Katie Block, who played on the University of North Georgia NCAA D-II National Championship team in 2015 as a third baseman, has been named the new high school head softball coach at Excel Christian Academy. Block comes to the Lady Eagles’ program and ECA from Parkview High School where she played her high school softball and began her teaching and coaching career in 2016. “Katie is a true blessing for Excel Christian Academy! The timing of her arrival into this area of northwest Georgia is impeccable. Only God’s hand could have brought her to us. Katie is a perfect fit for our school, our students, and our mission to provide a Christ-centered education for our families.” stated school President, Danny Deems. Block takes over a program that was 10-15 in 2016 and lost to Darlington in the opening round of the GHSA Class A Private state playoffs.

Jayme Laney, who has served as the boys assistant coach for the two most recent seasons and also served as an assistant in the past, has been selected as the new head boys soccer coach at Adairsville High School. Laney also coached girls and boys soccer at Cass Middle School and had teams win Bartow-Gordon Middle School Athletic Association titles. This will be the first high school head coaching job for Laney who takes over a Tigers’ team that finished 1-11 in 2017.

The Georgia Highlands College softball team keeps adding to its record-breaking 43-14 season while producing its first All-Americans in program history. Sophomores Andria Booth and Brianna Fickes were both named Third Team All-Americans. Booth, the NJCAA DI Region XVII Player of the Year and First Team All-Region pick, earned NJCAA DI Third Team All-American honors after batting .444 with 9 doubles, 8 triples, and one home run. Booth had an on base percentage of .516, stole 32 bases on the year, and crossed home 63 times. Andria has signed with NCAA Division I Gardner-Webb University to continue her playing career and education. Brianna Fickes, the FPN All-America Offensive Team Selection, NFCA and NJCAA First Team All-Region member, earned NJCAA DI Third Team All-American Honors after batting .455 on the year with 12 doubles, 1 triple, and 20 home runs. Fickes had an on-base percentage of .566 after being walked an astounding 40 times. She produced a slugging percentage of .898. Fickes is continuing her softball career at Georgia Gwinnett College. See the full list of NJCAA DI All-Americans here: http://njcaa.org/sports/sball/2016-17/div1/all-americans/index

Atlanta Falcons outside linebacker Vic Beasley of Adairsville has been selected for the No. 40 spot on the NFL Top 100 Players list. The former Adairsville Tiger and Clemson All-American is the reigning NFL sack leader with 15.5 sacks is 2016 as the Falcons surged to an NFC Championship title and reached the Super Bowl. Beasley is the second Falcon to make the list that includes running back Devonta Freeman. Freeman was voted one spot up from Beasley at No. 41. In 2016, Freeman was ranked No. 50. The top 30 are yet to be revealed by NFL Network. To see the NFL Network video segment on Beasley and others, go to: http://www.nfl.com/network/top100

Four of the top high school quarterbacks in the nation will play in a high school football doubleheader at Weinman Stadium in Cartersville on Saturday, August 26 per reports from AL.com. Cartersville High School and Clemson commit Trevor Lawrence — fresh off his top performance at the Elite 11 Finals in California and invitation to The Opening later this summer in Oregon — will square off against Bartram Trail (FL) with dual-threat quarterback Joey Gatewood. Lawrence has been rated the top quarterback in the Class of 2018 by multiple scouting services while Gatewood is recognized as the No. 3 athlete in the class. Cartersville and Bartram Trail will kickoff in the evening game of the twin bill. In the first game of the doubleheader at 2:30 pm, Saraland (AL) will play Heard County. Saraland features Jack West who is committed to Stanford. Heard County has Emory Jones who is committed to Ohio State. West is a 6-foot-4, 210-pound pro-style quarterback that started receiving offers as an 8th grader from a variety of national schools. He reportedly selected Stanford over Alabama in his final choice. Jones (6-3, 195-pounds) is widely regarded as the No. 2-ranked dual-threat quarterback in the Class of 2018. All four quarterbacks participated in the Elite 11 Finals in Los Angeles but Lawrence was the only one to gain an invitation to The Opening showcase at Nike headquarters in Beaverton, Oregon June 29-July 3. Lawrence, and the other 10 quarterbacks in the Elite 11 finals, will lead a team in a 7-on-7 tournament in Oregon for the opportunity to capture The Opening championship. It is believed the regular season football doubleheader in Cartersville will be televised nationally, although there has been no formal announcement at this time.

The Cartersville Little League 8-9-year-old Sandlot Team defeated Smyrna Blue Tuesday night 11-1 at Joe Frank Harris Field in Atco to advance to Thursday night’s championship game of the 2017 Northwest Georgia Little League Sandlot Tournament. Cartersville defeated East Marietta National last Saturday 10-7 in their first preliminary round game and is 2-0 heading into a winner-take-all final on Thursday. Logan Buchanan (2 IP, 0R, 1H, 4BB, 4K), Kamdyn Woods (1.2 IP, 1ER, 1H, 2BB, 3K), and Asa Mitcham (0.1 IP, 0R, 0BB, 1K) combined on the mound to limit Smyrna Blue to only one run on a pair of singles. Harris Turner had two hits and three RBIs at the top of Cartersville’s batting order. Griffin Woodall also had a pair of hits and drove in a run. Buchanan added one hit and had three RBIs. Will Camp and Mitcham scored two runs each. Bear McWhorter and Sydney Seigler also scored for Cartersville. Cartersville will face the winner of Wednesday night’s game between Smyrna Blue and East Marietta National in the championship game. The three-team tournament is a preliminary round-robin format with the top two teams playing a single championship game. Also Tuesday night, the Cartersville Little League 7-8-year-old Rookie Team came from behind to defeat Smyrna Little League Red 10-6 and move to 2-0 in their Northwest Georgia Tournament at Brinkley Park in Smyrna. Cartersville also blasted Peachtree City Little League last Saturday, 21-3. In Tuesday’s win, Cartersville rallied for five runs in the bottom of the fourth. The locals trailed 6-2 at one point and were behind 6-5 after three innings. Cartersville utilized three arms on the mound Tuesday. Cash Priest (2 IP, 4R, 3ER, 5H, 0BB, 2K), Weston Barfield (1.2 IP, 2ER, 1H, 1BB, 4K), and Carter Callan (0.1 IP, 0R, 2BB, 1K) each pitched. On offense, Cartersville took advantage of 10 walks and stole 13 bases in 14 attempts. Dallen F had one hit and two RBIs. Cartersville (2-0) has now advanced to single-elimination bracket play that begins with semifinals Thursday night. Smyrna Blue (2-0) has also advanced to the single-elimination bracket. Wednesday, Rockmart (0-1) will play Belvedere (0-1) while Peachtree City (0-1) will face Smyrna Red (0-1). The Rookie level championship game is Friday night. ​​Cartersville Little League and Bartow County Little League baseball and softball reports are provided by the respective leagues and Georgia Little League. Sponsored on Bartow Sports Zone by Play It Again Sports -- Cartersville -- 410 Cherokee Place.

The final 2017 top ten high school baseball rankings were released today by the Atlanta Journal-Constitution. Class AAAAAAA 1. Etowah (28-16) 2. Woodstock (26-17) 3. North Gwinnett (35-4) 4. Mill Creek (34-8) 5. Walton (27-8) 6. Parkview (31-6) 7. Brookwood (29-8) 8. Lassiter (24-10) 9. Hillgrove (25-12) 10. North Paulding (24-12) Class AAAAAA 1. Pope (23-5) 2. Lee County (28-14) 3. River Ridge (29-10) 4. Johns Creek (23-14) 5. Allatoona (31-5) 6. Dalton (25-10) 7. Alexander (28-9) 8. Richmond Hill (23-13) 9. Winder-Barrow (30-4) 10. Northview (25-9) Class AAAAA 1. Loganville (30-13) 2. Wayne County (28-14) 3. Starr’s Mill (31-6) 4. Locust Grove (28-7) 5. Carrollton (29-7) 6. Veterans (27-11) 7. Decatur (26-11) 8. Harris County (25-9) 9. Buford (20-14) 10. McIntosh (22-15) Class AAAA 1. Marist (25-13) 2. Blessed Trinity (36-6) 3. Heritage-Catoosa (30-9) 4. LaGrange (26-13) 5. Madison County (19-16) 6. West Laurens (23-12) 7. Woodward Academy (24-7) 8. Columbus (18-13) 9. Cairo (23-8) 10. Hardaway (18-17) Class AAA 1. North Hall (31-11) 2. Pierce County (28-9) 3. Ringgold (29-8) 4. Coahulla Creek (26-11) 5. Calhoun (23-15) 6. Greater Atlanta Christian (25-11) 7. Lovett (20-14) 8. Redan (25-11) 9. Appling County (19-12) 10. Pike County (25-10) Class AA 1. Jeff Davis (32-8) 2. Elbert County (33-9) 3. Bacon County (26-12) 4. Toombs County (18-15) 5. Rockmart (23-13) 6. Bleckley County (25-10) 7. Thomasville (22-11) 8. Benedictine (20-13) 9. Dodge County (24-9) 10. Heard County (21-12) Class A-Private 1. Schley County (34-2) 2. Gordon Lee (27-8) 3. Charlton County (25-8) 4. Telfair County (22-12) 5. Taylor County (25-5) 6. Treutlen (20-13) 7. Johnson County (22-13) 8. Lanier County (22-6) 9. Irwin County (21-8) 10. Bowdon (19-13) Class A-Public 1. Savannah Christian (34-3) 2. Tattnall Square (31-5) 3. Holy Innocents’ (28-6) 4. Athens Christian (25-8) 5. Hebron Christian (20-9) 6. Mt. Paran (24-10) 7. King’s Ridge (21-13) 8. Mount de Sales (21-10) 9. Prince Avenue (22-11) 10. Mt. Vernon (20-13)

It has been a tough week for the schedule makers for the Little League Baseball Northwest Georgia Section Tournaments. Games have been postponed from both Sunday and Monday. Cartersville Little League has two teams currently in action in Northwest Georgia Section Tournaments. The Cartersville 7/8-year-old Rookie Team is in the Northwest Georgia Section Tournament at Smyrna Little League and the Cartersville 8/9-year-old Sandlot Team is hosting the Northwest Georgia Section Tournament at Joe Frank Harris Field in Atco. Both Cartersville teams are 1-0 in their respective pools. The Cartersville Rookie team defeated Peachtree City 21-3 Saturday and the Cartersville Sandlot team defeated East Marietta National, 10-7. Below are the updated schedules for those two tournaments: Northwest Georgia Section Little League 7/8-year-old Rookie Baseball Tournament Hosted by Smyrna Little League Tuesday, June 6 6 pm — Cartersville vs. Smyrna Red 8 pm — Belvedere vs. Smyrna Blue Wednesday, June 7 6 pm — Rockmart vs. Belvedere 8 pm — Peachtree City vs. Smyrna Red Thursday, June 8 6 pm — Pool A #1 vs. Pool B #2 semifinal 8 pm — Pool B #1 vs. Pool A #2 semifinal Friday, June 9 7 pm — Championship Game Northwest Georgia Section Little League 8/9-year-old Sandlot Baseball Tournament Hosted by Cartersville Little League Tuesday, June 6 7 pm — Cartersville vs. Smyrna Blue Wednesday, June 7 7 pm — East Marietta vs. Smyrna Blue Thursday, June 8 7 pm — Championship Game (top two of three teams from pool play) ​​Cartersville Little League and Bartow County Little League baseball and softball reports are made available by the respective leagues and presented on Bartow Sports Zone by Play It Again Sports -- Cartersville -- 410 Cherokee Place.

After 21 seasons and six state championships at Cartersville, baseball coach Stuart Chester surprised many two weeks ago when he revealed he was leaving the Canes’ program to take the identical position at Buford High School. The Buford job came available when Wolves’ coach Tony Wolfe — who compiled a 448-178 record and two state titles in 21 seasons — stepped aside to become Buford’s assistant athletics director. Wolfe, who played a role in the selection of Chester as his successor along with Buford athletic director Dexter Wood, went head-to-head with Chester’s teams in 2014, 2015, and 2016 in the state playoffs and both coaches have expressed mutual respect for one another over the years. Chester, 52, has compiled a 563-148 career coaching record with 532 of those wins coming with the Canes. The Georgia Dugout Club Hall of Famer shared Monday night that he had received a whirlwind of offers and opportunities over the past few months. “The last five months have been a little crazy,” said Chester. “During the Christmas break I had an opportunity to take the football job at Hart County. Then in March I was offered the head baseball coaching job at Rome High School. I turned that down on a Monday and Thursday of that same week Buford called. The entire discussion with Buford took about two weeks.” Chester, a Dawsonville native, said he has been nothing but impressed with the people at Buford. “I was no different than any other person looking at Buford from the outside,” commented Chester. “You see the facility and all the championships... but honestly the people there are better than any of the things we see on the surface. They also made me feel very appreciated and special.” At Cartersville, Chester guided the Canes to state championships in 2001, 2002, 2003, 2008, 2009, and 2013. His teams amassed 14 region titles, made 17 state quarterfinal appearances, 10 semifinal appearances, and eight appearances in the state finals. His new program at Buford has also been highly successful, but not to that degree. The Buford program has three state titles — winning Class B in 1977, Class AA in 2011, and Class AAAA in 2015. Chester is currently in the process of developing his coaching staff and understands he is taking the helm of a program that has to replace some valuable losses in personnel. “I am currently working on my coaching staff,” noted the new Wolves’ skipper. “There are some guys remaining from last year. Casey Laws and Trent Adams are great coaches and outstanding men. I also have a couple positions I am trying to fill.” “As far as returning players and upcoming season,” noted the veteran coach, “I think it will be a little bit of a rebuilding year. Graduation took 100 innings pitched as well as about 75 RBIs. There is some young talent but not much experience.” he concluded. Obviously, Cartersville will always be a special place for Chester. “There are so many special moments at Cartersville it's hard to pick just one. I guess as far as a win it would probably have to be the first state championship at Calhoun. However there are so many special moments from team meetings in the locker room that fans, parents, and others never see or know about. It's special when players lean on you for advise and make changes in life that have nothing to do with baseball,” he reflected. The coach who led the Canes to state and even national prominence in recent years, is thankful for his Cartersville experience. “I would like to thank Cartersville, the Dugout Club and all the players who have made an impact on my life and my family. I am forever grateful and will miss so many close friends,” Chester closed. Cartersville thanks you too coach. Family: Wife Jessica; sons Ryan, 24, and David, 21, and daughters Laura, 19, Sarah, 15, and Abbey, 12 Career record: 563-148 Education: Graduated from Dawson County High School in 1983; graduated from North Georgia College in ’88; earned Masters degree from Jacksonville (Ala.) State University in 2004 and a leadership degree from Lincoln Memorial College in 2006 Background: Played in high school at Dawson County and in college at DeKalb Community College and Augusta State College; earned his degree at North Georgia after his playing days ended; high school coaching experience started as assistant at Cherokee and Pickens County in the 1980s and ‘90s; became head coach at Pickens in 1994; spent the last 21 years at Cartersville, where he was an assistant one year before becoming head coach in 1997; led the Purple Hurricanes to six state championships; named to the Georgia Dugout Club’s Hall of Fame in 2014

Tournament games for the Little League Baseball Northwest Georgia Section Tournaments were postponed Sunday and revised tournament schedules have been released by Georgia Little League. Cartersville Little League has two teams currently in action in Northwest Georgia Section Tournaments. The Cartersville 7/8-year-old Rookie Team is in the Northwest Georgia Section Tournament at Smyrna Little League and the Cartersville 8/9-year-old Sandlot Team is hosting the Northwest Georgia Section Tournament at Joe Frank Harris Field in Atco. Both Cartersville teams are 1-0 in their respective pools. The Cartersville Rookie team defeated Peachtree City 21-3 Saturday and the Cartersville Sandlot team defeated East Marietta National, 10-7. Below are the updated schedules for those two tournaments: Northwest Georgia Section Little League 7/8-year-old Rookie Baseball Tournament Hosted by Smyrna Little League Monday, June 5 6 pm — Rockmart vs. Belvedere 8 pm — Peachtree City vs. Smyrna Red Tuesday, June 6 6 pm — Cartersville vs. Smyrna Red 8 pm — Belvedere vs. Smyrna Blue Wednesday, June 7 6 pm — Pool A #1 vs. Pool B #2 semifinal 8 pm — Pool B #1 vs. Pool A #2 semifinal Thursday, June 8 7 pm — Championship Game Northwest Georgia Section Little League 8/9-year-old Sandlot Baseball Tournament Hosted by Cartersville Little League Monday, June 5 7 pm — Cartersville vs. Smyrna Blue Tuesday, June 6 7 pm — East Marietta vs. Smyrna Blue Wednesday, June 7 7 pm — Championship Game (top two of three teams from pool play) Cartersville Little League and Bartow County Little League results are provided by the respective leagues and Georgia Little League Baseball and Softball. Updates are sponsored on Bartow Sports Zone by Cartersville Play It Again Sports in the Cherokee Place Shopping Center.

Cartersville’s Anthony Seigler was named to the Georgia Dugout Preview Magazine’s Class AAAA All-State First Team, while Bailey Campbell of Cass and Hunter Reaid of Woodland were tabbed Second Team All-State in Class AAAAA. PHOTOS: (L-R) Anthony Seigler, Bailey Campbell, Hunter Reaid Photos courtesy Tonsmeire Studio and TC Pics Photography Seigler, the Daily Tribune News 2017 Player of the Year, is a catcher, can pitch with either arm, play infield or outfield, and is a switch hitter. The Auburn University commit pitched 65.1 innings this past season with a 1.71 ERA and .213 batting average against. He fanned 81 batters this season. At the plate, Seigler carried a .743 slugging percentage and hit six home runs. Campbell, a Young Harris College commit, hit .427 in 2017 with an .817 slugging percentage and seven home runs. The Colonels’ first baseman had a .617 on-base percentage. Reaid, a Shorter University commit and a catcher, hit .386 this past season with a .455 on-base percentage and .477 slugging percentage. He had 22 RBIs.

Mercer University golfer Hannah Mae Deems of Taylorsville captured the 2017 Georgia State Golf Association Women’s Match Play Championship Saturday afternoon on the Great Waters Golf Course at Reynolds Plantation Lake Oconee in Eatonton. Deems, low medalist with a 3-under-par 141 (71-70) 36-hole total in stroke play qualifying, was the top-seed in the match play portion of the championship and swept four opponents to take the GSGA title on the 6,007-yard, par-72 layout. She took wins over Meghan Nay (2&1) of Canton and Woo Wade (5&4) of Dunwoody in the Round of 16 and quarterfinals on Friday. Against Nay — a University of Louisville redshirt sophomore— Deems survived a back-and-forth match and actually trailed by one hole through number seven, but rallied to win holes 12, 15, and 16 down the stretch for her opening win. Deems’ victory over Wade was a bit more dominant. She went 3-up on the Marist High School sophomore through four holes and was 5-up through 12 as she cruised into Saturday’s semifinals. Saturday, Deems rallied from 1-down through 17 holes to defeat 4th-seeded Tess Davenport of Buford in the semifinals. She tied the match by winning the 18th and then won on the first extra hole. It was the third extra holes match of the tournament for Davenport of Mill Creek High School. In the finals, 20-year-old Deems defeated Caroline Craig of Sautee Nacoochee 5&4. Deems broke the match open by winning back-to-back holes on holes 5 and 6 and then completed the run with hole wins at 10, 11, and 13. She closed out the match with a par on the par-3, 14th hole. Craig had reached the finals with wins over Payton Schanen of Johns Creek in the Round of 16 (3&1), Ashley Madden of Stockbridge in the quarterfinals (20 holes) and Katy Harris of St. Simons Island in the semifinals (3&2).