The high school football region standings for leagues including local Bartow County teams. Rome remains ranked No. 1 in Class AAAAA in this week’s Georgia High School Football Daily / Atlanta Journal-Constitution poll following their 54-33 win over Kell in both teams' region opener. The Wolves are members of Region 7-AAAAA with Cass and Woodland. Carrollton is ranked No. 4 and Kell -- still winless -- is No. 9 in Class AAAAA. Cartersville (4-0, idle this week) remains top-ranked in Class AAAA with region foe Sandy Creek ranked No. 3. The remainder of the Class AAAA top ten includes No. 2 Thomson, No. 4 Blessed Trinity, No. 5 Marist, No. 6 Jefferson, No. 7 Woodward Academy, No. 8 Ridgeland, No. 9 Burke County, and No. 10 Mary Persons. In Class AAA, Calhoun and Bremen from Adairsville’s Region 6-AAA are in this week’s top ten. Calhoun is ranked sixth. Bremen is No. 8.

Cartersville volleyball won a pair of Region 5-AAAA matches Wednesday night at Chapel Hill High School. The Lady Canes defeated Troup 25-19, 25-19 and beat Chapel Hill 25-18, 25-13. “We made a few early errors, but battled every point and kept our intensity throughout the night,” said Cartersville coach Dustin Cothran. “Overall, I was pleased with our play.” Cothran credited the play of Catie Heilman, Lauren Wenzell, and Nedu Evans as leaders in Wednesday night’s matches. Cartersville (15-2, 4-0) will host the Bartow County Championship Tournament Saturday and will entertain Sandy Creek and LaGrange next Tuesday night.

Cartersville pitcher Colbi Ballard tossed a five-inning, complete-game, three-hitter Wednesday night to shutout Cedartown, 8-0 in a Region 5-AAAA game. Ballard walked two and fanned three. Meanwhile, the Lady Canes’ offense broke open a close game with a six-run fourth inning to put the game away. Presley Edwards singled in a run in the second inning to give Cartersville a 1-0 lead. Paris Poston then gave the Lady Canes a 2-0 lead with a second inning sacrifice fly. In the fourth, Cartersville used four singles, two walks, and a hit by pitch to secure the win. Edwards finished 2-for-2 with one RBI. Lauren McElhaney and Ballard each drove in two runs with one hit each. Hope Short and Cio Seigler both added a hit. Poston contributed a pair of RBIs and Kalli Scheff drove in one run. Cedartown slipped to 6-8 overall and 2-5 in region play. Cartersville (7-8, 5-3) hosts Sandy Creek Thursday at 5:55 pm and entertains LaGrange in a doubleheader Saturday at noon.

Local high school softball region standings per GHSA (through Tuesday, September 12):

The four local high school volleyball teams will compete Saturday at Cartersville High School's Storm Center for the 2017 Bartow County Volleyball Championship. Based on early season marks, the host Lady Canes lead local teams with an 11-2 record followed by Cass at 11-9 and Woodland at 5-14 with matches this week pending. 2017 BARTOW COUNTY VOLLEYBALL CHAMPIONSHIP VARSITY BRACKET

NFL VIC BEASLEY — Atlanta Falcons (OLB/DE, 3rd yr. pro, Clemson University, Adairsville HS) . . . last season's NFL sacks leader recorded his first sack of the 2017 season Sunday in the Falcons’ season opening win at the Chicago Bears, 23-17. He also had a tackle for a 4-yard loss on the final play of the opening quarter. The Falcons (1-0) host the Green Bay Packers Sunday night in their first regular season game at Atlanta's new Mercedes-Benz Stadium. COLLEGE FOOTBALL QUADRE ALLEN — Tusculum (Jr., DB, Woodland HS). . . (photo left) contributed three tackles Saturday in the Pioneers’ 39-12 win over Shorter. Tusculum (1-1) plays at Limestone Saturday night. MARCUS CHILDERS — Northern Illinois University (R-Fr., QB, Adairsville HS) . . . (photo right) ran for 28 yards and completed his only pass attempt for 17 yards in the Huskies’ 38-10 rout of Eastern Illinois. He did lose one fumble. NIU (1-1) plays at Nebraska Saturday. BROOKS BARDEN — UNC-Charlotte (Jr., QB, Cartersville HS) . . . entered in the fourth quarter and completed two of six passes for 26 yards and one interception as the 49ers were routed by Kansas State, 55-7. Barden added one carry for three yards. UNCC (0-2) hosts North Carolina A&T Saturday night. TERRIUS CALLAHAN — Austin Peay University (Fr., WR, Cartersville HS). . . received playing time in the Governors’ 31-10 loss to Miami (OH). Austin Peay (0-2) will host Morehead State Saturday night. XAVIOR COAXUM — LaGrange College (Fr., DB, Cartersville HS). . . recorded four tackles including one for loss in a 28-14 loss to Berry College. The Panthers (0-2) travel to Fayetteville, NC to face Methodist this Saturday. DALEN CURTIS — Brevard College (Fr., OL, Cartersville HS). . . (photo left) started at center in Brevard’s 48-13 loss to Emory and Henry. The Tornados (0-2) play host to Greensboro College this Saturday afternoon. TRASE FEZZIA — Ellsworth CC (Fr., DB, Cartersville HS) . . . had two tackles in an overtime 35-28 win over Iowa Central CC. The Panthers (2-1) will entertain Dodge City CC this Saturday afternoon for their homecoming game. T.L. FORD — UNC-Charlotte (Sr., WR, Cartersville HS) . . . was targeted once, but did not have a reception in the 49ers’ loss to Kansas State. UNCC (0-2) hosts North Carolina A&T Saturday night. MILLER FORRISTALL — University of Alabama (So., TE, Cartersville HS). . . saw action as the top-ranked Crimson Tide rolled past Fresno State, 41-10. Alabama (2-0) plays Colorado State Saturday night in Tuscaloosa. GORDON GRAY — Kennesaw State University (Jr., WR, Cartersville HS) . . . saw action in the Owls’ 27-14 victory over Tennessee Tech. KSU (1-1) travels to Montgomery, AL Saturday night to face Alabama State. GABRIEL GRIDLEY — ASA NY CC (Fr., K/P, Cartersville HS). . . had two punts for a 44-yard average and one punt inside the 20. He added a pair of touchbacks on kickoffs and was the holder on PATs. ASA (2-0) plays Georgia Military College Sunday afternoon at James Madison University. DAKOTA HINES — Kentucky Christian University (Sr., K/P, Adairsville HS) . . . had two punts for a 41.5 yard average with a long punt of 46 yards and one inside the 20-yard line in a 43-14 home loss to Union College (KY) Saturday. Hines also kicked off twice. The Crusaders play at University of Pikeville this Saturday afternoon. SEAN HOLTON — Davidson College (Fr., LB, Cartersville HS). . . had one tackle in the Wildcats’ 63-17 loss Saturday at Western Carolina. Davidson (1-1) hosts Guilford College Saturday night. EMMANUEL JONES — Colorado State University (Fr., LB, Woodland HS) . . . was credited with three solo tackles, including one for a three-yard loss in Saturday’s 38-10 home win over Abilene Christian. Jones now has five tackles in the Rams’ first three games. Colorado State (2-1) plays at top-ranked Alabama Saturday night in Tuscaloosa. MARK QUATTLEBAUM — UNC-Charlotte (Jr., WR, Cartersville HS) . . . (photo right) was targeted three times and made one reception for five yards last Saturday in the 49ers’ 55-7 loss to Kansas State. UNCC (0-2) hosts North Carolina A&T Saturday night. TORRIAN SCRUTCHINS — Ellsworth CC (Fr., DL, Cartersville HS) . . . had two tackles, including one for a loss in Saturday’s 35-28 overtime win over Iowa Central CC. The Panthers (2-1) will entertain Dodge City CC this Saturday afternoon for their homecoming game. SHELBY TOWNSEND JR. — Georgia Southern University (Jr., DT, Woodland HS) . . . received playing time in Saturday’s 22-12 loss to New Hampshire. The Eagles (0-2) travel to Bloomington to play at Indiana September 23. HIRAM VELEZ — University of West Florida (Sr., WR, Adairsville HS) . . . game vs. Midwestern State was cancelled due to Hurricane Irma. The Argos (1-0) play Chowan this Saturday night at home in Pensacola. BRANDON WADE — Ellsworth CC (Fr., DL, Cartersville HS) . . . saw action in Ellsworth’s 35-28 overtime win Saturday over Iowa Central CC. The Panthers (2-1) will entertain Dodge City CC this Saturday afternoon for their homecoming game. SOCCER MADISON BENNETT — North Greenville University (So., D, Woodland HS) . . . played 55 minutes and took one shot last Wednesday in a 1-0 loss to USC-Aiken. She also had one shot on goal and played 48 minutes in Saturday’s 3-1 victory over Southern Wesleyan. NGU (1-2-1) plays at Limestone Wednesday and hosts King University this Saturday. CODY WEST — Duquesne University (R-Sr., D, Cass HS) . . . (photo left) the Dukes’ defender played all 90 minutes in Saturday’s 2-0 loss to Bucknell. Duquesne (2-3-1) has home games with Wright State Tuesday night and Navy this Saturday night. VOLLEYBALL KATIE O’CONNOR — Western Carolina University (Sr., MB, Cartersville HS) . . . (photo right) was credited with 21 kills, five digs, and 11 blocks as the Catamounts won one of three matches this past weekend at the ISATAP Collegiate Cup Invitational in Montgomery, AL. WCU (2-7) hosts UNC-Asheville Tuesday and will play in the Fight Like Hal Memorial Invitational Friday and Saturday back in Birmingham where they will face New Orleans, Alabama-Birmingham, and Mississippi Valley State. ASHLEY WEST — Andrew College (So., OH, Cass HS) . . . played in all three sets and recorded one dig August 31 in the Tigers’ straight set loss at Gulf Coast State CC. Andrew (0-3) is scheduled to host Gulf Coast State Tuesday and play in the Lawson State CC Tournament this weekend. CROSS COUNTRY CASEY BOLAN -- Reinhardt University (Fr., Woodland HS) . . .finished fourth for her team at the Stan Sims Invitational with a time of 22:18. She was 55th overall and the Eagles were fifth of 10 teams in the event hosted by Kennesaw State University at Sam Smith Park in Cartersville. The next meet for Reinhardt will be the Royals Challenge in Charlotte, NC on September 29. BREE COLE -- Jacksonville State University (So., Cartersville HS) . . . finished 37th in 20:57 as the Lady Gamecocks competed at the Kennesaw State University Stan Sims Invitational last Friday. She was third for her team and JSU was sixth of ten teams. The Gamecocks run next at the Rhodes College Invitational September 16 in Memphis, TN.

The Team USA Baseball 18U National Team with Cartersville High School senior Anthony Seigler completed a dominant sweep of the 2017 World Baseball Softball Confederation (WBSC) U-18 Baseball World Cup Sunday with an 8-0 blanking of Korea in the gold medal game at Port Arthur Stadium in Thunder Bay, Canada. Team USA finished the World Cup with a perfect 9-0 mark and has now won four consecutive 18U world championships. The World Cup title is the ninth overall for Team USA. The Americans also won gold in 1982, 1988, 1989, 1995, 1999, 2012, 2013, and 2015. Seigler started the gold medal game at catcher and hit fifth in the Team USA batting order. He finished the title game 1-for-2 with one RBI and a pair of walks before being lifted late. U.S. starting pitcher Matthew Liberatore limited Korea to only four hits through the first six innings before giving way to Cole Wilcox (Chickamauga, GA), Mason Denaburg, and JT Ginn for one scoreless inning each to complete the shutout. The U.S. pitching staff was overpowering in the tournament. The staff completed six shutouts in nine games played. U.S. hurlers finished the event with an 0.47 ERA in 77 innings and combined for 101 strikeouts. The staff limited opposing hitters to a .135 batting average. Seigler started seven of the games for Team USA and finished the tournament 4-for-22 with four RBIs. He had one triple and scored three runs. He also reached base on seven walks for an on-base percentage just under .400. Defensively, he was charged with one error in 72 total chances for a .986 fielding percentage. He threw out both baserunner steal attempts against him. Team USA’s Triston Casas was named Tournament MVP. He had a two-run homer and an RBI double in the gold medal game. He finished the tournament with 13 RBIs. Ethan Hankins (Cumming, GA), Brice Turang, Mike Siani, and Alek Thomas were named to the All-World Team from the U.S. Brandon Dieter received an award for the best ERA in the tournament (0.00). Seigler, 18, is an ambidextrous pitcher with Perfect Game recorded velocities in the low 90s from the right side and upper 80s from the left. The 5-11, 200-pounder is also a catcher for Cartersville High School and his travel team Evoshield Canes. He has skills to play multiple positions and is a switch hitter. He played in the 2017 Perfect Game All-American Classic and has verbally committed to Auburn.

The Woodland girls cross country team placed third Saturday at the Coach Benson Double Dip Invitational at Marist in Atlanta. Six Lady Cats’ runners placed in the top 35 individually to secure the third place finish. South Forsyth won the girls team event with host Marist finishing second. 161 runners competed in the event. Top runners for Woodland: 11th — Tess Cochran — 20:06 14th — Carli Clymer — 20:25 22nd — McKenna Trapheagen — 20:59 23rd — Lindsay Scifers — 21:00 31st — Baylee Evans — 21:21 35th — Cheyenne Spinks — 21:46 51st — Mackenzie Stephenson — 22:58 Next for Woodland is their own Run at the Rock Invitational on the Woodland High School campus on Saturday, September 16.

Cartersville softball completed a doubleheader sweep at Troup County Saturday winning 4-2 and 7-0. Cartersville pitcher Colbi Ballard pitched all fourteen innings and picked up both victories. She scattered four hits and five walks in the opener and shutout the Lady Tigers in the second game on five hits and a walk. The Lady Canes broke open a 1-0 game with a three-run fifth inning in the opener on their way to a 4-2 win. Cartersville then scored five runs in the first two innings of the second game to take control early. Cartersville out hit Troup 25 to nine in the two games. Paris Poston had five hits and one RBI in the doubleheader. Ballard finished with four hits and two RBIs. Hope Short totaled four hits and one RBI. Cio Seigler had three hits and one RBI. Lauren McElhaney (RBI), Allie Jackson (2 RBIs), Presley Edwards (2 RBIs) and Rylie Harris had two hits each. Mattie Johnson added one hit and one RBI. Cartersville (5-8, 3-3) is scheduled to host Cedartown Monday at 5:30 pm. They then play at Adairsville Tuesday at 5 pm and host Sandy Creek Thursday at 5:55 pm.

Woodland won for the second straight week and opened their 2017 region slate with a victory at county-rival Cass Friday night, 20-6. The victory also marked the Wildcats first win over Cass in five years. Woodland scored on a Brody Williams’ 1-yard run in the second quarter to lead 7-0 at halftime and extended their lead to 14-0 on the Wildcats’ first possession of the third quarter with a Kaison Williams 6-yard run. The first half scoring drive for Woodland was 79 yards on 12 plays. The third quarter drive was an 11-play, 47-yard drive. A Cass touchdown pass from Logan Nelson to Cameron Gonyea with 0:22 remaining in the third quarter narrowed the Woodland lead to 14-6, but the score would get no closer. Both teams threatened with red zone drives in the fourth quarter, but it was an interception return for touchdown that sealed the contest for the Wildcats. Woodland's Austin Potter picked off a pass from Nelson and returned it for a score to provide the 20-7 final score. The Wildcats missed the PAT. Kaison Williams rushed 11 times for 105 yards for the Wildcats. He was followed by Demarcus Williams who carried 15 times for 67 yards and Brody Williams who carried 10 times for 60 yards. Woodland (2-1, 1-0 in Region 7-AAAAA) hosts Villa Rica next Friday. Cass (0-3, 0-1) travels to Hiram. CARTERSVILLE 38, WESTLAKE 5 Cartersville completed its 2017 sweep of non-region opponents with a 38-5 victory Friday night at Class 7A Westlake. Trevor Lawrence threw for two touchdowns and had another run that was fumbled into the end zone and recovered by the Canes' E.J. Turner for a touchdown. He finished the night 17-for-24 for 281 yards. He had over 200 yards passing in the first half alone. Canes’ running back Rico Frye carried 15 times for 111 yards and two touchdowns plus caught three passes that included a 9-yard score. Cartersviile led 10-0 after one quarter and 24-3 at halftime on their way to a 34th-consecutive win. PHOTO: E.J. Turner The Canes scored just 2:01 into the game on a 5-play, 74-yard drive. The big play was Lawrence to Turner for 42 yards with Frye scoring from three yards out. Jonathan Cruz missed a 45-yard field goal attempt later in the first quarter, but connected on a 44-yarder that gave the Hurricanes a 10-0 advantage. Frye's touchdown catch and another Frye touchdown run provided the halftime margin. The Lions' field goal was a 45-yarder. Lawrence connected with Turner for a 26-yard touchdown with 4:54 remaining in the third quarter to go up 31-3 and Turner's recovered fumble for touchdown made the score 38-3 after three quarters. The only score in a running clock fourth quarter was a safety recorded by Westlake with under two minutes remaining in the game. J’Kobe Orr caught four passes for 98 yards for Cartersville. Turner had two grabs for 68 yards and a score. T.J. Horton added five receptions for 46 yards. Westlake -- who made the Class 7A state semifinals last season -- fell to 1-2 on the year with the loss. The Lions play at McEachern next Friday. Trevor Lawrence / Rico Frye PHOTO CREDIT: Chad Simmons, Yahoo/Rivals Cartersville (4-0) hosts Region 5-AAAA rival Cedartown on Friday, September 22 at Weinman Stadium following a bye week next Friday. NOTE: Cartersville statistics provided by Andrew Houghton, The Daily Tribune News

Cartersville High School senior Anthony Seigler and the USA U-18 Baseball team clinched a spot in Sunday’s gold medal game of the World Baseball Softball Confederation U-18 Baseball World Cup in Thunder Bay, Canada following a 2-0 win Friday over Korea. Seigler, starting at catcher and batting in the clean up spot, was 0-for-4 in Friday’s win. Team USA advanced to the Super Round with a 5-0 mark in pool play and won its first game in the Super Round Thursday 8-3 over Canada. Seigler was 0-for-2 against Canada, but walked twice and scored a pair of runs. For the tournament, Seigler is 3-for-20 including a triple, three RBIs, three runs scored, and six walks. He has an on-base percentage of .346. Defensively, he has thrown out both steal attempts against him and has been charged with one error and one passed ball in 49 total defensive chances. With several games remaining in Super Round play Friday night and Saturday, it appears Team USA will face either Korea or Japan in the gold medal game Sunday evening.

Woodland softball struck for four runs in the first inning and three more in the second inning Thursday evening to take a 7-1 lead on their way to an 10-2 Region 7-AAAAA victory over visiting Cass. The Lady Cats out-hit Cass 10-6 in the contest, but also took advantage of seven Lady Colonels’ errors. Bella Carnes doubled to get the Woodland offense started in the bottom of the first inning, but it was a pair of walks, two Cass errors, and a Caroline Higdon hit that led to four unearned runs for the Lady Cats and a 4-1 lead. In the second inning, Woodland added three more runs on three hits and a walk. Carnes led off with a walk. Morgan Bailey, Brittney Cox, and Jordan Duck followed with hits in the frame as the Lady Cats took a 7-1 lead. Higdon -- who finished with a pair of hits and three RBIs -- drove in an insurance run for Woodland in the fifth inning, scoring Bailey. Evans also singled in the inning to put Bailey in scoring position. In Woodland’s sixth inning Madgie Robinson, A Morris, and Bailey all had hits and Cass committed two more errors that led to a pair of runs. Cass scored an unearned run in the top of the first to take a 1-0 lead. They added their other run in the sixth inning with a four-hit frame. Sarah Fox, Haley Owens, Taylor Gibson, and Mae Mae McIntyre each had hits in the inning for the Lady Colonels. Fox finished the night with two hits. Sarah Moore added the Lady Colonels’ only other hit outside the sixth inning with a single in the third. Sarah Baynard struck out two and scattered six hits and two walks to earn the complete game pitching victory for Woodland. Owens (0.1 IP, 4R, 0ER, 1H, 1BB, 1K) was tagged with the pitching loss for Cass without yielding an earned run. Gibson (4.2 IP, 4ER, 5H, 6BB, 3K) closed out the game in relief for the Lady Colonels. Cass falls to 2-12 overall and 0-7 in region play. Woodland improved to 6-7 overall and 3-4 in Region 7-AAAAA. Woodland was scheduled for the Lowndes Lady Vikes Classic in Valdosta Friday and Saturday, but will not be attending due to impending weather and travel issues with Hurricane Irma. The Lady Cats will travel to Villa Rica Tuesday (5:55 pm), Cass Wednesday (5:55 pm), and host Kell next Thursday at 5:30 pm. Cass has home games next week with Paulding County, Woodland, and Hiram, Tuesday through Thursday with 5:55 pm start times. CENTRAL-CARROLL 7, CARTERSVILLE 6 Central-Carroll scored two runs in the bottom of the seventh inning Thursday night for a walk-off, come-from-behind win over visiting Cartersville, 7-6. The Lady Canes and Lady Lions exchanged the lead four times with Cartersville taking a 6-5 advantage into the final frame. Central used three singles in the seventh inning, the last two coming with two outs, to generate the go-ahead runs. Colbi Ballard (6.2 IP, 7R, 6ER, 10H, 6BB, 0K) suffered the pitching loss for Cartersville. She also hit a home run with a 3-for-3 performance at the plate that included two RBIs. Paris Poston homered twice, walked and singled for Cartersville. She finished with three RBIs. Hope Short had three hits that included a double. Kalli Scheff had two hits. AnnaKate McElhaney, Presley Edwards (double), and Lauren McElhaney (RBI) added one Cartersville hit each. The Lady Canes led 2-1 after one inning and extended their lead to 3-1 before Central scored three times in the third inning for a 4-3 edge. Cartersville added two more runs in the fifth inning and one in the sixth. Central-Carroll improved to 11-3 overall and 5-1 in Region 5-AAAA. Cartersville (4-8, 2-3) plays a doubleheader Saturday at Troup County starting at 12 noon and will host Cedartown Tuesday at 5:30 pm.