The Georgia Highlands College baseball team fell behind early, but took control in the middle innings and captured the 2017 GCAA Championship Tournament championship game with an 8-3 win Saturday over Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College. Playing as the home team in the title game at LakePoint Sporting Community in Emerson, ABAC took a 2-0 lead in the bottom of the first. The Chargers scored twice in the second and one more in the third inning to take a 3-2 lead, but the Stallions tied the game with a run in the bottom half of the third. GHC took the lead for good with a three-run sixth inning and added insurance runs in the eighth and ninth innings to complete their unbeaten run through the conference tournament. Colby Taylor tossed a nine-inning complete-game for the Chargers to earn the pitching victory. He scattered five hits and a walk while allowing three earned runs on a pair of homers. He fanned 10 ABAC batters. Caleb McElwaney had three hits and one RBI for the Chargers. Grant Bodison also had a three hit game that included a double. Matt Vaccaro had two hits including a double and one RBI. Nick Fink and Nick Piccapietra each added a double and one RBI apiece. John White and Bronco O’Brien each contributed one hit in Georgia Highlands’ 12-hit attack. The Chargers (40-19) won three consecutive games in the tournament. They had wins over Andrew College, South Georgia, and then ABAC in the finals. The tournament title is the first conference championship for coach Dash O'Neill's Chargers in his first season at the helm. (photo) GHC, along with Georgia Collegiate Athletic Association regular season winner East Georgia, advance to the NJCAA East Central District Championship Wednesday through Friday at Dyersburg State CC in western Tennessee. The winner of that double-elimination district tournament will advance to the NJCAA World Series May 27-June 3 in Grand Junction, Colorado.

Updates on selected games from Cartersville Little League and Bartow County Little League. Games played May 4, 9, and 11. Additional games from the selected date range will be posted as they become available from their respective leagues. Cartersville Little League (major) Thursday, May 11 DODGERS 12, PHILLIES 7 Dodgers: Chandler Mathison two hits including HR, two RBIs; Jacob Peace two hits including HR, three RBIs; Jimmy Channell two hits; Justin Peace two hits, one RBI; Carter Acrey one hit, one RBI; Silas Freeman one hit, one RBI; Tyler Taylor and Ahmari Thomas one hit each. Tyler Taylor (2 IP, 4ER, 6H, 2BB, 1K); Jacob Peace (4 IP, 3ER, 3H, 1BB, 9K). Phillies: Pearse Mullinax two hits, one RBI; Kaden Stephenson two hits; Sawyer Wilson one hit, one RBI; Ricky Hawkins one hit, one RBI; Zayne Canady and Andrew Thayer one hit each. Pearse Mullinax (3 IP, 0R, 4H, 1BB, 3K); Kaden Stephenson (1.1 IP, 2ER, 2H, 2BB); JaKeveon Porter (0.2 IP, 2H, 5ER, 2BB); Brodie McWhorter (1 IP, 5ER, 4H, 3BB, 2K). COLTS 9, TIGERS 6 Colts: Trevor Harris two hits including HR, two RBIs; Grant Knight two hits, three RBIs; Jack Chatman two hits, one RBI; Cole Jackson two hits, one RBI; McClain Knight, Turner Abernathy, Brody Tidwell one hit each. Hunter Shirley (2.1 IP, 5R, 0ER, 2H, 4BB, 5K); Jack Chatman (3.2 IP, 1R, 0ER, 1H, 1BB, 3K). Tigers: Garrett McRay one hit, two RBIs; Cam Williams and Colt Williams one hit each; Trenton Payne, Hunter Owens, Dawson Sutton one RBI each. Trenton Payne (5 IP, 8R, 5ER, 9H, 1BB, 3K); Garrett McRay (1 IP, 1ER, 2H, 1BB, 1K). INDIANS 9, CRACKERS 7 Indians: Hunter Kelly two hits, two RBIs; Harrison Childers two hits, one RBI; Collin Fletcher one hit, two RBIs; Trip Bradley one hit, one RBi; Lucas Henry one hit, one RBI; Maddox Frazier one RBI. Harrison Childers (2 IP, 1R, 0ER, 1H, 1K); Hunter Kelly (4 IP, 6R, 0ER, 2H, 4BB, 5K). Crackers: Tyler Shelton HR, two RBIs; Caleb Harrell, Drake Carver one hit each; Isaac Seigler one RBI. Isaac Seigler (5 IP, 9R, 1ER, 7H, 0BB, 8K). CLL (major) STANDINGS (as posted 5/13) Braves . . . . . . . . . 16-1 Crackers . . . . . . . 14-3 Indians . . . . . . . . . 13-4 Dodgers . . . . . . . . 7-10 Phillies . . . . . . . . . 7-10 Colts . . . . . . . . . . . 5-12 Tigers . . . . . . . . . . 3-14 Padres . . . . . . . . . . 3-14 Bartow County Little League (major) Thursday, May 4 CARDINALS 12, TWINS 0 Cardinals: Julian Herndon two hits including triple, five RBIs; Sahaj Patel two hits. Twins: no hits Tuesday, May 9 BRAVES 10, METS 4 Braves: Hunter Smith one hit, two RBIs; Joshua McBroom double; Brice Craig one hit. Mets: Jake Crapps, David Kelley, Elijah Tempelton, Carter Collum one hit each; Jordan Durham one RBI. ORIOLES 10, GIANTS 0 Orioles: Tyler Driggers three hits w/ two triples, three RBIs; Braden Powell two doubles; Devon Pryer solo HR; Ashton Phillips three RBIs. Giants: non hits GIANTS 14, CARDINALS 4 Giants: Caleb Wiley two hits, one RBI; Andrew Stiles one double, four RBIs; Julian Chartier one double, three RBIs; Jesse Wiseman one hit, one RBI; Bryson Hook one hit; Gabriel Perdue two RBIs; Ethan Griffith one RBI. RANGERS 13, TWINS 4 Rangers: Christopher Cabe and Cameron Constantine two hits each; Kaiden Pirkle grand slam HR; Titus Bagley grand slam HR. Twins: Cadyn Wade two hits including triple, two RBIs; Tyler Marston one hit, one RBI; Koby Reagan one RBI. BCLL (major) STANDINGS (for games posted through Tuesday, May 9) Orioles . . . . . . . . . . . 9-0-0 Athletics . . . . . . . . . . 8-1-0 Braves . . . . . . . . . . . 9-2-1 Giants . . . . . . . . . . . . 6-4-0 Rangers . . . . . . . . . . . 6-5-0 Tigers . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6-5-0 Cubs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-7-0 Mets . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-7-1 Cardinals . . . . . . . . . . 2-10-0 Twins . . . . . . . . . . . . . 0-10-0 ​NOTE: Pitching data not provided for 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.

Bartow County athletes won one gold, two silver, and two bronze medals at the GHSA State Track and Field Championships this weekend held at three different locations across the state. Woodland’s Thomas Jolly won the Class AAAAA pole vault to lead all local finishes. Cass’ Ray Varnum had an impressive state meet. He won silver in the Class AAAAA long jump and took bronze in the 110 meter hurdles. Adairsville’s Josie Summerville was a silver medalist in the Class AAA shot put and Cartersville’s Keonte Jackson won bronze in the Class AAAA high jump. The Class AAA meet was held at Hugh Mills Stadium in Albany. The Class AAAA championship was at Berry College in Rome and the Class AAAAA state meet was at Carrollton High School. Local summary: ADAIRSVILLE GIRLS — Lady Tigers finished 16th with 11 points. Greater Atlanta Christian won Class 3A girls championship. — Josie Summerville finished runner-up in the shot put. (37-10) — Nakiyah Washington finished sixth in discus throw. (101-5) ADAIRSVILLE BOYS — Tigers finished 29th in Class AAA. Cedar Grove won Class 3A boys championship. — Chad Lowery was 6th in the discus throw. (136-07) CARTERSVILLE BOYS — Canes finished 27th in Class AAAA. Marist boys won Class 4A boys championship. — Keonte Jackson finished third in the high jump. (6-4) WOODLAND BOYS — Wildcats finished 14th in Class AAAAA. Cedar Shoals won Class 5A boys title. — Thomas Jolly won Class 5A pole vault. (15-0) — Trevor Knowles placed 6th in the high jump. (6-02) WOODLAND GIRLS — Lady Cats finished 28th in Class AAAAA. Buford won the Class 5A girls championship. — Karson Norris placed 8th in the pole vault. (8-0) — Carli Clymer placed 6th in the 800 meter run. (2:23.22) CASS BOYS — Colonels finished 10th in Class AAAAA. Cedar Shoals won Class 5A boys title. — Ray Varnum was state runner-up in the long jump. (23-05.25) — Ray Varnum placed third in the 110 meter hurdles. (14.79) — Tavarus Varnum finished 5th in the high jump. (6-02) CASS GIRLS — Lady Colonels were 28th in Class AAAAA. Buford won the Class 5A title. — Chanelle Clemmons placed 4th in the shot put. (38-03.5)

Adairsville’s Josie Summerville finished runner-up in the Class AAA shot put Friday at Hugh Mills Stadium in Albany. Her throw of 37 feet, 10 inches trailed only Kelsey Jones of Appling who won with a throw of 38 feet, one-half inch. Nakiyah Washington of the Lady Tigers earned sixth place points in the discus with a throw of 101 feet, 5 inches. The performances by Summerville and Washington has Adairsville in 10th place in Class AAA going into Saturday’s final events. At Berry College in Rome, Cartersville high jumper Keonte Jackson placed third with a mark of 6 feet, 4 inches and earned the Hurricanes 5.5 points. Cartersville is in 19th place in Class AAAA heading into Saturday’s finals. In Carrollton, the Woodland and Cass boys remained in the top eight after Friday’s results. Woodland is tied for sixth with 13 points. Cass has 12 points and is currently eighth with all remaining finals Saturday.

The Adairsville Lady Tigers’ golf team qualified for the state tournament with a sixth place finish at the Area IV AAA tournament. “These were not our best scores, but the ladies played well enough to get the job done,” said AHS coach Kurt Scoggins. Seniors Keighley Hudziak and Sabrina Fanello shot 100 and 104, respectively, to lead the Lady Tigers. Freshman Cortni Jacobs shot 112 to complete Adairsville’s 316 total. Freshman Lindsey Anglin shot 120. Calhoun won the Area tournament with a team total 248. The Lady Jackets were followed by five other state tournament qualifiers including Bremen (253), North Murray (271), Westminster (276), Pace Academy (313), and Adairsville. The girls Class AAA Championship will be May 22-23 at Okefenokee Country Club in Blackshear. In other Area golf tournaments, the Adairsville boys finished 11th (436) in Area 4-AAA. The Cass boys were 4th (355) in Area 4-AAAAA, and the Cartersville boys were 5th (365) in Area 4-AAAA. None of those teams were able to qualify for the state championship tournaments.

Georgia Highlands scored six runs in the bottom of the eighth inning Friday afternoon to break open a previously tied game and defeated South Georgia 9-3 to reach the championship round of the 2017 Georgia Collegiate Athletic Association (GCAA) Championship Tournament. The Chargers led 2-0 heading to the seventh inning when South Georgia scored three times to go ahead 3-2. GHC tied the game 3-3 in the bottom of the seventh on a Matt Vaccaro RBI single, before the big eighth inning rally. Caleb McElwaney led off the second inning with a solo home run and John White homered in the fifth for the Chargers’ early lead. In the eighth, Georgia Highlands scored six times. Devin Bilardello had a two-RBI single, White added a RBI single, and Vaccaro blasted a three-run homer. Tyler Sellers earned the pitching win by working the final two and two-thirds innings. He did not allow a run and yielded only two hits. He fanned two. Matthew Norton (6.1 IP, 3ER, 6H, 1BB, 5K) started on the mound for the Chargers. Georgia Highlands (39-19) is the only undefeated team remaining in the double-elimination tournament. The Chargers will play the South Georgia (38-21) vs. ABAC (31-27) winner Saturday at noon at LakePoint. With a victory, GHC wins the tournament and advances to the East Central Regional at Dyersburg State (TN). The South Georgia-ABAC winner will need to defeat Georgia Highlands twice to win the title.

The 2017 Georgia State Golf Association (GSGA) Mid-Amateur Championship gets underway Friday, May 19 and is hosted this year by Cartersville Country Club. Chad Branton, current club champion at Cartersville Country Club (photo), heads a local contingent of players that will play for the title against a statewide field. The Mid-Am field consists of 144 players age 25 or older. The group of competitors was determined through GSGA player exemptions from various championship events and a series of six statewide 18-hole qualifiers in April that were held in Savannah, Flowery Branch, Columbus, Warner Robins, Alpharetta, Hampton, and Cartersville. The 54-hole championship runs Friday through Sunday on the 7,006-yard, par 72, Cartersville Country Club course. John Engler, Jr. of Augusta is the defending champion. Engler won the 2016 Mid-Amateur title on his home course — Augusta Country Club. Local contenders in the event with their first round tee times listed: Player — Home — Starting Hole — Tee Time Chad Branton — Cartersville — 1 — 2:00pm Scott Davenport — Marietta — 1 — 1:10pm Cres Dodd — Calhoun — 1 — 1:20pm Chase Jones — Cartersville — 10 — 1:10pm Robert Niedergall III — Cartersville — 10 — 9:40am David Noll -- Dalton -- 1 -- 1:30pm Tevis Upton — Acworth — 10 — 1:10pm Rob VanGorder, Jr. — Acworth — 1 — 1:20pm Fred Wolford — Acworth — 10 — 9:40am The Georgia Mid-Amateur Championship, held annually since 1982, is open to male amateur golfers who are GSGA members, are residents of Georgia and are at least 25 years of age on the day of the first round. Tournament scoring may be followed online at — http://www.ghintpp.com/gsga/TPPOnlineScoring/Default.aspx?ID=804

Drew Wilson tossed a complete game, 7-inning shutout Thursday afternoon at LakePoint Sports in Emerson as the host Georgia Highlands baseball team won its first game of the Georgia Collegiate Athletic Association conference championship tournament, 10-0, over Andrew College. Wilson was in command throughout. He scattered three hits and a pair of walks while striking out two. Nick Piccapietra was 2-for-4 at the plate with a pair of doubles and drove in six runs while Brandon Bell homered and doubled in a three-hit performance to lead the Chargers’ offense. Bell had two RBIs. Nick Fink had two hits including a triple with one RBI. Matt Vaccaro added two hits and one RBI. Caleb McElwaney had two hits and Grand Bodison added a hit as the Chargers out hit the Tigers 12 to 3. Andrew bounced back Thursday evening to edge top-seed East Georgia in the losers’ bracket, 2-1. The Tigers will play ABAC Friday at 1pm in an elimination game. 2nd-seed Georgia Highlands (38-19) advances to play upstart South Georgia Friday at 10am in a game of tournament unbeatens. South Georgia (38-20) is the No. 5 seed. South Georgia has tournament wins over Gordon State and GCAA regular season champion East Georgia. The Georgia Highlands - South Georgia winner advances to the GCAA championship on Saturday. The loser must play an elimination game Friday at 4pm against the ABAC-Andrew survivor. The winner of the GCAA tournament advances to the NJCAA East Central Regional May 17-19 at Dyersburg State in western Tennessee. The regional winner in Tennessee will qualify for the NJCAA World Series that begins May 27 in Grand Junction, Colorado.

Thursday was the first day of GHSA State Track and Field Championships competition at three different stadiums around the state of Georgia and Woodland High School's Thomas Jolly claimed a state championship in the Class AAAAA pole vault. The state meets continue through Saturday in Albany, Rome, and Carrollton. Jolly, who finished third in the Class AAAAA pole vault last year, won the 2017 title with a vault of 15 feet. His runner-up was region rival Joe Street of Carrollton who cleared 13 feet, 6 inches along with Jake Rubin of North Springs. Jolly will compete again Friday with his Woodland teammates in the 4x400M relay. Cass had three athletes with top-five finishes in Class AAAAA field events Thursday in Carrollton. Ray Varnum was second in the Long Jump, Channelle Clemmons was fourth in the Shot Put, and Tavarus Varnum had a fifth place finish in the High Jump. Woodland's Trevor Knowles was sixth in the High Jump. Karson Norris placed eighth in the Pole Vault, and Carli Clymer placed ninth in the 1600M Run. After Day 1 of the three-day state championships, Woodland is tied for sixth as a team in the Class 5A team standings with 13 points. Cass is right behind in eighth with 12. GHSA Track & Field State Championships May 11-13, 2017 (Girls and Boys) Class AAA — Hugh Mills Stadium, Albany Class AAAA — Valhalla Stadium, Berry College, Rome Class AAAAA — Grisham Stadium, Carrollton HS 1st — Thomas Jolly — Woodland — Boys Pole Vault — 15.00 2nd — Ray Varnum — Cass — Boys Long Jump — 23-05.25 4th — Channelle Clemmons — Cass — Girls Shot Put — 38-3.50 5th — Tavarus Varnum — Cass — Boys High Jump — 6-02.00 6th — Trevor Knowles — Woodland — Boys High Jump — 6-02.00 6th — Chad Lowery — Adairsville — Boys Discus — 136-07 8th — Karson Norris — Woodland — Girls Pole Vault — 8-00.00 9th — Carli Clymer — Woodland — Girls 1600M Run — 5:18.70

Both the Cartersville Little League and Bartow County Little League regular seasons are hitting their latter stages and the title chase continues for several teams. The Braves lead the Crackers by a single game in Cartersville Little League play and the Indians are third at three games back. In Bartow County Little League play, the Orioles remain undefeated through games posted May 10 with the Athletics and Braves in hot pursuit. Bartow County Little League (major) Monday, May 8 BRAVES 6, TIGERS 4 Braves: Brice Craig three hits including HR, two RBIs; Erich Wilburn HR, RBI; Tyler Martin one hit, one RBI; Conner Lujan one hit, one RBI. Tigers: Dawson Walters HR, two RBIs; Graham Hilburn one hit. ATHLETICS 13, CUBS 3 Athletics: Landon O’Neal two hits, two RBIs; Hayden Blalock two hits, one RBI; Dawson Craig one hit; Robert Mitchell one hit, two RBIs; Brayden Butler one hit, two RBIs; Riley Belcher one hit, two RBIs; Hayden Heath one hit, one RBI; Thomas Wells one hit. Cubs: Eddie Boggs one hit, one RBI; Corey Brookshire one hit; Todd Gaddy one hit. Bartow County Little League (major) Standings (for games thru Mon. May 8) Orioles .......8-0-0 Athletics .....8-1-0 Braves ...... 8-2-1 Tigers ....... 6-5-0 Giants ....... 5-3-0 Rangers .... 5-5-0 Cubs .........3-7-0 Mets ..........2-6-1 Cardinals ....1-9-0 Twins ......... 0-8-0 Cartersville Little League (major) Monday, May 8 BRAVES 17, PADRES 4 Braves: Martavius Cochran four hits including HR, six RBIs; Joshua Clay four hits including triple, RBI; Anderson McCary three hits, RBI; Miles Owens two hits including triple, four RBIs; Hayden James two hits, two RBIs; Cooper Teeples one hit, one RBI; Caleb Daniel, Nicholas Hruby, Matthew Clay one hit. Hayden James (2 IP, 2ER, 3H, 3BB, 1K); Joshua Clay (1.2 IP, 2ER, 1H, 2BB, 2K); Martavius Cochran (1.1 IP, 0R, 1H, 1BB, 4K). Padres: Avery Higgins two hits; Luke Altizer one hit, one RBI; Mateo Castillo one hit, one RBI; Malachi Jeffries one hit; Lee Camp one RBI. A.J. Christina (3 IP, 7R, 5ER, 7H, 2BB, 5K); Geoffrey Gore (1 IP, 3ER, 6H, 2K); Avery Higgins (1 IP, 7ER, 6H, 2BB, 2K). DODGERS 10, PHILLIES 8 Dodgers: Tyler Taylor two hits, two RBIs; Chandler Mathison two hits; Noah Herring one hit, two RBIs; Silas Freeman one hit, one RBI; Jacob Peace one hit, one RBI; Charlie Rothschild one hit, one RBI; Ayden Ray one hit; Justin Peace one hit. Ayden Ray (0.1 IP, 4ER, 4H, 3BB, 1K); Jacob Peace (3.2 IP, 0R, 2H, 10K); Hayden Hold (2 IP, 3R, 1ER, 2H, 2BB, 3K). Phillies: JaKeveon Porter three hits; Kaden Stephenson two hits; JaKiyon Porter grand slam HR, four RBIs; Andrew Thayer one hit; Brodie McWhorter one hit. JaKiyon Porter (3.2 IP, 4R, 2ER, 5H, 5BB, 7K); Kaden Stephenson (1.1 IP, 6ER, 5H, 2BB, 2K). Wednesday, May 10 BRAVES 5, PHILLIES 3 Braves: Nicholas Hruby two hit, one RBI; Caleb Daniel two hits; Chris Roper one hit, one RBI; Hayden James, Martavius Cochran, Anderson McCary, Joshua Clay one hit each; Davis Waddell one RBI. Nicholas Hruby (5 IP, 3ER, 1H, 5BB, 4K); Miles Owens (1 IP, 0R, 1H, 3K). Phillies: Zayne Canady triple, RBI; JaKeveon Porter one hit; JaKiyon Porter, Brodie McWhorter one RBI each. Sawyer Wilson (4.2 IP, 5R, 4ER, 9H, 2BB, 5K); Pearse Mullinax (0.1 IP). INDIANS 7, TIGERS 6 Indians: Trip Bradley two hits including HR, four RBIs; Harrison Childers double, HR, RBI; Collin Fletcher two hits; Gavin Shrewsberry, Maddox Frazier one hit each. Gavin Shrewsberry (4 IP, 2R, 1ER, 3H, 2BB, 11K); Trip Bradley (2 IP, 4R, 0ER, 1H, 2BB, 7K). Tigers: Connor Brasfield two hits, two RBIs; Colt Williams triple; Kace Adams one hit. Connor Brasfield (4.1 IP, 4R, 2ER, 6H, 5BB, 5K); Garrett McRay (1 IP, 3ER, 2H, 1BB). Cartersville Little League (major) Standings (as posted by CLL 5/11) Braves ....... 14-1 Crackers .... 13-2 Indians ....... 11-4 Phillies ....... 7-8 Dodgers ..... 6-9 Colts .......... 4-11 Tigers ......... 3-12 Padres ........ 2-13 Cartersville Little League (minor, kid pitch) A’s ...................... 13-0-1 White Sox .......... 11-3-0 Cubs .................. 7-5-2 Rockies .............. 7-6-1 Diamondbacks .... 6-6-2 Reds .................. 6-8-0 Red Sox ............. 2-12-0 Rays ................... 1-13-0 Cartersville Little League (coach pitch) Yankees ........... 9-3 * Nationals ........... 6-6 Giants ................ 6-6 Mets ................. 3-9 *playoff champions ​NOTE: Pitching data not provided for 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.

Cass High School will host a basketball camp for boys ages 7 to 13 years old June 21-22. The camps will run from 9am to 1pm each day. For more information, contact Cass High School head basketball coach David Brock — 770-606-5845 or email: david.brock@bartow.k12.ga.us The cost is $75.

Michael Kimsey won a pair of gold medals this past Saturday at the 2017 International Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Federation Atlanta Spring Open held at the Georgia International Convention Center in Atlanta. The event was a qualifier for the 2017 National Championships and the 2017 World Championships. Kimsey won gold in the Blue/Master 2/Super-Heavyweight division and the Blue/Master 2/Open class. A special education teacher and assistant wrestling coach at Adairsville High School, Kimsey is now ranked 173rd in the world. He will compete in the National Championships in Las Vegas July 6-8 and the World Championships at the Las Vegas Convention Center August 24-26.