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The Cartersville Lady Canes volleyball team split a pair of matches Friday night during preliminary pool play at the 32-team Sequoyah Classic in Hickory Flat. Cartersville swept Sparyberry in their opener 25-23 and 25-11, but lost to Columbus in the nightcap, 25-16 and 25-17. In the victory over Sprayberry, Catie Heilman led Cartersville with four kills, four digs, and three aces. Rebekah Stevens contributed four kills. Anna Mathis had four digs. Grace Cochran added three aces and Kameron Hendrix totaled eight assists. In the loss to Columbus, Grace Hunter finished with four kills. Mathis had sixteen service receptions and six digs. Hendrix added seven assists and Elsa Evans contributed three blocks. Cartersville is now 1-1 in Pool B and will play Newnan Saturday at 9am in both teams’ final pool play match. The top two teams from each of the eight pools will advance to the Gold Championship Bracket beginning at 12noon. The third and fourth place teams in each pool will compete in a Silver Bracket. Matches continue in the tournament Saturday at Sequoyah, River Ridge, Creekview, and Etowah. With the split on Friday night, the Lady Canes are now 2-2 on the season.

A big offensive second inning for the Carrollton Lady Trojans Thursday night set the tone as they defeated Woodland, 9-1. Carrollton scored five runs on six hits in the bottom of the second inning to take an early lead the Lady Trojans would not relinquish. Woodland scored a single run in the top of the fourth inning, but Carrollton added single runs in the third and fifth innings plus two in the fourth for the eight-run victory. Carrollton (1-0) also out hit Woodland 13-6. Freshman Aslinn Spradlin was the winning pitcher for the Trojans. She allowed only one earned run on six hits. She did not issue a walk and struck out four in five innings of work. Woodland used a pair of pitchers in the circle. Sarah Baynard (2 IP, 5R, 4ER, 6H, 0BB) and Jordan Duck (2.1 IP, 4R, 2ER, 7H, 1BB, 1K) shared the pitching duties. Caroline Higdon had two hits, including a double, at the plate for the Lady Cats. Skylar Chappell added an RBI with a double. Madgie Robinson, Brittney Cox, and Duck has the other Woodland base hits. Woodland (0-1) will host Cass on Tuesday at 7pm in another Region 7-AAAAA matchup. The Lady Cats then travel to Darlington for a 5:30pm, non-region game on Wednesday and to Villa Rica Thursday for a region contest at 5:55pm.

The Adairsville Lady Tigers’ softball team lost a region matchup at Ringgold Thursday evening, 5-3. Adairsville took a 2-1 lead in the top of the fifth, but Ringgold scored four times in the bottom of the fifth inning to take control. The Lady Tigers out hit Ringgold eight to four, but Adairsville committed five errors in the contest including two in the fateful fifth frame. Adairsville threatened in the top of the seventh and added one run, but came up one run short. Loren Harris (6IP, 5R, 1ER, 4H, 2BB, 4K) only allowed a single earned run but suffered the pitching loss. Emily Collum had three hits for Adairsville. Harris contributed a pair of hits including a double and one RBI. Cortni Jacobs had two RBIs with one hit. Bailey Robinson and Sierra Tanner both added hits. Adairsville (1-2) plays at Cartersville on Saturday at 12 noon.

Adairsville volleyball defeated Pepperell in a tough three set match Thursday evening at Cass High School and downed Cass in straight sets The Lady Tigers topped Pepperell 25-16, 18-25, 25-20 and defeated Cass 25-16, 25-2. In the finale', Cass bounced back to beat Pepperell in straight sets, 25-15 and 26-24. Cass (2-1) plays at Model Tuesday at 5:30pm. Adairsville (3-1) travels to Murray County Tuesday to challenge the host Lady Indians and Pickens.

The Cass Lady Colonels’ softball team dropped their regular season opener Thursday night at Kell, 4-0. Kell broke open a scoreless game in the third inning with a single run, then added another run in the fourth inning and two more in the sixth. The Lady Longhorns out hit the Lady Colonels six to four and both teams committed a pair of errors. Despite the shutout, Cass coach Greg Hight saw some positives in the loss. Cass had runners at second and third in the top of the first with only one out. They also left a runner stranded at third base in the top of the third after Hope Elrod tripled with only one out. “We had some scoring chances,” said Hight. “We just have to get the key hits at the right time. We’re going to be okay. We played pretty well in spots.” In addition to the triple by Elrod, Sierrah Gani, Arianna Mustin, and Alexia Najarro collected hits for the Lady Colonels. Elrod (6IP, 4R, 2ER, 6H, 2BB, 1K) suffered the pitching loss. “Hope (Elrod) pitched well,” added Hight. “She kept us in the ball game and gave us a chance.” Cass (0-1) plays a pair of games Saturday at East Carroll Park. The Lady Colonels play Pierce County and Decatur Saturday and they return to Region 7-AAAAA play next Tuesday at Woodland. CEDARTOWN 3, CARTERSVILLE 2 Cartersville softball battled with the Cedartown Lady Bulldogs to the wire, but fell in their regular season opener Thursday night, 3-2. Hannah Todd pitched a complete game gem for the Lady Canes, but was saddled with the loss in the circle. Todd allowed only two earned runs on three hits and four walks. She struck out eight. Ava Tillmann did not allow an earned run and yielded only two hits and one walk to pick up the pitching win for the Lady Bulldogs. She struck out 13. Todd and Colbi Ballard had Cartersville’s hits. The Lady Canes return to action Saturday when they host Adairsville at 12 noon.

The Cartersville Lady Canes’ volleyball team defeated Woodland Thursday night at Marietta High School, but dropped a tightly contested match to the hold Lady Devils in three sets. Cartersville took care of business against Woodland, 25-12 and 25-11. Catie Heilman and Rebekah Stevens led the Canes offense with five kills each. Heilman also served up four aces. For Woodland, Madilyn Tuplin had two kills, three digs, and a pair of blocks. Ansley Flowers recorded two aces and one dig. In the loss to Marietta, Cartersville took the opening set, 25-15. The Lady Blue Devils rallied, however, to win the next two sets by scores of 25-21 and 25-23. Stevens had six kills and one block for the Canes. Kameron Hendrix added three aces in the match. Woodland also lost in straight sets to Marietta, 25-12 and 25-23. Tuplin of Woodland had five kills, five blocks, two digs, and an ace against Marietta. Kalia Henry added four assists and four digs. Flowers finished with three digs. Cartersville (1-1) plays in the Sequoyah Classic Tournament Friday and Saturday. Woodland (1-3) plays at Wheeler High School next Tuesday where they will face the host Wildcats and Meadowcreek.

Three of the four local high school football teams get things started under the Friday night lights this week with official scrimmages. Local coaches are ready to see their players in action against someone other than their own teammates at practices. Although the scrimmages are not official games and will not count in any standings, they provide an additional evaluation of players at game speed prior to opening night. Most scrimmages do not include any “live kicking game” plays and often utilize a format to include at least a quarter or more for the younger or less experienced players to play. In one of the most interesting pre-season matchups in the entire state, Cartersville head coach Joey King and the Cartersville Purple Hurricanes are hosting Westminster at 8pm Friday at Weinman Stadium. Cartersville was 15-0 in 2015 and won the Class AAAA state championship. Westminster was 3-4 to start the 2015 campaign, but closed the year with eight consecutive victories and a Class AAA state title. The Wildcats won each of their first four state playoff games by 18 points or more to reach the finals, including a 51-21 defeat of Adairsville in the state quarterfinals. Cartersville and Westminster took out powerhouse programs in their respective state championship games. Cartersville defeated Buford 10-0, while Westminster rebounded from an October loss to region-foe Blessed Trinity. In the rematch, the Wildcats held off the Titans at the Georgia Dome 38-31 in overtime. “We had a really good off season,” said the Canes' coach King, “but we’re ready to see the guys in action again against another opponent.” “We have several contributors back from last year’s team on defense and we’re looking forward to big things from them,” added King. The Canes return three of their defensive linemen, plus Sean Holton and Nyvan Nelson at linebacker. In the secondary, Cartersville returns Xavier Coaxum and pre-season all-state selection Trey Creamer. King looks to replace three offensive linemen and starters at receiver on the other side of the ball, but has the nation’s top prospect in the Class of 2018 calling the signals. Trevor Lawrence, a junior pre-season all-state selection at quarterback in Class AAAA, has thrown for 6,697 yards and 69 touchdowns in two seasons for the Canes. Creamer will play one of the running back spots for Cartersville along with junior Dominque Williams. “We have a lot of young guys that will get a chance to show what they can do and we are excited to get them out there in game type situations,” King said. Westminster will counter with a pair of Class AAA pre-season all-state selections of their own in defensive lineman Cortez Alston and running back Zay Malcolm. Alston (6-3, 250) is a weak-side defensive end rated by 247Sports as a top-80 player in Georgia. He is leaning toward either the University of California in the Pac 12 or Notre Dame for his play at the next level. Malcome (5-4, 160) is small in stature, but big on yardage and results. The speedy and shifty running back rushed for 1,642 yards last season and has a school-record 3,863 career yards rushing. In the Wildcats’ state title run, he scored 38 touchdowns rushing, caught three touchdown passes, returned five punts for scores, and returned three kickoffs for touchdowns. He has even thrown a touchdown pass. He has multiple collegiate offers, including Ivy League schools Princeton, Harvard, and Penn, plus the service academies. Cartersville and Westminster have played four times before in the regular season and met in the second round of the state playoffs in 2004. The Wildcats hold a 3-2 edge in those matchups. The Canes will face a second consecutive state championship when they open the regular season August 19. Cartersville will host Class AAAAA champ Allatoona. Westminster opens the regular season at home August 19 against Woodward Academy. Also in action with a Friday night scrimmage, Adairsville will travel to Woodland for an intra-county matchup. Woodland, under second year head coach Tony Plott, is looking to continue their rebuild of the program. The Wildcats were 1-9 in 2015 off the heals of an 0-10 season the year before. Woodland was 4-6 in 2013. Plott returns several key individuals with experience, and will look to running back Justice Carter as an offensive weapon and defensive end / tight end Emmanuel Jones (6-3, 230). Adairsville is coming off one of the program’s best seasons. The Tigers were Region 6-AAA runner-up in 2015 and won two state playoff games before succumbing to eventual state champions, Westminster in the quarterfinals. Adairsville, 11-2 last season, graduated 22 seniors but returns three starters on both offense and defense. “We had a great off-season and our spring practices went really well,” said Adairsville head coach Eric Bishop. “Our kids have worked extremely hard this summer and we’re pleased with where we are right now.” Among the returnees, Bishop will rely on senior quarterback Roger Redd in only his second year of football. “Roger led us to 11 wins last year. He’s put on some weight, he is stronger, and a bit quicker. He has worked really hard in the off-season,” said the coach. Third-year starter Jeb Simerly will anchor the Tigers’ offensive line and Denzel Pitt (6-5, 235) will play a key role at both wide receiver and defensive end. “Our defensive line is probably our strength again,” noted Bishop. “We returned several guys in that group, but our offensive line is probably our most improved group.” Adairsville will face familiar competition in Region 6-AAA once the regular season gets underway. “The region is really competitive,” said Bishop. “The key games are usually Calhoun, Sonoraville, and Ringgold, but we make sure the kids understand that no one game defines our season.” Adairsville and Woodland have met four times before in regular season play. Adairsville leads the series 3-1 and handled the Wildcats 35-23 in both teams’ opener last year. The Tigers open their regular season August 19 at Ridgeland. Woodland plays at River Ridge that same evening. The other local team, Cass, does not open its regular season until August 26 at Adairsville, The Colonels will travel to Lindale near Rome for their official pre-season scrimmage August 19 at Pepperell.

The Cass High School volleyball team opened its 2016 season Tuesday evening with a straight set victory at home over visiting Cedartown. The Lady Colonels (1-0) won the best-of-five match with the Lady Bulldogs, 26-24, 25-15, and 25-18. Cass will host Pepperell Thursday at 5pm and will travel to Model August 16.

The Bartow County Recreation Department has extended its deadline for girls, middle school volleyball league signups through August 26. The league is for girls in grades 6-8 and teams are formed based on the school attended. The purpose is to familiarize players with their eventual high school programs. The registration fee is $70 and the league runs August through October. All games are played at the old Cass High School gym on Grassdale Road. Coaches are NYSCA certified. Players receive shorts and jerseys. For more information, contact the BCRD office at 770-387-5149. Online registration is available at the following link: https://secure.rec1.com/GA/bartow-county/catalog

The Adairsville Lady Tigers softball team dropped its region opener Tuesday at Coahulla Creek, 5-3, although pitcher Loren Harris tossed a one-hitter. In a matchup marred with some defensive miscues by both teams, Harris allowed only one earned run on a single hit and three walks. The Lady Tigers committed three errors and Coahulla Creek made four errors. The homestanding Lady Colts grabbed a 2-0 lead in the bottom of the second, but Adairsville (1-1) scored three times in the top of the third. Breeana Wilson was hit by a pitch and moved to second base on a sacrifice by Macy Hufstetler. After Emily Collum reached on an error, Cortni Jacobs reached safely on another bunt. Bailey Robinson then doubled home two runs and Harris followed with an RBI single to give the Lady Tigers a 3-2 advantage. Coahulla Creek responded with three runs of their own in the bottom of the third to close out the game’s scoring. The Lady Colts managed their three runs without benefit of a hit, scoring off a pair of errors, two walks, a wild pitch, a passed ball, and a ground out RBI. Tessa Hawkins had the lone hit for the Lady Colts. She also drew a walk. Robinson led Adairsville at the plate with three hits and a pair of RBI. Her three hits included two doubles. Harris added one RBI on a hit and Jacobs was 1-for-4. Harris and Collum both stole a base. Up next, Adairsville travels to Ringgold on Thursday for another region matchup. The Lady Tigers then play at Cartersville on Saturday with first pitch scheduled for 12 noon.

Woodland volleyball came away with a split of two matches as the Lady Cats opened their 2016 campaign at home Tuesday against South Cobb and Hiram. The hosts defeated South Cobb 25-10, 25-19 in the opener, but later fell to Hiram, 25-19, 25-14. Statistical leaders for Woodland vs. South Cobb: Kalia Henry — 6 assists, 2 kills, 1 block Madilyn Tuplin — 3 kills, 4 digs, 3 blocks Kera Lawhon — 5 aces, 2 digs Ansley Flowers — 2 kills, 6 digs vs. Hiram: Kalia Henry —10 assists, 2 digs, 1 block Madilyn Tuplin — 4 kills, 7 digs, 2 blocks Grace Ryan — 4 kills, 2 digs Kera Lawhon — 1 ace, 2 kills, 7 digs Ansley Flowers- — 5 kills Woodland (1-1) plays again Thursday at Marietta High School, where the Lady Cats will face Marietta and Cartersville. Adairsville tops Chattooga, falls to Coosa The Adairsville Lady Tigers volleyball team split season opening matches Tuesday with Chattooga and Coosa in Summerville. Adairsville edged Chattooga in a three-set opener, 25-18, 24-26, and 25-22, but fell to Coosa in the finale’, 25-14, 25-10. Adairsville leaders vs. Chattooga: Sierra Matthews — 8 kills, 2 blocks, 3 aces Chloe Powell — 2 kills, 2 aces Nakiyah Washington — 2 kills, 2 aces Chloe Cochran — 2 kills Josie Summerville — 2 blocks, 1 ace Virginia Worthington — 1 ace vs. Coosa: Sierra Matthews — 3 kills Chloe Powell — 2 aces Chloe Cochran — 1 kill Virginia Worthington — 1 ace Adairsville (1-1) travels to Cass on Thursday to face the Lady Colonels and Pepperell.

Excel Christian Academy softball bounced back from Monday’s loss to county rival Adairsville with a resounding 10-4 win Tuesday at Gordon Central. Hannah Lee picked up the pitching victory in the circle for the Lady Eagles. She scattered ten hits and a walk in seven innings of work. All four runs were earned and she struck out six. Gordon Central took a 2-0 lead early with single runs in each of the first two innings, but Excel scored four runs in the third, a single run in the fifth, and five more in the seventh inning to put the game away. Gordon Central (0-1) scored twice in the bottom of the seventh. The Lady Eagles out hit the Lady Warriors 14-10 in the win. Rachel Parrott (3 RBI) and Brighton McCollum (2 RBI) led the ECA offense with three hits each. One of Parrott’s hits was a homerun in the top of the third inning. McCollum had a double among her three safeties. Kami Cooper (2 RBI) and Lindsey Mauldin (RBI) chipped in a pair of hits each. Whitney Harris, Aliza Baker, Lee, and Kalli Beth Scheff (RBI) had the other Excel Christian hits. The Lady Eagles also took advantage of Gordon Central on the base paths. McCollum, Mauldin, Harris, Lee, and Cooper each stole a base. Excel (2-3) hosts Model next Monday and will host Gordon Central in a rematch August 22. Both games are set for 4:30pm.