The Cass High School girls golf team finished second at the Class 5A-Area IV Championship Tournament Monday at the par-72 Oak Mountain Golf Club in Carrollton. The Lady Colonels were led by Lauren Hale with a 112. Grace Weeks (116) and Taylor Yrabedra (130) followed. The Lady Colonels missed the GHSA state tournament qualifying score of 330 for Class 5A. PHOTO SPECIAL: (L-R) Taylor Yrabedra, Grace Weeks, Lauren Hale

College spring sports updates for Bartow County athletes competing for collegiate softball, tennis, and track & field programs. This edition includes updates for the week ending Sunday, April 29. SOFTBALL Sierrah Gani (Georgia Highlands CC Fr,. Cass) — Gani came up huge during the final weekend of the regular season. She went 5-for-5 with a double, five runs scored and an RBI in a doubleheader sweep of West Georgia Tech on Saturday. A day later, she hit the go-ahead, run-scoring double that helped the Chargers seal a spot in the Georgia Collegiate Athletic Association tournament, which GHC will host. The No. 3 seed Chargers open with a first-round game against second-seeded South Georgia State at 1:30 p.m. Friday. Cassidy Howren (Reinhardt Sr., Adairsville) — Howren finished 3-for-10 with a walk and three runs scored in the Appalachian Athletic Conference tournament. She went 2-for-2 with a walk and a run scored in Reinhardt's final game. The Eagles finished 2-2 in the double-elimination event. Annalyn Yantis (Samford Jr., Cartersville) — Yantis pitched two innings in relief of a loss to Furman on Sunday. She entered with her team trailing 6-0 and allowed one run on a hit and a single with one strikeout. TENNIS Peyton Gollhofer (Ball State Jr., Cartersville native) — Gollhofer was by far the most successful player for the Cardinals in their 4-0 quarterfinal loss to Toledo in the MAC tournament last Friday. Her and Victoria Sec won the Line 2 doubles match, 7-6 (7-1), but it wasn't enough to secure the overall team doubles point. Gollhofer was leading on Line 1 singles — 7-5, 5-7, 4-0 — before the match was halted after the Rockets had secured the win. TRACK AND FIELD Anna Hightower (Georgia Tech Jr., Cartersville) — Hightower finished fifth in the pole vault at the North Florida invitational, clearing 3.85 meters. NOTE: The baseball update for the week ending Sunday, April 29 was published in a separate article.

The Cartersville girls tennis team took an early lead Monday afternoon in the Class 4A state quarterfinals when Emma McCary swept to a 6-0, 6-0 win at Line 2 singles. Unfortunately, that would be the Lady Canes only victory of the day in a 3-1 loss to Columbus. Ansley Thompson was headed to a third set at Line 3 singles when the decisive match ended. All other lines lost to their Columbus opponents in straight sets. Columbus advances to face the St. Pius X / West Laurens winner in the Class 4A state semifinals to be completed by May 8.

Mason Lee of the Cass High School boys golf team shot a 77 Monday to lead the Colonels to a fifth place finish at the 15-team Class 5A-Area IV Championship held at the par-72 Oak Mountain Golf Club in Carrollton. Lee’s score also earned him an individual berth in the 2018 Class 5A State Championship Tournament as Area Medalist runner-up. Hogan Ingram of Rome High School edged Lee by two shots Monday to win Area IV medalist honors. Carrollton won the team championship with a team score of 327. Riverwood was the runner-up team at 355. Those two teams also earned trips to the State Tournament. The 36-hole event will be held at Planterra Ridge Country Club in Peachtree City, May 21-22. Decatur finished third at the Area Tournament with a team total of 355. North Springs was four at 358 and Cass rounded out the top five with a 372 total. Spots six through ten went to East Paulding, Villa Rica, Rome, Grady, and Paulding County. Heath Chatham (91), Joel Shepherd (93), and Cody Knight (111) had the other scoring rounds for the Colonels.

Georgia Highlands softball clinched a spot in the Georgia Collegiate Athletic Association Championship Tournament by splitting a Sunday doubleheader with East Georgia State. The Chargers suffered a tough 3-2 loss in the first game despite a 2-run home run by Kindell Reeves. GHC responded with a 2-1 victory in the second game. Sierrah Gani (photo) delivered a game-winning RBI single in the bottom of the sixth to break a 1-1 tie. Micayla McCoy pitched all fourteen innings allowing three earned runs in the opener and no earned runs in the second game. The Chargers (33-22, 17-11) are the 3-seed and will take on second-seed South Georgia State (29-15, 20-8) Friday afternoon at 1:30pm in both teams’ tournament opener. Georgia Military (45-14, 23-5) is the top seed and will play 4-seed East Georgia State (27-14, 16-12) in the other opening round game. The four-team, double-elimination tournament will be hosted by Georgia Highlands at Stars Field located at 2200 Joe Frank Harris Parkway Friday through Sunday.

Local minor league baseball players Sam Howard and Connor Justus close out the first month of their 2018 seasons and collegiate seasons move into the finals weeks of the regular season and into post-season at some levels. MiLB SAM HOWARD — Albuquerque Isotopes (5th-year pro; LHP; Triple-A, Pacific Coast League; Colorado Rockies’ organization; Georgia Southern University; Cartersville HS)… allowed only one run and four hits with no walks and seven strikeouts but was tagged with the pitching loss as Albuquerque fell at home to Las Vegas last Wednesday, 7-0. The 51’s scored a run in the top of the first off Howard before he settled in for five shutout frames. He is now 1-3 on the year with a 5.68 ERA in four starts and 19 innings. Albuquerque (9-15) is tied with Las Vegas for third place in the PCL’s Pacific Southern Division, seven games behind the first place El Paso Chihuahuas. The Isotopes start a four-game series at Tacoma Monday through Thursday and host a four-game set with El Paso Friday through Monday, May 7. CONNOR JUSTUS — Mobile BayBears (3rd-year pro; MIF; Double-A, Southern League; L.A. Angels organization; Georgia Tech; Cartersville HS)… was 2-for-13 at the plate in five games this past week at home against the Mississippi Braves and on the road at the Montgomery Biscuits. Through 20 games and 61 at-bats, the middle infielder’s batting average is down to .197 with 11 walks and four RBI. Defensively, Justus has a .900 fielding percentage in 90 total chances across 19 games. The BayBears (12-11) are currently in second place in the Southern League’s South Division, two games behind the first place Biloxi Shuckers. Mobile completes a five-game series at Montgomery Monday morning before opening a five-game home series with the Chattanooga Lookouts Wednesday through Sunday. COLLEGE BASEBALL BRANDON ALLEN — Georgia Highlands CC (Fr., OF, Woodland HS)… went 1-for-3 in a trio of pinch hitting appearances last week against against conference-leading East Georgia State. As a result, his season average improved to .324 in 22 games played with a homer and 11 RBI. The Chargers (28-22, 11-17) were swept in a four-game series last week by the Bobcats and eliminated from GCAA playoff contention. GHC will close out their season with games Tuesday at South Georgia State and at home Saturday against Andrew College. ELLIOTT ANDERSON — Auburn University (So., LHP, Cartersville HS)… faced four batters Thursday night in an eighth inning relief appearance at top-ranked Florida. Anderson allowed a hit, a walk, and struck out one with no runs allowed. Florida won the game 3-1 and took two of three in the weekend series. Anderson is 5-0 in 18 appearances this season for the Tigers with a 2.81 ERA and 28 strikeouts. Ninth-ranked Auburn (31-14, 10-11 SEC) hosts Vanderbilt Friday through Sunday in another Southeastern Conference series. BRANDON ETHERIDGE — Limestone College (Sr., OF/RHP, Cass HS)… finished his career with a 2-for-7 performance in two games at the Conference Carolinas Championship Tournament this past weekend in Burlington, NC. The Saints lost to 2nd-ranked and eventual conference champion North Greenville in the opening round and fell to 25th-ranked Mount Olive in the tournament losers’ bracket. Etheridge finished the season with a .263 batting average in 48 games and 152 at-bats. He had one homer and eight extra base hits. He also walked 23 times. Etheridge made four pitching appearances this season, working 9.1 innings with a 9.64 ERA. He walked seven and fanned 12. LANE GRIFFITH — University of West Georgia (Soph., C, Adairsville HS)… went 1-for-2 with a pair of RBI and a sacrifice bunt Saturday in a start at catcher as the Wolves defeated Auburn-Montgomery 9-4. UWG had a 4-0 week with a three-game sweep of AUM and a mid-week win over Emmanuel College. The Wolves (31-16, 17-13 GSC) open the Gulf South Conference Championship Tournament Saturday as a 6-seed against 28th-ranked and 3-seed University of West Florida. The Tournament is being hosted by top-seed and nationally 3rd-ranked Delta State University in Cleveland, MS. SEAN McDERMOTT — Mercer University (Jr., 1B, Adairsville HS)… had one hit in six at-bats this past week in starts at No. 1 Florida Tuesday and at home against VMI Friday. The Bears defeated the Gators for the third straight year in a 6-4 decision as McDermott contributed a double and one RBI. He was 0-for-2 in a 4-1 loss to VMI. Mercer was 3-1 for the week winning two other games with VMI. The Bears (31-15, 10-8 SoCon) have a three-game conference series at UNC-Greensboro Saturday through Monday. HARRISON OSBORN — Point University (Fr., RHP, Cartersville HS)… was one of nine Point pitchers to work one inning each last Wednesday in a 7-5 home loss to NAIA top-ranked Faulkner (AL). Osborn needed only 12 pitches to retire the three batters he faced. He struck out one. He also worked two innings of scoreless relief in an 8-1 win at Montreat (NC) Friday as the Skyhawks swept a three-game conference series over the weekend. Point (29-22, 16-11 AAC) begins the Appalachian Athletic Conference Tournament Wednesday in Kingsport, TN. HUNTER REAID — Shorter University (Fr., C, Woodland HS)… started the final game of a home, three-game series with Lee University Sunday as the Hawks lost 6-3 to the visiting Flames. Reaid was 1-for-4 with a first inning RBI and a stolen base. Reaid appeared in 20 games this season with 14 starts. He hit .319 in 47 at-bats with one double and five RBI. He also walked nine times for a .429 on-base percentage. Shorter finished the year 23-25 overall and did not qualify for the eight-team Gulf South Conference tournament with an 11-19 conference mark. GRANT ROBINSON — Central Alabama CC (Soph., 3B/RHP, Woodland HS)… made a one inning scoreless appearance last Tuesday in a 7-4 loss at Coastal Alabama-North CC. The Trojans also won three of four games with Snead State during the week. CACC (20-30-1, 10-17-1) hosts Chattahoochee Valley CC Tuesday, plays a doubleheader at Wallace State CC-Hanceville Thursday, and hosts a doubleheader with WSCC-Hanceville Saturday to conclude the regular season. MASON ROBINSON — Louisiana Tech University (R-Jr., OF, Woodland HS)… went 1-for-2 with a walk last Tuesday in a 9-4 home loss to Louisiana-Lafayette. In a three-game conference series at Western Kentucky, he was 4-for-14 with his fifth homer of the year, two runs scored, one RBI, a sacrifice bunt, and one hit by pitch. The Bulldogs won two of three over the Hilltoppers. Louisiana Tech (31-15, 15-6) hosts Middle Tennessee in a three-game Conference USA series this weekend. SAM SEAMAN — Gordon State CC (Fr., Inf/OF, Adairsville HS)… had a pinch hitting appearance and drew a walk Tuesday as the Highlanders routed Andrew College 21-4 in Cuthbert. GSCC (29-22, 15-12) have clinched a conference playoff berth and will finish the conference regular season this week with home games against conference-leading East Georgia State Tuesday, West Georgia Tech Thursday, and South Georgia State Saturday. NOTE: Young Harris College with Bartow County players Bailey Campbell, Tristin Smith, and Tyler Washington did not play this week. The Mountain Lions’ scheduled doubleheader at Tusculum last Tuesday was cancelled. YHC (25-22, 15-15 Peach Belt Conference) will play in the PBC Championship Tournament May 11 through May 13 in St. Augustine, FL.

Photos from Saturday's GHSA track and field state sectionals. (click on photo to enlarge) L-R starting at top row: Tavarus Varnum (Cass, high jump); Vanna Beach and Kayla Carpenter (Cartersville, 800M). 2nd row: Varnum (Cass); Stephen Smith (Cass, pole vault). 3rd row: Smith (Cass); Nick Bebko (Cartersville, pole vault). 4th row: Carpenter (Cartersville); Kyler Trouten (Cass, high jump). 5th row: London Shaw (Cartersville, discus throw); Chanelle Clemmons (Cass, shot put). 6th row: Bebko (Cartersville); Shaw (Cartersville, shot put). 7th row: Varnum (Cass); Carli Clymer, McKenna Trapheagen, Tess Cochran, Lindsay Scifers. Local state qualifiers: Results from Saturday’s State Sectional Qualifiers: Class 5A - State Sectional A Starrs Mill High School Woodland top 8 finishes: Girls 800M — 5th — Carli Clymer (2:24.81) Girls 1600M — 6th — Carli Clymer (5:20.69) Girls 3200M — 2nd — McKenna Trapheagen (11:21.73) Girls 3200M — 8th — Lindsay Scifers (12:03.61) Girls Pole Vault — 4th — Karson Norris (9-06) Girls Pole Vault — 6th — Brooke Cooper (9-00) Boys 800M — 8th — Jonathan Holloway (2:05.05) Boys 4x400M Relay — 8th — Jeven Reliford, Demarcus Williams, Jonathan Holloway, Markal Brown (3:26.79) Boys Pole Vault — 5th — Tommy Duke (12-00) Boys Long Jump — 8th — Markal Brown (21-02.5) Cass top 8 finishes: Girls High Jump — 2nd — Kyler Trouten (5-02) Girls Shot Put — 3rd — Chanelle Clemmons (40-03.5) Boys High Jump — 2nd — Tavarus Varnum (6-08) Boys Pole Vault — 3rd — Stephen Smith (12-06) Class 3A-B Sectional at Bremen High School Adairsville top 8 finishes: Boys 100M — 7th — Daylon Bailey (11.34) Boys 4x100M Relay — 8th — Daylon Bailey, Travon Branch, Ethan Belcher, Derrick Simons (44.07) Girls Discus Throw — 3rd — Nakiyah Washington (106-08) Josie Summerville — 2nd — Josie Summerville (36-06.25) Girls Shot Put — 5th — Nakiyah Washington (33-03) Class 4A-B Sectional at Kinnett Stadium, Columbus Cartersville top 8 finishes: Girls Shot Put — 2nd — London Shaw Girls Discus Throw — 5th — London Shaw Boys Pole Vault — 2nd — Nick Bebko Girls 800M — Kayla Carpenter NOTE: Photos shared by local track and field coaches via social media. Submit additional photos using our "Contact" page.

Several athletes from Bartow County schools earned spots in their respective State Championship Meets May 10-12 with top eight finishes at State Sectional qualifying Saturday. Woodland led all local schools with ten athletes advancing. Adairsville followed with six, Cass had four to advance, and Cartersville three. Locals advancing in more than one event include Carli Clymer, Jonathan Holloway and Markal Brown of Woodland. Daylon Bailey and Nakiyah Washington of Adairsville, and Cartersville’s London Shaw. Adairsville athletes advance to the Class AAA State Championships at Hugh Mills Stadium in Albany. Cartersville athletes move on to the Class AAAA State Championships at Valhalla Stadium on the campus of Berry College in Rome, while Woodland and Cass qualifiers will compete in the Class AAAAA State Championships at Grisham Stadium in Carrollton. Results from Saturday’s State Sectional Qualifiers: Class 5A - State Sectional A Starrs Mill High School Woodland top 8 finishes: Girls 800M — 5th — Carli Clymer (2:24.81) Girls 1600M — 6th — Carli Clymer (5:20.69) Girls 3200M — 2nd — McKenna Trapheagen (11:21.73) Girls 3200M — 8th — Lindsay Scifers (12:03.61) Girls Pole Vault — 4th — Karson Norris (9-06) Girls Pole Vault — 6th — Brooke Cooper (9-00) Boys 800M — 8th — Jonathan Holloway (2:05.05) Boys 4x400M Relay — 8th — Jeven Reliford, Demarcus Williams, Jonathan Holloway, Markal Brown (3:26.79) Boys Pole Vault — 5th — Tommy Duke (12-00) Boys Long Jump — 8th — Markal Brown (21-02.5) Cass top 8 finishes: Girls High Jump — 2nd — Kyler Trouten (5-02) Girls Shot Put — 3rd — Chanelle Clemmons (40-03.5) Boys High Jump — 2nd — Tavarus Varnum (6-08) Boys Pole Vault — 3rd — Stephen Smith (12-06) Class 3A-B Sectional at Bremen High School Adairsville top 8 finishes: Boys 100M — 7th — Daylon Bailey (11.34) Boys 4x100M Relay — 8th — Daylon Bailey, Travon Branch, Ethan Belcher, Derrick Simons (44.07) Girls Discus Throw — 3rd — Nakiyah Washington (106-08) Josie Summerville — 2nd — Josie Summerville (36-06.25) Girls Shot Put — 5th — Nakiyah Washington (33-03) Class 4A-B Sectional at Kinnett Stadium, Columbus Cartersville top 8 finishes: Girls Shot Put — 2nd — London Shaw Girls Discus Throw — 5th — London Shaw Boys Pole Vault — 2nd — Nick Bebko (photo) Girls 800M — Kayla Carpenter

The Georgia Highlands softball team pounded out 32 hits and completed a two-game sweep of West Georgia Tech Saturday at Stars Field winning both games in five innings. The Chargers won 13-1 and 15-5. Pitcher Micayla McCoy earned both wins with Peyton Henderson working in relief in both games. Mackenzy McFarland paced the Chargers’ offense with a 4-for-5 performance that included four home runs, a walk, and a hit-by-pitch. Sierrah Gani was a perfect 5-for-5 with a double. GHC (32-21, 16-10) wraps up the regular season Sunday with a home doubleheader against East Georgia State.

East Georgia State completed a four-game series sweep of Georgia Highlands Saturday by winning a twin-bill with the Chargers at LakePoint in Emerson. The visiting Bobcats won 2-1 in extra innings in Saturday’s first game and took the second game, 13-10. The results of Saturday’s games all across the conference helped determine the four teams that have qualified for the Georgia Collegiate Athletic Association. Unfortunately for Georgia Highlands, the Chargers will not make the tournament. East Georgia continues to lead the conference standings with one week remaining in the regular season. South Georgia, Gordon College, and ABAC will join East Georgia in the GCAA playoffs. Game 1 of Saturday’s doubleheader went to an eighth inning scoreless. East Georgia scored twice in the top of the inning for a 2-0 lead and Georgia Highlands managed a run, but came up short in the bottom of the eighth for a 2-1 loss. Both starting pitchers went the distance. Rhett Gay (8 IP, 1ER, 5H, 1BB, 5K) picked up the win for East Georgia. Drew Wilson (8 IP, 2ER, 5H, 0BB, 6K) suffered the loss for Georgia Highlands. Nathan Fancher led East Georgia’s offense with two hits. He also drove in the two runs in the eighth. Cameron Hearn had two hits for the Chargers. Skylar McPhee, Nick Piccapietra, and Bryson Horne added one hit each. Joey Demasi drove in the Georgia Highlands’ run in the eighth. In the second game, the Chargers raced to an early 7-2 lead before East Georgia began chipping away. The Bobcats scored four runs in the top of the fourth and six in the fifth inning to lead 12-9. Both teams added a single run in the seventh for a 13-10 final score. Both teams utilized three pitchers. Case Matthews (3 IP, 1ER, 4H) picked up the win for East Georgia with middle relief. Tyler Sellers (4 IP, 8R, 3ER, 6H, 3BB, 4K) started for the Chargers followed by Skylar McPhee (1.2 IP, 5ER, 3H, 3BB, 1K) and Travis Kuebler (1.1 IP, 0ER, 1BB, 1K). Nathan Fancher and Drew Haywood combined for six hits including three homers and nine RBI to lead the Bobcats. Zach Miller and Austin Foster had three hits and one RBI each for Georgia Highlands. Bryson Horne (2 RBI), Nick Piccapietra, and Skylar McPhee (RBI) contributed two hits apiece. East Georgia has now won 11 of 12, improved to 29-14 overall, and is now 22-5 in GCAA play. The Bobcats lead South Georgia by two games in the conference with three to play. Georgia Highlands (28-22, 11-17) will conclude the season Tuesday afternoon at South Georgia and next Saturday afternoon at home against Andrew College.

The Cartersville boys soccer team defeated Pickens 6-1 Friday night at Weinman Stadium to advance to the second round of the Class 4A state playoffs where they will host 3rd-ranked Chestatee next Wednesday. The Hurricanes dominated control of the ball and took charge of the game’s flow early in the first half. Houston Read scored the opening goal for Cartersville off a cross from Jonathan Cruz in the game’s 19th minute. A few minutes later, Grant Farmer fed Pedro Ghanem to put the Canes up 2-0 and Ghanem added another in the 36th minute for a 3-0 advantage at the intermission. James Chege and Elian Abeja added second half goals to give Cartersville a 5-0 lead before Pickens cut the lead to 5-1. Farmer tacked on the Canes’ final score off a Cruz assist in the game’s 76th minute to wrap up the opening round playoff win. Pickens’ season ended with a 3-12-1 record. Cartersville improved to 12-6.

Georgia Highlands and East Georgia State combined for 28 hits that included nine home runs and 22 total runs Friday night at LakePoint in Emerson, but it was the visiting Bobcats that came away with a 15-7 victory. East Georgia took control with a six-run fifth inning that gave them a 10-3 lead. They added four more insurance runs in the eighth and one more in the ninth. Georgia Highlands narrowed East Georgia’s early lead to 4-3 in the third inning, but never got closer adding a single run in the fifth and three more in the eighth inning. Tyler Owens (6 IP, 4ER, 10H, 1BB, 1K) picked up the pitching win for the Bobcats. Mathew Facciponti (2 IP, 3ER, 2H, 2BB, 2K) and Connor Willis (1 IP, 0R, 0H, 2K) closed out the late innings. Matt Norton (4.1 IP, 8ER, 10H, 0BB, 1K) started for the Chargers and took the loss. Jake Meyer (3 IP, 5ER, 2H, 3BB, 1K), Zach Fordham (0.2 IP, 1ER, 2H, 1BB), and Connor Dove (1 IP, 1ER, 2H, 2K) also pitched for Georgia Highlands. Nathan Fancher and Christian Castro both had two home runs each and combined for seven RBI for East Georgia. Keven Jimenez, Ashton Pratt, and Ryan Woiwode also homered for the Bobcats who out hit the Chargers 16 to 12. Joey Demasi and Nick Piccapietra hit homers for Georgia Highlands. Piccapietra, Austin Foster, Blake Bradley, and Willis Kemp all had two hits. Zach Miller drove in two runs with one hit. Parker Orr doubled home one run. Cameron Hearn added one hit. East Georgia State (27-14, 20-5) continues to lead the Georgia Collegiate Athletic Association with their win. Georgia Highlands (28-20, 11-15) host the Bobcats in a conference doubleheader Saturday at LakePoint at 1 p.m.