Bartow County 11-12 Little League Softball fell to Vine-Ingle/Wetern Little League Tuesday night, 3-1. After winning their first two games at the state tournament, Bartow County must now win three straight games to win the state championship. Bartow County and Vine-Ingle/Western were the only two unbeaten teams remaining in the double-elimination tournament going into Tuesday night’s games at Hamilton Crossing Park in Cassville. Following three scoreless innings, Bartow County scored in the top of the fourth to take a 1-0 lead. Sadye Johnson reached safely on an infield single and Chloe Souders followed with another infield hit to open the frame. Johnson was thrown out trying to advance to third, but that allowed Souders to reach second base with one out. Maggie Pruitt sacrificed Souders to third with two outs, but Souders scored three pitches later on a wild pitch. The hits by Johnson and Souders would be Bartow’s only safeties on the night. The one run lead held up for Bartow County for one more inning, but Vine-Ingle/Western scored three unearned runs in the bottom of the fifth inning to take the lead. An infield error and an RBI single tied the game 1-1 before a triple forced home two more runs. Bartow County was retired in the top of the sixth with a pair of line drive outs and a strikeout to secure the 3-1 win for Vine-Ingle/Western Little League. The loss for Bartow spoiled an outstanding pitching performance by Souders. In five innings of work, she allowed only four hits and no walks while striking out one batter. Bartow will play in an elimination game Wednesday at 6pm against Habersham County Little League. Habersham lost in the first round to Vine-Ingle/Western, but has staved off elimination twice already with wins over Oconee County American and Pioneer Little League. Habersham defeated Pioneer Tuesday night, 7-1. Vine-Ingle/Western advanced to the championship round with Tuesday’s win and will need only one more win to capture the state title. The Bartow/Habersham winner on Wednesday will play Vine-Ingle/Western in the finals and will need two wins to claim the state championship. The championship round is Thursday night at 6pm and 8pm if needed. All games in the 2016 Georgia State Little League Tournament are being played at Hamilton Crossing Park.

The Bartow County Recreation Department will host the 2016 Richard Samuel Football Camp this Thursday through Saturday, July 21-23, at the Hamilton Crossing Park Football Field. Samuel, who starred at Cass High School and with the University of Georgia Bulldogs, will lead campers through a variety of drills and activities to improve their football skills. Registration and space is still available. The cost is $75 and the camp is for ages 6-12. For more information, call the Bartow County Recreation Department at 770-387-5149.

Jones Baseball will host a baseball skills clinic and showcase for ages 9-16 at Beacon Sports in Emerson. Participants will work on a variety of aspects of their games, including hitting power, bat speed, fielding and throwing, pitching accuracy, velocity, catching defense and pop times, plus overall athleticism. The cost for the showcase is $100. Dates and times for ages 9-12 are 6pm-8:30pm Friday, July 29; 9am-11:30am Saturday, July 30; and 2pm-6pm Sunday, July 31. Dates and times for ages 13-16 are 2pm-4:30pm Saturday, July 30; and 4:30pm-6:30pm Sunday, July 31. For more information, call 770-827-4439 or 678-371-6917.

The Bartow County 11-12 Little League Softball team moved to 2-0 in the Georgia Little League State Tournament Sunday with a dominant 24-0 win over Oconee County American Little League. The state tournament is being conducted at Hamilton Crossing Park in Cassville and is hosted by Bartow County Little League. Playing as the visiting team, Bartow County scored six runs in the top of the first before ever playing defense. BCLL added nine runs in the second, six in the third, and three more in the fourth on their way to a mercy, run-rule victory. Madison Bentley and Haley Stiles were strong in the pitching circle for Bartow County. They each worked two innings and combined for a one-hitter. Bentley yielded a hit, two walks, and struck out four. Stiles did not allow a base runner and struck out three. Chloe Souders had two extra base hits — a double, a triple, and two RBI — to pace the locals’ offense. Ansley Hight had three RBI with a pair of hits that included a triple. Rachael Lee had two hits and two RBI. Maggie Pruitt finished with two hits and one RBI, and Stiles added two hits. Eryn Lee, Hallie Owens (RBI), Sadye Johnson (triple), Cassie Jones (4 RBI), and Bentley (RBI) had the other Bartow County hits. Bartow also took advantage of Oconee County on the basepaths with 13 stolen bases. Rylee Hensley, Jones, Hight (2), Eryn Lee (4), Rachel Lee, Souders, Stiles, and Pruitt (2) all had stolen bases. With the victory, Bartow County advances to play Tuesday night at 6pm against Vine-Ingle/Western Little League. Vine-Ingle/Western has wins over Habersham County, 7-1, and West Point, 13-1. The winner Tuesday, locks up a spot in the championship round of the double-elimination state tournament on Thursday night. The loser must win an elimination game Wednesday night to get back to the finals. Plus, the loser will need two wins in the championship round against Tuesday night’s winner.

It took two wins over Smyrna and extra innings in the second game, but Cartersville Little League 10U baseball captured the Georgia Little League State Championship Sunday with a 9-6 win in nine innings. Cartersville lost to Smyrna on Thursday for their only loss during the double-elimination tournament, but the Canes made their way back through the losers’ bracket for a rematch with Smyrna Little League in the championship round. With Smyrna remaining unbeaten prior the championship round, Cartersville needed a 10-5 victory Saturday to force Sunday’s decisive game. Cartersville took a 3-0 lead in the top of the first and expanded their lead to 4-1 in the top of the third, but Smyrna battled back to tie the game 4-4 with three runs in the bottom of the third. Cartersville took the lead again in the fifth with a single run and Smyrna answered with a run in the bottom of the sixth to send the game to extra innings. After scoreless seventh and eighth frames, Cartersville struck for four runs in the top of the ninth to take a 9-5 lead. Smyrna scored a run in the bottom of the inning, but a pair of groundouts and a runner picked off at third base thwarted Smyrna’s comeback ideas and secured the state championship for the 10U Canes. Connor Brasfield picked up the pitching victory for Cartersville by working the final four innings. He allowed only one run on five hits and a walk. Gavin Shrewsbury (4.2 IP, 3R, 1ER, 9H, 0BB, 3K) opened the game on the mound for Cartersville and Joseph Womack (0.1 IP, 1ER, 1H, 0BB) recorded the final out of the fifth inning on the mound. Cartersville’s three run first inning opened with a leadoff home run to center field by Hayden James. Caleb Daniel followed by drawing a walk and Miles Owen reached on an infield single. After two outs, Ayden Ray singled into left field to drive home Daniel and Turner Abernathy drove home Owen with a single into right field for a 3-0 lead. In the Canes’ third inning, Owen led off with a single and Shrewsbury was hit by a pitch. Following a groundout force play, Ray singled into center field to load the bases. Abernathy then drove in his second run of the game with an infield hit to third base that plated courtesy runner, Easton Elrod and gave Cartersville a 4-1 lead. After Smyrna Little League tied the game in the bottom of the third, the two teams played a scoreless fourth. In the top of the fifth, Cartersville regained the lead, 5-4, on an RBI double to right field by Ray. Brasfield, who scored on the play, was hit by a pitch to start the inning and had moved up to second base on a wild pitch. Smyrna tied the game again in the bottom of the sixth to send it to extra innings. The game remained tied 5-5 until the top of the ninth when Cartersville erupted for four runs. Abernathy led off the Canes’ ninth with his third hit of the game and moved to third on an infield hit by Womack. A throwing error on the play allowed Abernathy to score and Womack moved up to second base. Elrod followed with a base on balls and Womack scored on a Smyrna wild pitch, for a 7-5 lead. James drove home Elrod with a productive ground out to second base that gave Cartersville an 8-5 advantage and Owen, who reached base in the ninth with his fourth hit of the game, scored on a wild pitch to make the score, 9-5. Smyrna threatened in the bottom of the ninth with a run on three hits that included a pair of doubles, but two groundouts and a pick off at third base ended the threat. Both teams finished the contest with 15 hits. Owen helped lead Cartersville at the plate with four hits and scored two runs. Ray finished with a 3-for-3 game that included a double and 2 RBI. Abernathy was 3-for-4, scored a run and had 2 RBI. James (HR and 2 RBI), Daniel, Elrod, Brasfield, and Womack had the other Cartersville base hits. Smyrna finished the tournament with a 4-2 record. SLL had wins over Peachtree City, Warner Robins American, Washington Wilkes, and Cartersville, before losing back-to-back games to the Canes in the championship round. In addition to their 2-1 mark in matchups with Smyrna, Cartersville had wins over Northern Little League of Columbus and Oconee County Little League to finish the state tournament with four wins and only one loss. The Cartersville 9-10 Little League roster: Easton Elrod, Nicholas Hruby, Joseph Womack, Gavin Shrewsbury, Connor Brasfield, Hayden James, Turner Abernathy, Miles Owen, Ayden Ray, Caleb Daniel, Charlie Rothschild, and Coby Barrett. Manager: Richard Daniel. Coaches: JJ James and Joe Owen.

The Bartow County 11-12 Little League Softball team jumped on Pioneer Little League early Saturday at the Georgia Little League Softball State Tournament and cruised to a 15-2, five inning victory in both teams’ opener at Hamilton Crossing Park in Cassville. Bartow scored seven runs in the first two innings and that would be more than enough cushion for the pitching duo of Chloe Souders and Madison Bentley. The two Bartow pitchers combined for a one-hitter. Souders worked two innings and did not allow a run, hit, or walk and recorded a pair of strikeouts. Bentley worked the final three innings in the circle, allowing a pair of runs on a hit and four walks. The Bartow offense added four runs in the top of the fourth inning to extend their lead to 11-0 before PIoneer got on the board with their two runs in the bottom of the inning. Bartow then added four more in the top of the fifth and shutout Pioneer in the frame for the 15-2 final score. The Bartow offense totaled a dozen hits in the contest. Rachael Lee had four hits that included a triple and two RBI. She also scored three runs. Ansley Hight collected two hits and finished with four RBIs. Eryn Lee also had a pair of hits for Bartow and scored three runs. Sayde Johnson (2 RBI, 4 runs scored), Hallie Owens, Souders (RBI, run scored), and Bentley (RBI, 2 runs scored) had the other Bartow County hits. Maggie Pruitt scored a run and drove home two runs and Cassie Jones collected a walk and scored a run. Pioneer slips to the elimination bracket Monday at 8pm where they will face Habersham County Little League. Vine-Ingle/Western Little League defeated Habersham Saturday, 7-1. Bartow advances to play Oconee County American Little League Sunday afternoon at 4pm. The 11-12 Georgia Little League State Tournament continues through Thursday, July 21 at Hamilton Crossing Park.

The Cartersville Recreation Department 8U coach pitch team won the Georgia Recreation and Parks state championship tournament Saturday with an exciting, walk off, come-from-behind victory over Calhoun in the title game. Cartersville, who went 4-0 in their state tournament run at Sonoraville Recreation Complex in Gordon County, trailed Calhoun 12-8 going to their final at bats. The locals rallied in that final frame, however, for a 13-12 win that included an RBI walk-off, double from Asa Mitcham. Peyton Emery, Gavin Baxter, Hudson Lusk, Logan Buchanan, and Mitcham all had two hits to lead the Cartersville attack. Carter Rice, Harris Turner, and Kamdyn Woods had one hit each. Cartersville had wins over Gordon County, Rome, and Calhoun twice to win the 10-team tournament. Cartersville roster includes: Gavin Baxter, Logan Buchanan, William Camp, Christopher Childers, Colby Craig, Peyton Emery, Hudson Lusk, Asa Mitcham, Carter Rice, Harris Turner, Sydney Seigler, and Kamdyn Woods. Manager: Ty Mitcham. Coaches: Ezra Lusk, Adam Turner, and Jonathan Rice.

The Cartersville Little League 10U team playing at the state tournament at Sewell Park and East Marietta Little League has forced a second championship game with a 10-5 win over Smyrna Little League Saturday morning. Cartersville, who fell to Smyrna in their first tournament meeting Thursday, will now play a deciding game for the state title at 10am Sunday. Smyrna took a 2-0 lead in the bottom of the first inning, but Cartersville scored four runs — all with two outs — in the top of the third inning to seize the momentum. Caleb Daniel and Miles Owen each singled to get the Canes started and Gavin Shrewsbury drove in a run with another hit. Connor Brasfield singled to load the bases and then Ayden Ray followed with an RBI single. Turner Abernathy added an RBI hit to complete the two-out rally and Cartersville held a 4-2 lead. In the top of the fourth, Cartersville added two more tallies. Hayden James hit a solo homer to center field and Shrewsbury singled home Daniel who had doubled following the solo shot. Smyrna narrowed the Cartersville lead to 6-3 in the bottom of the fifth inning with a double and an RBI single, but the Canes answered in their next turn adding four more runs in the top of the sixth inning to take a 10-3 lead. Shewsbury drove in two runs with a ground ball single and Brasfield hit a two-run home run as Cartersville took a seven run lead going to Smyrna’s final at bat. Owen (4.1 IP, 2ER, 3H, 2BB, 5K) was the winning pitcher for Cartersville. Shrewsbury (1 IP, 2ER, 2H, 1BB, 3K) and Brasfield (0.2 IP, 1ER, 2H, 1BB, 2K) pitched in relief.

Cartersville Little League 10U scored eight runs in the first two innings to take control and cruised to a 15-6 victory over Northern Little League of Columbus at the Georgia 10U state Little League tournament Friday night. The victory advanced Cartersville to the state championship round against Smyrna Little League on Saturday at 10am at Sewell Park of East Marietta Little League. Cartersville needs two wins over Smyrna Saturday to win the state title. Smyrna, who reached the championship round unbeaten, needs only one win to capture the title. Smyrna also handed Cartersville 10U its only loss of the tournament Thursday night, 15-5. In Cartersville’s 15-6 win over Northern, Gavin Shrewsbury had a solid performace on the mound and at the plate. He had three hits, including two extra-base hits with a single in the fourth inning and doubles in the second and sixth frames. He had two RBIs. Ayden Ray, Turner Abernathy, and Caleb Daniel combined with Shrewsbury for nine hits and 11 RBI for the Canes’ offense. Ray had two hits and two RBI. Abernathy drove in four runs with a pair of doubles and Daniel finished with three RBI on a pair of hits that included a double. Daniel picked up the pitching victory with a five inning performance. He allowed six runs, only three earned, on 14 hits and a pair of walks. He struck out two. Shrewsbury allowed only one hit and no earned runs in an inning of work to close out the contest. He walked none and struck out three.

The Cartersville Recreation Department’s 8U coach pitch baseball team defeated Calhoun 9-7 Friday night at the GRPA State Tournament in Gordon County to reach the championship round on Saturday. Cartersville, the only unbeaten team remaining in the double-elimination tournament, will face Calhoun again in the finals. After falling to Cartersville, Calhoun bounced back later Friday evening to defeat Rome and earn a rematch with the Canes. In Friday night’s victory over Calhoun, Cartersville had 12 players to collect base hits. Carter Rice had three hits and Asa Mitchum had two hits to lead the charge. Peyton Emery hit a grand slam in the second inning and Logan Buchanan had a two-run triple in the third frame. William Camp, Hudson Lusk, Colby Craig, Kamdyn Woods, Harris Turner, Christopher Childers, and Gavin Baxter all added a hit. Cartersville will need one win Saturday to capture the state championship. Calhoun must defeat Cartersville twice. The championship round begins Saturday at 10am. If a second game is needed, it will be played immediately following the first game.

The Cartersville 12U GRPA all star team fell to Grady County Friday night in the state semifinals to be eliminated from the state tournament at Paulson Park in Savannah. Cartersville held as much as a 9-4 lead in the fourth inning, but Grady County rallied for six runs over the final three innings for a come-from-behind win. Things started well for Cartersville. JaKiyon Porter reached on an error, stole a base, and scored on a groundout to give Cartersville a 1-0 lead early. Hunter Cochran was hit by a pitch to open the second inning, moved to second on a ground out, stole third base, and scored on a throwing error by the catcher to put Cartersville ahead 2-0. Grady County scored on a solo home run to make it 2-1 in the bottom of the second before Cartersville added two more runs in the top of the third. Gunner Millsap was hit by a pitch. Porter reached on an error and Giles Turner was hit by a pitch to load the bases. Noah Ford then doubled home a pair of runs to give Cartersville a 4-1 lead. Grady County scored three runs in the bottom of the third on an error, a walk, and a pair of singles to tie the score 4-4. Cartersville then struck for five runs in the top of the fourth to regain the lead, 9-4. Jackson Rutledge reached on an infield error, Tanner Wall singled, and Jonah Cooper doubled home a run. After Jack Chatman walked, Kaden Stephenson drove in two runs with a single and Chatman crossed the plate on an errant throw. Brody Tidwell then grounded out, driving home Stephenson for a 9-4 score. Grady did not fold. They bounced right back with three runs in the bottom of the fourth to narrow the gap to 9-7. A single, a hit batsman, a walk, and a pair of stolen bases led to a three run inning for Grady County. Cartersville went scoreless in the fifth and sixth innings, but held their two run advantage going to the bottom of the game’s final inning — the bottom of the sixth. Grady County utilized two walks and a single to plate their first run of the inning that cut the lead to one. Then with two outs, a two-run double completed the comeback 10-9 final that eliminated Cartersville. Both teams finished with seven hits and Grady County overcame six errors. Cartersville’s defense made only one error. Grady County advances to the championship round to play Clayton County at 10am Saturday morning. Clayton needs only one win Saturday. Grady needs to win two games in the double-elimination tournament.

The Cartersville 12U team at the GRPA State Tournament in Savannah won an elimination game Friday morning to advance to a 6pm elimination game Friday night. Cartersville defeated the Savannah Ravens 12-3 and will face the loser of a game between Clayton County and Grady County Friday night. Clayton County and Grady County are the ony undefeated teams remaining in the double-elimination event. Jackson Rutledge hit a three run home run, Brody Tidwell drove in a run with an RBI single, and Cartersville plated three other runs on passed balls to take a 7-0 lead in the first inning. Noah Ford and Evan Sanders homered in the second inning to take a 9-0 lead over Savannah. In the third frame, Cartersville Giles Turner drove in a run with a sacrifice as Cartersville scored twice and pushed their lead to 11-1. Tanner Wall singled and later scored on a passed ball in the fourth inning to give Cartersville a 12-2 lead and they held on for a nine run victory. Ford had two hits for Cartersville, including a homerun, and a walk. Hunter Cochran, Brody Tidwell, and Gunner Millsap each added two hits. Sanders and Rutledge homered. Tanner Wall had a hit and two walks. Jonah Cooper drew three bases on balls, JaKiyon Porter coaxed one walk, and Giles Turner added one RBI. One more win by Cartersville will put them in the championship round, but they will need two wins to acquire the state title. The championship games are Saturday at 10am.