double-A Southern League (3rd-yr. pro; MIF; Georgia Tech; Cartersville HS)… The last two weeks have been productive at the plate for Justus. Following a slow start in April that saw his batting average dip as low as .163, he has hit safely in 11 of 19 games with a pair of multiple hit games this month. As a result, his batting average has risen to .202. Since May 9, the middle infielder is 14-for-40 (.350). Mobile (23-21) is currently second in the Southern League’s South Division. The BayBears trail the Biloxi Shuckers by 4.5 games and are 3.5 games up on the third place Mississippi Braves. Mobile starts a five-game home series with Biloxi Wednesday that runs through Sunday. COLLEGE BASEBALL ELLIOTT ANDERSON — Auburn University (So., LHP, Cartersville HS)… Entered to start the eighth inning at Troy last Tuesday with his team trailing and gave up a single and a home run while retiring only one batter on a sacrifice bunt. He was lifted after the home run and Troy won the game 9-5, but the Tigers bounced back to take two of three SEC games at home last Thursday through Saturday against LSU. Anderson has made 22 appearances this season, all in relief. He has a 5-0 record and a 3.81 ERA in just over 28 innings pitched. He has 29 strikeouts and a .231 BAA. 21st-ranked Auburn plays 26th-ranked Kentucky Tuesday afternoon in an SEC Tournament play-in game in Hoover, AL. The winner reaches the double-elimination portion of the conference tournament and the loser is eliminated. The SEC tournament continues through Sunday. HARRISON OSBORN — Point University (Fr., RHP, Cartersville HS)… picked up a pitching win last Wednesday over 15th-ranked Keiser University in the Opening Round tournament of the NAIA National Championships in Lawrenceville at Georgia Gwinnett College. Osborn pitched into the sixth inning and allowed only two earned runs on six walks and five hits. He struck out two in 5 and one-third innings. The Skyhawks finished runner-up to host Georgia Gwinnett and finished the year 37-25. Osborn was 6-2 in 11 starts and 15 appearances in 2018. He struck out 35, walked 17, and completed the year with a 3.45 ERA in 60 innings pitched. MASON ROBINSON — Louisiana Tech (R-Jr., OF, Woodland HS)… went 4-for-16 including a walk, three runs scored, and four RBI in four games this week. The Bulldogs had a 12-1 win a Grambling State Wednesday and then took two-of-three at conference-leading and 13th-ranked Southern Miss over the weekend. Robinson has appeared in 53 games this season with 51 starts in the outfield. He has a .279 batting average that includes six homers, 14 extra base hits, and 34 RBI in 223 plate appearances (197 official at-bats). The Bulldogs (35-18, 18-9 C-USA) are currently tied for second place with Florida Atlantic and trail Southern Miss by 2.5 games with one conference weekend remaining in the regular season. Most projections have only two NCAA tournament bids for Conference USA including the automatic bid for the conference tournament winner. Louisiana Tech hosts a regular season ending three-game conference series with Old Dominion Thursday through Saturday. The C-USA tournament begins May 23 in Biloxi, MS.

Cartersville and Jefferson split the first two games of their 2018 Georgia High School Association Class AAAA State Baseball Championship Series Monday night at State Mutual Stadium in Rome. The two teams will play Game 3 of their best-of-three series Wednesday night at either 5 p.m. or 7 p.m. to decide the state title. The winner-take-all championship game starting time will be 5 p.m. if the Class 6A series between Pope and Allatoona needs a third game Wednesday. The Cartersville/Jefferson game will be at 7 p.m. if either Pope or Allatoona sweep their doubleheader Tuesday. Listen to an archive of Monday's WBHF broadcasts of Game 1 and Game 2 using this link: https://www.meridix.com/channel/?liveid=bartowsportszone#/

Led by freshman Buck Brumlow’s 4-under-par 68, Cartersville is currently in eighth place at the mid point of the 36-hole 2018 GHSA Class AAAA Boys Golf Championship. The 36-hole championship is being conducted at Achasta Golf Club in Dahlonega and will continue on Tuesday, May 22. The AAAA boys are playing the course at 6,434 yards and it is playing to a par-72. Columbus High School raced to a big lead Monday after 18 holes. The Blue Devils had three individuals fire under par rounds and have a team total of 10-under-par. St. Pius is the only other team under par. The Golden Lions are eight shots back at 2-under-par after the opening round. Marist (+3), Woodward Academy (+8), and Oconee County (+12) round out the top five teams heading into Tuesday’s final round. North Oconee and Richmond Academy are tied for sixth at 13-over-par. Cartersville is 20-over-par. Brumlow fired matching nine-hole rounds of 2-under-par 34 to lead the Purple Hurricanes on Day 1. Dalton Henson was next for Cartersville with a 75. Blane Davis shot 81 and Christian Martin 84 to round out the counting scores for the locals. Jake Benefield (87) and Chanc Willis (89) completed the Canes’ lineup but their scores did not count. Teams count the best four rounds each day from their six players. The remainder of the 16-team field and their first round scores include LaFayette (+22), Northside-Columbus (+27), West Laurens (+29), LaGrange (+32), Cedartown (+39), Blessed Trinity (+46), Perry (+48), and Mary Persons (+64). Ben Carr of Columbus had the low individual score Monday. His 5-under-par 67 leads Brumlow of Cartersville and Columbus teammate Jonathan Parker by a single shot. The final round will be played Tuesday in Dahlonega.

It was a roller-coaster ride of emotions Monday night for both Cartersville and Jefferson in the Class AAAA State Championship Series doubleheader opener at State Mutual Stadium in Rome, but when the dust settled the series was knotted at one apiece. Jefferson jumped out to an early 4-0 lead in Game 1 and held off the late-charging Hurricanes 5-4 to put the Canes on the brink of elimination. It was Cartersville, however, that took advantage of opportunities in Game 2. Anthony Seigler (photo above) gave the Canes a much-needed five inning start on the mound and the offense took advantage of multiple miscues for a 9-3 nightcap win that forces a rubber game Wednesday for the 2018 Class AAAA title. Cartersville (32-9) won the coin toss that followed the doubleheader split and will be the home team in Wednesday’s winner-take-all championship game again in Rome. The game time will be either 5 p.m. or 7 p.m. pending the outcome of Tuesday night’s Class 6A doubleheader between Pope and Allatoona. If either of those teams sweep, the Cartersville/Jefferson finale’ will start at 7 p.m. If Pope and Allatoona need a third game, the Cartersville/Jefferson game will start at 5 p.m. In Monday night’s opener, Jefferson (27-12) grabbed a 4-0 lead in the bottom of the first inning of Canes’ ace starter Mason Barnett. Zac Corbin led off with a single and scored on a triple by Lane Watkins. Ryan Godfrey and Billy Finch both singled for a 2-0 lead before a double by Clayton Jones and another single by Mason Cooper gave the Dragons a 4-0 start. Jefferson tacked on a fifth run in the bottom of the fourth on an RBI single by Godfrey and Dragons’ ace Patrick Hickox (photo) made the five run total stand up. Jefferson's crafty southpaw needed only 83 pitches in his complete game victory. Hickox scattered seven hits and allowed only two earned runs (four total) without issuing a walk. He fanned five. Cartersville made it interesting late with a three-run sixth inning highlighted by Seigler's RBI triple. The Hurricanes added another run in the seventh but couldn't draw any closer. Hickox survived the final frame that included a deep fly out by Seigler and a Barnett line out to shortstop Corbin that ended the game. Barnett (1.1 IP, 4ER, 7H, 3BB, 2K) started on the bump was lifted in the second inning for Levi Ayers (4.2 IP, 1ER, 1H, 2BB, 4K) who closed out Game 1 for the Canes. Godfrey pace Jefferson with three hits and one RBI. Cooper, Jones, Finch, and Watkins all had one hit and one RBI each. Corbin added the other Dragons’ base hit with his leadoff single in the first. In Game 2, it was the Hurricanes that took an early lead and held off the Dragons. Jefferson did contribute to their own demise, however, with seven walks, three hit batsmen, and seven errors. While the Dragons stumbled, Cartersville did what good teams do. The Hurricanes took advantage of almost every opportunity and Jefferson mistake. _____________________________________________________________ Click on photo to enlarge. PHOTOS (L-R starting top left): Both teams line up for the National Anthem; Coaches David Cagle and Kyle Tucker; Levi Ayers; Preston Welchel; Jake Gooch; Devin Warner; Anthony Seigler; Ian Inaba; Brant Smith; Mason Barnett. ____________________________________________________________ Seigler (5 IP, 2ER, 7H, 3BB, 6K) started on the mound as a southpaw and completed five innings. It was the ambidextrous hurler's first game action as a left-handed pitcher since March 9. He moved back to catcher in the sixth with his team on top, 8-2 and gave way to Gage Morris (2 IP, 1ER, 3H, 0BB, 1K) who closed out the final six outs. The Canes took a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the first on a Jake Gooch RBI double but Jefferson tied it in the top of the second inning with a Sammy Elegreet run producing single. From there, Cartersville scored seven unanswered runs in their next three frames to lead 8-1. The Dragons scored single runs in the fifth and seventh innings. The Hurricanes tacked on a single run in the sixth. Jefferson never made it easy on the Canes. The Dragons had four different players with two hits each and out hit Cartersville ten to six. Billy Finch (RBI, double), Ryan Godfrey, Lane Watkins, and Kade McNally all had two hits for Jefferson. Clayton Jones added an RBI double and Elegreet had one hit and one RBI. Brant Smith paced the Canes with two hits including a towering triple off the base of the left field wall. Gooch drove in a pair of runs on a double and a sacrifice fly. J.P. Martin, Ian Inaba, and Preston Welchel all added one hit and one RBI. Jefferson utilized four different pitchers in Game 2 with UGA-commit and starter Lane Watkins (3 IP, 7R, 5ER, 3H, 5BB, 1K) suffering the loss. Brycen Jewell (1 IP, 1ER, 2H, 1BB, 2K), Will Wood (1 IP, 0R, 0H, 1BB, 2K), and Derek Vaughn (1 IP, 1ER, 1H) each threw an inning. "Hey, I'm happy with the way our guys competed in Game 2," said Cartersville skipper Kyle Tucker following the doubleheader. "I tell them all the time that you don't have to get 20 hits to score a lot of runs. We preach on-base percentage. Get on any way you can. We did a lot of that in this second game and we have another chance Wednesday night."

Former Cartersville High School and Georgia Southern University golfer Chase Jones was the best of the local finishers at the 2018 Georgia State Golf Association Mid-Amateur Championship this past weekend at Piedmont Driving Club in Atlanta. Jones finished in a tie for 11th place, seven shots behind champion Taylor Smith. Smith fired rounds of 72-71-69 to finish at 212 (4-under-par) for the 54-hole event played on the 7,016-yard, par-72 course. Stan Gann, Jr. and Tyler Gruca tied for second place at 1-under-par. Jones’ 3-over total for the championship included rounds of 70, 75, and 74. Other local players that qualified for the championship field were Cres Dodd (+14, tied for 56th), Bill Faith (+6, tied for 18th), Chuck Miller (missed the 36-hole cut by two shots), and Chad Branton who withdrew from the competition. Entries were open to male amateur golfers age 25 or older as of the first day of competition. The field of 144 players competed over 54 holes of stroke play and 71 players at 9-over-par 153 and better made the cut after 36 holes.

Monday, the Cartersville Purple Hurricanes continue a quest for the school’s seventh state championship in a best-of-three state title series against Jefferson at State Mutual Stadium — home of the Rome Braves. Cartersville is also making its ninth trip to the state championship series in the last 18 years. However it will be the first time the Canes have played for a state title on a neutral site. It is also their first postseason series this year away from the friendly confines of Richard Bell Field. For Jefferson, a series win would be the first-ever baseball championship for the Dragons who are surprise finalists after upsetting heavily favored Blessed Trinity last week. The only other finals run for Jefferson came in 2015 when the Dragons finished 28-8 but were swept in the Class AAA state championship series by Blessed Trinity. In a way, 2018 has been a big turn-around season for both programs. Both were bounced in the first round of the state playoffs last Spring. Jefferson lost to Heritage-Catoosa in the first round. Cartersville lost to Blessed Trinity in the opening round last season. Jefferson (26-11) won the Region 8-AAAA championship and had to go three games in both the first round and state quarterfinal round of this year’s playoffs. The Dragons edged Chestatee 3-2 in their first-round opener but lost Game 2, 5-3. Jefferson then took the rubber-game of the first round series 6-4. 

In the second round, the Dragons swept a doubleheader with Northwest Whitfield 3-0 and 5-1, before being stretch to a third game in the quarterfinals with Woodward Academy. Again, Jefferson won the opener with Woodward Academy 5-4 but lost Game 2 with the War Eagles, 5-1. In another elimination rubber-game, Jefferson prevailed 10-5 to reach the semifinals against highly touted and top-ranked Blessed Trinity. In the semifinals last week, the Dragons never trailed in a two-game sweep. Jefferson took an early 7-1 lead and held a 10-4 advantage late before Blessed Trinity rallied for three runs in the seventh. The Dragons held off the Titans for a 10-7 win. Durable southpaw Patrick Hickox pitched 6 and two-thirds innings allowing 11 hits, seven runs (four earned) and one strikeout to earn the first game win. Freshman Derek Vaughn pitched to one batter to preserve the victory. Junior Zac Corbin was the Jefferson offensive hero in the semifinal opener. The D-I football recruit and shortstop paced the Dragons with a 3-for-4 performance that included a home run, two runs scored, and three RBIs. Corbin is batting .340 this season and was a co-Region 8-AAAA player of the year. Justin Cole, a senior outfielder, added two hits against Blessed Trinity as well as one run and one RBI. Freshman catcher Mason Cooper contributed a pair of hits and scored two runs. In Game 2, Jefferson blanked the Titans 2-0 on a five-hit complete-game shutout by junior pitcher Lane Watkins who has committed to the University of Georgia. The right-hand pitcher’s performance ended Blessed Trinity’s season with a 34-5 mark. Watkins, who is also a catcher and a corner infielder, fanned five and did not issue a walk. The Dragons scored twice in the fourth inning for all the offense they would need to complete the semifinal sweep. For many, the Dragons’ upset of Blessed Trinity was the biggest playoff upset in recent memory. Blessed Trinity was the Class AAAA preseason favorite and was ranked No. 1 the entire season. The Titans were also been ranked in most national polls throughout the season and the highest ranked team in Georgia in all classifications. They even held a No. 1 spot in the nation in one of the national rankings. 

Jefferson was ranked sixth by the Atlanta Journal-Constitution in the final regular-season poll, Cartersville second. The Georgia Dugout Club rankings had Cartersville third and Jefferson sixth in its final regular season poll. Other key contributors for the Dragons and coach Tommy Knight have been third baseman Clayton Jones, an Emmanuel College commit; junior Sammy Elegreet; a sophomore outfielder Kade McNally who had a Game 3 walk-off homer against Chestatee; pitchers Will Wood and Vinny Farley; Ryan Godfrey and Oglethorpe University signee and second baseman Billy Finch. Meanwhile, the Canes have only gone to a third game only once in the first four rounds of the 2018 state playoffs. Cartersville (31-8) won the Region 5-AAAA title to earn a 1-seed and home-field advantage in the first two rounds. The GHSA’s universal coin toss was then kind to the Hurricanes and granted Cartersville home field for the next two rounds. 

The Canes swept Pickens 6-1 and 12-0 in Round 1 to face defending Class 4A champ Marist in the Sweet Sixteen. Cartersville won the opener with Marist 11-1 but fell in the nightcap 4-3 to force the only elimination game the Hurricanes have faced in the 2018 playoffs. The Canes dispatched the War Eagles in Game 3, 10-2 to advance. Two-game sweeps of Spalding (2-1, 11-1) in the quarterfinals and Heritage-Catoosa (6-5, 10-2) in the semifinals earned Cartersville a ninth finals appearance. The Hurricanes, under then head coach Stuart Chester, won a Class AAA state title in 2013, back-to-back championships in 2008 and 2009, and three in a row 2001-2003. 2001 and 2002 were in Class AA. 2003 was in Class AAA. 

This would be the Canes’ first-ever title in Class AAAA and of course the first title for new head coach Kyle Tucker. Tucker, a ten-year assistant with Chester and a Cartersville High and Clemson University grad, took the reigns of the program last summer as an interim head coach following a tumultuous transition. Tucker (photo) had even considered stepping away from baseball to focus solely on his football duties prior to a coaching upheaval. When Georgia Dugout Club Hall of Famer Chester moved on to Buford, Cartersville originally hired long-time Columbus High School head coach Bobby Howard to be the Canes’ skipper. Howard resigned the position days later following some confusion regarding his contract. That left the position to be filled by Tucker — first with an interim tag. Tucker then accepted the position full-time with the interim tag removed early in the 2018 season. The moves have worked out well for both Cartersville and Buford. Chester has the Wolves in the Class AAAAA championship series starting Monday against perennial power Loganville at the University of Georgia’s Foley Field in Athens. Throughout the season and playoffs, the Canes’ pitching has been steady and the offensive prowess has been timely. Senior star and likely MLB first-round draft pick, Anthony Seigler, has been the offensive catalyst with contributions on the mound as well. The ambidextrous catcher/pitcher in 2018 is highly capable at any position and a University of Florida commit. As a right-handed pitcher, Siegler (photo right) earned a semifinal round save in Game 1 where he also scored the go-ahead run. In the second game, he added a solo home run, scored the go-ahead run that broke a 2-2 tie, and finished 6-for-7 in the series. Seigler has stepped up his already impressive .424 season batting average to .636 during the playoffs with five home runs. His pitching numbers are just as incredible despite limited use in the playoffs. He has a 0.34 ERA and 0.87 WHIP for the year with 23 strikeouts in 20 and two-thirds innings. The rest of the Canes’ pitching staff has also impressed behind ace Mason Barnett. While the recent arm injury to Georgia Tech commit Jake Gooch might have been a major setback for most programs, it cleared the path for Cohen Wilbanks, Gage Morris, and Levi Ayers to take on even more prominent roles in the post-season. Barnett (photo), who is also hitting .383 for the year, has a 1.15 ERA with 21 strikeouts in four post-season starts. He has worked just over 18 innings in the playoffs. Those superb numbers have actually raised his season-long numbers that include a 0.59 ERA and 0.99 WHIP in just under 48 innings for the year. Wilbanks and Morris have combined to allow only four earned runs in the postseason in just over 13 innings each. Both have improved their season ERAs with their post-season work. Wilbanks has fanned 18 and Morris 16 in the playoffs. Meanwhile, Ayers, utilized as a starter for much of the season, waits in the wings sporting an ERA of 1.64 with 37 strikeouts in just under 41 innings in 2018. In addition to Seigler and Barnett on offense, the Hurricanes have enjoyed the re-emergence of switch-hitting shortstop Devin Warner. Although the Auburn-signee did not produce the regular season numbers he expected, Warner has flourished in the playoffs with a .346 batting average, four doubles, and a pair of home runs. Gooch’s bat has not been impacted by the injury that has kept him off the mound. With seven home runs (three in the post-season), .359 batting average, and a post-season slugging percentage of .759, Gooch has continued to produce in the middle of the Canes’ order. Toss in the hot post-season bats of Lipscomb University commit Jordan Wilkie (.393 BA, 5 doubles playoffs) and J.P. Martin (.400 BA playoffs) along with timely contributions by University of South Alabama commit Preston Welchel, Ian Inaba, and Josh Davis, it is easy to see why Cartersville has scored 10 or more runs in nine of its last 14 games and averaged more than 7 runs per game all season. The contributions of Canes' senior LaDarius Winburn also should not be discounted. Often utilized by Tucker as a courtesy runner, Winburn's speed and aggression on the base paths has been effective. He has scored six runs in the playoffs and has a home run in three plate appearances. Monday’s AAAA Championship Series doubleheader will start at 5 p.m. Cartersville will be the designated visiting team for Game 1 and the designated home team in Game 2. For both games Monday, the Canes will occupy the first base dugout. The stadium and surface will be familiar for the Canes who have played games at State Mutual Stadium in recent years. Most recently, eight different Cartersville pitchers combined to blank Pepperell 6-0 back on March 24.

 The field is slightly larger than a typical high school venue which does create larger gaps in the outfield, but Tucker says his team will adjust their outfielders accordingly and thinks playing on the field earlier in the year should make his players more comfortable. If a third game is needed, it will be played Wednesday at a time to be determined.

The Adairsville High School baseball team had a turn-around season in 2018. The Tigers finished second in Region 6-AAA with a 13-5 mark and made the state playoffs with a 20-10 record. Although the Tigers fell to Pace Academy in the first round of the Class AAA playoffs, the rebound from a 10-19 record the year before by Coach Billy Roper’s team was dramatic. Six Adairsville players were recently honored as all-region selections. Seniors Caden Gibbs, Hunter Hice, Garrett Mishoe, Corey Nation, and Kyler Pelfrey along with junior B.J. Roper were named to the 6-AAA All Region Team. Season highlights for each all-region selection: Gibbs — .286 BA / 17 runs / 18 RBI Hice — .298 BA / .894 OPS / 19 runs / 21 RBI Mishoe — .367 BA / .589 SLG% / 1.020 OPS / 12 doubles / 24 RBI Nation — .314 BA / .429 OBP / 19 runs Pelfrey — .326 BA / .441 OBP / .516 SLG% / 37 runs / 17 RBI Pelfrey (pitching) — 9-1 record / 0.89 ERA / 0.71 WHIP / 100K / 70.2 IP Roper — .321 BA / 17 runs / 9 RBI

The best local high school track and field performances of the 2018 season. This includes all reported marks through the state finals.

Cartersville Little League (major) baseball has reached the final four of its 2018 league playoffs. Two teams -- the Braves and the Indians -- remain undefeated in the double-elimination format and will square off on Monday. The winner will be assured a spot in the championship round while the loser will be sent to the losers' bracket. Two other teams -- the Colts and Dodgers -- will also play Monday in an elimination game. The tournament continues through at least Wednesday and would wrap up on Thursday if a second championship game is needed. CARTERSVILLE LITTLE LEAGUE (major) PLAYOFFS (Double-elimination tournament) Tuesday, May 15 TIGERS 3, PADRES 2 Tigers: Connor Brasfield two hits including a triple; Trenton Payne two hits including one triple; Casen Cochran one hit, one RBI; Logan Woody and Lyle Woody one hit apiece. Brasfield (6 IP, 2R, 0ER, 2H, 2BB, 9K). Padres: Collin Genrich two hits including one double, two RBI; Geoffrey Gore one hit. Gore (3.1 IP, 2ER, 4H, 3BB, 7K); Logan Buchanan (2.2 IP, 1ER, 3H, 0BB, 3K) COLTS 10, PHILLIES 0 No game report provided. Wednesday, May 16 BRAVES 9, DODGERS 2 Braves: Miles Owen three hits including one double, three RBI; Caleb Daniel one triple, two RBI; Thomas Peters one hit, two RBI; Kamdyn Woods one double; Brenden Bryant and Sydney Seigler one RBI each. Seigler (4.1 IP, 4R, 3ER, 10H, 1BB, 5K); Owen (1.2 IP, 0R, 0H, 0BB, 6K). Dodgers: Ayden Ray three hits including one home run. Stephen Rowser two hits, one RBI; Landon Heath two hits; Isaiah Martin one double; Carter Rice one hit. Justin Peace (2.2 IP, 5R, 4ER, 2H, 6BB, 7K); Isaiah Martin (2.1 IP, 4R, 3ER, 4H, 3BB, 2K). INDIANS 13, CRACKERS 12 Indians: Maverick Madonna three hits including one triple, three RBI; Dawson Bishop three hits including one home run, two RBI; Gavin Shrewsberry two doubles; Andrew Lutjens two hits, one RBI; Cooper Adams, Lucas Henry, Jackson Harwell one hit each; Owen Dunn one RBI. Maddox Frazier (4 IP, 2ER, 3H, 3BB, 6K); Harwell (0.1 IP, 6ER, 2H, 3BB, 1K); Lutjens (0.2 IP, 4ER, 6H); Shrewsberry (1 IP, 0R, 3K). Crackers: Connor Stermer three hits including two doubles, two RBI; Jackson Graves two hits including one double, two RBI; Adam Cornwell two hits, one RBI; Boston Pittman one hit, two RBI; Jackson Montgomery one double, two RBI; Easton Elrod one hit, one RBI; Cohen Payne one hit; Amanda Davison one RBI. Payne (3 IP, 8ER, 9H, 2BB, 3K); Pittman (2 IP, 4R, 3ER, 4H, 3BB); Cornwell (1 IP, 1ER, 2H, 0BB, 1K). Thursday, May 17 DODGERS 12, TIGERS 11 Dodgers: Stephen Rowser three hits including two doubles, three RBI; Peyton Emery two hits including one double, four RBI; Peyton Bowen two hits including one double, three RBI; Ayden Ray two hits including one home run, one RBI; Landon Heath two hits; Carter Rice two hits including one double, two RBI; Brelace Williams and Justin Peace one hit each. Peyton Bowen (3.2 IP, 8ER, 5H, 5BB, 7K); Noah Herring (2.1 IP, 3ER, 2H, 3BB). Tigers: Connor Brasfield two hits including one double, two RBI; Cam Williams two hits, one RBI; Trenton Payne and Cameron Cochran one hit, two RBI each; Logan Woody one RBI. Casen Cochran (3 IP, 6R, 3ER, 6H, 1BB, 5K); Hudson Lusk (0.2 IP, 5R, 4ER, 3H, 2BB); Logan Woody (2.1 IP, 1R, 0ER, 3H, 1BB, 1K). COLTS 7, CRACKERS 1 Colts: Grant Knight three hits; Davis Wilkey two hits, one RBI; Turner Abernathy two hits; Luke Altizer one double, three RBI; Brett Good one hit. Knight (4.2 IP, 1ER, 2H, 3BB, 8K); Wilkey (1.1 IP, 0R, 0H, 0BB). Crackers: Easton Elrod and Adam Cornwell one hit each. Cornwell (4.2 IP, 6R, 5ER, 7H, 1BB, 4K); Elrod (1.1 IP, 1R, 0ER, 2H, 0BB, 2K). REMAINING PLAYOFF SCHEDULE: Monday, May 21 — GM 11 — 5:45 — RY — Braves (13-6) vs. Indians (16-3) Monday, May 21 — GM 12 — 5:45 — JFH — Colts (9-11) vs. Dodgers (12-8) (elimination game) Tuesday, May 22 — GM 13 — 6:00 — RY — GM 11 loser vs. GM 12 winner (elimination game) Wednesday, May 23 — GM 14 — 6:00 — RY — GM 11 winner vs. GM 13 winner Thursday, May 24 — GM 15 (if needed) — 6:00 — RY — GM 11 winner vs GM 13 winner ​​NOTE: Pitching data not provided for all BCLL games. Games not completed or not posted on the respective leagues' GameChanger sites are not included, but will be added to future posts when made available. 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

The Cartersville Purple Hurricanes rode the arms of a consistent pitching staff and the power of their bats to sweep Heritage-Catoosa 6-5 and 10-2 Tuesday night at Richard Bell Field to reach their ninth state championship series in school history. Following their semifinal sweep, the Hurricanes will face Jefferson (26-11) for the Class 4A state title starting with a Monday evening doubleheader at 5:00 p.m. at State Mutual Stadium in Rome. The Dragons knocked off top-ranked Blessed Trinity in the other semifinal, 10-7 and 2-0 Tuesday. Cartersville last won a state title in 2013 with the Class AAA championship. The Canes won back-to-back AAA titles in 2008 and 2009 and took three titles in a row 2001-2003. The first two were in Class AA. 2003 was in AAA. In Game 1 Tuesday, Cartersville answered Heritage every time the Generals put runs on the scoreboard. Heritage went up 2-0 in the top of the first, but Cartersville responded with three to take a 3-2 lead. In the fourth inning, Heritage tied the score 3-3, but the Canes went back ahead 4-3 in the bottom of the frame. The Generals then took a 5-4 lead in the top of the sixth only to have Cartersville plate two runs for an eventual 6-5 win. Cole Wilcox, a likely first round MLB draft selection, singled home the Generals’ first run. Josh Gibson then gave Heritage a 2-0 advantage with a sacrifice fly to score Johnathan Hickman who had walked earlier in the inning. Jake Gooch of the Hurricanes smacked a two-run home run in the bottom of the first and Jordan Wilkie singled home Devin Warner for a 3-2 lead. Warner had doubled to get in scoring position. Gibson singled and scored on a Nolan Letgus triple to tie the game 3-3 in the fourth inning, but the Canes answered. Preston Welchel walked and moved to third on an Anthony Seigler single. Welchel then scored on a passed ball to give Cartersville a 4-3 lead. Heritage got a single from Wilcox, a walk by Gibson, and a fielder’s choice to move runners to second and third in the top of the sixth with one out. From there, the Generals plated a pair of runs and went ahead 5-4 on a bunt by Blake Bryan and an infield error by the Canes. Cartersville responded again, however, with two runs that proved to be the difference in the game. Welchel walked with one out and scored on an RBI double by Seigler. Josh Davis then delivered the game-winning RBI on a double into left field. Seigler, the Canes' own potential MLB first-round pick, was then called on to close out the top of the seventh from the mound. Throwing as a right-hander, the Canes’ senior got a groundout and a pair of strikeouts to secure the 6-5 win. Wilcox was the only Generals hitter with two hits. Luke Grant, Gibson (RBI), and Letzgus (triple, RBI) had the other hits. To pace the Canes in Game 1, Seigler was 3-for-4 with two doubles and one RBI. Gooch had a two-run homer. Davis had a double that proved to be the game-winning RBI. Wilkie also had a hit and an RBI. Warner doubled and starting pitcher Mason Barnett contributed a hit. Barnett (4 IP, 3ER, 4H, 1BB, 4K) completed four innings from the mound before giving way to eventual winner, Gage Morris (2 IP, 2R, 0ER, 1H, 1BB, 2K). Seigler (1 IP, 0R, 0H, 1BB, 2K) picked up a 15-pitch save. Wilcox (6 IP, 6R, 5ER, 8H, 3BB, 5K) was saddled with the Game 1 loss for Heritage. In Game 2, pitcher Cohen Wilbanks kept Heritage off balance for six innings and the Canes' bats blew open a tight game with eight runs over the final two innings for a 10-2 win and a series sweep. Playing as the home team, the Generals took a 2-0 lead in the bottom of the first inning but Cartersville tied the game in the top of the third on back-to-back homers by Seigler and Davis. Heritage starting pitcher Tripp Church took a 2-2 tie into the top of the sixth when the Canes’ bats came alive. Barnett gave the Canes a 3-2 lead with a run-scoring single to drive home Seigler. Gooch followed with a triple for another run and Warner made it 5-2 with a double into center field. After a force play, a single by JP Martin led to two more runs and Cartersville was in control, 7-2. Wilkie doubled home two more runs in the top of the seventh and Martin drove in a run with another hit. Church (5.1 IP, 5ER, 5H, 1BB, 9K), who was lifted with one out in the fifth, suffered the Game 2 pitching loss for Heritage. Justin Morris (1.2 IP, 5R, 4ER, 5H, 2BB, 4K) entered to close out the Generals’ work on the mound. Meanwhile, Wilbanks was very effective for the Hurricanes. He needed 93 pitches to get through his six innings, but threw 62 for strikes and fanned eight. He scattered six hits and only walked one. Morris, who appeared on the mound in both games and was the winner in Game 1, closed out the final inning. He allowed a hit, but no runs and struck out two. For the series, Seigler paced the Canes with a 6-for-7 performance that included a home run, two doubles, a walk, three runs scored, and two RBI. He also recorded a pitching save in the opener. Six other Hurricanes had two hits in the series including Davis (HR and double, two RBI); Gooch (HR and triple, three RBI); Warner (two doubles, one RBI); Wilkie (double, three RBI); Martin (two RBI); and Barnett (RBI). Wilcox had three hits and two RBI in the series for the Generals. Lance Dockery had three hits in Game 2 and Luke Grant had one hit in each game. Heritage-Catoosa, who won the Region 6-4A championship, finished the season 31-8. Cartersville improved to 31-8 heading into the state finals series.

Cartersville Little League (major) baseball is in the midst of their 2018 post-season playoffs. The opening round was completed Monday with game capsules and the upcoming playoff schedule shown below. CARTERSVILLE LITTLE LEAGUE (major) PLAYOFFS (Double-elimination tournament) Monday, May 14 Opening Round INDIANS 15, PADRES 5 Indians: Frazier Maddox three hits including two doubles, five RBI; Gavin Shrewsberry three hits including one double, one triple, and two RBI; Maverick Madonna three hits including one double, one RBI; Logan Shrewsberry two hits including one double, two RBI; Dawson Bishop one double, one RBI; Andrew Lutjens and Drew Perry one hit each. Perry (3.2 IP, 1ER, 5H, 1BB, 1K); Lutjens (0.1 IP). Padres: Lee Camp and Geoffrey Gore one double each; Julian Cline, Will Camp, and Logan Buchanan one hit each; Eli Jones one RBI. Collin Genrich (1.2 IP, 5R, 4ER, 3H, 3BB, 2K); Buchanan (0.1 IP, 1H); Jones (2 IP, 7R, 6ER, 5H, 4BB, 3K); Lee Camp (0.2 IP, 3ER, 5H, 1BB). BRAVES 5, PHILLIES 4 Braves: Caleb Daniel two hits including one triple, one RBI; Miles Owen two hits including one double, one RBI; Brenden Bryant one hit, one RBI; Thomas Peters and Evan Archer one hit each; Davis Waddell one RBI. Thomas Peters (1.1 IP, 3R, 2ER, 2H, 2BB, 3K); Waddell (3.2 IP, 1R, 0ER, 2H, 1BB, 2K); Owen (1 IP, 0ER, 1H, 0BB, 2K). Phillies: Sawyer Wilson one double, two RBI; Brodie McWhorter one hit, one RBI; Asa Mitcham one double; Griffin Woodall and Brock Slocumb one hit apiece. Wilson (3.1 IP, 2R, 1ER, 3H, 6BB, 8K); Brodie McWhorter (1 IP, 1ER, 2H, 1BB); Nic Wright (1.1 IP, 2ER, 1H, 2BB, 1K). DODGERS 11, COLTS 1 Dodgers: Ayden Ray three hits including one triple, one home run, two RBI; Landon Heath two hits including one triple, one home run, one RBI; Peyton Bowen two hits, two RBI; Brelace Williams one home run, three RBI; Peyton Emery one double, one RBI; Stephen Rowser and Justin Peace one hit apiece. Ray complete-game, no hitter (5 IP, 1R, 0ER, 0H, 2BB, 14K). Colts: Turner Abernathy one run scored. Grant Knight (3 IP, 5ER, 7H, 1BB, 8K); Davis Wilkey (0.2 IP, 4ER, 3H, 1BB); Abernathy (0.1 IP, 1ER, 0H, 1BB, 1K); Trevor Harris (0.0 IP, 1ER, 1H). CRACKERS 7, TIGERS 4 Crackers: Easton Elrod two hits including a double; Boston Pittman one hit, three RBI; Adam Cornwell one hit, one RBI; Benjamin Turcotte, Braden Mulkey, and Jackson Montgomery one hit each. Connor Stermer (4.2 IP, 3ER, 10H, 2BB, 5K); Cohen Payne (1.1 IP, 1R, 0ER, 2H, 2BB, 2K). Tigers: Connor Brasfield two hits including one double, one RBI; Matthew Morris one double, one RBI; Trenton Payne, Cameron Cochran, and Lyle Woody one hit each. Payne (3 IP, 5R, 2ER, 3H, 5BB, 5K); Casen Cochran (0.2 IP, 2R, 1H, 1K); Hudson Lusk (1.1 IP, 0R, 0H, 2BB, 1K). PLAYOFF SCHEDULE: Tues., May 15 — 7:45 — Gm 7 — JFH — Phillies (6-12) vs. Colts (7-11) (elimination game) Tues., May 15 — 7:45 — Gm 8 — RY — Padres (4-14) vs. Tigers (9-9) (elimination game) Wed., May 16 — 6:00 — Gm 5 —JFH — Braves (12-6) vs. Dodgers (11-7) Wed., May 16 — 6:00 — Gm 6 — RY — Indians (15-3) vs. Crackers (8-10) Thr., May 17 — 6:00 — Gm 9 — RY — Gm 7 winner vs. Gm 6 loser (elimination game) Thr., May 17 — 6:00 — Gm 10 — JFH — Gm 8 winner vs. Gm 5 loser (elimination game) Playoffs continue Monday, May 21 through Thursday, May 24 ​​NOTE: Pitching data not provided for all BCLL games. Games not completed or not posted on the respective leagues' GameChanger sites are not included, but will be added to future posts when made available. 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