The Georgia Highlands softball team had its 2016 season come to a close Saturday at the Georgia Collegiate Athletic Association championship tournament played at Strong Rock Christian School in Locust Grove, GA. The 4th-seeded Chargers went 2-2 in the tournament to finish fourth. Georgia Military College (35-22) defeated South Georgia State in the finals to win the GCAA tournament and earned a spot in the NJCAA Softball World Series in St. George, Utah May 18-21. GMC entered the tournament as the 2nd-seed and knocked off top-seed South Georgia State (32-9) twice on their way to the title. Georgia Highlands had wins over East Georgia State and Andrew College, but lost to South Georgia State in the second round of the winners’ bracket and were eliminated by Darton State in the quarterfinals. Both tournament losses were by a single run. The Chargers lost 5-4 to South Georgia State and fell 2-1 to Darton State. The wins were 6-0 over East Georgia and 9-1 over Andrew. “We played good softball,” said GHC head coach Melissa Wood. “When we made mistakes, they were aggressive mistakes. The girls had great attitudes and really played hard.” Most of the 2016 edition of the Chargers will be back for the 2017 campaign, so Wood is excited for her team’s future. “Our freshmen got a lot of attention from the four-year colleges that were at the tournament scouting prospects,” said Wood. “That’s always important. We want to provide as much exposure for our players as possible.” The Chargers, who finished with a 27-33 overall record, had only three sophomores in 2016. One sophomore, Jace Armstrong, is a communications major that has accepted a paid position in the Tennessee Lady Volunteers communications department of their athletic program. Ashley Jordan has an offer from Kennesaw State to continue playing softball and will be making her decision in the coming days. The third sophomore, Victoria Woods, had an unfortunate softball career ending injury. With so few players graduating from the program, the pressure has not been as great for the current recruiting cycle. “We only had three sophomores, so right now we have five signees for next year,” said coach Wood. “We’ve signed two pitchers — a righty and a lefty, an outfielder, and two other athletes that will compete for positions in either the infield or outfield,” the coach continued. “We could add a walk-on or two, but the vast majority of our team returns for next season,” added Wood. Freshmen Carlee Thurmond and Rebecca Meade were named to the 2016 GCAA All-Tournament Team and five Chargers received 2016 All-Region honors. Meade, a right hand pitcher, became the first freshman in GHC history to earn First Team conference honors. She is also the first freshman, and only the third athlete in GHC history, to receive a nomination toward All-American consideration. Four other freshmen were named Second Team All Region, including Brianna Fickes (1B, Corona, CA); Caitlin Parks (C, Cumming, GA); Carlee Thurmond (UT, Winder, GA); and Lauren Womack (SS, Cartersville, GA). “We broke a ton of program records this year, so we are looking forward to building on this season and competing for a championship next year,” concluded Wood. Georgia Highlands will offer a variety of softball instruction opportunities for youngsters during the collegiate off-season. “We like to give back to the Bartow County Recreation Department,” noted coach Wood. “They allow us to use their fields and do our upgrades, so we support them by offering one of the best youth camps in the country.” “We do a four-day kids camp in the summer. The kids get a t-shirt and all the sessions are in the mornings. Parents can drop kids off on their way to work and pick them up at lunch. We keep the cost down to around $65 and our players come back and work with all the kids,” Wood said. “It’s a lot of fun.” The Chargers will also have prospect camps in the fall for potential, future college players and also plan to offer hitting and defensive clinics at the Beacon Sports indoor facility in Emerson during the summer months. Information on all the camps will be updated on the Georgia Highlands College athletic department website, ghcchargers.com.

This week's 'Athletes Beyond Bartow' baseball report includes updates on 15 of the 24 former local high school baseball players currently contributing at their respective college programs across the country. A few schools have completed their 2016 season, while others are wrapping up their regular seasons. Still other programs are moving into post-season play at conference or regional tournaments. Bartow Sports Zone maintains a roster of local athletes competing currently on college or professional rosters. See the 'Athletes Beyond Bartow' page on this web site for more. BASEBALL BRANDON ETHERIDGE — Georgia Highlands CC (Soph., Cass HS) . . . was 5-for-16 in a four game series with Gordon State College last week. He scored three runs with a triple and a pair of walks. Etheridge has a .290 batting average for the season with 35 runs, 16 RBI, and eight stolen bases in 49 games. The Chargers split the four game set with Gordon and currently sit fourth in the Georgia Collegiate Athletic Association standings with a final regular season series this week against West Georgia Tech CC. GHC (26-26, 11-13) travels to LaGrange for the series opener Tuesday afternoon and will host the final three games May 6-7 at LakePoint in Emerson. Friday’s game is at 6pm. The Saturday DH starts at 1pm. MICHAEL GOSS — UNC-Greensboro (Jr., Cartersville HS) . . . went 3-for-5 and scored twice with a triple, two doubles, and two RBI April 26 in a home, non-conference win over Campbell. Goss was then 3-for-10 and scored two runs with one RBI in a three game home, conference series sweep of Samford. He has a .338 batting average with 19 extra base hits and 27 RBI through 34 games played. The Spartans (33-13 overall, 11-4 Southern Conference) currently lead the conference by 1.5 games over Mercer and Western Carolina. UNCG has a conference series this week at Wofford, May 6-8. ROBERT HARRIS — Troy University (Jr., Adairsville HS) . . . made a pair of relief appearances in Sun Belt Conference games at Texas State. He earned a save April 29 by recording the final out in a 12-8 win on only four pitches. He also worked a one inning stint May 1 during a 4-1 loss. He allowed a pair of hits, but finished a shutout inning. Harris has pitched 25 and 2/3 innings in 17 appearances with 26 strikeouts and a 5.61 ERA. The Trojans (25-19, 11-10) play a non-conference game at Alabama State May 4 and host a conference series with University of Louisiana-Monroe May 6-8. HARRISON HATFIELD — Shorter University (Soph, Cartersville HS) . . . went 5-for-9 in a pair of starts and one substitute appearance April 30 and May 1 as the Hawks swept a three-game, Gulf South Conference series at home over Christian Brothers University. Hatfield scored five runs, drove in three, stole a base, and had a sacrifice during the series. He had a .195 batting average for the season in 21 game appearances. He started at second base 11 times. Shorter finished the season with a 17-32 mark and was 9-24 in the GSC. BRADLEY HOOD — Georgia Highlands CC (Fr., Cass HS) . . . made a one inning relief appearance April 26 during a 16-8 home loss to Gordon State College. He yielded four runs on a pair of hits and three walks. He struck out two. Hood has made 13 relief appearances for the Chargers this season and pitched 14 and 2/3 innings. He has 12 strikeouts and carries a 6.75 ERA. GHC (26-26, 11-13 Georgia Collegiate Athletic Association) travels to West Georgia Tech Tuesday and hosts the Golden Knights for a single game Friday and a doubleheader Saturday at LakePoint in Emerson. TRIPP JAMIESON — Univ. of the Cumberlands (Jr., Cartersville HS) . . . went 0-for-4, but scored a run in a 15-5 home loss to 5th-ranked Tennessee Wesleyan on April 26. Jamieson was then 2-for-7, including a walk, a run scored, and one RBI as the Patriots were knocked out of the Mid-South Conference playoffs in a pair of losses at Lindsey Wilson (KY). In 36 games (31 starts), Jamieson had two homers and 19 RBI with a .253 batting average. The Patriots finished the year 33-23, 9-12 in the Mid-South Conference. CONNOR JUSTUS — Georgia Tech (Jr., Cartersville HS) . . . went 1-for-4 with a walk and one RBI during a 13-5 loss at Georgia April 26. Justus then went 2-for-11, including a walk, three runs, and three RBI in a three-game, non-conference sweep of Coastal Carolina in Atlanta. Justus leads the No. 25 Yellow Jackets with a .368 batting average in 44 games started at shortstop. He has six homeruns, 23 extra base hits, and 33 RBI. He has stolen eight bases and carries a .591 slugging percentage with an on base percentage of .486. Justus also sports a .944 fielding percentage. Georgia Tech (30-14 overall, 10-10 ACC) returns to conference play May 7-9, hosting Miami. SEAN McDERMOTT — Cleveland State CC (Fr., Adairsville HS) . . .went 2-for-14 with one double and two RBI as the Cougars won two of three conference games at Roane State CC April 29-30. McDermott has a .369 batting average with 12 home runs, 38 RBI, and 34 runs scored through 46 games. CSCC (30-19 overall, 17-10 Tennessee Community College Athletic Association) enter their conference tournament at Columbia State CC as the 3rd-seed. Cleveland State plays Jackson State CC on Monday, May 9 in both team’s TCCAA tournament opener. CHRIS MORTON — Georgia Highlands CC (Fr., Cass HS) . . . made a one inning relief appearance April 26 during a 16-8 home loss to Gordon State College. He walked two batters, but tossed a shutout frame. Morton has made eight relief appearances this season for the Chargers, pitching 5 and 2/3 innings. He has five strikeouts and a 1.59 ERA. GHC (26-26, 11-13 Georgia Collegiate Athletic Association) travels to West Georgia Tech Tuesday and hosts the Golden Knights for a single game Friday and a doubleheader Saturday at LakePoint in Emerson HUNTER OSBORN — Reinhardt University (Soph., Cartersville HS) . . . made his 13th start of the season April 29 at 21st-ranked Bryan College (TN) in a 7-5 loss. He pitched 2 and 2/3 innings, allowing five runs on six hits and five walks. He struck out one. Osborn finished the season with a 6-5 mark in 66 and 2/3 innings with a 3.51 ERA. Reinhardt (29-25 overall, 10-17 Appalachian Athletic Conference) concluded its third winning season in a row and the best three-year run in program history with a record of 94-78. MASON ROBINSON — Wallace State-Dothan CC (Soph., Woodland HS) . . . went 6-for-11 with a home run, five RBI, two walks, four runs scored, and one stolen base as the Governors won three of four games in a conference, home-and-home series with Wallace State-Selma April 28-30. He was also 0-for-4 in a 5-2 home loss to Gulf Coast State College April 25. Robinson has a .303 batting average with three homers and 27 RBI through 47 games. He has scored 27 runs and has eight stolen bases. Wallace State-Dothan (31-20, 16-12) is fourth in the Alabama Community College Conference and concludes regular season play May 5-6 with an ACCC series vs. Enterprise State CC. TRISTON SMITH — Young Harris College (Soph., Adairsville HS) . . . scored one run on a walk and stole a base in four plate appearances April 29-30 at home against Georgia Southwestern. Smith started 27 games and appeared in 34 games for the Mountain Lions. He finished with a .208 batting average, five doubles, and four RBI. YHC concluded the season with a 12-37 overall record and 6-23 in the Peach Belt Conference. JO JO UNDERWOOD — University of North Carolina-Greensboro (Jr., Cartersville HS) . . . made defensive appearances at third base during a 10-2 home win over Campbell April 26 and a 10-2 home conference win over Samford April 29. The Spartans (33-13 overall, 11-4 Southern Conference) currently lead the conference by 1.5 games over Mercer and Western Carolina. UNCG has a conference series this week at Wofford, May 6-8. ASA WILLIAMS — Reinhardt University (Sr., Cartersville HS). . . went 0-for-2 in a start at catcher April 29 during a 7-5 loss to 21st-ranked Bryan College (TN). Williams finished with a .189 batting average in 16 game appearances. He had six RBI and started 13 games. Reinhardt (29-25 overall, 10-17 Appalachian Athletic Conference) concluded its third winning season in a row and the best three-year run in program history with a record of 94-78. CHAZ WILSON — Columbus State University (Jr., Cass HS) . . . tossed a shutout ninth inning April 30 (video above) as the Cougars clinched the Peach Belt Conference regular season title with a home win over UNC-Pembroke. Wilson has made 14 relief appearances, working 19 and 1/3 innings with 17 strikeouts. He has a 5.59 ERA and opponents have a .197 batting average against him. Columbus State (39-11 overall, 23-7 PBC) will be the top-seed at the eight-team Peach Belt Conference tournament May 11-14 in Florence, SC. Did we miss someone? Please let us know. Use the contact page of this site to provide information we may have missed or email us: bartowsportszone@comcast.net

Several local athletes improved marks at the 2016 State Sectionals held Saturday, April 30 at multiple locations. Updated '2016 Best in Bartow County' marks through May 1. The top local high school track and field performances by event for the 2016 season. (as of May 1) Use table slider toolbar to navigate to all events.

High school track and field competitors from Adairsville, Cartersville, Cass, and Woodland High Schools battled Saturday at three different GHSA State Sectionals Saturday with several local athletes reaching their respective State Championship Meets coming up later in May. Ray Varnum of Cass qualified for the state finals in four different events, including the 110M hurdles, the long jump, the triple jump, and as a member of the Colonels' 4x100M relay team. Varnum was second in the long jump and the Cass relay team also placed second at the Class AAAAA sectional at Starrs Mill High School in Fayetteville. Bree Cole of Cartersville won the girls 1600 meter run at the Class AAAA Sectional in Carrollton for regions 1, 2, 5, and 7. She also qualified for the state championship in the 800M run. Trevor Knowles and Jarvis James led the Woodland athletes at the Class AAAAA sectional at Starrs Mill. Knowles was third in the high jump, while James was third in the long jump. Josie Summerville of Adairsville was the Tigers' top performer at the Class AAA sectional in Calhoun. She placed fifth in the shot put. For most running events, there were only qualifying heats at the state sectionals, no finals. Out of the two heats, the top two finishers from each heat and the next four fastest times from either heat advanced to the state finals. The 1,600 meter and 3,200 meter runs qualified the top eight finishers for the state finals. In field events, the top eight also qualified for the state championships. The 2016 Girls Track and Field State Championships will be held in Albany at Hugh Mills Stadium, May 5-7. The 2016 Boys Track and Field State Championships will be May 12-14 at Memorial Stadium in Jefferson, GA Local results from State Sectional events held Saturday. State Championship qualifiers are marked with an asterisk (*). GHSA Class 5A Sectional Starrs Mill High School, Fayetteville, GA Girls High Jump *6th - Kyler Trouten - Cass - 5-00 Girls Long Jump 14th - Chaila Reliford - Woodland - 16-05.50 Girls Shot Put *6th - Hayley Gildersleeve - Cass - 39-03.50 Boys 100M *5th - Terry Berdin - Cass - 11.13 9th - Jamai Smith - Woodland - 11.23 Boys 110M Hurdles *7th - Ray Varnum - Cass - 15.25 Boys 200M 13th - Terry Berdin - Cass - 22.93 Boys 400M 12th - Kevin Miller - Woodland - 50.98 Boys 4x100M Relay *5th - Cass - 42.58 (Laizon West, Dexter Wilkey, Ray Varnum, Terry Berdin, Malik Grimes) Boys 4x400M Relay 9th - Woodland - 3:27.38 (Kevin Miller, Thomas Jolly, Trevor Knowles, Julian Rockett, Jonathan Applin) Boys 800M 10th - Julian Rockett - Woodland - 2:00.74 Boys High Jump *3rd - Trevor Knowles - Woodland - 6-00.00 Boys Long Jump *2nd - Ray Varnum - Cass - 22-08.00 *3rd - Jarvis James - Woodland - 22-06.50 Boys Pole Vault *4th - Thomas Jolly - Woodland - 12-00.00 Boys Triple Jump *8th - Ray Varnum - Cass - 43-07.00 Class AAAA Sectional Carrollton High School, Carrollton, GA Girls 100M 13th - Destiny Mitchell - Cartersville - 13.16 Girls 800M *4th - Bree Cole - Cartersville - 2:26.84 Girls 1600M *1st - Bree Cole - Cartersville - 5:24.25 Girls 4x100M Relay 14th - Cartersville - 52.72 (Destiny Mitchell, Grace Cochran, Anna Cooney, Demaya Bryan) Girls Long Jump 15th - Destiny Mitchell - Cartersville - 14-00.50 Girls Shot Put *8th - London Shaw - Cartersville - 33-02.00 Girls Discus 10th - London Shaw - Cartersville - 91-11 Boys 400M 14th - Trey Creamer - Cartersville - 52.32 Boys 1600M 9th - Haden Boone - Cartersville - 4:45.59 Boys 4x100M Relay 15th - Cartersville - 46.12 (Malcolm Cooley, Kaleb Chatman, Nivin Nelson, Trey Creamer) Boys 4x400M Relay 14th - Cartersville - 3:58.79 (Kaleb Chatman, Alex Mosac, Javen Bridges, Trey Creamer) Boys Long Jump *2nd - Trey Creamer - Cartersville - 21-09.50 Class AAA Sectional Gordon Central High School, Calhoun, GA Girls Shot Put *5th - Josie Summerville - Adairsville - 35-00.00 Girls Discus 9th - Nakiyah Washington - Adairsville - 95-00 Boys 100M 13th - Daylon Bailey - Adairsville - 11.73 Boys 4x100M Relay 14th - Adairsville - 45.79 (Daylon Bailey, Patrick Johnson, Jai’mon Mitchell, Marquel Lane) Boys Long Jump 14th - Marquel Lane - Adairsville - 19-05.50 Boys Discus *6th - Jayson Cantrell - Adairsville - 133-04

The Georgia Highlands College baseball team swept a doubleheader Saturday with Gordon College in Barnesville to earn a series split with the Highlanders. The Chargers took the first game 9-4 and followed that with an 8-3 win in the second game. With one, four-game, conference series remaining in the Georgia Collegiate Athletic Association’s regular season, Georgia Highlands is in fourth place. If they can maintain that spot next week, they will host in the GCAA playoffs. Sam Sowerbrower (5 IP, 1R, 0ER, 4H, 3BB, 8K) picked up the pitching victory in the first game. Nick Constan, Dalton Isley, and Will Griffin closed out the final two frames. Brandon Bell was the big bat in the opener. He had a pair of hits that included a grand slam with five RBI. Daniel Gooden also homered and doubled. Devin Bilardello (3 RBI), Evan Mask, Trenton Nutter, Tristan Roberts (double), and Nick Fink (double) all contributed base hits. In the second game, Casey Collins (5 IP, 3ER, 9H, 2BB, 5K) limited the Highlanders’ offense, while Colby Taylor and Will Griffin pitched one scoreless relief inning each. Gooden finished the second game with a pair of doubles and two RBI. Nutter drove in two runs with a double. Brandon Etheridge, Joel Munoz, Clint Tonini, and Bilardello (double, RBI) added hits. Georgia Highlands (26-26 overall, 11-13 GCAA) has a four game series against West Georgia Tech next week. The Chargers play at WGT Tuesday afternoon and will host the final three games of the series at LakePoint Friday and Saturday.

The Georgia Highlands softball team defeated Andrew College 9-1 in six innings Saturday morning to survive and advance in an elimination game at the Georgia Collegiate Athletic Association championship tournament at Strong Rock Christian School in Locust Grove. Carlee Thurmond and Caitlin Parks hit back-to-back homers in the win. With the victory, the Chargers have reached the final four of the GCAA tournament and face another elimination game Saturday afternoon at 4pm against the winner of a noon game between East Georgia State CC and Darton College. Georgia Highlands needs four more wins to capture the tournament title. They would need a win Saturday afternoon plus three more against South Georgia and Georgia Military who remain unbeaten at this point in the tournament. Those top two seeds play each other at 2pm Saturday with the winner reaching the double-elimination tournament’s championship round. The tournament continues through Sunday and Monday if needed.

2016 Cartersville Little League (Major League) standings, upcoming schedule, and game capsules for April 13 and 14. Standings updated through April 28. RECENT SCORES April 25 Tigers 10, Crackers 4 Braves 9, Indians 5 April 26 Dodgers 8, Padres 5 Phillies 6, Colts 4 April 27 Braves 7, Indians 6 Tigers 13, Crackers 3 April 28 Colts 7, Phillies 6 Padres 10, Dodgers 3 UPCOMING SCHEDULE Tuesday, May 3 5:45 - JFH - Indians v. Tigers 5:45 - RY - Padres v. Phillies 7:45 - JFH - Crakers v. Braves 7:45 - RY - Colts v. Dodgers Thursday, May 5 5:45 - JFH - Braves v. Crackers 5:45 - RY - Dodgers v. Colts 7:45 - JFH - Tigers v. Indians 7:45 - RY - Phillies v. Padres Game Capsules for Major League games played April 13 and 14. Indians 15 Colts 13 Indians Hitters Harrison Childers 4-5 with 3 2B, 3 R, 3 RBI Trip Bradley 3-4 with 2B, BB, 2 R, RBI Nick Zirkelbach 2-3 with 2B, BB, R Jake Woodall 1-3 with BB Connor Brasfield 1-4 with BB, R, 2 RBI Noah Ford 1-5 with HR, R, 2 RBI Indians Pitchers Trip Bradley 2 2/3 innings allowing 5 R, 2 ER with 1 H, 4 BB, 2 K Harrison Childers 3 1/3 innings allowing 6 R, 3 ER with 4 H, 1 BB, 1 K Hunter Kelly 4 innings allowing 2 R, 0 ER with 1 H, 2 BB, 4 K Colts Hitters Jack Chatman 1-3 with 3B, 2 HBP, 2 R, RBI Cole Jackson 1-3 with 2B, SF, BB, R, RBI Blake Sutton 1-3 with 2B, 2 BB, R, RBI Brody Tidwell 1-3 with BB, R, 2 RBI Tate Smith 1-4 with 2B, BB, 3 R, RBI Joseph Womack 1-5 with R Colts Pitchers Tate Smith 2 2/3 innings allowing 9 R, 3 ER with 5 H, 5 BB, 2 K Joseph Womack 1 1/3 innings allowing 1 R, 0 ER with 1 H, 2 BB, 3 K Jackson Rutledge 5 innings allowing 3 R, 2 ER with 5 H, 4 BB, 5 K Jack Chatman 1/3 innings allowing 2 R, 2 ER with 1 H, 1 BB, 0 K Crackers 12 Colts 9 Crackers Hitters Paul Gamble 2-4 with 2B, 3B, 2 R, 5 RBI Issac Seigler 2-4 with 2 R, 2 RBI Jaiven Johnson 1-2 with BB, R Thomas Norris 1-3 with 2 RBI Crackers Pitchers Paul Gamble 4 innings allowing 9 R, 4 ER with 7 H, 3 BB, 7 K Drake Carver 2 innings allowing 0 R, 0 ER with 0 H, 1 BB, 1 K Colts Hitters Jackson Rutledge 2-3 with 2 3B, 5 RBI Tate Smith 2-3 with 2B, 3B, R, RBI Jack Chatman 1-2 with HBP, RBI Blake Sutton 1-3 with 2 R, RBI Joseph Womack 1-4 with 2 R Colts Pitchers Brody Tidwell 4 innings allowing 10 R, 3 ER with 5 H, 4 BB, 2 K Tate Smith 1 inning allowing 2 R, 1 ER with 1 H, 2 BB, 1 K Indians 11 Padres 8 Indians Hitters Trip Bradley 3-3 with 2 R Eli Jones 1-1 with BB, R Hunter Kelly 1-3 with HR, R, 3 RBI Nick Zirkelbach 1-2 with R Harrison Childers 1-3 with R, 2 RBI Indians Pitchers Harrison Childers 2 2/3 innings allowing 3 R, 3 ER with 4 H, 5 BB, 2 K Trip Bradley 2 1/3 innings allowing 4 R, 4 ER with 5 H, 2 BB, 4 K Connor Brasfield 1 inning allowing 1 R, 1 ER with 2 H, 0 BB, 1 K Padres Hitters Sam Phillips 3-3 with R, 2 RBI Jordan Hall 1-1 with 2 BB, R, RBI AJ Christina 3-4 with 2B, 3B, 3 R, RBI Malachi Jefferies 2-4 with 3B, R, RBI Joseph Hudson 1-3 Collin Fletcher 1-4 with 2B, R Billy Ford 1-4 Padres Pitchers AJ Christina 1 1/3 innings allowing 8 R, 4 ER with 4 H, 3 BB, 3 K Sam Phillips 3 2/3 innings allowing 3 R, 2 ER with 3 H, 2 BB, 3 K Tigers 8 Phillies 5 Tigers Hitters Scotty Smith 2-2 with HR, BB, 3 R, RBI Jake Parker 2-3 with 2B, R, 2 RBI Jacob Evans 2-3 with 3 RBI Jake Wehunt 1-3 with 2 R Gavin Shrewsbury 1-3 with R Kace Adams 1-3 Tigers Pitchers Gunner Millsap 3 innings allowing 5 R, 3 ER with 3 H, 2 BB, 5 K Gavin Shrewsbury 1 inning allowing 0 R, 0 ER with 0 H, 0 BB, 2K Nathan King 2 innings allowing 0 R, 0 ER with 1 H, 0 BB, 3 K Phillies Hitters Elliott Eastin 1-2 with 2B, BB, R Jimbo Gaines 1-3 with HR 2 R, 3 RBI Hunter Cochran 1-3 with RBI Jonah Cooper 1-3 with RBI Phillies Pitchers Jimbo Gaines 5 innings allowing 8 R, 5 ER with 8 H, 1 BB, 8 K Dodgers 2 Braves 2 Dodgers Hitters Colin Eaton 2-3 Evan Sanders 1-3 with 2B Jaylen Benham 1-3 with R Phillip Schiltz 1-3 with R Drew Rothschild 1-3 Chandler Mathison 1-3 Ayden Ray 1-3 Dodgers Pitchers Phillip Schiltz 3 innings allowing 0 R, 0 ER with 1 H, 1 BB, 7 K Drew Rothschild 3 innings allowing 2 R, 2 ER with 2 H, 6 BB, 6 K Evan Sanders 2 innings allowing 0 R, 0 ER with 2 H, 0 BB, 2 K Braves Hitters Miles Owen 2-3 with 3B, R, RBI Hayden James 1-2 with BB, R Martavius Cochran 1-2 Caleb Daniel 1-3 Braves Pitchers Miles Owen 5 2/3 innings allowing 2 R, 0 ER with 5 H, 1 BB, 6 K Chris Roper 2 1/3 innings allowing 0 R, 0 ER with 3 H, 0 BB, 1 K Game capsules provided by Cartersville Little League

The Georgia Highlands softball team split a pair of games Friday as the Chargers opened play in the 2016 Georgia Collegiate Athletic Association championship tournament in Locust Grove. The tournament is being played at Strong Rock Christian School. Fourth seeded GHC won its opener over East Georgia State CC, 6-0, but was edged by top-seeded South Georgia in the second round, 5-4. The loss drops the Chargers into a Saturday morning elimination game against Andrew College at 10am. Georgia Highlands now needs five straight wins to capture the conference crown in the six-team double-elimination event. The GHC/Andrew winner on Saturday morning will play another elimination game at 4pm on Saturday. The survivor of that game will advance to the championship semifinal scheduled for either Sunday or Monday. The top two seeds from the regular season — South Georgia and Georgia Military College — remain the only unbeaten teams in the tournament following Friday’s action.

In a battle of two sets of Tigers, Dawson County took both ends of a doubleheader Friday to eliminate visiting Adairsville in the first round of the 2016 Class AAA state baseball playoffs. Dawson County, runner-up from Region 7-AAA, won the opener 13-3 in five innings and then captured a back-and-forth, high-scoring tilt in the nightcap, 14 -12. In the second game, Adairsville fell behind early but rallied to tie the game at 5-5 through three innings. Dawson regained the lead in the fourth, but a grand slam home run by Lane Griffith in the bottom of the fourth was part of a five-run inning that gave the visiting Tigers a 10-8 lead. Dawson County bounced back, however, with a six-run fifth that included a grand slam home run of their own and then held off Adairsville for the series sweep. Adairsville scored first in the opener, but Dawson County scored six runs in the bottom of the first inning to take early control. In fact, Dawson County scored in all five innings of their opening victory with a pair of runs in the second, fourth, and fifth innings and one in the third. Noah Davis (5 IP, 3R, 1ER, 4H, 5BB, 5K) was the winning pitcher in Game 1 for Dawson County. Kyler Pelfrey started and was tagged with the loss for Adairsville. Maddox Teems pitched in relief for the visiting Tigers. Dawson County used five different pitchers in the second game. Orry Carter took the pitching loss for Adairsville in relief. Sam Seaman started Game 2. Noah O’Kelley and Garrett Mishoe also took the rubber in the nightcap. Palmer Sapp, Austin Young, and Brody Chester combined for eight hits, including a pair of homers and 11 RBI to lead Dawson County’s offense in the second game. Four different Dawson County Tigers had two hits apiece in the opener. Both Sapp and Chester hit homeruns in both games. Griffith finished the series 3-for-5 with six RBI for Adairsville. Landon Howren had two hits and three RBI. Pelfrey had a pair of hits and one RBI. Arp, Taylor Whitley, and Seaman also collected two hits each in the doubleheader. Dawson County improved to 21-7 with the wins. They advance to play at Westside-Augusta in the second round. Westside swept Jordan Friday, 8-1 and 10-0. Adairsville’s season ends with a 15-11 mark.

The Adairsville girls soccer team got off to a fast start in the 2016 Class AAA state playoffs Friday night with a one-sided, 8-1, opening round win at Tiger Valley over visiting West Hall. Emily Collum scored a hat trick and added an assist to lead a dominant Adairsville attack. Katie Lawhorn scored in the second minute of the game with an assist from Kaitlyn Webster. The two combined again with Webster scoring off a corner kick from Lawhorn in the 13th minute for a 2-0 lead and the Lady Tigers never looked back. Collum added the third goal for Adairsville in the 20th minute with an assist credited to Webster. Collum then picked up an assist on a goal by Gillian Johnson in the 35th minute and the Lady Tigers held a 4-0 lead at the intermission. Adairsville added two more goals by Collum in the early minutes of the second half for a 6-0 advantage before Johnson added her second tally in the 60th minute off a pass from Aimee Pacheco. The Lady Spartans (3-13) managed a goal in the 63rd minute to make the score 7-1, but Lawhorn added a final goal for the Lady Tigers in the 70th minute for an 8-1 final. As Region 6-AAA champions and a No. 1 seed, Adairsville (16-1) will host Jackson next Wednesday in the second round. Jackson defeated Westside-Augusta, 3-1, in the first round.

Sophomore Anthony Seigler gave the Hurricanes one of the best pitching performances of his young career Friday night as Cartersville routed Redan, 11-0, to advance to the second round of the Class AAAA state playoffs. The one-hitter tossed by Seigler helped the Canes to a two-game sweep of the Raiders at Richard Bell Park. Cartersville won the first game earlier in the evening, 12-3. Seigler, working as a lefty, yielded only one hit and two walks. He struck out eight in a game that was shortened to five innings via the GHSA mercy, run rule. Seigler did not allow a hit through the first 5 and 1/3 innings. Orlando Adams singled to right field with one out in the sixth for Redan’s only safety. Playing as the visiting team in the second game of the doubleheader, the Canes broke on top with a pair of runs in the top of first inning. Seigler, batting in the leadoff spot, singled to open the frame and moved to third on a double by Elliott Anderson. A wild pitch allowed Seigler to score and Anderson moved to third base. Carrington Evans hit a sacrifice fly that scored Anderson to make the score 2-0. Cole Jamieson hit a solo homerun, his second round-tripper of the day, to give Cartersville a 3-0 lead in the top of the second. After a scoreless third frame, the Canes struck for four runs in the top of the fourth. Jamieson and Jacob Fowler walked to start the Cartersville inning and Seigler doubled both of them home for a 5-0 lead. Seth Smith entered as a courtesy runner for Seigler and came home on a double by Anderson. Evans followed with another double driving home Anderson and the Canes held a 7-0 advantage. Devin Warner, Spencer Dickey, and Jacob Fowler started the Canes’ fifth inning with walks to load the bases. Trevor Lowe drove home all three with a triple to centerfield. Lowe then scored when Anderson reached base on an infield error and Cartersville held an 11-0 lead. Seigler (2 RBI), Anderson (RBI), and Evans (2 RBI) finished with two hits each in the nightcap. Lowe had 3 RBI with his triple. Tidwell and Jamieson had the other Cartersville hits. Redan’s season ends with a 16-12 mark. Cartersville (17-11) moves into the Sweet Sixteen of the Class AAAA playoffs to face the winner of the Upson-Lee/Thomson series. Cartersville would host Upson-Lee, but would have to travel to Thomson. The second round is set for a doubleheader on May 4 with an third game May 5 if needed.

Auburn University signee, Elliott Anderson, got all the run support he needed Friday evening in Game 1 of the Cartersville Hurricanes’ opening round Class AAAA playoff series with Redan at Richard Bell Field in Atco. Anderson reached base three times himself and Cole Jamieson hit a sixth inning, three-run homer to launch the Canes to a 12-3 victory. Cartersville took an early lead with three runs in the bottom of the first inning. Anderson and Parker Tidwell both singled in the inning. The Canes took advantage of an error, a stolen base, a wild pitch, and a balk to score three times. Redan cut the Cartersville lead to 3-2 with single runs in the third and fourth innings, but the Canes added three more runs in the fourth. Spencer Dickey singled and moved to third on a Jacob Fowler double. Anderson followed with a two-RBI double to centerfield. Then with two outs, Evans drove home Anderson’s courtesy runner, Seth Smith, for a 6-2 lead. The Raiders loaded the bases in the top of the fifth on a pair of singles and a walk. but managed only one run on an infield single by Justin McIntosh. That made the score 6-3 before Anderson got out of trouble with a ground ball force play at third base. Cartersville tacked on six more runs in the bottom of the sixth inning. Anderson reached base again on an error by the Raiders’ centerfielder. Smith, his courtesy runner, scored on a double by Anthony Seigler for a 7-3 Canes’ lead. Preston Welchel entered to run for Seigler at second base and scored to make the score 8-3 when Tidwell reached on a ground ball error by the Redan second baseman. Evans, who had singled prior to the error, moved to third and scored on a wild pitch for a 9-3 lead. Jamieson followed with a three-run blast over the left field wall and the Hurricanes had blown the game wide open, 12-3. Anderson (7 IP, 3R, 1ER, 6H, 3BB, 9K) struck out the side in the top of the seventh for the complete game win in the doubleheader opener. Seigler had three hits, including a double and two RBI with a run scored to lead the Canes’ offense. Anderson had two hits and two RBI with a double. Evans scored twice with two hits, a walk, and one RBI. Fowler also had two hits, including a double, and scored a run. Tidwell, Dickey, and Jamieson (with the homer) accounted for the other Cartersville hits. Cartersville improves to 16-11 with the win. Redan falls to 16-10. Game 2 in the best-of-three series was scheduled for later Friday evening.