The Hiram Hornets pounded out 18 hits and scored runs in every inning Wednesday to take a 12-2 five-inning win at Woodland and dampen the Wildcats' playoff hopes in the process. Trenton Parker, Dalton Skinner, and Kyle Foley — batting at the top of the Hornets’ order — combined for 11 hits and seven RBI to lead Hiram’s offense. Skinner homered, Ryan Nolan added three hits including a pair of doubles, and Josh Franklin finished with a pair of hits and two RBI for Hiram. Skinner (5 IP, 2ER, 5H, 3BB, 6K) also tossed a five-inning complete game for the Hornets’ pitching victory. Toby Queen led Woodland with two hits. Koby Stansel (3.1 IP, 7R, 5ER, 11H, 0BB, 4K), who started on the mound and took the pitching loss, had one hit and one RBI. Dylan Webb and Garrett Cornett had the other Wildcats’ hits. Woodland (15-14, 8-7), currently tied for fifth in Region 7-AAAAA, will close out the regular season Friday at Hiram (6-19, 3-12) at 5:55 p.m. The Wildcats now need a win Friday and some help from other region games Friday to secure a state playoff berth. "The playoff scenario is a mess right now," said Woodland coach Colby Coursey Wednesday night. "We hold some of the head-to-head tiebreakers but it gets even more complicated in a three-way or four-way tie. None of it matters, however, if we don't win Friday." Carrollton (24-5, 13-2) has clinched the region's top spot and will be a 1-seed in the state playoffs. Villa Rica (10-5 in region), Rome (9-6) and Kell (9-6) are currently in the next three spots heading into Friday’s final regular season games. Woodland and East Paulding (both 8-7 in the region) are tied for fifth and currently "on the outside of the playoffs looking in." In addition to Woodland's game at Hiram, the other region games Friday involving playoff implications and seeding include Rome at Carrollton, Paulding County at Villa Rica, and East Paulding at Kell.

Bartow County Little League and Cartersville Little League baseball (Major League) capsules for Cartersville LL games played April 16-17 and for BCLL games played April 12-17. CARTERSVILLE LITTLE LEAGUE (Major) Monday, April 16 BRAVES 10, COLTS 6 Braves: Miles Owen three hits including a HR, double, and three RBI; Thomas Peters three hits including two doubles, one RBI; Charlie Crum two hits, three RBI; Brenden Bryant two hits, one RBI; Caleb Daniel two hits. Sydney Seigler (3.1 IP, 2R, 0ER, 2H, 4BB, 1K), Evan A (2.2 IP, 4R, 3ER, 5H, 1BB, 1K). Colts: Luke Altizer two hits, two RBI; Turner Abernathy two hits, one RBI; Grant Knight and Cade Horn one hit, one RBI; Brett Goode one hit. Abernathy (2 IP, 1R, 0ER, 1H, 2BB, 3K), Davis Wilkey (1 IP, 4ER, 5H, 2BB, 1K), Goode (3 IP, 5ER, 7H, 2BB, 4K). PADRES 7, CRACKERS 1 Padres: Lee Camp three hits, two RBI; Will Camp three hits, one RBI; Logan Buchanan two hits, one RBI; Geoffrey Gore two hits; Cooper Graves and Collin Genrich one hit, one RBI each; JP Gooch and Eli Jones one hit apiece. Gore (4 IP, 1ER, 6H, 4BB, 7K), Camp (2 IP, 1ER, 3H, 5BB, 5K). Crackers: Connor Stermer three hits; Boston Pittman two hits, one RBI; Easton Elrod two hits; Jaiven Johnson and Ben Turcotte one hit each; Adam Cornwell one RBI. Stermer (4 IP, 3R, 1ER, 7H, 2BB, 5K), Jackson Graves (2 IP, 4ER, 7H, 2BB, 3K). Tuesday, April 17 DODGERS 7, PHILLIES 0 Dodgers: Ayden Ray one HR, two doubles, three RBI; Justin Peace one hit, two RBI; Landon Heath, Peyton Emery, and Carter Rice one hit each. Ray (4.1 IP, 0BB, 12K), Peace (1.2 IP, 2H, 0BB, 3K). Phils: Jacob McDaniel and Asa Mitcham one hit each. Brodie McWhorter (4 IP, 5R, 4ER, 6H, 2BB, 8K), Sawyer Wilson (2 IP, 2R, 1ER, 1H, 2BB, 6K). INDIANS 8, TIGERS 3 Indians: Maddox Frazier two hits including a double, two RBI; Gavin Shrewsberry two hits including one double; Drew Perry and Maverick Madonna two hits each; Cooper Adams, Jackson Harwell (double), and Dawson Bishop one hit each. Bishop (5 IP, 3ER, 8H, 0BB, 3K), Perry (1 IP, 0R, 0H, 1BB). CARTERSVILLE LITTLE LEAGUE (Major) Standings (through April 17 games) Indians ….. 11-1 Braves ….. 9-3 Tigers ….... 7-5 Dodgers … 7-5 Phillies ….. 4-8 Colts …..... 4-8 Padres ….. 3-9 Crackers … 3-9 BARTOW COUNTY LITTLE LEAGUE (Major) Thursday, April 12 TWINS 9, GIANTS 1 Twins: Lane McDonald two hits including one double, three RBI; Cadyn Wade two hits including one double, one RBI; Jackson Nelson two hits; Reece Heaton one hit, one RBI; William Warnock one hit; Isaiah Ford one RBI. Giants: Hayden Reeder one hit. BRAVES 10, CARDINALS 3 Braves: Caleb Freeman two hits including one triple, one RBI; Dylan Moulton two hits, one RBI; Joshua McBroom one hit, two RBI; Mason Williams one hit. Cards: Luke Hollis two hits including one double; Reece Alexander and River Durocher one hit, one RBI each. A’s 15, METS 2 A’s: Jett Johnson two hits, two RBI; Hayden Blalock two hits including a double, one RBI; Dawson Craig and Robert Mitchell one double, two RBI each; Ben Abernathy one double, one RBI; Thomas Wells one hit, one RBI. Mets: Christopher Burns one triple, one RBI; Drew Davey one hit. TIGERS 7, ORIOLES 3 Tigers: Hadyn Hawkins two hits, one RBI; Carson Gray triple; John Bailey one hit; Jaxson Curry, Tre Winters, Zachary Hawkins, Joshua Churchwell, Ethan Leonard, Xander Aley one RBI each. Orioles: Kamarion Profit triple, one RBI; Cameron Adams one hit; Luke Evans and Brayden Davis one RBI each. Tuesday, April 17 CARDINALS 8, CUBS 5 Cards: Sahaj Patel one double, one RBI; Luke Hollis one hit; River Durocher one RBI. Cubs: Clausen O’Banion one hit; Dillon Sanford two RBI; Tyler Phillips and Andrew Stiles one RBI each. RANGERS 11, GIANTS 0 Rangers: Harrison Cole three hits including one double, one triple, two RBI; Malachi Linley three hits, one RBI; Brayden Shiflett, Jarrett Scott, and Daniel Stevenson one hit each; Righley Worthington, Aiden Ritchie, Kaiden Pirkle one RBI apiece. Giants: Cooper Stone one hit. BARTOW COUNTY LITTLE LEAGUE (Major) Standings (through April 17 games) Rangers … 4-0-1 A’s …......... 4-0-0 Giants ....… 3-2-0 Braves ...… 2-1-2 Orioles ...… 2-2-0 Twins …..... 2-3-0 Cubs …...... 1-3-1 Mets …....... 1-3-0 Tigers .....… 1-3-0 Cardinals … 1-4-0 ​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 Georgia Highlands baseball team lost its fifth straight conference game Tuesday to visiting Andrew College 9-7 at LakePoint in Emerson. The Chargers have now dropped six of their last seven Georgia Collegiate Athletic Association games and have slipped to fourth in the conference standings and one game under .500 in the league. GHC won three games last week, but all were out of conference. Tuesday, Andrew used a trio of three-run innings to outlast Georgia Highlands as the two teams combined for 25 hits. The visiting Tigers led 3-1 through three innings, 6-2 through five innings, and took a 9-2 advantage in the top of the sixth. The Chargers scored five runs over the final four innings, but could not quite make up the margin. All nine position starters had at least one hit for Andrew, led by a two-hit, three RBI day by Brent Todys. Jordan Holt (RBI), Will Barry, and Matthew Holloway (RBI) also had two hits each for the Tigers. Parker Orr homered, doubled, and finished with three hits and two RBI to pace the Chargers offense. Skylar McPhee (RBI), Jaree Pledger (RBI), and NIck Piccapietra added two hits each. Austin Foster (2 RBI), Bryson Horne (RBI), and Willis Kemp had the other GHC hits. Hunter Norman (4 IP, 2ER, 6H, 1BB, 3K) started for Andrew and picked up the pitching victory. The Tigers used three other pitchers in relief with Brady Jones closing out the ninth behind middle innings relief from Omari Hunter and Daniel Lee. Alex Holdbrooks (4 IP, 6R, 5ER, 9H, 3BB, 2K) started for the Chargers and suffered the loss. Travis Kuebler (5 IP, 3R, 0ER, 4H, 0BB, 4K) worked the final five frames. Andrew improved to 17-28 overall and 4-16 with their win Tuesday. Georgia Highlands (27-16, 10-11) will travel to Cuthbert to conclude the four-game conference series with the Tigers with a single game Friday night and a doubleheader Saturday.

The Cartersville girls and boys tennis teams advanced to the Class AAAA Sweet Sixteen Tuesday with home wins in the state playoffs’ opening round. Both Canes’ teams swept singles matches and the doubles matches were pulled prior to completion as the Lady Canes defeated Pickens and the Hurricanes blanked Northwest Whitfield 3-0 at Dellinger Park. Ashley Popham, Emma McCary, and Ansley Thompson were the singles winners for the Lady Canes. Will Allen, Matthew Slocum, and Davis Edwards won singles matches for the Cartersville boys. Both doubles teams for the Lady Canes and Canes had won their opening sets when their matches were halted. The Cartersville girls advance to host the winner of a first round match between Oconee County and Blessed Trinity. The Cartersville boys will host the survivor of the opening round match between St. Pius and Blessed Trinity. Second round matches are scheduled to be completed by April 25.

The Adairsville baseball team took a huge step toward possibly hosting an opening round state playoff series Tuesday night with a 12-2 five-inning, mercy-rule win at Bremen. The win by the Tigers has them tied with Calhoun for second place in the region standings, but still only one game ahead of both Bremen and Haralson County with two region games remaining. Adairsville (18-8, 11-5) travels to Calhoun Thursday and will wrap up the regular season Friday at home against Lakeview-Fort Oglethorpe. Garrett Mishoe came up big on the mound in the Tigers’ win. Adairsville’s offense scored seven runs in the top of the first inning and Mishoe responded with a five-inning complete game and allowed only three hits and four walks. He also struck out ten. Bremen’s only runs came on a first inning two-run homer by Sam Thompson that made the score 7-2. Adairsville added single runs in the second inning and the third inning. The Tigers also posted three runs in the fourth inning. Adairsville out hit the Blue Devils eight to three. Caden Gibbs was the only Tiger with two hits. He also drove in two runs. Mishoe and Halen Huskins both homered. Corey Nation, Noah Dutton (double), Trace Still, and BJ Roper each added one hit. With Tuesday’s loss, Bremen slips to 17-9 overall and 10-6 in Region 6-AAA games. Ringgold has locked up the region title and No. 1 seed with a 16-0 mark in Region 6-AAA. Adairsville and Calhoun are both 11-5 in region action. Bremen and Haralson County are next at 10-6 and Lakeview-Fort Oglethorpe is currently sixth at 9-7 with two region games remaining.

The Cartersville baseball team dropped a 5-1 decision to visiting Troup County Tuesday night at Richard Bell Field for their first loss of the year in Region 5-AAAA. Troup County pitcher Colby Williams sparkled on the mound tossing a complete-game while scattering three hits and three walks. He struck out ten and allowed only one unearned run in the fourth inning. The loss drops the Hurricanes into a tie with Troup for the top spot in the region standings, but 2nd-ranked Cartersville holds the tie-breaker over the Tigers if both teams win (or both lose) in their final region games on Thursday. Cartersville defeated the Tigers 5-0 in LaGrange on March 23, meaning the Canes’ one run Tuesday night gives them the tie-breaker advantage. Troup County hosts last place Sandy Creek Thursday while Cartersville closes out the region slate at Central-Carroll. Both Cartersville and Troup are 10-1 in region play. Troup senior shortstop Ryan Bliss hit the first pitch of the game over the left field wall to give the Tigers a 1-0 lead off Cartersville starting pitcher Levi Ayers. The visitors added another run in the top of the fourth for a 2-0 lead on an RBI single by Ethan Morton. The Canes’ Ian Inaba singled home a run in the bottom of the fourth to cut Troup’s lead in half and the score remained 2-1 until a three-run seventh by the Tigers. In the final inning, Morton singled off reliever Anthony Seigler and Brantly Robinson put down a sacrifice bunt. Seigler’s throw to first on the play got away and enabled Troup runners to reach second and third. Seigler walked Bliss to load the bases and after one run scored on a passed ball, Caleb McCurry delivered an RBI chopper that bounced over third base to give Troup a 4-1 lead. Following another Cartersville pitching change, Colby Williams drove in the Tigers’ final run with a sacrifice fly to center field that scored Bliss. Morton (two singles) and Bliss (single, homer) led Troup with two hits and one RBI each. The Canes were limited to only three hits — a double by Josh Davis and singles by Ian Inaba and Preston Welchel. Ayers (4 IP, 2ER, 5H, 1BB, 4K) suffered the pitching loss. Jake Gooch (2 IP, 0R, 1H, 2K), Seigler (0.0 IP, 3R, 1ER, 2H, 1BB), and Cohen Wilbanks (1 IP) all pitched for the Hurricanes. Troup County, ranked fifth in Class 4A, improved to 20-7 overall and 10-1 in region action. Cartersville (22-7, 10-1) closes out the regular season Thursday at 5:55 p.m. at Central-Carroll.

For the first time in the history of Woodland High School’s boys tennis program, the Wildcats won a state playoff match. Woodland blanked visiting Clarke Central Tuesday evening “on the banks of the Etowah” for an opening round win in the Class AAAAA state tournament. Woodland clinched the match by winning all three singles matches. Bryce VanOrder, Blake Bottegal, and Connor Gunnell all had straight set victories. The Wildcats’ doubles teams also won for a clean 5-0 sweep. Alex Banta and Hayden Lusk narrowly escaped 7-5, 7-6 [7-5] at Line 1 doubles, while Max Costlow and Noah Pirkle pulled out a 6-3, 4-6, 6-1 win at Line 2 doubles. The Wildcats, a 2-seed, will play the winner of the first round match between Chamblee and North Springs. Woodland will travel if Chamblee wins and will host the second round if North Springs wins. Sweet Sixteen round matches are scheduled to be completed by April 26. BUFORD GIRLS 3, WOODLAND 0 The Woodland girls tennis team had their season end Tuesday in the first round of the Class AAAAA state tournament with a 3-0 loss at Buford. The host Wolves won at Line 1 and Line 2 singles and picked up their third point to end the match at Line 2 doubles.

The Adairsville girls survived a thrilling shootout at North Murray and earned a spot in the Class AAA state playoffs Monday night. Meanwhile, both Cartersville teams defeated Cedartown and will now host LaGrange Thursday in games that will determine the girls and boys Region 5-AAAA championships. ADAIRSVILLE GIRLS 2, NORTH MURRAY 1 Lauren Stephenson’s penalty kick on Adairsville’s fifth attempt was the difference in a 3-2 shootout win after the game finished 1-1 in regulation. Emily Collum and Chloe Cochran also connected on PKs for Adairsville and the victory secured a state playoff berth for the Lady Tigers. North Murray led 1-0 early in the first half, but a goal by Collum sent the game to the intermission tied 1-1. The two squads played a scoreless second half and overtime. The Lady Tigers (9-2-2, 6-2) host North Springs Tuesday and will face Calhoun Thursday. CARTERSVILLE GIRLS 10, CEDARTOWN 0 The Lady Canes scored five first half goals and added five more in a shortened second half for a mercy-rule 10-0 win. The Region 5-AAAA victory makes Thursday’s home game with LaGrange for the region title. Kalyn Donegan scored three goals and Merritt Vance two goals for Cartersville. Rebecca Hays, Claire Choate, Janet Zazueta, Micah Vance, and Kendal Anderson also scored for the Lady Canes. Courtney Rhea and Micah Vance had assists. The Lady Canes (8-5, 4-1) travel to Coahuila Creek Tuesday prior to hosting LaGrange on Thursday. CARTERSVILLE BOYS 5, CEDARTOWN 0 The Canes locked up no worse than the No. 2 seed from Region 5-AAAA Monday night with a 5-0 victory at Cedartown. Cartersville (10-4, 5-0) plays LaGrange Thursday night at home to determine the region title. The Canes took a 2-0 lead in the first half on a 25-yard free kick by Grant Farmer and a James Chege goal off a feed from Farmer. In the second half, Pedro Ghanem added a pair of goals and Jonathan Cruz scored one. Cartersville travels to Coahuila Creek Tuesday prior to hosting LaGrange Thursday.

Carrollton pitchers limited Woodland to only three hits Monday evening as the Trojans completed a two-game series sweep of the Wildcats, 5-2, in Carrollton. Zeke Daniel started and earned the win on the mound for Carrollton. Ty Murray closed out the final inning for the Trojans. Kenny Jinks (6 IP, 5R, 4ER, 7H, 5BB, 4K) pitched well for Woodland but suffered the loss on the mound. Brandon Prince and Chris Gaiter both had two hits to lead the Carrollton bats. Toby Queen had a pair of hits for the Wildcats. Chris Mills had the other Woodland base hit. Carrollton improved to 23-5 overall and 12-2 in region action. Woodland (15-13, 8-6) will look to bounce back and try to secure a state playoff berth in a two-game series with Region 7-AAAAA’s last place Hiram Hornets. The two teams play Wednesday at Woodland and Friday at Hiram. Both games are 5:55 p.m. starts. The Wildcats are in a five-team battle for the final three playoff spots in the state playoffs from Region 7-AAAAA. The race includes Woodland, Kell, Villa Rica, Rome, and East Paulding all chasing region-leading Carrollton. Kell plays East Paudling in a two-game series. Villa Rica has two games remaining with Paulding County while Rome's final two games are with Carrollton. PAULDING COUNTY 9, CASS 5 Steven Spell homered twice and Evan Hinton hit a home run for the Colonels, but Cass lost its final game of the season Monday night at Paulding County, 9-5. The Colonels led 4-0 through four innings and held a 5-3 advantage heading to the bottom of the sixth before the host Patriots rallied for a six-run sixth and the victory. Corey Coltrane (6 IP, 5R, 4ER, 8H, 0BB, 8K) was the winning pitcher for Paulding. Jathan Thomason (1 IP, 1K) earned a save with a spotless seventh on the mound. Spell (5.2 IP, 7ER, 10H, 1BB, 7K) suffered the pitching loss for Cass and Wyatt Karlovich (0.1 IP, 2ER, 2H, 1BB, 1K) recorded the final out in the sixth. Dakota Reeves had a three-hit performance for Paulding County with one RBI. Collin Bodnar and Brandon Gorski (2 RBI) added two hits each for the Patriots. Jacob Harper and Coltrane both drove in two runs with a double. Both of Spell’s home runs were solo shots. Hinton’s third inning homer came with a man on base. Blaine Ingram had two hits for Cass. Bryson Markley (RBI), Logan Nelson, and Nathan Smith each added one hit apiece. Paulding improved to 10-18 overall and 3-11 in Region 7-AAAAA. The Colonels’ season ends with an 11-18 overall mark and a 5-11 record in the region.

The top track and field performances of the 2018 season through Saturday, April 14:

Baseball, softball, tennis, golf, and track & field updates for local Bartow County athletes at the collegiate and professional level for the week ending Sunday, April 15. MiLB SAM HOWARD — Albuquerque Isotopes; Colorado Rockies Triple A affiliate; Pacific Coast League (5th-yr. pro; LHP, Georgia Southern University; Cartersville HS)… made his second start of the regular season Friday night in an 8-7 home loss to the Salt Lake Bees. Howard went four innings allowing four earned runs on six hits and three walks. The southpaw, now 1-1, faced 21 batters and fanned eight. Alburquerque (5-6 through Sunday’s games) is currently third in the Pacific Southern Division. The Isotopes trail El Paso and Salk Lake by two games and have a pair of road series this week at Tacoma and Salt Lake. CONNOR JUSTUS — Mobile BayBears; L.A. Angels Double-A affiliate; Southern League (3rd-yr. pro; MIF; Georgia Tech; Cartersville HS)… through the first nine games of the 2018 regular season, Justus has a .267 batting average (8-for-30) and has appeared in every game with six starts at shortstop and two at second base. Justus has three doubles and one RBI. He has scored four runs and walked four times for an on-base percentage of .371. Known for his defensive strengths (.953 career FPCT), Justus has committed five errors in the young season. Mobile (4-5 through Sunday’s games) is tied for second in the Southern League’s South Division, 3.5 games behind the division-leading Biloxi Shuckers. Mobile starts a 10-day home stand Monday with five games against Biloxi and five against the Mississippi Braves. COLLEGE BASEBALL BRANDON ALLEN — Georgia Highlands CC (Fr., OF, Woodland HS)… started in right field last Wednesday and went 2-for-3 with two RBI and two runs scored in a 9-2 win at Emmanuel College. He also stole a base. In a Thursday home 16-6 win over Shorter University JV, Allen added one hit and scored one run. He has now appeared in 17 games with 27 at bats. He has 10 hits including a double and one home run with five walks and 11 RBI for a .370 batting average. Georgia Highlands plays a four-game conference series this week with Andrew College. The Chargers are at home Tuesday and play three games in Cuthbert Friday and Saturday. ELLIOTT ANDERSON — Auburn University (Soph., LHP, Cartersville HS)… worked the eighth inning Saturday in a 7-2 home loss to Mississippi State. He walked one and struck out one in a shutout inning. Anderson also entered in the fourth inning last Tuesday during a 12-3 loss at Samford. He faced six batters and allowed one unearned run with one walk and one strikeout. 21st-ranked Auburn (25-12, 6-9 SEC) hosts UAB Tuesday night and travels to Alabama for a three-game conference series Friday through Sunday. BAILEY CAMPBELL — Young Harris College (Fr., 1B, Cass HS)… had one hit and walked once in a pair of home pinch hitting appearances Saturday against USC Aiken. The Mountain Lions won one of three Peach Belt Conference games with the Pacers over the weekend and lost to Southern Wesleyan last Tuesday. YHC (22-20, 14-13) travels to Anderson (SC) University Wednesday night and hosts PBC-rival and 8th-ranked Columbus State for a three-game series Friday through Sunday. BRANDON ETHERIDGE — Limestone College (Sr., OF, Cass HS)… went 2-for-12 this past week and was hit by a pitch with two walks and a stolen base. The Saints won a non-conference game at Carson-Newman last Tuesday, but was swept in three Conference Carolinas games at conference leader and 3rd-ranked North Greenville. Etheridge has started 41 games this season and has a .242 batting average with one homer and 21 RBI. Limestone (18-23, 9-12) plays a doubleheader at Anderson (SC) University Monday, hosts Lenoir-Rhyne Tuesday, and welcomes conference rival Mount Olive for a three-game set Friday and Saturday. SEAN McDERMOTT — Mercer University (Jr., 1B, Adairsville HS)… went 0-for-4 in a pair of starts in Southern Conference games at Samford Friday and Saturday. Mercer (26-12, 6-6) lost four straight this past week at home to Georgia Tech last Tuesday and three at Samford. The Bears hit the road for Georgia State Wednesday and at Western Carolina for three SoCon games Friday through Sunday. HARRISON OSBORN — Point University (Fr., RHP, Cartersville HS)… started and went two innings last Tuesday in an 18-4 home non-conference win over Toccoa Falls College. Harrison (3-2) faced nine batters and allowed three earned runs on four hits and was credited with the pitching win. He has a 4.43 ERA in 40.2 innings this season. Point (24-19, 12-9) plays a doubleheader Tuesday at Tuskegee University and will host an Appalachian Athletic Conference series Friday and Saturday with conference co-leader Tennessee Wesleyan. HUNTER REAID — Shorter University (Fr., C, Woodland HS)… drove in two runs and went 4-for-6 in a start last Wednesday as the Hawks won 13-6 at 10th-ranked Georgia College. Reaid also went 1-for-6 with one RBI in a pair of home Gulf South Conference games with University Montevallo. He now has a .341 batting average (14-for-41) with a double and four RBI. Shorter (20-21, 9-15) hits the road this week for games at Emmanuel College Tuesday and a three-game GSC series at Valdosta State Friday through Sunday. TRISTIN SMITH — Young Harris College (Jr., Inf., Adairsville HS)… hit safely in all four of the Mountain Lions’ games this past week. He was 4-for-14 with a double, two walks, a sacrifice hit, one RBI, and was hit by a pitch. Young Harris won one of three conference games with USC Aiken and had a loss at Southern Wesleyan. YHC (22-20, 14-13) hosts Southern Wesleyan Tuesday, travels to Anderson (SC) University Wednesday, and entertains 8th-ranked Columbus State Friday through Sunday in a Peach Belt Conference series. TYLER WASHINGTON — Young Harris College (Sr., OF, Adairsville HS)… improved his season batting average to .293 this past week as he went 6-for-15 in four games. He had two doubles, walked twice, was hit by a pitch, and added a sacrifice. YHC (22-20, 14-13) travels to Anderson (SC) University Wednesday night and hosts PBC-rival and 8th-ranked Columbus State for a three-game series Friday through Sunday. SOFTBALL SIERRAH GANI — Georgia Highlands CC (Fr., OF, Cass HS)… went 3-for-10, scored a run, walked, stole a base, and drove in two runs as the Chargers won three of four conference games with Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College and Andrew College. Georgia Highlands (27-20, 13-9) has home conference doubleheaders Saturday and Sunday against South Georgia State and East Georgia. With six conference regular season games remaining, the Chargers are third in the GCAA, five games behind first place Georgia Military and four behind South Georgia State. CASSIDY HOWREN — Reinhardt University (Jr., C, Adairsville HS)… opened up the week by going 1-for-3 in two starts at catcher Tuesday, both losses for Reinhardt, against NAIA top-ranked Georgia Gwinnett in non-conference action. She then went 1-for-7 with a run scored and an RBI Saturday in a conference doubleheader sweep of Columbia College. Reinhardt has one more conference doubleheader at Milligan College Wednesday before the Appalachian Athletic Conference tournament. Howren is hitting .226 on the year in 124 at bats and has started all 46 of Reinhardt's games. SYDNEY HODORFF — LaGrange College (Jr., C, Woodland HS)… went 0-for-4 with a walk in two starts at third base in a Tuesday doubleheader at Berry, both losses for LaGrange. Hodorff is now hitting .274 with a .369 on-base percentage and .337 slugging percentage on the season in 95 at bats. She has played in all 34 of her team's games. KAILAH RAIN — Embry-Riddle University (Sr., OF, Cartersville HS)… After Rain won Sunshine State Conference Player of the Week for her work against Rollins the week before, she came back to earth a bit last week in a three-game conference sweep of Lynn. Rain still hit a solid 3-for-12 with two runs scored and an RBI while starting each game in left field and hitting in the 3-hole. Rain is hitting .343 on the year with 29 RBIs and 41 runs scored in 111 at bats. She also boasts as .374 on-base percentage and a .441 slugging percentage. ANNALYN YANTIS — Samford Univeristy (Jr., P, Cartersville HS)… Yantis started and earned the win in a 7-2 SoCon victory over Western Carolina Sunday. She allowed two runs on five hits in 5 1/3 innings. She then earned the last two outs in a 14-6 win over Western Carolina in Game 2 of the doubleheader that same day, allowing one earned run on one hit and a walk. With three SoCon series left on the schedule, Yantis has thrown 84 innings with a 4.83 ERA and a .283 batting average against. TENNIS PEYTON GOLLHOFER — Ball State University (Jr., Cartersville, GA; Laurel Springs Academy)… continued her strong play in doubles by going 2-0 on Line 2 with two different partners last week in MAC wins over Western Michigan and Northern Illinois. She is now 13-2 on the year in doubles. She also beat Northern illinois' Maria Potsi, 6-0, 7-6 (7-2) Sunday on Line 2 singles. She lost in two close sets Friday on Line 2 singles to Western Michigan's Melina Lyubomirova on Friday. Ball State has two more matches this week before the MAC tournament April 27-29. TRACK AND FIELD BREE COLE — Jacksonville State University (So., Cartersville HS)… placed 11th in the 5,000-meter run with a time of 21:04 over the weekend at the 2018 Western Carolina's Catamount Classic. JSU placed fourth out of 10 teams at the event. The Gamecocks compete next at the Auburn War Eagle Invitational Friday and Saturday. SAMANTHA PATTERSON — Jacksonville State University (Sr., Cartersville HS)… placed ninth out of 18 competitors in the pole vault with a height of 10 feet, 10 inches. Jax State competes this weekend at the Auburn War Eagle Invitational. BLAKE PERRY — Jacksonville State University (Sr., Cartersville HS)… placed 10th out of 31 in the 100-meter hurdles with a time of 15.09 seconds. Jacksonville State travels to the Auburn War Eagle Invitational this weekend. GOLF MAGGIE ASHMORE — Augusta University (Sr., Kingston, GA; Heritage Golf Acad., Hilton Head, SC)… Augusta finished third out of six teams at the Lady Boilermaker tournament this weekend in Indiana. Against major Division-I programs like Texas Tech and Purdue, Ashmore finished tied for 13th out of 35 golfers at 13-over 216, which was second for the Lady Jags. LINDSEY BONNER — York College (PA) (Fr., Cartersville HS)… finished sixth out of 10 golfers at 29-over 72 as York lost to Gettysburg Thursday, 372-385. The Lady Spartans play in the Capital Athletic Conference Championship at Cape Charles, VA Thursday through Saturday. HANNAH MAE DEEMS — Mercer University (Sr., Taylorsville, GA; Darlington HS)… fired an opening round 78 Sunday and a 76 Monday as the Bears are part of a second place tie heading into the final round of the Southern Conference Championship Tournament at Hilton Head, SC. Deems round Monday led her team. The Bears are knotted with Chattanooga for second place but trail tournament leading Furman by 22 shots. --- Jason Greenberg, The Daily Tribune News, contributed to this report.

Trevor Lawrence delighted the Clemson faithful with his spring game debut. Lawrence finished the day 11-of-16 with 122 yards and a 50-yard touchdown. LINKS: Trevor Lawrence debuts and shines in Clemson spring game http://www.thestate.com/sports/college/acc/clemson-university/article208836154.html News and notes from Clemson spring game https://www.greenvilleonline.com/story/sports/college/clemson/2018/04/14/live-updates-clemson-football-spring-game-lawrence-throws-quick-td-pass/517515002/ The Trevor Lawrence era begins at Clemson https://www.postandcourier.com/sports/the-trevor-lawrence-era-has-begun-clemson-freshman-quarterback-shines/article_cec2d430-401c-11e8-af0f-0f5207876d96.html