The Cartersville High School tennis teams both won their first round matches Monday in the Class AAAA state playoffs at Dellinger Park. The Hurricanes defeated Chestatee 4-0. The Lady Canes, also playing Chestatee, won 4-1. Both teams advance to the Round of 16 in Class AAAA and both will face either Cairo or Burke County in the next round. CARTERSVILLE GIRLS Singles Line 1 — Emma McCary won Line 2 — Kenly King won Line 3 — Ansley Thompson won Doubles Line 1 — Lydia Wiedetz / Jordan Ross won Line 2 — Della Pritchett / Allyson Ireland lost in three sets CARTERSVILLE BOYS Singles Line 1 — Will Allen won Line 2 — Mattew Slocum won Line 3 — Ross Norwood (match pulled) Doubles Line 1 — Juan Zazueta / Ivy Nelson won Line 2 — Davis Edwards / Griffin Shaw won

The Woodland and Cass track and field teams completed the second day of the 2017 Region 7-AAAAA Track & Field Championship Monday at Barron Stadium in Rome. The Woodland girls finished third with 96.5 points behind region champion Carrollton (113) and region runner-up Rome (106). Hiram finished fourth with 90 points, followed by Villa Rica (84), Kell (54), Cass (33), East Paulding (25), and Paulding County (19.5). The Rome boys won the region title with 129 points, followed by Carrollton (128) and Hiram (96). The Woodland boys placed fourth with 88 points and Cass was fifth with 52 points. Paulding County was sixth with 38 points, followed by Villa Rica (34), Kell (34), and East Paulding (23). Cass will send six athletes to sectionals in eight events and one relay team. Woodland advances eleven athletes and all four relay teams to the state sectionals April 29 at Starr's Mill High School. Woodland / Cass scoring results: (Top 4 in each event qualify for state sectionals) Girls 100M — 8th, Sabrina Buggs, Cass — 13.45 Girls 400M — 5th, Bella Carnes, Woodland — 1:03.10 Girls 800M — 1st, Carli Clymer, Woodland — 2:23.06 Girls 800M — 2nd, Casey Bolan, Woodland — 2:26.33 Girls 1600M — 1st, Carli Clymer, Woodland — 5:20.15 Girls 1600M — 4th, Lindsay Scifers, Woodland — 5:41.60 Girls 3200M -- 2nd, Lindsay Scifers, Woodland -- 12:30.09 Girls 3200M — 4th, Casey Bolan, Woodland — 13:09.15 Girls 100M Hurdles — 2nd, Karson Norris, Woodland — 16.20 Girls 100M Hurdles — 4th, HIllary McCarver, Cass — 17.36 Girls 300M Hurdles — 4th, Karson Norris, Woodland — 52.61 Girls 4x100M Relay — 3rd, Woodland — 52.49 Girls 4x100M Relay — 5th, Cass — 53.23 Girls 4x400M Relay — 3rd, Woodland — 4:12.06 Girls High Jump — 1st, Kyler Trouten, Cass — 5-02 Girls High Jump — 7th, Grace Webb, Woodland — 4-06 Girls Pole Vault — 1st, Karson Norris, Woodland — 9-01 Girls Pole Vault — 7th, Grace Webb, Woodland — 6-06 Girls Long Jump — 7th, Sabrina Buggs, Cass — 15-10.5 Girls Shot Put — 1st, Chanelle Clemmons, Cass — 37-09.5 Girls Discus Throw — 2nd, Skylar Chappell, Woodland — 107-04 Girls Discus Throw — 8th, Chanelle Clemmons, Cass — 85-05 Boys 100M — 7th, Shamus Thomas, Woodland — 11.19 Boys 200M — 3rd, Markal Brown, Woodland — 22.58 Boys 400M — 3rd, Kevin Miller, Woodland — 50.85 Boys 800M — 2nd, Jonathan Holloway, Woodland — 2:01.98 Boys 1600M — 4th, Jonathan Holloway, Woodland — 4:43.04 Boys 1600M — 7th, Dylan Stermer, Woodland — 4:54.09 Boys 3200M — 6th, Dylan Stermer, Woodland — 10:59.08 Boys 110M Hurdles — 1st, Ray Varnum, Cass — 14.68 Boys 110M Hurdles — 8th, Nigel Whittington, Cass — 16.58 Boys 300M Hurdles — 1st, Ray Varnum, Cass — 40.15 Boys 300M Hurdles — 4th, Kevin Miller, Woodland — 41.34 Boys 4x100M Relay — 3rd, Woodland — 43.15 Boys 4x100M Relay — 4th, Cass — 43.29 Boys 4x400M Relay — 2nd, Woodland — 3:25.62 Boys High Jump — 1st, Trevor Knowles, Woodland — 6-04 Boys High Jump — 3rd, Tavarus Varnum, Cass — 6-02 Boys High Jump — 5th, Laizon West, Cass — 6-00 Boys Pole Vault — 2nd, Thomas Jolly, Woodland — 14-00 Boys Pole Vault — 3rd, Stephen Smith, Cass — 12-06 Boys Long Jump — 1st, Ray Varnum, Cass — 22-01 Boys Long Jump — 4th, Markal Brown, Woodland — 21-04 Boys Long Jump — 7th, Shamus Thomas, Woodland — 20-04 Boys Triple Jump — 4th, Kevin Miller, Woodland — 42-00.75 Boys Triple Jump — 8th, Markal Brown, Woodland — 39-01 Boys Shot Put — 3rd, Emmanuel Jones, Woodland — 46-07

The Cass boys tennis team won its first round match in the Class AAAAA state tournament Monday at home over Arabia Mountain, 5-0. Cass, playing as the No. 2 seed from Region 7-AAAAA, lost only three games and swept ten straight sets in defeating the Rams. The Colonels will face either Harris County or Morrow in the round of 16. Harris County is the Region 1-AAAAA champ. Morrow is the 4-seed from Region 3-AAAAA. “We’re happy to get a big win today,” said Cass tennis coach Kevin Cunningham. “It has been a while since the boys have won a round in the state playoffs.” Avery Cornett won 6-1, 6-0 at Line 1. Dalton Jackson won 6-0, 6-0 at Line 2 and Line 3 was won by Seth Colston 6-0, 6-0. “We have been leaning on our singles players all year and they did not disappoint,” noted Cunningham. “It was our doubles teams that also stepped up today. We will need them all to play well for us to keep advancing.” Cade Foster and Reagan Barrere won at Line 1 doubles for the Colonels, 6-0, 6-2, while the Line 2 duo of Max MaCauley and Kendal Arnold won 6-0, 6-0.

Final results for Scott Hamilton Golf Academy players for tour events ending Sunday, April 16. Each week, Bartow Sports Zone tracks the professional golfers on tour affiliated with Cartersville Country Club's Scott Hamilton Golf Academy (ScottHamiltonGolf.com) and teaching professional Mike Granato (MikeGranatoGolf.com). Both Hamilton and Granato are affiliated professionals with Athletic Motion Golf. (https://athleticmotiongolf.com) Scott Hamilton is the long time Director of Golf at Cartersville Country Club and is teacher/advisor/instructor to many prominent golf professionals competing on the PGA Tour, PGA Champions Tour, WEB.com Tour, LPGA Tour, and more. Mike Granato is a local golf instructor who also works with many of Hamilton's clients. PGA TOUR RBC Heritage Harbour Town Golf Links Hilton Head, SC Winner: Wesley Bryan (-13) by one shot over Luke Donald Scott Hamilton Golf Academy players: T26 Russell Henley (-6) T44 Boo Weekley (-2) T56 Charles Howell III (-1) MC Chris Kirk MC Steven Bowditch MC Aaron Baddeley MC Ben Martin Next: Valero Texas Open TPC San Antonio - AT&T Oaks, San Antonio, TX — April 20-23 PGA CHAMPIONS TOUR Mitsubishi Electric Classic TPC Sugarloaf, Duluth, GA Winner: Stephen Ames (-15) Scott Hamilton Golf Academy player: T34 Joe Durant (-3) Next: Bass Pro Shops Legends of Golf at Big Cedar Lodge Ridgedale, MO — April 21-23 WEB.COM TOUR The next event on the Web.com Tour is the United Leasing & Finance Championship at Victoria National Golf Club in Newburgh, Indiana April 20-23. Casey Wittenberg will lead several SHGA players at that event. He is currently fifth on the Web.com Tour's money list with one win. LPGA TOUR Brooke Pancake represents the Scott Hamilton Golf Academy on the LPGA Tour. The 2013 LPGA Rookie of the Year has one event played this year. She tied for 47th at the Pure Silk Bahamas LPGA Classic in January.

The Woodland High School baseball team collected its biggest win of the year Monday night at home with a 5-3 victory over 3rd-ranked and region-leading Carrollton. It was the first region loss of the year for the visiting Trojans and Carrollton’s inability to throw strikes on this night made the difference. With the victory, Woodland takes a huge step toward capturing Region 7-AAAAA's final state playoff berth. Woodland’s Cauy Williams (photo) scattered six hits, did not issue a walk, and punched out three Carrollton batters with his complete-game pitching victory. Two of Carrollton’s three runs were unearned. Woodland committed three errors. Woodland led 1-0 with a first inning run, but Carrollton tied the game in the top of the fourth. The Wildcats responded with a four-run bottom of the fourth that would ultimately be enough runs to hold off the Trojans. To make matters worse for the Trojans, Woodland’s fourth inning damage came without a hit. Carrollton scored single runs in the fifth and seventh innings and brought the potential tying run to the plate with only one out in the final inning, but Williams got a fly out and a strikeout to shut down the final threat. Woodland’s fourth inning started innocently enough. After two quick outs, Carrollton starting pitcher Destine Udombon walked three straight Wildcats to load the bases. His reliever Ty Murray entered to walk the only three batters he faced. Then Ryan Anderson entered as the Trojans’ third pitcher of the inning and struck out a batter to end the frame, but not before a wild pitch allowed Woodland to take a 5-1 lead without a hit in the inning. Joe Skinner and Asa Awbrey had two hits each for the Trojans. Udombon was tagged with the loss after allowing four runs in three and two-thirds innings. Garrett Cornett, Hunter Reaid, Koby Stansel, Toby Queen, and Williams had one hit each for Woodland. Carrollton slips to 24-4 on the year and 13-1 in Region 7-AAAAA. The Trojans still hold a three-game edge atop the region standings. Woodland (16-10, 7-7) has a two-game region series remaining Wednesday and Friday with Hiram. The Wildcats travel to last-place Hiram Wednesday at 5:55pm and will host the Hornets Friday at 5:55pm. CASS 12, PAULDING COUNTY 4 Tyler Hendonl (left) and Bailey Campbell (right) both doubled, homered, and combined to drive in seven runs Monday evening as the Cass Colonels wrapped up the regular season with a 12-4 home victory over Paulding County. Jake Collum, who also started on the mound and picked up the pitching win, went 4-for-5 with a double at the plate and drove in a run. Collum (photo below) scattered a couple of hits, issued no walks, and allowed only one unearned run through four innings. He fanned four Patriots. Austin Pruett entered in the fifth inning to work the final three frames. He allowed three runs on four hits and three walks while striking out three. The game was scoreless through two and one-half innings, but Cass blew it wide open in the bottom of the third with eight runs. Hendon hit a three run homer and Bailey smacked a two-run double to highlight the inning. The Colonels had four other hits in the inning and took advantage of two walks and two hit batsmen. Paulding scored single runs in the fourth, fifth, sixth, and seventh innings, but Cass also added a run in the fourth, two in the fifth, and another run in the sixth inning for the 12-4 decision. Six different Patriots had one hit each and Paulding (8-18, 2-12) stole three bases. Clay Means (RBI), Evan Hinton, and Nathan Smith had the other Cass hits. The Colonels finished the regular season 15-15 overall and 8-8 in Region 7-AAAAA. They must now await the conclusion of the remainder of the region regular season to determine their possible state playoff fate. One more win by Villa Rica or two wins by Woodland will eliminate the Colonels.

Cartersville native, Sam Howard, made his first start of the 2017 season last Friday with the Class AAA Albuquerque Isotopes of the Class AAA Pacific Coast League. The former Hurricanes pitcher adds New Mexico to his minor league stops at Grand Junction, CO; Asheville, NC; Modesto, CA; and Hartford, CT. Howard was a non-roster invitee at the Colorado Rockies spring training in 2017. Connor Justus has also moved up in his minor league assignment this year. Justus is now with the Advanced Class A Inland Empire 66ers of the California League. The former Hurricanes and Georgia Tech shortstop has risen from the Rookie League level, to Class A, to advanced Class A and is beginning only his second year as a pro. Michael Goss, Brandon Etheridge, and Sean McDermott had key performances this past week at the collegiate level in baseball and many of the college softball teams across the nation are moving into their conference championship tournaments after wrapping up the regular season. This week's update also includes local athletes in college tennis and track and field. PRO BASEBALL SAM HOWARD — Albuquerque Isotopes - Class AAA - Pacific Coast League (4th year pro; Georgia Southern University; Cartersville HS). . . went 2 and two-thirds innings, allowed one earned run on three hits and fanned three in his first start last Friday for the Colorado Rockies’ AAA-affiliate. He received no-decision, but the Isotopes lost the game 4-3 at the Reno Aces. The Isotopes are 6-5 to begin the season and have series this week with Tacoma and Reno. CONNOR JUSTUS — Inland Empire 66ers - Class A Advanced - California League (2nd year pro; Georgia Tech; Cartersville HS). . . went 2-for-4 with a double Saturday as the 66ers of the Los Angeles Angels organization edged Visalia in 10 innings. The shortstop is off to a slow start at the plate this season with a .158 batting average through nine games and 38 at bats. Justus hit .276 a year ago playing at two different levels. He has three RBIs and two stolen two bases in the first nine games. Inland Empire is 4-6 to begin the season and has series this week with Lake Elsinore and Rancho Cucamonga. COLLEGE BASEBALL BRANDON ETHERIDGE — Limestone College (Junior, OF/RHP, Cass HS). . . started on the mound and as DH in an 11-10 non-conference win last Wednesday at Wingate. He allowed five runs, four earned, ten hits, and three walks while striking out three in a no-decision. He also doubled and homered in the contest. For the week, Etheridge was 4-for-19, scored four times with two walks, and two RBIs. His current batting average stands at .296. The Saints won one of three games hosting King and lost a non-conference game at Francis Marion. Limestone (22-22, 10-14 Conference Carolinas) hosts Lenoir-Rhyne Tuesday and plays at Anderson University Wednesday in non-conference action before closing out the regular season at conference-leading and 3rd-ranked Mount Olive University. CARRINGTON EVANS — Augusta University (Freshman, OF, Cartersville HS). . . went 1-for-4 in an 8-3 non-conference home loss to Lenoir-Rhyne last Wednesday and was 3-for-14 scoring twice with two RBIs as the Jaguars won one of three conference games Friday and Saturday at 24th-ranked Georgia College. Augusta (16-23, 8-13 Peach Belt Conference) plays at Valdosta State Wednesday in a non-conference game and hosts Lander University next weekend for three PBC games. MICHAEL GOSS — UNC-Greensboro (Senior, 1B, Cartersville HS). . . went 1-for-2 with an RBI double in the Spartans 10-1 loss at NC State last Tuesday. Goss was then 4-for-14 with a double, a home run, and five RBIs in a three-game home series with Wofford College. UNCG (22-13, 8-4 Southern Conference) won one of three games with Wofford. The Spartans hit the road this week for non-conference games at High Point University Tuesday and a three-game series at Ohio State Friday through Sunday. CODY LEDBETTER — Young Harris College (R-Freshman, LHP, Cass HS). . . worked two-thirds of an inning last Tuesday in a 16-9 non-conference win over West Georgia. He allowed four runs on two hits and two walks. The Mountain Lions were 2-3 for the week with their other win coming at home Saturday over Montevallo to salvage one of three games in that conference series. YHC (14-26, 6-15) has a non-conference doubleheader at Tusculum Wednesday and travels to Armstrong State for a Peach Belt Conference series this weekend. SEAN McDERMOTT — Cleveland State CC (Sophomore, 1B, Adairsville HS). . . now hitting .394 for the season, McDermott was 7-for-13 with two home runs, three doubles, a triple, two walks, four runs scored, and four RBIs as the Cougars won three of five games last week at West Georgia Tech and at home against SW Tennessee. McDermott has eight homers and 34 RBIs for the season in 37 games played. CSCC (28-13, 11-10 TCCAA) hosts West Georgia Tech in a doubleheader Tuesday and travels to Dyersburg State CC for a three-game set Friday and Saturday. JO JO UNDERWOOD — UNC-Greensboro (Senior, 3B/C, Cartersville HS). . . entered as catcher but did not have an at-bat Tuesday in a 10-1 loss at NC State. He also had one at-bat Thursday in a home loss to Wofford College. UNCG (22-13, 8-4 Southern Conference) hits the road this week for non-conference games at High Point University Tuesday and a three-game series at Ohio State Friday through Sunday. TYLER WASHINGTON — Young Harris College (Junior, OF, Adairsville HS). . . hit safely in four of five games for the Mountain Lions last week going 5-for-20 with a double, three walks, three runs scored, and three RBIs. He has a .311 batting average for the season and 24 RBIs. YHC (14-26, 6-15) has a non-conference doubleheader at Tusculum Wednesday and travels to Armstrong State for a Peach Belt Conference series this weekend. COLLEGE SOFTBALL KENNEDY BAILEY — Union College (KY) (Freshman, C, Cartersville HS). . . had one plate appearance as the designated player Saturday in a 5-3 Appalachian Athletic Conference home win over Bluefield College (VA). She also had three at bats last Tuesday in a 2-0 loss at Tennessee Wesleyan College. Union (25-26, 13-7 AAC) is two games back of Reinhardt and Bryan, co-leaders of the AAC and wraps up regular season play Thursday at University of Pikeville (KY). BETHANY BALLARD — Armstrong State University (Senior, C/1B, Cass HS). . . made an appearance as a pinch hitter Saturday in a 12-2 Peach Belt Conference win over Augusta University. The Lady Pirates were 3-1 this past week, splitting a home doubleheader with Georgia College and sweeping Saturday’s twinbill with Augusta. Ballard has a .333 batting average with one RBI in eight games played. Armstrong State (29-10, 19-5) will be one of the top two seeds at the PBC tournament Friday and Saturday at Georgia College in Milledgeville.f TAYLOR BRASELTON — Reinhardt University (Senior, SS, Woodland HS). . . went 6-for-12 with three walks, three runs, two RBIs, and two stolen bases as Reinhardt swept a home DH with Truett-McConnell Thursday and split a DH at St. Andrews (NC) Saturday. RU also split a DH at Columbia College April 11, but neither school has posted those game stats. Next for the Lady Eagles (36-13-1, 14-4 AAC) is the Appalachian Athletic Conference Championship Tournament April 26-29 at Brickyard Ball Fields in Kingsport, TN. SYDNEY FLOWERS — Reinhardt University (Senior, OF, Woodland HS). . . the Eagles’ right fielder was 2-for-10, scored a run and had two sacrifice hits as Reinhardt swept a home DH with Truett-McConnell Thursday and split a DH at St. Andrews (NC) Saturday. RU also split a DH at Columbia College April 11, but neither school has posted those game stats. Next for the Lady Eagles (36-13-1, 14-4 AAC) is the Appalachian Athletic Conference Championship Tournament April 26-29 at Brickyard Ball Fields in Kingsport, TN. CASSIDY HOWREN — Reinhardt University (Junior, C, Adairsville HS). . . went 6-for-11 including a double, three runs scored, and three RBIs as Reinhardt swept a home DH with Truett-McConnell Thursday and split a DH at St. Andrews (NC) Saturday. RU also split a DH at Columbia College April 11, but neither school has posted those game stats. Next for the Lady Eagles (36-13-1, 14-4 AAC) is the Appalachian Athletic Conference Championship Tournament April 26-29 at Brickyard Ball Fields in Kingsport, TN. KAILAH RAIN — Embry-Riddle University (Junior, OF, Cartersville HS). . . walked twice and scored one run in three home starts this past weekend against Barry University. Rain started 19 games with a .196 batting average in 56 at bats. She did not make an error in 23 outfield chances. ERU, transitioning from NAIA to NCAA D2 and the Sunshine State Conference finished the regular season 23-22. TAYLOR WEEKS — Reinhardt University (Senior, OF, Adairsville HS). . . had a hit in all four games going 4-for-13 with four RBIs as Reinhardt swept a home DH with Truett-McConnell Thursday and split a DH at St. Andrews (NC) Saturday. RU also split a DH at Columbia College April 11, but neither school has posted those game stats. Next for the Lady Eagles (36-13-1, 14-4 AAC) is the Appalachian Athletic Conference Championship Tournament April 26-29 at Brickyard Ball Fields in Kingsport, TN. LAUREN WOMACK — Georgia Highlands College (Sophomore, SS, Cass HS). . . was 1-for-5, hit by a pitch and scored a run as GHC split doubleheaders Friday and Saturday with East Georgia and South Georgia. The Chargers (36-12, 17-9) are one game behind ABAC in the Georgia Collegiate Athletic Association and will wrap up the regular season this week with a non-conference doubleheader at Cleveland State Tuesday and a GCAA doubleheader at West Georgia Tech on Friday. ANNALYN YANTIS — Samford University (Sophomore, RHP, Cartersville HS). . . pitched one inning in relief last Wednesday during a 9-1 win at Tennessee Tech in the second game of a DH sweep. She walked two and allowed one earned run, but no hits. The Lady Bulldogs were 3-2 last week and are now 19-27 overall and 7-5 in the Southern Conference. Samford plays at Alabama-Birmingham Tuesday before hosting Mercer in a three-game conference set next Saturday and Sunday. COLLEGE TENNIS ERIC DUNLAP — Montreat College (Freshman, Cass HS). . . teamed with partner David Garcia to win 8-6 at Line 2 doubles for the Cavaliers in their home 6-3 win last Wednesday over Ferrum College. Montreat (10-13, 1-6) travels to Chattanooga for the Appalachian Athletic Conference Tournament April 28. PEYTON GOLLHOFER — Ball State University (Sophomore, Cartersville resident, Laurel Springs Academy). . . defeated her Miami-OH opponent at Line 2 singles 6-2, 6-7 (3-7), 6-4 and paired with doubles partner Carmen Blanco at Line 1 doubles to win 7-6 (8-6) as the Cardinals edged Miami, 4-3 for an important Mid-America Conference road win. Ball State (19-2, 7-0 MAC) will close out the regular season Saturday at home against Akron. The Mid American Conference Tournament is April 28-30. COLLEGE TRACK & FIELD BREE COLE — (photo right) Jacksonville State University (Freshman, Cartersville HS). . . placed sixth in a time of 11:44.51 in the 3000M run Saturday at the University of South Alabama Invitational in Mobile. Next for the Gamecocks is the War Eagle Invitational at Auburn Friday and Saturday. SAMANTHA PATTERSON — Jacksonville State University (Junior, Woodland HS). . . placed 12th in the pole vault Saturday at the University of South Alabama Invitational in Mobile. Patterson cleared 10’11.75 (3.35m). Next for the Gamecocks is the War Eagle Invitational at Auburn Friday and Saturday. BLAKE PERRY — Jacksonville State University (Junior, Cartersville HS). . . finished 11th in the triple jump Friday with a mark of 35’11.25” (10.95m) and was 23rd in the 100m hurdles (15.91) Saturday at the University of South Alabama Invitational in Mobile. Next for the Gamecocks is the War Eagle Invitational at Auburn Friday and Saturday. Did we miss someone this week? Help us! Send the information via our 'Contact' page link above or send us an email to: bartowsportszone@comcast.net. We will verfiy the information and add your favorite local athlete's information to our updates.

The Adairsville High School JROTC program is sponsoring The Raider Rampage to be conducted Saturday, May 6 at Adairsville High School. The event is a fund raiser for the Adairsville JROTC Raider program. The Raider Rampage is a 3.5 mile obstacle/mud course with more than 35 obstacles, including creeks, pastures, hills, walls, parallel bars, rope bridges, tire flips, rope climbs, mud, water, and more. Event information and online registration available at: http://www.active.com/adairsville-ga/running/races/raider-rampage-2017 You may also find out more on the Raider Rampage Facebook page.

The Georgia Highlands College softball team split a home, conference doubleheader Saturday with South Georgia. The Chargers won the first game 5-0, but dropped the second game, 3-2. Chargers’ pitcher Rebecca Meade dominated the opener from the pitching circle. She tossed a one-hitter with no walks and three strikeouts. Carlee Thurmond was 3-for-3 at the plate for GHC and was part of the battery that was only the one hit away from a perfect game. Georgia Highlands contributed to their own demise in the second game. Defensive miscues led to a pair of unearned runs in the one-run loss. Andria Booth led the Chargers offensively in the second game. She was 2-for-3. Lauren Womack and Madison Gianfala both added one hit and both scored a run for GHC. The Chargers also celebrated sophomore day between games (see photo below) where nine student-athletes were honored: Carlee Thurmond, Andria Booth, Lacey Mount, Kaleigh Mobley, Rebecca Meade, Natalie Pederson, Brianna Fickes, Lauren Womack, and Madison Gianfala. Next up for the Chargers (36-12, 17-9) is a non-conference doubleheader at Cleveland State on Tuesday. GHC will then play at West Georgia Technical College Friday at 4pm and 6pm in the final regular season conference games of the year. The Chargers will be a top-four seed in the GCAA Tournament April 27-29 at Georgia Military College, but the final seeding will be determined in the coming days. Following Easter weekend games, ABAC leads the conference standings with a 16-8 mark, followed by Georgia Highlands at 17-9, Georgia Military 14-8, and East Georgia 15-9. The bottom half of the conference standings include South Georgia 15-13, Gordon College 12-14, Andrew 6-18, and West Georgia Tech 5-21.

Day One of the 2017 Region 7AAAAA Track and Field Championships were completed Saturday at Barron Stadium in Rome with the Rome girls and Carrollton boys leading. Locally, the Woodland girls are in fourth and the Cass girls are seventh in the nine-team field. Woodland’s boys are in third place and the Cass boys are fifth. Cass had two event winners in field event finals Saturday. Kyler Trouten won the girls high jump title. Ray Varnum won the boys long jump. Skylar Chappell was region runner-up in the discus. Thomas Jolly finished second in the pole vault. The conclusion of the Region 7AAAAA meet will take place Monday back at Barron Stadium in Rome. Top local results from Saturday: Girls High Jump Finals 1st — Kyler Trouten, Cass — 5-02 7th — Grace Webb, Woodland — 4-06 Girls Discus Throw Finals 2nd — Skylar Chappell, Woodland — 107-04 8th — Chanelle Clemmons, Cass — 85-05 Boys Pole Vault Finals 2nd — Thomas Jolly, Woodland — J14-00.00 3rd — Stephen Smith, Cass — 12-06.00 Boys Long Jump Finals 1st — Ray Varnum, Cass — 22-01.00 4th — Markal Brown, Woodland — 21-04.00 7th — Shamus Thomas, Woodland — 20-04.00 Boys Shot Put Finals 3rd — Emmanuel Jones, Woodland — 46-07.00 Qualified for Monday’s Finals: Girls 100M Sabrina Buggs, Cass Girls 400M Bella Carnes, Woodland Girls 800M Casey Bolan, Woodland Carli Clymer, Woodland Girls 1600M Carli Clymer, Woodland Lindsay Scifers, Woodland Girls 100M Hurdles Karson Norris, Woodland Hillary McCarver, Cass Girls 300M Hurdles Karson Norris, Woodland Girls 4x100M Relay Woodland — Karson Norris, Bella Carnes, Jakeira Askew, Madilyn Tuplin Cass — Sabrina Buggs, Hillary McCarver, Sydney Mays, Brianna Stephenson Girls 4x400M Relay Woodland — Casey Bolan, Madilyn Tuplin, Bella Carnes, Carli Clymer Boys 100M Shamus Thomas, Woodland Boys 200M Markal Brown, Woodland Terry Berdin, Cass Boys 400M Kevin Miller, Woodland Thomas Jolly, Woodland Boys 800M Jonathan Holloway, Woodland Boys 1600M Jonathan Holloway, Woodland Dylan Stermer, Woodland Boys 110M Hurdles Ray Varnum, Cass Nigel Whittington, Cass Boys 300M Hurdles Ray Varnum, Cass Kevin Miller, Woodland Boys 4x100M Relay Woodland — Trevor Knowles, Thomas Jolly, Markal Brown, Shamus Thomas Cass — Laizon West, Malik Grimes, Ray Varnum, Terry Berdin Boys 4x400M Relay Woodland — Jonathan Holloway, Trevor Knowles, Kevin Miller, Thomas Jolly

The Cass boys soccer team had to return to Kell High School Saturday to play the second half of a game that was suspended at halftime back on March 30. The Colonels were leading 2-1 at the intermission when the game was suspended. As it turned out and the remainder of the region schedule was concluded, the game had to be completed to determine Region 7AAAAA’s fourth seed for the state tournament. Saturday, the Colonels played some of their best defense of the year and held on for the full 40 minutes to complete the game with a 2-1 win. With the Cass win, the Colonels and Longhorns both finished 4-4 in region games. Cass advances to the state playoffs with the head-to-head win. Brandon Romero had 10 huge saves in net for Cass as Kell forced the action trying to get the equalizing goal. The loss dropped the Longhorns to 10-5 overall and 4-4 in region play with two non-region games remaining. Cass (5-10, 4-4) qualifies for the state tournament for the first time since 2007. The Colonels will be a 4-seed and play at the region champion of 5AAAAA in the opening round. Carrollton (12-2, 8-0) won Region 7AAAAA followed by Rome (10-4, 7-1), Villa Rica (9-4-2, 6-2), and Cass.

The Cass Colonels lost a non-region baseball game Saturday at the Cass Athletic Complex falling to River Ridge 6-3. The Colonels utilized seven different pitchers in short stints and kept the Knights off the scoreboard for much of the day. In fact, Cass led 3-1 through five innings, but River Ridge scored three runs in the sixth and two more in the seventh for a come-from-behind victory. A solo home run by the Knights in the sixth inning coupled with a two-run single later in the inning gave River Ridge a 4-3 lead, then a two-run homer in the seventh did the rest of the damage. Gavin Young, Ingram, Logan Nelson, Evan Hinton, Clay Means, Parker Hardin, and Austin Pruett all pitched for Cass — generally in one inning stints. The Colonels managed only four hits on the day off four different Knights’ pitchers. Hinton (RBI), Jake Collum (2 RBIs), and Means all doubled. Nelson had the other base hit. River Ridge improved to 20-7 on the season. Cass (14-15, 7-8 Region 7AAAAA) closes out the regular season Monday at home at 5:55pm against Paulding County.

The Cartersville boys secured the top seed in Region 5AAAA for the state playoffs with a 4-0 shutout at Sandy Creek Friday night. Jake Hacker scored two goals, Pedro Ghanem and Cesar Abeja added one goal each. Grant Farmer contributed two assists. Goalkeeper Cade Roberts earned the shutout in net. Cartersville (13-1-2, 6-0 Region 5AAAA) plays Sonoraville next Friday and will host the opening round of the Class AAAA state playoffs April 26. CASS GIRLS 1, NORTH SPRINGS 0 The Cass girls soccer team wrapped up its 2017 season with a 1-0 defeat of visiting North Springs Friday at Doug Cochran Stadium. Kelsey Rivera scored the Cass goal from an assist by Lupita Pineda in the second half. NORTH SPRINGS BOYS 6, CASS 4 The Cass boys soccer team led visiting North Springs 4-3 at the intermission, but the Spartans scored three second half goals and shutdown the Colonels’ scoring attack to defeat the Colonels, 6-4. Anthony Robledo scored three goals for Cass. Jorge Cabanos also scored a goal. Cabanos, Brandon Romero, Julio Medina, and Jackson Laurent each contributed assists. Romero recorded eight saves in net for the Colonels. The Colonels play the second half of a suspended game at Kell Saturday at 6pm. Cass is leading 2-1 with only the second half remaining. The winner of that game advances to the state playoffs.