The latest release of the Georgia Dugout Club’s rankings has Cartersville continuing to hold the No. 2 spot in Class 4A and Adairsville slipping out of the Class 3A Top Ten after spending one week at the No. 10 position. The Georgia Dugout Club's Preview Magazine poll for the week ending April 8: CLASS 7A North Gwinnett (19-5) Parkview (20-4) Mill Creek (19-4) Woodstock (20-4) Hillgrove (18-5) South Forsyth (18-5) Walton (15-8) Brookwood (17-7) Peachtree Ridge (19-4) North Paulding (16-7) Considered: Lowndes (16-7), Colquitt County (16-7), Lassiter (15-9), Mountain View (15-8), Newnan (17-7), Grayson (14-10), Kennesaw Mountain (13-9), Lambert (11-14) CLASS 6A Pope (20-4) Allatoona (21-4) River Ridge (20-4) Lee County (16-6) Winder-Barrow (14-8) Alexander (16-6) Effingham County (15-9) Heritage-Conyers (16-7) Glynn Academy (20-3) Brunswick (16-9) Considered: Houston County (17-7), South Paulding (16-7), Gainesville (15-7), Valdosta (18-6), Northgate (17-6), Harrison (12-10), Richmond Hill (15-7), Greenbrier (16-7), Tucker (14-8), Mundy's Mill (14-7), Lanier (15-9), Creekside (11-8), Stephenson (13-8-1) CLASS 5A Wayne County (19-4) Loganville (16-6) Carrollton (21-3) Ola (22-4) Buford (16-9) Veterans (20-6) Decatur (19-5) Starr’s Mill (16-8) Jones County (15-7) Harris County (14-10) Considered: Arabia Mountain (14-6), Locust Grove (15-10), Union Grove (14-7), McIntosh (14-7), Ware County (13-10), Whitewater (12-11), Kell (13-11), Flowery Branch (11-12), Walnut Grove (11-11), Chamblee (17-7) CLASS 4A Blessed Trinity (22-2) Cartersville (19-6) Heritage-Catoosa (16-5) Woodward Academy (16-4) Troup (17-6) Columbus (18-4) West Laurens (16-5) Jefferson (14-7) North Oconee (14-7-1) Stephens County (19-5) Considered: Eastside (16-4), West Hall (16-4), Madison County (11-11), St. Pius X (16-8), Burke County (13-3), Northside-Columbus (15-8) CLASS 3A Ringgold (19-4) North Hall (18-2) Appling County (18-6) Cook (19-6) Pike County (15-5) Morgan County (16-8) Pace Academy (16-6) Lovett (12-8) Redan (14-7) Jackson (18-2) Considered: Bremen (16-6), Adairsville (14-7), Calhoun (14-7), Greater Atlanta Christian (15-7), Fannin County (13-10), Haralson County (13-9), Westminster (7-11), Southeast Bulloch (9-5), Rutland (12-5), Jenkins (12-8-1), Franklin County (13-11) CLASS 2A Thomasville (18-4) Callaway (14-6) Westside-Augusta (19-4) Rockmart (14-6) Dodge County (18-4) Benedictine (17-6) Jeff Davis (15-9) Social Circle (13-6) Harlem (16-8) Elbert County (16-7) Considered: Dade County (13-6), Bacon County (12-12), Vidalia (12-11), Berrien (14-9), Bleckley County (8-10) CLASS 1A PUBLIC Gordon Lee (17-4) Irwin County (17-3) Schley County (14-2) Charlton County (16-6) Telfair County (14-7) Bowdon (17-6) Trion (8-6) ECI (14-7) Johnson County (16-5) Commerce (12-11) Considered: Taylor County (12-5), Manchester (10-7), Lanier County (8-5), Clinch County (14-8), GMC (14-9), Washington-Wilkes (14-9), Hawkinsville (9-8), Baconton Charter (11-5), Miller County (10-7), Seminole County (11-9), Pelham (11-6) CLASS 1A PRIVATE Tattnall Square (19-3) Savannah Christian (19-2) Mount Paran Christian (17-1) Aquinas (18-1) Brookstone (19-2) First Presbyterian Day (18-4) Wesleyan (16-2) Stratford (15-6) Holy Innocents’ (12-8-1) Calvary Day (16-4) Considered: Kings Ridge Christian (15-6), Mount Vernon Presbyterian (11-3-1), North Cobb Christian (14-6), Strong Rock Christian (16-5), Hebron Christian (10-11), Prince Avenue Christian (14-7), Athens Academy (13-5), Providence Christian (14-10), Savannah Country Day (14-7), Walker (8-11), Fellowship Christian (14-8), Pinecrest Academy (11-11-1), George Walton (12-10)

South Georgia State completed a four-game conference sweep of Georgia Highlands Sunday afternoon at LakePoint in Emerson, 11-3. In a game Georgia Highlands led 2-0 through three innings, the visiting Hawks eventually took advantage of the Chargers’ pitching that issued 14 walks in the game. South Georgia scored four runs in the fourth inning and led 5-3 through six innings before blowing the game open with a three runs in both the seventh and eighth innings. Austin Knowles (9 IP, 3ER, 6H, 2BB, 1K) tossed all nine innings for South Georgia to earn the victory. The Chargers’ starting pitcher Noah Bryant (3.1 IP, 4R, 3ER, 3H, 5BB) took the loss. Skylar McPhee (1.2 IP, 1ER, 1H, 2BB, 2K), Jacob Henley (2 IP, 3ER, 2H, 2BB, 2K), Cody Johnson (0.2 IP, 3ER, 1H, 3BB), Sam Warren (0.2 IP, 0R, 0H, 2BB), and Connor Dove (0.2 IP, 0R, 1H, 0BB) all pitching in relief for Georgia Highlands. Colby Owens paced the Hawks offense with a pair of hits and four RBI. Justin Brooks also had two hits and Spencer Speer added one hit and three RBI. The Chargers finished with six hits including home runs by Parker Orr and Nick Piccapietra. South Georgia State (26-14, 12-6) continues to hold down second place in the Georgia Collegiate Athletic Association standings. Georgia Highlands (24-15, 10-10 and fourth in GCAA) will try to bounce back this week with four non-conference games. The Chargers play at Chattahoochee Valley CC Tuesday, a doubleheader at Emmanuel College Wednesday, and at Shorter University JV Thursday.

The Georgia Highlands baseball team suffered a doubleheader sweep Saturday by visiting South Georgia State, 4-1 and 15-1. South Georgia State (26-14, 12-6) has now won the first three games of the week-long series with the Chargers and taken over second place in the Georgia Collegiate Athletic Association standings. The Hawks also won Tuesday’s game in Douglas, 14-4. In Saturday’s opener, South Georgia pitcher Landon Nevill limited Georgia Highlands to a single run in a complete-game performance. He scattered eight hits and a walk with eight strikeouts. Parker Orr provided the GHC offense with a solo homerun. Colby Owens and Tyler Solomon paced the Hawks with two hits each. In the nightcap, South Georgia scored early and often to rout the Chargers. Owens, Jake Bryan and Garrison Hurd combined for seven hits and eight RBI for the Hawks. Nick Piccapietra hit a solo homer for Georgia Highlands’ only run. The Chargers (24-14, 10-9) will try to salvage the final game of the series Sunday at LakePoint in Emerson.

The Adairsville Tigers rapped out ten hits and got a solid six inning relief appearance from Caden Gibbs Saturday to defeat region rival Coahulla Creek, 7-5 at LakePoint in Emerson. Gibbs (6 IP, 2R, 1ER, 3H, 0BB) relieved starter Garrett Mishoe (1 IP, 3ER, 1H, 5BB, 1K) in the second inning to earn the piching victory. Adairsville scored four runs in the top of the first inning to take an early lead, but the host Colts scored two runs in the bottom of the first and two more in the second to knot the game at 4-4. The Tigers added three more runs in the top of the third to take a 7-4 lead they would not relinquish. Mishoe doubled twice for the Tigers to drive in four runs. Corey Nation (RBI) and BJ Roper both contributed two hits. Kyler Pelfrey tripled. Halen Huskins drove home a run and had one hit. Gibbs and Noah Dutton also added one hit. Donovan Sims had two of the Colts’ four hits. He also had two RBI. The loss drops Coahulla Creek to 9-13 overall and 5-7 in Region 6-AAA. Adairsville (15-7, 8-4) hosts region games Tuesday and Wednesday with Haralson County and Murray County before traveling to Sonoraville Thursday. All three games are scheduled for a 5:55 p.m. first pitch. Adairsville remains in a virtual three-way tie with Haralson County and Calhoun for the final two state playoff berths from Region 6-AAA. Ringgold is undefeated in region play and holds down first place. Bremen is one game ahead of the three way tie.

The struggles for the Cass baseball team continued Friday afternoon at Kell in a 12-0 loss in five innings. The Colonels lost for the tenth time in their last twelve games including seven straight region losses. Longhorns’ pitcher Colby Arthur scattered three Cass hits and two walks in a complete-game victory. He struck out two. Kell scored ten runs in the home half of the second inning and added single runs in the third and fourth frames to extend their lead. Luke Hughes and Logan Smith both had three RBI days for Kell. Tommy Easley doubled twice in a 3-for-3 performance. Evan Hinton (1.2 IP, 10ER, 8H, 2BB) suffered the pitching loss in an abbreviated start. Wyatt Karlovich (1.1 IP, 1R, 0ER, 2H, 2K) and Steven Spell (1 IP, 1ER, 2H, 1K) also took the mound for the Colonels. All three Cass hits were singles. One each by Logan Nelson, Clay Means, and Gavin Young. Kell (13-11-1, 8-2) remains in second place behind Carrollton in the Region 7-AAAAA playoff chase. Cass (9-16, 3-9) begins a home-and-home series at East Paulding Monday at 5:55 p.m. Game 2 will be Wednesday at Cass.

The Adairsville Tigers sent eleven men to the plate in a seven-run sixth inning Thursday night to take control of a difficult battle and defeat the visiting North Murray Mountaineers, 11-3. The Region 6-AAA victory enables the Tigers to remain on pace for one of the league’s four state playoff berths with seven games remaining on the regular season slate. Adairsville is one of three teams tied for third place in the region with a 7-4 mark. Tigers’ pitcher Kyler Pelfrey tossed a complete game for the victory. Only one of the three runs against him were earned. He allowed only five hits and two walks while striking out ten. Adairsville held a 2-0 lead in the first inning before North Murray tied the game in the third, 2-2. The Tigers went back on top 4-2 in the bottom of the fourth inning, but the Mountaineers stayed close with a run in the fifth inning. Holding a 4-3 lead through the top of the sixth inning, the Tigers’ offense exploded for a seven-run, seven-hit inning to put the game away. Pelfrey issued his only two walks of the night to Mountaineers in the seventh, but fanned two in the inning as well to close out the night in 95 pitches (69 for strikes). Hunter Hice paced the Tigers’ bats with a 3-for-3 performance that included a double and three RBI. Garrett Mishoe had a double and one RBI. BJ Roper (RBI), Halen Huskins (RBI), Corey Nation (RBI), Noah Dutton, Caden Gibbs, and Pelfrey added one hit apiece. Logan McCurdy had two of the Mountaineers’ five hits. Nick Hagin (5.1 IP, 9R, 8ER, 9H, 1BB, 3K) started on the mound and was the pitcher of record in the sixth inning to suffer the North Murray pitching loss. Connor Rice retired the final two outs of the sixth and was responsible for the final two Tigers’ runs. The Mountaineers slip to 5-16 overall and 2-9 with the loss. Adairsville (14-7, 7-4) hits the road Friday to play at Coahuila Creek at 5:55 p.m.

The Purple Hurricanes threatened at the end Thursday night, but came up just short in a 3-2 non-region loss at Class 7A Lassiter in Marietta. The loss snapped a nine-game win streak for Cartersville who will now turn their attention to closing out the Region 5-AAAA schedule. Cartersville threatened in their final inning. Trailing 3-2, the Class 4A second-ranked Hurricanes got one-out singles by Anthony Seigler and Josh Davis. Then Jake Gooch loaded the bases with two outs when he was hit by a pitch. That brought senior leader Devin Warner to the plate, but Lassiter pitcher Mason Kearney was able to stop the threat with a strikeout to end the game. Ian Inaba gave Cartersville an early 2-0 lead with a two RBI single in the top of the first. Lassiter tied the game in the second inning on a walk, two singles and a triple. The Trojans then took a 3-2 lead in the fifth on an inside the park home run to right field by Michael Pisacreta. The Canes out hit Lassiter nine to six. Seigler had three hits including a double for Cartersville and Gooch finished with two hits. Josh Davis, Mason Barnett, Inaba, and Jordan Wilkie had the other Hurricanes hits. Six different Trojans had one hit each led by a triple from Jack Connelly and Pisacreta’s round-tripper. Camden Eck was the winning pitcher for Lassiter (3 IP, 0R, 2H, 1BB, 5K). He worked the fourth through sixth innings in relief of starter Andrew Corbin (3 IP, 2ER, 5H, 1BB, 2K) and in front of closer Mason Kearney (1 IP, 0R, 2H, 3K) who earned a save. Cohen Wilbanks (1 IP, 1ER, 2H, 0BB) suffered the pitching loss in relief of Canes’ starter Luke Schiltz (4 IP, 2ER, 4H, 3BB, 1K). Gage Morris (1 IP, 0R, 0H, 0BB) worked a scoreless sixth inning. Lassiter improved to 15-9 with their victory. The Trojans currently lead Region 4-7A with a 7-2 mark. Cartersville (19-6, 7-0) has five Region 5-AAAA remaining. The Canes play road games next Tuesday and Friday at Chapel Hill and LaGrange. They host Cedartown on Thursday. The Hurricanes play their final regular season home game April 17 against Troup County and wrap up the regular season April 19 at Central-Carroll.

Woodland swept a Region 7-AAAAA doubleheader Wednesday against Paulding County in games played at LakePoint in Emerson. The Wildcats took the two wins 5-0 and 13-1 to take a huge stride forward in the region playoff race. In the opener playing as the visiting team, Woodland scored two runs in the first and three more in the seventh to support Koby Stansel’s one hitter. Stansel walked one and struck out five for the complete game win. He did work around four hit batsmen. Jacob Harper had the only Paulding County hit with a single in the second inning. The Wildcats took a 2-0 lead in the first inning without the benefit of a hit. Garrett Cornett was hit by a pitch and Stansel walked with one out. Following a groundout, the two base runners scored when Marco Haro reached on a ground ball error by the Paulding County third baseman. Four straight walks gave Woodland a 3-0 lead in the fifth inning and a two-RBI line drive single by Stansel made the score 5-0. Dylan Webb had two hits in Game 1. Stansel and Toby Queen had the other Woodland hits. In Game 2, the Wildcats pounded out a dozen hits and scored in all four offensive frames for a 12-run win in five innings Kenny Jinks earned the complete game pitching victory for Woodland. The lone Patriots’ run was unearned on four hits and three walks. Jinks fanned nine. Woodland scored four runs in the first inning, added seven more in the second inning, and scored single runs in the third and fourth frames. Queen drove in three runs with a pair of hits. Haro had three hits including a pair of doubles and one RBI. Cornett had two hits including a triple and one RBI. Bailey Ward contributed two hits and one RBI. Titus Jones (RBI), Chris Mills (RBI), and Bryce Evans added one hit each. Tyler Dilcher and Jordan Lee had one RBI. With the losses, Paulding County falls to 7-16 overall and 2-10 in region play. Woodland (13-11, 6-4) currently holds the fourth place spot in Region 7-AAAAA. The Wildcats are one game behind Kell and Rome. Those two teams are currently tied for second place in region action at 6-2. Woodland returns to the diamond Monday when they host Kell at 5:55 p.m.

Cass baseball came up short at home Wednesday night in a 4-2 Region 7-AAAAA loss to the Kell Longhorns. Kell led 2-0 with two runs in the top of the third inning and took a 4-1 lead in the top of the sixth before holding on for the two-run victory. Cass scored single runs in the fourth and sixth innings as the Colonels lost for the seventh straight game. Caleb Hilton (5.2 IP, 2R, 1ER, 7H, 3BB, 7K) picked up the pitching win. Matt Collins (1.1 IP, 0R, 1H) entered in the sixth to earn a save for the Longhorns. Ben Olson had three hits for Kell. Sam Blancato and Logan Smith added two hits each. Jay Inglis (RBI), Tre Pennie, and Luke Hughes contributed one hit each. Noah Dawkins (fielder’s choice) and Tommy Easley (sac fly) drove in runs for Kell. Bryson Markley drove in one of the Cass runs and had two hits including a triple. Gavin Young went 3-for-3. Thomas Botts (double), Clay Means, and Nathan Smith had the other Cass hits. Kell improved to 12-11 overall and 7-2 in region play. The Longhorns continue to hold the second place spot in the region standings. Cass (9-15, 3-8) travels to Kell Friday to complete the two-game region series at 3 p.m.

Elite Stone Supply, in conjunction with WBHF and Bartow Sports Zone, presents the ELITE ATHLETES OF THE MONTH. Each month, local high schools are provided opportunity to name an Elite Athlete of the Month and present the information on their honoree through Bartow Sports Zone and on 100.3FM and AM1450, WBHF in Cartersville. Recipients for March 2018: Will Allen - Cartersville High School Arl Longmore - Adairsville High School Emily Surcey - Cass High School Christy Turner - Woodland High School Will Allen is the March 2018 Elite Athlete of the Month representing Cartersville High School. Allen is the Line 1 singles player on the Purple Hurricanes tennis team and also competes in cross country for Cartersville. He currently holds a 10-2 individual record at the top singles line and recently showed his tenacity on the courts by winning a three-hour singles match that included three tie-breakers. A Class of 2019 junior, he is the son of Christian and Holly Allen and currently ranks in the top five percent of his class. “Will Allen is our team leader and a great singles player,” said Cartersville High School tennis coach Brett Tolbert. “He comes ready to work hard each day to improve his game and to make the players around him better.” Arl Longmore, a senior centerback on the Tigers’ soccer team, is the March 2018 Adairsville High School Elite Athlete of the Month. The son of William and Angie Longmore, Arl has developed into one of the leaders on the team for head coach Jayme Laney. “Arl always makes himself available for others and goes above and beyond what is asked of him,” stated Laney. “He works for his teammates on and off the field. He studies the game as if it were another classroom assignment and has also been willing to share his captain’s band with other players at key times during the season.” Longmore is a member of Beta Club and has a 3.5 GPA. He has been accepted to Georgia Highlands College and plans to eventually transfer to the University of West Georgia or University of North Georgia to pursue a degree in mechanical engineering. He is an active participant in his church youth group and serves as the coffee bar manager at his church. He has participated in Skills USA and is a member of FBLA. “Arl is a pleasure to work with,” said Laney. “I’ve even had the opportunity to work with him at LakePoint Sporting Community in a parti-time job and he is always professional and punctual.” The Elite Athlete of the Month for March 2018 at Cass High School is Emily Surcey. A freshman playing Line 1 singles for the Lady Colonels’ tennis team, Surcey has already made her mark in Region 7-AAAAA by compiling a 6-1 record against the top players in the league. The daughter of Mike and Andrea Surcey, Emily competes regularly across the state of Georgia and throughout the Southeast in singles and doubles tournaments. She is currently ranked 27th among her class in Georgia. Surcey has shown tremendous leadership qualities with her teammates in her first year of high school and is also a great academic student. “Emily is a hard worker,” stated Cass Athletic Director Nicky Moore on behalf of her teachers and coaches. “She is always striving to be the best.” Christy Turner is the March 2018 Elite Athlete of the Month for Woodland High School. A senior for the Lady Cats tennis team, Turner is Woodland’s Line 1 singles player and has already committed to continue her tennis career at the next level at D1 Savannah State University. Ranked 45th in the Georgia Class of 2018 by TennisRecruiting.net, Turner is an AP/Honors student with a 3.95 GPA. She is in Beta Club, National Honor Society, National Technical Honors Society, Spanish Honors Society, FBLA, HOSA, and Fellowship of Christian Athletes. The daughter of Ronald and Charlotte Turner, Christy has also been generous with her time in a wide variety of community service projects including Special Olympics, Toys for Tots, blood drives, and other outreach programs at local churches. “Christy is a vital part of our tennis program,” said Woodland High School girls tennis coach Beth Heath. She has been our number one player each of her healthy high school seasons. She was sidelined her junior year due to a wrist injury, but her leadership and perseverance have endured. She works very hard on the court and in the classroom. It has been a pleasure to know and work with Christy over the years. She was even in my first grade PE class at Mission Road Elementary. She is an outstanding young lady.” Editors Note: Photos and bios are supplied to Bartow Sports Zone and WBHF by the respective schools and their athletic departments. Elite Stone Supply, LLC is the monthly sponsor. Athletes receive a plaque along with recognition during a radio feature on WBHF.

Class AAA top-ranked Ringgold scored ten runs in the bottom of the second inning Tuesday night in a 13-1, five-inning win over visiting 10th-ranked Adairsville. Ty Jones went 3-for-3 for Ringgold with a home run, a double, and four RBI. Nathan Camp also homered for Ringgold and Brayden Broome had two hits including a double and one RBI. Nathan Camp (3 IP, 0R, 2H, 0BB, 2K) picked up the pitching win for Ringgold and two other relievers worked one inning each. Six different Adairsville batters had one hit each. Kyler Pelfrey hit a solo home run. Garrett Mishoe doubled. BJ Roper, Hunter Hice, Michael Cook, and Corey Nation added one hit apiece. Ringgold continues to lead Region 6-AAA with a 10-0 region mark and 18-4 record overall. Adairsville (13-7, 6-4) stands in a virtual four-way tie for third place in the region and hosts North Murray Thursday before traveling to Coahulla Creek Friday. Both games are scheduled for first pitch at 5:55 p.m.

Georgia Highlands baseball lost a seven inning game Tuesday at South Georgia State CC 14-4. The Chargers jumped out to a 4-0 lead in the top of the first, but the Hawks answered with five runs in the bottom of the first and never looked back. South Georgia added four runs in the fifth, three in the sixth, and ended the game with two more runs in the seventh inning. Caleb Moss (3 IP, 4ER, 5H, 4BB) and Cody Ogilvie (4 IP, 0R, 0H, 6K) shared the pitching duties for the Hawks in their win. Alex Holdbrooks (4 IP, 5R, 4ER, 6H, 2BB, 2K) suffered the pitching loss for Georgia Highlands. Sam Warren (0.1 IP, 3ER, 0H, 3BB), Travis Kuebler (0.1 IP, 1ER, 2H, 1BB), Jake Meyer (1.1 IP, 3R, 1ER, 3H, 2K), and Kevin Barham (0.1 IP, 2ER, 0H, 4BB) all saw mound time for the Chargers in relief. Mikell Collins homered twice and doubled in a 4-for-4 performance for South Georgia. He finished with eight RBI. Seven other Hawks had one hit each. Cameron Hearn had a double and two RBI for Georgia Highlands. Zach Miller doubled. Skylar McPhee, Nick Piccapietra (RBI), and Parker Orr added one hit each. With the win, South Georgia (24-14, 10-6) holds down second place in the GCAA standings behind East Georgia and has a one-half game lead over the third place Chargers. GHC (24-12, 10-7) hosts South Georgia for the remainder of the four-game series with a single game Friday night and a doubleheader on Saturday.