The Georgia Highlands College baseball team held a 2-0 lead early Friday night at LakePoint and led 2-1 through five innings, but it was four runs posted by the Chargers in their last three frames at the plate that secured a 6-3 win in the opening game of a weekend series with visiting Sinclair State CC (OH). The Chargers scored one run in each of the first two innings. John White had an RBI single in the first and Nick Fink doubled and later scored on an infield error by the Tartan Pride. Sinclair scored a run in the top of th fifth to make the score 2-1, but Georgia Highlands responded with two more runs of their own in the sixth. The Chargers loaded the bases on a B Bell single and walks by Josh Kiser and Evan Mask. Jake Ferentinos was then hit by a pitch to drive in one run and Bronco O’Brien followed with an RBI single for a 4-1 GHC lead. The Tartan Pride scored twice in the top of the seventh to make the score 4-3, but a run in the seventh and another in the eighth gave the Chargers the margin of victory. Devin Bilardello singled and eventually scored on an RBI ground out by Kiser in the seventh inning for Georgia Highlands. Three more walks and an RBI groundout by O’Brien plated the Chargers’ final run in the eighth inning for the 6-3 final. Colby Taylor allowed only two hits and two walks in a strong, six inning start to earn the pitching win. He allowed one, unearned run and fanned eight. The Chargers used four more pitchers with Britt Buckelew recording the final two outs in the ninth for a save. Georgia Highlands (6-6) plays a doubleheader with Sinclair State CC (0-1) Saturday at LakePoint to conclude the three-game series.

Chestatee keeper Steven Martinez saved two of the three shots he faced in the penalty shootout and all four Eagles’ shooters scored for a 4-1 penalty kicks win at Cartersville Friday night after the two teams had played to a 1-1 tie through regulation and two, five-minute overtimes. Chestatee led 1-0 at halftime, but Cartersville’s Cesar Abeja scored the equalizer in the opening minutes of the second half. Chestatee improved to 2-3-1 with the win. Cartersville (2-1-1) hosts Northwest Whitfield Tuesday at 7:30pm and begins Region 5AAAA play at home Thursday against Troup County at 8pm.

The Cass boys soccer team lost a closely contested, non-region game with visiting Sprayberry Friday night, 2-1. The lone Cass goal was scored by Carlos Perez off an assist from Slomi Orozco. Brandon Romero had 15 saves in goal for the Colonels. Trailing 1-0 at the intermission, Cass scored to tie the game with 33 minutes remaining, but gave up a late penalty kick goal with approximately 15 minutes remaining. The win was the Yellow Jackets' first of the year. Sprayberry is now 1-3. Cass (0-5) plays at Carrollton Tuesday at 8pm and at Rome Friday at 7:45pm.

The Woodland boys soccer team played Chapel Hill to a 4-4 tie Friday night in Douglasville. Servando Aguirre scored three goals for the Wildcats. Jose Pineda added the other Woodland goal. Chapel Hill falls to 0-3 with the loss. Woodland (3-1) plays at Paulding County Tuesday to open Region 7AAAAA play.

The Cass, Woodland, and Cartersville girls soccer teams each lost non-region games Friday night. SPRAYBERRY GIRLS 4, CASS 0 The Cass girls soccer team lost to visiting Sprayberry Friday night 4-0. Sprayberry scored two goals in each half in their win. The Lady Colonels had quality shots from Brittney Ochoa, Kelsey Rivera, and Stephanie Robledo that hit the crossbar, but failed to score. Sprayberry improved to 3-1 on the season. Cass (2-3) plays at Carrollton Tuesday at 6pm to open region play in 7AAAAA. CHAPEL HILL GIRLS 10, WOODLAND 1 The Woodland girls soccer team lost at Chapel Hill Friday night, 10-1. Chapel Hill improved to 5-0 with the win. The Lady Cats (0-3-1) play a Region 7AAAAA contest at Paulding County Tuesday at 5:30pm. CHESTATEE GIRLS 4, CARTERSVILLE 1 The Cartersville girls soccer team lost to visiting Chestatee Friday night, 4-1. LaShun Williams scored the Lady Canes' goal of a deflected shot by Chloe Davis. Chestatee improved to 3-2-1 with the win. The Lady Canes (3-1) host Northwest Whitfield Tuesday at 5:30pm.

The Woodland baseball team defeated visiting Coosa Friday evening at The Ballpark at Woodland, 4-1, in a non-reigon game. The Wildcats scored three runs in the bottom of the first and added a fourth run in the fourth after Coosa had narrowed the lead to 3-1. Garrett Cornett singled and Hunter Reaid was hit by a pitch before Trenton Harrison drove in the game’s first run with a base hit. Cauy Williams followed with an RBI single and Emmanuel Jones drove in a run with a groundout for a 3-0 Woodland lead. Coosa posted their only run of the game in the top of the second inning on a double, a passed ball, and a sacrifice fly. Woodland added an insurance run in the bottom of the fourth. Dylan Webb reached on an error and stole second with two outs. He advanced to third on a passed ball and crossed the plate on a double by Reaid. Kenny Jinks tossed six strong innings and did not allow an earned run to earn the pitching victory for the Wildcats. He scattered four hits, issued no walks, and struck out eight. Tommy Peed worked a scoreless seventh inning to earn a save. Peed walked one, but did not yield a hit and struck out one. Harrison finished with a pair of hits that included a double and one RBI. Reaid also had a double and one RBI. Williams (RBI), Jacob Frye, and Cornett had the other Wildcats’ hits. Coosa slipped to 1-4 on the season. Woodland (5-1) plays at Calhoun Tuesday at 5pm and will travel to Coosa next Thursday for a 4:30pm game.

The Woodland girls and boys tennis teams won non-region, road matches Thursday night at county rival Adairsville. The Lady Cats and Wildcats both won by 3-2 scores. WOODLAND GIRLS 3, ADAIRSVILLE 2 SINGLES Line 1 — Gloria Gore (W) def. Chloe Powell (A), 6-2, 6-4 Line 2 — Deanna Dodson (W) def. Hannah Adcock (A), 6-0, 6-0 Line 3 — Megan Smith (A) def. Breanna Shook (W), 6-3, 6-4 DOUBLES Line 1 — Ashlyn Walker/Michelle Maserjon (W) def. Cali Mealer/MaKenzie Davis (A), 7-6, 5-7, 7-5 Line 2 — Brantley Hughes/Micaela Pardo (A) def. Becky Wesley/Caroline Gore (W) 6-2, 4-6, 6-4 WOODLAND BOYS 3, ADAIRSVILLE 2 SINGLES Line 1 — Houston Medlock (A) def. Bryce VanOrder (W), 6-0, 7-5 Line 2 — Blake Bottegal (W) def. Cody Kimbrough (A), 6-1, 6-2 Line 3 — Jack Bates (A) def. Connor Gunnell (W), 6-3, 1-6, 6-2 DOUBLES Line 1 — Max Costlow/Alex Banta (W) def. Landon Swanson/Cameron O’Neal (A), 6-1, 6-2 Line 2 — Noah Pirkle/Adam Pirkle (W) def. Jason Burdett/Zach Ogle, 6-1, 6-4

The Georgia Highlands College softball team opened conference play Thursday with a home, doubleheader sweep of Gordon State College, 2-1 and 6-0. Rebecca Meade went the distance in the pitching circle for the Chargers in the first game allowing only one run on four hits. She struck out five. Brianna Fickes provided all the run support in the opener with a timely, two-run homer over the right centerfield wall in the third inning. In the Game 2 win over the visiting Highlanders, the Chargers got another homerun by Fickes in the first inning to take a 1-0 lead. That score held until the bottom of the fifth inning when Shay Wooten hit a three-run shot deep over the left field wall. Georgia Highlands added two more runs in the bottom of the sixth off a sacrifice hit by Kaleigh Mobley and Madison Gianfala's run scored on a wild pitch. Gianfala for 3-for-5 on the day. Micayla McCoy tossed a complete game shutout in the nightcap. She allowed only a pair of hits and one walk while striking out seven. GHC is now 18-3 on the year will face 20th-ranked Georgia Military in another Georgia Collegiate Athletic Assocation double-header this Saturday. Game times are set for 2pm and 4pm at GMC in Milledgeville.

The Bartow County Recreation Department completed a clean sweep Thursday night winning both the 8U and 10U boys titles at the 2017 Georgia Parks and Recreation Association (GRPA) District 5 Basketball Championships. The games were hosted by the Bartow County Recreation Department at the Houston Suggs Youth Facility at Hamilton Crossing Park. With the wins, both teams qualified for the GRPA State Tournament March 3rd and 4th. 8U BOYS BARTOW 43, WHITFIELD COUNTY 17 Bartow sprinted out of the gate and never looked back defeating Whitfield 43-17 Thursday night to with the GRPA District 5 championship. Led by a stifling, pressing, and hungry defense Bartow jumped out to a quick 8-1 lead after the first quarter and led at the break 22-8. Bartow put the game away and finished off Whitfield with an impressive 17-5 third quarter. Ja’Kez Baldwin led the scoring for Bartow with 13 points. He was followed by Kyron McClendon with 10 points; Nasier Bennett 6 points; Jeremy Dent 4 points; Jabari Burleson and Christian Teasley 3 points; and Tavaris Burleson and Jaden Daise with 2 points. Bartow will play in the GRPA State Tournament March 3-4 at College Park Recreation. 10U BOYS BARTOW 39, SOUTH COBB 27 Bartow broke open a close contest in the third quarter with a 15-7 run and went on the hold off South Cobb 39-27. The South Cobb defense kept Bartow from playing their usual up tempo style and the low scores after the first and second quarter reflected that defensive effort. Following the halftime break, Bartow was able to score points off turnovers and convert on fast break opportunities. Kaden Baldwin and Ja’Kevian Harris led a balanced scoring attack for Bartow with 8 points each; Zach Postell, Jayden Foster, and Zantavian Brown each scored 5 points; Jamarian Pullum added 4 points; and Joseph Boatman and Jonathan Gough chipped in with 2 points each. Bartow will play in the GRPA State Tournament March 3-4 at Spalding County Recreation in Griffin. Youth and adult recreation basketball results are supplied to Bartow Sports Zone by the Cartersville Recreation and Parks Department and the Bartow County Parks and Recreation Department.

The Woodland Wildcats jumped out to an early lead Thursday night at home and defeated visiting Armuchee in a non-region diamond matchup, 12-5. Woodland put seven runs on the board in the first three innings, but Armuchee made it interesting with a five-run fourth to narrow the margin to 7-5. The Indians had three hits in the fourth inning, but Woodland contributed to the rally with three errors. The Wildcats added a run in the bottom of the fourth and four more in the sixth to secure the seven-run victory. Woodland took advantage of seven Armuchee errors and ten walks. Trenton Harrison led the Wildcats at the plate with a 2-for-3 performance. He drove in two runs with a pair of doubles and scored twice. Hunter Reaid (double), Toby Queen, and Cauy Williams both had a hit and two RBIs each. Garrett Cornett, Brycen Kellett, and Emmanuel Jones had the other Woodland hits. Garrett Pope (4 IP, 5R, 1ER, 5H, 1BB, 3K) started on the mound and picked up the pitching victory. Koby Stansel and Tommy Peed (2 IP, 0R, 0H, 1BB, 5K) pitched in the fifth and sixth frames. Grayson Bagwell (1 IP, 0R, 0H, 0BB, 2K) worked a scoreless seventh inning to earn a save. Armuchee (0-2) was swept in their two-game series with the Wildcats. Woodland (4-1) hosts Coosa Friday at 5pm and will travel to Calhoun next Tuesday for a 5pm start.

Behind another power hitting performance by Bailey Campbell and a combined four-hitter tossed by four Cass pitchers, the Colonels won a non-region game at Class 6A Sequoyah Thursday night in Hickory Flat, 6-2. Campbell finished the night 3-for-4 with a homerun and a double. It was his third homerun in as many games. Jake Collum drove in a pair of runs in a 2-for-3 performance for Cass that included a walk. Zach Yancey and Cody Johnson had the only other base hits for the Colonels. Cass drew six walks as a team and also had two hit batsmen. Sequoyah led 1-0 after one inning, scoring on a pair of singles that sandwiched an infield error to plate an unearned run off Cass starter Evan Hinton. The Colonels responded, however, with a run in the second and two more in the fourth to take a 3-1 lead. Johnson coaxed a walk and advanced the next three bases on wild pitches to give Cass a 2-1 lead in the second inning. In the fourth inning, Tyler Hendon and Steven Spell both walked to open the frame before Hendon scored on a Collum single and Spell crossed the plate on yet another wild pitch that gave the Colonels a 3-1 advantage. The Chiefs took advantage of a walk, stolen base, and sacrifice fly to narrow the margin to 3-2 in the fifth inning, but the Colonels answered with a run in the top of the sixth to regain their two-run lead. Nathan Smith was hit by a pitch and Garrett Brookshire entered as his courtesy runner. Gavin Young walked and the two runners swiped second and third on a double steal. During that play, Brookshire was able to score for a 4-2 Cass lead. Cass added insurance runs in the sixth on the Campbell solo shot and an RBI single by Collum. Hinton (4 IP, 1R, 0ER, 3H, 2BB, 2K) was credited with the pitching win. Collum (1 IP, 1ER, 0H, 2BB, 2K) and Johnson (1 IP, 0R, 0H, 1BB, 1K) pitched the fifth and sixth innings with Yancey (1 IP, 0R, 1H, 0BB, 1K) earning a save with a shutout seventh inning on the mound. Sequoyah falls to 1-3 with the loss. Cass (5-0) will host non-region games with Rockmart and Alexander Saturday. The Rockmart game is scheduled for 10am and the Alexander game is set for 5:30pm.

Elite Stone Supply, in conjunction with WBHF and Bartow Sports Zone, presents the ELITE ATHLETES OF THE MONTH. Each month, all five local high schools are provided opportunity to name an Elite Athlete of the Month and present the information on their honoree through Bartow Sports Zone and on 100.3FM and AM1450, WBHF in Cartersville. Recipients for February 2017: Tyler Hendon -- Cass High School Nic Jackson -- Adairsville High School Kenly King -- Cartersville High School Jesus Montero -- Woodland High School Ellise Taylor -- Excel Christian Academy The February Elite Athlete of the Month for Cass High School is Tyler Hendon. Hendon, a senior, has started the 2017 baseball season at a torrid pace. Through the first four games of the season, he is batting .462 with a double and a homerun. Defensively, Hendon has been solid in right field and has not committed an error. “I am proud of the way Tyler has swung the bat this season,” said Cass head baseball coach Adam Williams. “He is showing his true potential. I think we will see even more production from Tyler in the future. His homerun versus Adairsville shows how strong he is.” Hendon also shines in the classroom with a 3.5 grade point average. The son of Brittany and Nathan Hendon, he plans to attend college and wants to serve his community in the future as a law enforcement officer. Nic Jackson is the February Elite Athlete of the Month for Adairsville High School. Jackson is a sophomore wrestler for the Tigers in the 170-pound weight class. He placed third this year in the Class AAA state tournament and has over 100 high school varsity wins. He is the son of Shane and Tracie Jackson and academically carries a 4.0 GPA. Jackson is recognized by his coaches as a leader in and out of athletics. They note his great work ethic and his self-discipline. The Cartersville High School Elite Athlete of the Month for February is Kenly King. A senior member of the Lady Canes’ tennis team, King is a team leader and captain. She has played varsity singles all four years and has helped lead Cartersville to three consecutive region championships. “Kenly has been an integral member of the CHS tennis team all four years. She and her teammates have experienced three region titles. She is tenacious. Her love of the sport has not diminished although she carries a heavy course load. She is a leader and a motivator,” said Lady Canes’ tennis coach Melissa Moore. She is the daughter of Kena Butler and Chris King. She maintains a 3.9 grade point average. Jesus Montero is the February Elite Athlete of the Month representing Woodland High School. The son of Neibeth Montero, Jesus placed second at the 2017 GHSA State Wrestling Championships in the 120-pound weight division. It was his first time placing at the state tournament. Montero pinned each opponent through the Area and Sectional Tournaments, and then pinned his opponent in the first three rounds of the state tournament prior to his loss in the state finals. A team captain for the Wildcats, Montero maintains a 3.5 grade point average. “Jesus did not start wrestling until midway through his 8th grade year. He has a tremendous work ethic and desire to succeed,” commented Woodland head wrestling coach Adrian Tramutola. The February Elite Athlete of the Month for Excel Christian Academy is Ellise Taylor. A high school freshman at Excel, she is the daughter of Roger and Christie Taylor and has attended ECA for the past nine years. Taylor is a multi-sport athlete. She is a member of the cross country team and a leader for the Eagles’ cheerleading squad. She was nominated as Elite Athlete of the Month by Coach Keisha Wilkie and Coach Taylor for her outstanding work ethic, unselfish attitude, and strong leadership skills exhibited during the past basketball season. “Ellise always goes above and beyond what is asked of her,” said Coach Wilkie. “ She often did things that needed to be done without being asked. She displayed tremendous leadership for a freshman and she added so much to the squad.” Taylor is an excellent student. She made all A’s throughout her middle school years and has also maintained straight-A’s for the first semester of her freshman year of high school. Her favorite subject is band. She loves playing the oboe and performing at concerts. Her hobbies include reading, playing the piano, and spending time with her family. She is a member of the Cross Point City Church, where she is an active participant in youth activities. She also spent time during the summer months working with Harvest House Ministries. Taylor plans to attend college, but has yet to decide on a future major. Editors Note: Photos and bios are supplied to Bartow Sports Zone and WBHF by the respective schools and their athletic departments. Elite Stone Supply, LLC is the monthly sponsor. Athletes receive a plaque along with recognition during a radio feature on WBHF.