Former Cartersville High School pole vaulter, Anna Hightower, set a new career best at the Torrin Lawrence Memorial last weekend in Athens competing for Georgia Tech to headline this week's Athletes Beyond Bartow update. Meanwhile, Sam Howard had another solid outing Friday for the Hartford Yard Goats and the bat of Connor Justus is starting to heat up in this week's update for Athletes Beyond Bartow. On the college baseball diamonds, the JUCO, NAIA, and NCAA D-II playoffs have started and the Division I conference races are winding down as those teams get ready for conference tournaments in two weeks. In college softball, five local athletes are part of the NAIA playoff run by Reinhardt University and we have locals also representing on NCAA D-I and D-II teams in the post-season. MiLB SAM HOWARD — Hartford Yard Goats - Double-A - Eastern League - Colorado Rockies affiliate (4th year pro; LHP; Georgia Southern; Cartersville HS). . . Howard took a shutout into the sixth inning last Friday, but allowed a solo home run in the sixth and one more run on a double and RBI single in the seventh in a 2-1 loss at Harrisburg. In four starts in 2017, Howard is now 0-2 with a 2.55 ERA in 17.2 innings. He has limited opponents to a .185 batting average and has 15 strikeouts. The Yard Goats are 10-17 and 7.5 games back of first place Trenton (NYY) in the Eastern Division of the Eastern League. CONNOR JUSTUS — Inland Empire 66ers - Class A Advanced - California League - Los Angeles Angels affiliate (2nd year pro; SS; Georgia Tech; Cartersville HS). . . Justus was 6-for-17 in seven games last week at home against Lancaster and on the road at Rancho Cucamonga. Justus hit a two-run homer last Wednesday at home in a 4-3 come-from-behind win over Lancaster. His first home run of the year tied the game 3-3 and the 66ers added another run later in the inning for a walk-off victory. After a slow start at the plate, Justus has now hit safely in four of his last five games and has lifted his batting average to .200 with nine RBIs, five doubles, and three stolen bases. Defensively, he has a .961 fielding percentage in 102 chances and has been part of 19 double plays. Inland Empire has a 14-17 record and is in second place in the California League’s South Division. The 66ers are 2 games back of first-place Rancho Cucamonga (LAD). COLLEGE BASEBALL ELLIOTT ANDERSON — Auburn University (Freshman, LHP, Cartersville HS). . . made a ninth inning appearance Sunday against Alabama in an 11-9 15-inning home loss. Anderson walked a batter and struck out one facing three Tide hitters. He has made nine appearances (9.1 innings) and is 1-0 with a 7.71 ERA. Auburn (32-17, 14-10 SEC) plays at UAB Tuesday and at LSU for a three-game SEC series this weekend, starting Friday night. TY FOWLER — Tennessee Wesleyan College (Senior, RHP, Cartersville HS). . . started the Appalachian Athletic Conference Tournament championship game and went 4.1 innings Sunday in Kingsport, Tennessee. Fowler received no decision, but NAIA 10th-ranked TWC went on to win the conference title game 4-1 over Truett-McConnell College. Fowler allowed one earned run on four hits and four walks. He also worked the final two innings last Wednesday in the Bulldogs’ 13-6 tournament opening win over Bluefield College (VA). He allowed four, unearned runs, on five hits, a walk, and two strikeouts. Tennessee Wesleyan (39-18) won its third consecutive AAC championship and 10th in 11 years. The Bulldogs earned an automatic berth to the NAIA National Championship Opening Round, which begins on Monday, May 15. The full 45-team field, pairings, and sites will be announced on Thursday. MICHAEL GOSS — UNC-Greensboro (Senior, 1B, Cartersville HS). . . went 3-for-5 Sunday with his sixth home run of the season in an 8-5 win at VMI. He was also 2-for-7 with a walk and was hit by a pitch in the first two games of the series, both UNCG losses. Goss has a .333 batting average in 150 official at bats this season in 42 games. He has 18 extra base hits (.547 SLG%) and 40 RBIs. The Spartans (28-18, 11-7 Southern Conference) host The Citadel for three conference games this weekend. BRADLEY HOOD — Georgia Highlands College (Sophomore, RHP, Cass HS). . . made a sixth inning appearance Saturday in the second game of a doubleheader at West Georgia Tech and was tagged with a loss. He retired one batter, but allowed a home run that was the difference in a 7-6 game. Hood has made nine appearances for 12.1 innings and a 1.46 ERA with 14 strikeouts. The Chargers (37-19, 14-10 GCAA) host the Georgia Collegiate Athletic Association tournament that begins Wednesday afternoon at LakePoint Sports in Emerson. GHC received a first round bye and will play the ABAC-Gordon State winner on Thursday in the double-elimination tournament. SEAN McDERMOTT — Cleveland State CC (Sophomore, 1B, Adairsville HS). . . committed to Mercer for the next two seasons, McDermott and the Cougars open the TCCAA playoffs Monday night at home against Volunteer State CC. McDermott is hitting .371 with eight homers and 35 RBIs through 44 games. Cleveland State is 33-16 overall and 13-14 in conference play. The Cougars are the No. 4 seed in the tournament. JO JO UNDERWOOD — UNC-Greensboro (Senior, C/3B, Cartersville HS). . . made a pair of appearances this past week at Elon and at VMI with four putouts. He also drew one walk at the plate and is currently hitting .250 in 14 games for the Spartans. He has two homers and six RBIs in 36 official at bats. UNCG (28-18, 11-7 Southern Conference) host The Citadel for three conference games this weekend. CHAZ WILSON — Columbus State Universtiy (Senior, RHP, Cass HS). . . The Cougars play in the Peach Belt Conference Championship Tournament this week in Florence, SC and will be the No. 4 seed. Wilson graduated last week with a degree in Accounting and a 3.96 GPA. He has made only six appearances this season, but has a 1.93 ERA with four strikeouts and four walks in 4.2 innings. He has accumulated 66 innings pitched with 45 strikeouts in a four-year career at Union University and Columbus State. CSU (29-19, 15-9 PBC) plays UNC-Pembroke in the first round of the double-elimination conference tournament Wednesday night. COLLEGE SOFTBALL BETHANY BALLARD — Armstrong State University (Senior, C/1B, Cass HS). . . the Lady Pirates will host an NCAA D2 Southeast Region starting Thursday in Savannah. In limited playing time, Ballard is hitting .333 with one RBI. The Pirates open the four-team regional tournament against Peach Belt Conference foe Young Harris College. TAYLOR BRASELTON — Reinhardt University (Senior, SS, Woodland HS). . . received the 2017 Appalachian Athletic Conference Player of the Year award after leading Reinhardt in hits and batting average. She ranks in the top 35 nationally in 13 difference statistical categories. Braselton has a .458 batting average with 31 RBIs this season in 56 games and has 32 stolen bases. She was also named to the College Sports Information Directors of America (CoSIDA) District 1 Academic All-District team with a 3.76 GPA in Business Administration. The Lady Eagles (41-14-1) await their Opening Round assignment in the NAIA National Championship Tournament which begins May 15. SYDNEY FLOWERS — Reinhardt University (Senior, UT, Woodland HS). . . hitting .205 with six RBIs in 44 official at bats and has played in 31 games for the Eagles this season. Reinhardt (41-14-1) awaits its Opening Round assignment in the NAIA National Championship Tournament which begins May 15. CASSIDY HOWREN — Reinhardt University (Junior, C, Adairsville HS). . . batting .240 with eight RBIs in 129 at bats across 55 games for the Eagles. She has started 52 games. Reinhardt (41-14-1) awaits its Opening Round assignment in the NAIA National Championship Tournament which begins May 15. HUNTER IRVIN — Reinhardt University (Sophomore, OF, Cartersville HS). . . in 17 appearances for the Lady Eagles, Irvin has a .250 batting average with a pair of doubles in 16 at bats. Reinhardt (41-14-1) awaits its Opening Round assignment in the NAIA National Championship Tournament which begins May 15. TAYLOR WEEKS — Reinhardt University (Senior, OF, Adairsville HS). . . was named to the College Sports Information Directors of America (CoSIDA) District 1 Academic All-District team for the second straight year. She was a 2016 CoSIDA First Team Academic All-America honoree. She was a First Team All-Appalachian Athletic Conference honoree this season with a .426 batting average over her last two seasons. Weeks has 30 RBIs this season and a .475 on base percentage. Academically, she has a 3.96 GPA while majoring in Early Childhood Education. The Lady Eagles (41-14-1) await their Opening Round assignment in the NAIA National Championship Tournament which begins May 15. ANNALYN YANTIS — Samford University (Sophomore, P, Cartersville HS). . . the Bulldogs open play in the Southern Conference Championship Tournament Wednesday in Chattanooga. Yantis has made six appearances this season for Samford with an 8.08 ERA. The Lady Bulldogs (22-34) play Mercer in the SoCon tournament opening round. TRACK AND FIELD MILES BEARDEN -- Kansas State University (Senior, Cartersville resident, Darlington HS) . . .Bearden set an outdoor personal record and cleared 2.15 meters to win the high jump over the weekend at the Ward Haylett Invitational, but the Wildcat men were edged by in-state rival Kansas 54-50 in the dual meet. BREE COLE — Jacksonville State University (Freshman, Cartersville HS). . . placed 14th with a time of 5:10.42 in the 1500M run Saturday at the University of Tennessee Challenge in Knoxville. Next for the Gamecocks is the Ohio Valley Conference Outdoor Championships. JSU will host this weekend in Oxford, AL. ANNA HIGHTOWER — Georgia Tech (Sophomore, Cartersville HS). . . set a new career best in the pole vault with a mark of 3.81m at the Torrin Lawrence Memorial in Athens. It was the final meet before the Jackets host the ACC Outdoor Championships this weekend in Atlanta. SAMANTHA PATTERSON — Jacksonville State University (Junior, Woodland HS). . . was third in the pole vault with a mark of 10’-6” Saturday at the University of Tennessee Challenge in Knoxville. Next for the Gamecocks is the Ohio Valley Conference Outdoor Championships. JSU will host this weekend in Oxford, AL.

Final results for Scott Hamilton Golf Academy players for tour events ending Sunday, May 7. Hudson Swafford made the cut at the Wells Fargo Championship in Wilmington, North Carolina and placed in a tie for 49th to lead SHGA PGA Tour players this week. On the senior PGA Champions Tour, SHGA-player Joe Durant (photo) continued his steady performance with a tie for 34th, while a pair of SHGA players on the WEB.com Tour missed the cut this past week. 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. RESULTS FOR WEEK ENDING SUNDAY, MAY 7 PGA TOUR Wells Fargo Championship May 4-7 — Wilmington, NC Eagle Point GC Winner: Brian Harman (-10) Scott Hamilton Golf Academy Players T49 — Hudson Swafford (+1) T71 — Chris Kirk (+8) MC — Brendon Todd MC — Boo Weekley MC — Scott Stallings MC — Steven Bowditch MC — Bobby Wyatt Next Event: May 11-14 — The Players Championship - TPC Sawgrass - Ponte Vedra Beach, FL PGA CHAMPIONS TOUR Insperity Invitational The Woodlands, TX May 5-7 — The Woodlands CC Winner: John Daly (-14) SHGA player: T34 — Joe Durant (-2) Next: May 18-21 — Regions Traditions - Birmingham, AL - Greystone G&CC WEB.COM TOUR Corales Puntacana Resort and Club Championship Punta Cana, DOM May 4-7 — Corales Golf Club Winner: Nate Lashley (-20) SHGA players: MC — Casey Wittenberg (-4) MC — Kyle Thompson (-4) Next: May 18-21 - BMW Charity Pro-Am by SYNNEX - Greer, SC - Thornblade Club LPGA TOUR Volunteers of America Texas Shootout Irving, TX - April 27-30 Winner: Haru Nomura (-3) SHGA Player Brooke Pancake — placed 52nd at her most recent event, Volunteers of America Texas Shootout. Next event: May 18-21 — Kingsmill Championship - Williamsburg, VA

The 2016-17 high school athletic calendar is moving into its final weeks with only the state finals in track and field remaining for local athletes in Bartow County. With that in mind, we review below the current positions of each local school in the 2016-17 Georgia Director’s Cup. The all-sports award for each classification and each gender is presented each year by the Georgia Athletic Directors’ Association and is sponsored by Regions Bank. Points are awarded for each school finishing in the top 32 statewide in their respective classificaitons. Standing are not complete, but will wrap up by the end of this month with the completion of the state playoffs in soccer, baseball, lacrosse, and track and field. For complete GADA Regions Director's Cup Standings and scoring rules, please visit: www.gadaonline.net Current standings for local schools —as of May 7 CLASS AAA Leaders: Lovett is currently first, followed by Morgan County and Calhoun Adairsville: 34th overall; 25th girls; 51st boys Adairsville scoring results: Girls soccer, Girls Cheer, Girls Volleyball, Boys Wrestling, Boys Basketball. Region 6AAA: Adairsville is 6th. Calhoun leads by a wide margin over second place Bremen. CLASS AAAA Leaders: Woodward Academy leads Columbus by 42 points with Blessed Trinity currently third. Cartersville: 9th overall; 14th girls; 8th boys Cartersville scoring results: Boys Football, Boys Cross County, Boys Basketball, Boys Tennis, Boys Baseball, Boys Wrestling, Girls Cheer, Girls Volleyball, Girls Softball, Girls Cross Country, Girls Tennis Region 5AAAA: Cartersville currently leads by 27 points over LaGrange. Sandy Creek is third. LaGrange is still in the baseball playoffs and could increase their point total. CLASS AAAAA Leaders: Buford leads by a wide margin over second place Starr’s Mill with Union Grove and Carrollton currently third and fourth. Woodland: 21st overall; girls 13th; boys 36th Cass: 38th overall; girls 51st; boys 24th Woodland scoring results: Girls Cross County, Girls Softball, Girls Tennis, Co-Ed Cheer, Boys Wrestling, Boys Cross Country. Cass scoring results: Girls Basketball, Boys Wrestling, Boys Tennis, Boys Soccer Region 7AAAAA: Carrollton has a commanding lead over Kell. Rome is third, Woodland fourth, and Cass sixth. Note: Excel Christian Academy in Class A has not earned points this year.

The Georgia Highlands baseball team split a doubleheader with West Georgia Tech Saturday in Carrollton to secure second place in the Georgia Collegiate Athletic Association standings and earn a first round bye in this week’s GCAA Championship Tournament. Georgia Highlands (37-19, 14-10) won the first game of the doubleheader Saturday 6-2, but fell in the second game 7-6. Brandon Bell homered and drove in three runs in the Chargers’ win. Jonathan White also had a two-hit game. Nick Fink had a hit and drove in two runs. Colby Taylor pitched five innings to pick up the win. Tyler Sellers earned a two inning save. West Georgia Tech came from behind to win the second game. GHC took a 6-2 lead to the bottom of the seventh when the Knights struck for five runs. Bell, Caleb McElwaney, and Devin Bilardello had two hits each in the second game. The Chargers are hosting the double-elimination GCAA Tournament at LakePoint Sports in Emerson and will open play Thursday at 3:30pm against Wednesday’s ABAC-Andrew College winner. ABAC is seeded third in the tournament. Andrew College is the No. 6-seed. The other first round game Wednesday features 4th-seeded Gordon State against 5th-seeded South Georgia. The Gordon State-South Georgia winner draws East Georgia on Thursday afternoon. East Georgia (28-19, 16-8) is the top seed for the tournament and regular season champion of the conference. The Bobcats have already secured a spot in the NJCAA East Central Regional regardless of their finish in the tournament. The GCAA tournament winner will advance to the regional. If East Georgia wins the conference tournament, then the runner-up will advance. The remainder of the GCAA tournament field is playing for the conference’s second spot in the NJCAA East Central Regional that will be played May 17-19 at Dyersburg State in western Tennessee. The regional winner in Tennessee qualifies for the NJCAA World Series that begins May 27 in Grand Junction, Colorado. 2017 Georgia Collegiate Athletic Association Tournament

After a scoreless first half at Adams Stadium in Atlanta Saturday night in the Class AAAA state playoff quarterfinals, the Cartersville boys soccer team succumbed to relentless pressure from Druid Hills and ultimately fell to the Red Devils, 4-0. Druid Hills scored in the opening minute of the second half, then tacked on two more goals in the middle of the second half before adding a late goal in the game’s final five minutes. Johnathan Cruz's free kick for Cartersville from just outside the 18-yard box was stopped late in the second half. An outstanding save by the Druid Hills keeper preserved the shutout. The Red Devils (15-6) advance to the state semifinals against Blessed Trinity next Tuesday. Both Druid Hills and Blessed Trinity are region champs so a coin toss will decide the host. Druid Hills won Region 4-AAAA. Blessed Trinity is champion of Region 7-AAAA. Cartersville, Region 5-AAAA champs, had won six straight games and had not lost in 15 consecutive matches prior to Saturday. The Canes, who had playoff wins over White County and Shaw, finished the year with a 16-2-2 record.

Georgia Highlands College coach Melissa Wood has only one way of describing this year's finish. "This was a group of competitors, and the third place finish does not reflect the heart, grit, and adversity our athletes endured and overcame during the postseason tournament," said the Chargers coach. GHC was slapped with an unfortunate schedule, due to inclement weather, and ended up playing four games in one day on Friday. The team played five games in less than 29 hours if you count Saturday's contest. "That's unheard of in modern day collegiate softball, especially in post-season and your season is on the line," continued Coach Wood. With a huge scheduling disadvantage, the team still advanced to the final day of the post-season tournament. GHC sat in the same side of the bracket as eventual tournament champs, Georgia Military College, which would be the only team to defeat the Chargers in tournament play. GMC had wins over the Chargers Friday and Saturday in the double-elimination event. Both games ended dramatically with walk off hits in the bottom of the seventh. "While it stinks to be on the losing end of two decisive games, it was good competitive, emotional softball. This was the most competitive the GCAA softball tournament has ever been," Wood added. The team plans to build from this year's success. The Chargers were 43-14 for the year, and the sophomore class has broken most team and individual records previously held by the institution. GHC added their first Region XVII MVP in program history with sophomore outfielder Andria Booth (photo right). The Most Valuable Player is awarded to the athlete with the best performance during the conference regular season. Booth, a DI commit, led the league with a .441 batting average while pounding 5 doubles, a conference-best five triples, and hit her first collegiate home run in her final conference game. She also recorded 17 stolen bases. GHC was awarded an astounding nine All-Region members after batting .370 as a team: Booth (OF), Becca Meade (RHP), Brianna Fickes (1B), and Carlee Thurmond (C) all garnered first team honors. Micayla McCoy (RHP), Madison Gianfala (2B), Shayla Smith (3B), Hannah Wills (OF), and Shay Wooten (DP) were all named to the second team. Four of the nine honorees are freshman and return for next season. Add that to a stellar group of rookies coming in and GHC has a lot to look forward to. Four sophomores have already committed to four year programs: Andria Booth (NCAA DI Gardner Webb), Rebecca Meade (NCAA DII Georgia College & State University), Brianna Fickes (NAIA Georgia Gwinnett College), and Madison Gianfala (NAIA Reinhardt University). Carlee Thurmond and Lacey Mount each have college visits set up in the next two weeks with intentions of playing collegiately their last two years. Lauren Womack and Kaleigh Mobley will not be hanging up their cleats entirely, they will both attend Kennesaw State University next fall and participate in club and intramural sports. Natalie Pederson chose the academic route, earning a Distinguished Scholar Award to finish a degree in Psychology at GCSU with intentions of interning at Central State Hospital in Milledgeville. All nine sophomores will be walking this Saturday at graduation. Overall Stats: http://thegcaa.com/sports/sball/2016-17/players?sort=ab&view=&pos=h&r=0 Conference Stats: http://thegcaa.com/sports/sball/2016-17/players?sort=ab&view=&pos=h&r=1

Goalkeeper Havyn Isaac made 16 saves behind a hard-working Lady Tigers' defense Friday night in the Class AAA state playoff quarterfinals, but the Lady Lions of Lovett defeated Adairsville 3-0. Lovett held a 1-0 halftime lead and added a second goal early in the second half on their way to the shutout victory. The Lady Lions' final goal came about 10 minutes later. As well as Adairsville defended and attempted to counterattack, Lovett was even better. Lady Lions keeper Heitho Shipp was forced to make only one save of a shot on goal the entire evening. In an Atlanta dominated AAA Final Four, Lovett (12-8) advances to the state semifinals to play at Region 5-AAA rival Pace Academy. Pace defeated Calhoun 3-1 Friday night. Pace was runner up in 5-AAA. Lovett was third. The Region 5-AAA champion, Westminster, will play in the opposite state semifinal against Greater Atlanta Christian. Adairsville’s season ends with a 14-5 mark and a second straight appearance in the Elite Eight for coach David Sexauer's club.

Georgia Highlands College starting pitcher Matthew Norton did not need a lot of offense out of his teammates Friday afternoon, but he received plenty in an 11-0 win at West Georgia Tech in Carrollton. Norton tossed a complete game three-hitter and shutout the Knights. He needed only 89 pitches in nine innings. He walked two, hit one batter and struck out six. West Georgia Tech never had a baserunner reach second base. GHC scored single runs in the second and fourth innings to take a 2-0 lead, added three more runs in the fifth for a 5-0 advantage, and rounded out their scoring with six more runs over the final two frames for their 11-0 decision. Matt Vaccaro had three hits including a double and four RBIs to lead the Chargers’ attack. Nick Fink had one RBI and three hits. Caleb McElwaney collected a pair of hits. John White (2 RBIs), Grant Bodison (RBI), and Devin Bilardello (double) added one hit apiece. West Georgia Tech falls to 22-30 overall and 8-14 in the Georgia Collegiate Athletic Association with the loss. Georgia Highlands (36-18, 13-9) is currently in second place in the GCAA — only one game ahead of third place ABAC with two games remaining. East Georgia has clinched the regular season conference title with a 16-8 mark. The Chargers and Knights conclude the regular season Saturday with a doubleheader in Carrollton. Georgia Highlands will host the GCAA Championship Tournament next Wednesday through Saturday at LakePoint Sports in Emerson.

Cass baseball standout Bailey Campbell was recently selected 2017 co-Offensive Player of the Year by Region 7-AAAAA coaches to lead a group of nine locals honored by the league. Campbell, a Young Harris College commit, hit for a .415 batting average with three homers and 11 extra base hits with 13 RBIs as the Colonels finished with a 15-15 season mark. He was joined on the All-Region 7-AAAAA First Team by teammate Jake Collum and Woodland standouts Jacob Frye and Hunter Reaid. Collum had a .393 batting average that included ten doubles, 13 RBIs, and five stolen bases. He is a Georgia Highlands College commit. Woodland infielder Jacob Frye hit .431 with a homer, seven extra base hits, and 15 RBIs. He also stole nine bases. Wildcats’ catcher, Hunter Reaid, hit .442 for the season with one home run and five doubles. The Shorter University commit drove in 12 runs and stole one base. Photo Credits TC Pics. Clockwise from top left: Collum, Fry, Reaid, Cornett, Bagwell, Williams, Stansell, Jinks _____ Five more Woodland players received region honors as the Cats finished 18-10. Garrett Cornett and Grayson Bagwell of the Wildcats were named to the All-Region Second Team. Cornett, an outfielder, hit .255 with four extra base hits and six RBIs. He swiped eight bases. Bagwell was selected as a pitcher. He worked 31 innings in 2017 with 23 strikeouts and a 2.25 ERA. Woodland’s Cauy Williams, Koby Stansel, and Kenny Jinks received All-Region Honorable Mention. Williams, committed to D-I USC-Upstate, hit .321 for the year with one home run and 14 RBIs. He also had a 3.06 ERA on the mound in 32 innings and fanned 36 opposing batters. Stansel was a .240 hitter as an infielder for Woodland with a double, ten RBIs, and a stolen base. Jinks struck out 13 in 16 innings of work on the mound for the Wildcats. He finished with a 1-1 record and an ERA of 3.36.

Rain has played havoc with local Little League baseball schedules this week with Bartow County games rained out Monday and Thursday. Cartersville games were postponed Thursday. The Bartow County Orioles remain undefeated and lead the BCLL standings with the Athletics and Braves close behind. Meanwhile, the Braves, Crackers, and Indians continue a very tight race in the Cartersville Little League (major) standings. Cartersville Little League (major) Tuesday, May 2 INDIANS 14, TIGERS 2 Indians: Harrison Childers four hits including two doubles, two RBIs; Trip Bradley three hits including a double and HR, three RBIs; Collin Fletcher, Hunter Kelly (RBI), Gavin Shrewsberry (RBI), Nick Zirklebach two hits each; Maddox Frazier double, 2 RBIs; Lucas Henry one hit. Harrison Childers (2 IP, 1R, 0R, 1H, 1BB, 1K); Hunter Kelly (2 IP, 0R, 1H, 0BB, 5K); Dawson Bishop (1 IP, 1ER, 1H, 3BB); Trip Bradley (1 IP, 0R, 2H, 0BB, 3K). Tigers: Connor Brasfield two hits; Colt Williams and Cam Williams one hit each; Dawson Sutton one RBI. The Tigers utilized seven pitchers — Trenton Payne, Garrett McRay, Logan Woody, Huson Lusk, Colt Williams, Connor Brasfield, Kac Adams each pitched. CRACKERS 12, COLTS 0 Crackers: Drake Carver three hits including triple, three RBIs; Thomas Norris three hits; Isaac Seigler double, HR, two RBIs; Tyler Shelton two hits including HR, RBI. Caleb Harrell double; Adam Cornwell one hit, one RBI; Paul Gamble one hit; Connor Stermer one RBI. Isaac Seigler (5 IP, 0R, 0H, 1BB, 5K) Colts: no hits. Brody Tidwell (3 IP, 5ER, 8H, 5BB, 4K); Jack Chatman (2 IP, 7ER, 7H, 1BB, 2K). BRAVES 13, PHILLIES 2 Braves: Anderson McCary three hits, one RBI; Hayden James two triples, four RBIs; Caleb Daniel (RBI), Martavius Cochran (RBI), Joshua Clay (RBI), Cooper Teeples (RBI) two hits each; Miles Owens double, RBI. Nicholas Hruby (1.1 IP, 2ER, 4H, 1BB, 2K); Anderson McCary (3.2 IP, 0R, 1H, 3BB, 4K). Phillies: Andrew Thayer (double, 2 RBIs), Kaden Stephenson, JaKiyon Porter, Ethan Eastin, one hit each. JaKiyon Porter (5 IP, 13R, 12ER, 14H, 4BB, 6K). DODGERS 9, PADRES 4 Dodgers: Ayden Ray two hits including HR; Jacob Peace two hits including double, RBI; Silas Freeman two hits; Tyler Taylor two hits, one RBI; Justin Peace and Carter Acrey one hit each. Hayden Hold (5 IP, 4ER, 7H, 2BB, 8K); Jacob Peace (1 IP, 0R, 0H, 0BB, 3K). Padres: Luke Altizer two hits, two RBIs; A.J. Christina double, RBI; Geoffrey Gore double, RBI; Eli Jones, Mateo Castillo, and Malachi Jeffries one hit each. Avery Higgins (1.2 IP, 4R, 2ER, 4H, 1BB, 3K); A.J. Christina (3.1 IP, 5ER, 6H, 5BB, 5K). CARTERSVILLE LITTLE LEAGUE (major) STANDINGS (as of May 4) Braves 13-1 Crackers 12-2 Indians 11-3 Phillies 7-7 Dodgers 5-9 Colts 3-11 Tigers 3-11 Padres 2-12 BARTOW COUNTY LITTLE LEAGUE (major) Tuesday, May 2 ORIOLES 7, RANGERS 1 Orioles: Braden Powell double, two RBIs; Kevin Henderson one hit, one RBI; Ashton Phillips, Tyler Driggers one hit each. Rangers: no hits; Titus Bagley RBI; Righley Worthington run scored. GIANTS 19, TWINS 1 Giants: Mark Perdue three hits including a double, HR, four RBIs; Jesse Wiseman three hits, two RBIs; Caleb Wiley two hits, four RBIs; Andrew Stiles two hits, one RBI; Damien West two hits; Aiden Reeder one hit, two RBIs; Bryson Hook double, RBI. Twins: no hits; Andy Urizar walk, run scored. BRAVES 14, CUBS 2 Braves: Tyler Martin double, two triples, three RBIs; Brice Craig three hits, including double, triple, three RBIs; Connor Lujan two hits, three RBIs; Mason Williams one hit, two RBIs; Erich Wilburn triple, RBI; Hunter Smith double, RBI; Joshua McBroom one hit, one RBI; Israel Contreras one hit. Cubs: no hits; Joshua Bishop one RBI; Caden Goff, Todd Gaddy run scored. TIGERS 5, METS 3 Tigers: James Foster two hits including double, two RBIs; Graham Hilburn two hits; Noah Queen one hit, one RBI; Carson Gray one hit. Mets: David Kelly two hits including double, two RBIs; Dylon Sellers double; PJ Weeks and Chase Davis one hit. ​​BARTOW COUNTY LITTLE LEAGUE (major) STANDINGS (for games posted through May 2) Orioles 8-0-0 Athletics 7-1-0 Braves 7-2-1 Tigers 6-4-0 Giants 5-3-0 Rangers 5-5-0 Cubs 3-6-0 Mets 2-6-1 Cardinals 1-9-0 Twins 0-8-0 ​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.

The Arizona Daily Star reported Wednesday night that former Cartersville High School star athlete, Donavan Tate, has been added as a quarterback on the roster of the NCAA football Arizona Wildcats. Head coach Rich Rodriguez made the announcement Wednesday night. Tate, who was the third overall pick in the 2009 Major League Baseball draft, will reportedly be joining the Arizona football program this summer. He is 26 years old and has played portions of six seasons in the minor leagues for both the San Diego Padres’ and Los Angeles Dodgers’ organizations. Tate will turn 27 in September and has not played football in eight years. His top level in the minors was Class A Advanced in the California League. Tate was a top-100 football recruit in 2009 before turning to baseball. He was ranked as the 89th-best football prospect as a quarterback and had committed to attend North Carolina before turning pro as a baseball player. Tate is the son of former NFL and University of Georgia football player, Lars Tate. He will be a walk-on at Arizona and will be competing at QB with returning junior starter Brandon Dawkins, sophomore Khalil Tate, and freshmen K’hari Lane and Rhett Rodriguez. The Tates are not related, but Rodriguez is son of UA coach Rich Rodriguez. Tate signed with the Padres in 2009 for a franchise-record $6.25 million, but his baseball career was sidelined multiple times by injury and off-the-field problems with addiction. The 6-3, 200 pound outfielder dealt with a drug-related suspension and he missed the entire 2014 minor league season with a torn Achilles. He appeared in over 40 games only twice in six seasons. He hit .226 with 10 home runs and 351 strikeouts in 299 games over six minor league seasons.

The Cartersville boys soccer team defeated Shaw High School of Columbus Wednesday evening at Weinman Stadium to advance to the GHSA Class AAAA quarterfinals. Pedro Ghanem scored a goal with only a few seconds remaining in the first half to give the Canes a 1-0 advantage at the intermission. The lead was extended in the first two minutes of the second half when Cesar Abeja scored off a feed from Pedro Robledo for the game’s only other tally. Meanwhile, the Canes’ defenders and keeper Cade Roberts kept the visiting Raiders (10-5) off the scoreboard the entire night. Cartersville (16-1-2) will play Druid Hills Saturday with the site determined by coin toss since both teams are No. 1 seeds. Druid Hills (14-6) defeated Northwest Whitfield Wednesday night, 2-1. The Red Devils are champions of Region 4-AAAA. The three other quarterfinal match-ups Saturday in Class AAAA include: St. Pius at Blessed Trinity; Southeast Whitfield vs. Richmond Academy; and Marist at Oconee County. The Cartersville/Druid Hills winner will play the St. Pius/Blessed Trinity winner in the state semifinals.