Search Results

The 2015 Bartow-Gordon Middle School Athletic Association football playoffs begin Saturday at Calhoun High School with four first round games. The event, dubbed Super Saturday begins at 10 a.m. In the opening round, the two divisions square off against one another to play cross-over opponents based on regular season seeding. The Super Saturday winners advance to the semifinals on the higher seeds' campuses Thursday, October 22. The semifinal winners will play for the BGMSAA Championship Thursday, October 29. 10am — Calhoun (#2N, 4-2, 2-1) vs. South Central (#3S, 3-3, 1-2) 11:30am — Cass (#2S, 3-3, 2-1) vs. Adairsville (#3N, 2-4, 1-2) 1pm — Cartersville (#1S, 6-0, 3-0) vs. Ashworth (#4N, 1-5, 0-3) 2:30pm — Red Bud (#1N, 5-1, 3-0) vs. Woodland (#4S, 0-6, 0-3)

In a back-and-forth battle, the Franklin County Lady Lions outlasted the Adairsville Lady Tigers Thursday night to win Game 3 of their Class AAA state softball playoff series, 7-5. Adairsville won Game 1 Wednesday in the series played at Franklin County, 8-3. The Lady Lions came back in the Wednesday nightcap to win 9-1 and send the series to a deciding game Thursday. Adairsville held an early lead in Game 3 at 1-0 and led 5-4 after five frames, but Franklin Co. scored three times in the bottom of the sixth to seize the victory. Franklin County advances to the second round and will host Peach County next week in another best-of-three series. The winner of that series will advance to the double-elimination Elite 8 in Columbus October 29-31 at the South Commons Olympic Softball Complex. GAME 3 FRANKLIN CO. 7, ADAIRSVILLE 5 ADAIRSVILLE ——— 1-0-0-3-1-0-0 — 5R | 10H | 5E FRANKLIN CO. ——- 1-1-0-2-0-3-x — 7R | 7H | 3E Adairsville hitters: Emily Collum — 1R, 1H Hannah Knapp — 1R, Sac, 1BB Alyssa Hughes — 2H, 2RBI Morgan Deboard — 2H Bailey Robinson — 1R, 2H, HR, 1RBI Havyn Isaac — 1H Natalie Burrow — 1R, 1H Victoria Davis — 1R, 1H Adairsville pitching: Loren Haris — 6 IP, 7H, 7R, 4ER, 1BB, 3K Franklin Co. wins series 2-1 Franklin Co. record: 27-5 (Franklin Co. will host Peach Co. in 2nd rd.) Adairsville record: 17-18

Chris Bruton is your typical southern sports fan who loves to offer his unique view on athletic events, even if no one asks him. He is a husband, father, UI/UX designer, and a mental health therapist. ​Internet connectivity and social media has empowered individuals to have a greater voice in the public sphere. Twitter mobs and users in web forums use their collective power to shed light on the faults of individuals’ in ways that was unavailable ten years ago. Gaffes that would have people sent to their human resources department for disciplinary action now have consequences exponentially more severe. With respect to sports, organization’s general managers, athletic directors, and presidents now have greater access to the ire or praise of their fanbase. Mark Richt’s tenure has occurred in this era of increased communicative interaction, and his fate may be sealed in this new era. “Fire Mark Richt” has become mantra of a large portion of the Bulldog faithful over the last few years, and as a result, has created a civil war between Richt defectors and loyalists within the fanbase. Anyone living in or near the state of Georgia has read Facebook comments or tweets either defending Mark Richt, or calling for his dismissal. Conversation that used to be left to the barber shop or water cooler is now hyperlinked, categorized, and searchable worldwide. We know everything about our players, opponents, and the blotter sections of our digital news sites. We have unprecedented information and communication in which to judge our players, coaches, and opponents. To be comprehensive, let’s breakdown Mark Richt’s career at the helm of the Bulldogs (fans may or may not want to skip this section). Starting in 2001, Mark Richt has compiled a 140-50 (0.736) record with nine 10+ win seasons. He has two SEC Championships (2002, 2005). He has represented the SEC East six times in the championship game (2002, 2003, 2005, 2007, 2011, 2012). He has led the Dawgs to three Sugar Bowls, winning two (2002, 2007). He has been the SEC Coach of the Year twice (2002, 2007). Thirty years ago, this resume would have had him casting a bronze statue, but Georgia has yet to win that elusive National Championship that is now at 35 years and waiting. It is this reason, and this reason alone, that Richt finds his coaching seat hotter than ever. Why is it that Mark Richt’s legacy is his failure to win a national championship, trumping what is arguably the best comprehensive era of University of Georgia football? Here is where the curious case of Mark Richt originates. Let’s first look at the close calls. The 2002 season shot the Bulldogs out of the Donnan era and into the sphere of national title contenders. Much like Urban Meyer later, Richt’s second year at the helm brought prosperity that UGA had not seen since the Reagan administration. That team came within a Terrence Edwards reception of an undefeated season. Playing arguably the best football in the country, Georgia missed out on a chance at the national title because Ohio State and Miami were undefeated. Miami’s roster was what remained of what may feel is the best college football team of all time, the 2001 version of the Hurricanes. They had immense talent at every position. Ohio State’s perfect record included six wins that were determined by a touchdown or less. That’s right. The Buckeyes were within one score of losing half of their games. Credit to them for winning them all, but Richt was one bounce, one play away (six times, mind you) from Ohio State losing and the Bulldogs facing Miami with the chance to win it all. I’m adding the 2005 version of the Bulldogs to the argument because they were the SEC champions that year. In what would become a trend of Richt losing his best player to injury in a year where there is a chance to have a special season (because the chance to have a “special” season comes, at most, every few years for a team the caliber of the Dawgs), D.J. Shockley goes down in the Arkansas game and misses the Florida game, a loss which otherwise should have been a win, and comes back at less that 100% in the Auburn game, where an Auburn fluke fumble-out-of-the-endzone ended in a one-point loss. But who are we kidding? If Shockley plays all season and UGA finishes 12-0, they pull a 2004 Auburn and watch USC and Texas play for all the marbles. USC was in the middle of one of the greatest dynasties in college football history, going for their third consecutive national championship. Texas had a generational player in Vince Young that proved to be better than the USC defense that year. Mark Richt did not have a prayer in 2005, and what may be most frustrating is that for a nine consecutive year span, UGA was the only SEC Champion to not play for or win a National Championship. Jump to 2007, the beginning of the Richt-loses-inexplicable-games era. Honestly, before this point, the stats on Richt was his outstanding out-of-conference record and victories over quality teams. The South Carolina and Tennessee games were just inexcusable; if either was won, UGA wins the National Championship that year. Furthermore, even with the two losses, all UGA needed was a Tennessee loss to give them the opportunity. The result was three miracle wins for the Vols over South Carolina, Vanderbilt, and Kentucky (make the darn field goal!). Yes, the Dawgs should have taken care of business, but do not neglect to consider the terrible luck that accompanied that 2007 team. A two loss LSU team won the title that year. Georgia was unable to play for it because national pundits felt that a team that did not win their conference should not be able to play for a national title. Please note that this a reversal in opinion and theory from 2001 Nebraska and 2012 Alabama, where neither won their conference but were given the chance to play for the title. Everyone knew a two-loss UGA was the best team at the end of the year; intentionally unreasonable voting in the polls had UGA’s computer ranking fall to third that final week. The 2008 season may be the worst on Richt’s resume. He had a team with Matthew Stafford, A.J. Green, and Knowshon Moreno...and he lost three games; two to his biggest rivals. Granted, Willie Martinez was coaching that defense and there lied the team’s fault. The Bama Blackout Game still lives in lore as it was the arrival of the Bama Dynasty and the death of Georgia’s hopes. Well, at least for four years. In many ways, UGA is still reeling from that loss, feeling like the little brother to the Bama bully. In 2008, Florida paid them back for the celebration incident from the previous year with an absolute beatdown. Then a reeling and dejected Georgia team forgot how to tackle against Georgia Tech. The 2008 season started with high expectations, only to end in reoccuring heartbreak. The Georgia football legacy became one of losing big games and having underwhelming performances. August of 2008 was the summit of Richt’s opinion ranking. It has been falling ever since. The 2012 team. Bama. A deflected pass. Five yards. Is there something in my eye? ARE THOSE TEARS? NOT AGAIN….STOP....JUST STOP! I need to take a moment...okay, I’m back. Side note: How sad is it that Chris Conley, one of my favorite Dawgs of all time, will be most remembered negatively for actually catching a football? It is so weird that a receiver's negative legacy results from actually catching a football (i.e. the anti-Terrence Edwards). Maybe if Conley was playing Florida in 2002...here come the tears again! In my opinion, Mark Richt has fielded five teams capable of winning a national championship in fifteen years. That’s an average of one elite team every three years. It’s just unreasonable to think that you can field a team to win it all year-in and year-out, unless you are a robot like Nick Saban. An average of once every three years is beyond reasonable, in my opinion. Could it be that the issue is not with Richt’s performance, but with expectations? Once again, Mark Richt’s legacy may be the victim of circumstances. In his fifteen years, the SEC’s dominance has risen to unprecedented heights. Historical heights. Of any conference. Ever. In all of football. Thus, Richt’s tenure came at a time where his competition is at a higher level than any other time in history. Then, when looking at this dominance, you have to consider the National Champions that occurred during this fifteen years. Not only did the SEC become a never-before-seen-machine-of-football-dominance, the rest of the conferences took a nap. Nine national champions have come from the SEC during Richt’s time as head coach: LSU (2003) 13-1 Florida (2006) 13-1 LSU (2007) 12-2 Florida (2008) 13-1 Alabama (2009) 14-0 Auburn (2010) 14-0 Alabama (2011) 12-1 Alabama (2012) 13-1 Now let’s examine Richt’s dumb luck. From 2002-2012, two thirds of Richt’s tenure mind you, four SEC champions have not played for a national title (UGA, 2002, 13-1; LSU, 2003, 13-1; Auburn 2004,13-0; and UGA, 2005, 12-2). Of those four teams, LSU was awarded a national title 2003 anyway, and rightfully so, in my opinion. That leaves three SEC champions in that eleven-year window to fail to win a title, Auburn’s scenario being the worst offense. In Richt’s two SEC championship years, he had the gall to lose one and two games. I mean, before 2006, it was generally considered that to win a title, you probably had to go undefeated. To his luck, there were two undefeated teams in those years where he had losses. Look closely at the records of those SEC to national champions. Out of the nine, only two were forced to go undefeated. To this day, Urban Meyer has never finished a season undefeated, and he has three national championships. The great Nick Saban? One undefeated season, four title. Even Steve Spurrier couldn’t win them all on his way to his only championship. Les Miles can’t even manage a game clock correctly and he has two. This is where the ire towards Richt begins. It’s just highly unfortunate that Richt lost games with his elite teams in the years he did. To amplify his bad luck, two UGA rivals have won three national championships during Richt’s time. Add Alabama and that number doubles. In those cases, UGA has competed against two of the greatest SEC players of all time in Tim Tebow and Cam Newton. He has competed against two historically accomplished coaches in Urban Meyer and Nick Saban, who have won a total of six titles during Richt’s tenure. Georgia fans see their rivals making it to the promised land, all the while, Richt is unable to come through. If any other team in the nation wins in 2006, 2008, and 2010, would we be as angry? What if 2002 Georgia happens any other year (besides 2004 and 2005)? They win a title. What if the rest of the country steps up and one and two loss SEC teams miss out on the title game? To be conservative, what if half of those teams with a loss are not given the chance to win it all? Does Florida, LSU, and Auburn only having one championship and Bama have one, maybe two change Richt’s expectations? Probably not, but it is a window into the poor luck and incredible era in which Richt has coached. Should Richt be fired? If you would have asked me at 7pm last Saturday, I would have said yes. I may still say yes. However, I have to take in the context of the Richt era and the potential demand of a national championship by UGA fans. Has the SEC’s historical run of dominance created unrealistic expectations? Do Georgia fans overestimate UGA as a program? I mean, since 1947, context shows that it took the greatest college football player of all time to deliver just one national championship to Georgia. Do we think too much of ourselves? This blog post is not an argument on whether to fire Mark Richt or not. However, it’s a contextual view of the regional and national landscape in which Richt has coached. Mark Richt may never win a national championship at Georgia. However, pitiful luck, accompanied by a few subpar performances is the only reason why were are not having a discussion of “Can Richt win another one?” In my opinion, it’s Richt’s dumb luck to have coached in this time period. The unprecedented success of the SEC and historical titles of our rivals, accompanied by his opponents’ possessing some of the greatest playing and coaching talent of all time, that has Georgia fans asking, “Why not us?” The answer to that question might not lie at the feet of Mark Richt’s faults, but in us fans’ unprecedented and possibly incorrect conclusion that winning it all is must be easier than we imagined. Richt’s tenure in the 80s or 90s would be celebrated. It appears Richt’s greatest failure has been timing. _______________________ ​ What do you think? Post your comments on the Bartow Sports Zone Facebook page or on Twitter @bartowsportszon Use #chrisbruton

Only a few short weeks ago, Jordan Spieth was locking down the FedExCup for the 2015 season at East Lake Golf Club in Atlanta at the TOUR Championship. Spieth’s five PGA Tour wins, two Majors (Masters and U.S. Open), four second place finishes, and 15 top ten finishes in 25 events was truly a remarkable year. Today, the slate is wiped clean as the 2016 PGA Tour schedule begins at the Frys.com Open at Silverado CC (North) in Napa, California. The PGA Tour uses a wrap-around schedule that begins today and will conclude again in Atlanta next September. It is a new start also for the Scott Hamilton Golf Academy players and the new OnTour Golf team. Eight different players affiliated with PGA Tour golf coach Scott Hamilton are making starts to their 2016 seasons today. Boo Weekley, Russell Henley, Chris Kirk, Brendon Todd and Ben Martin all were scheduled for morning start times on Thursday. Aaron Baddeley, Hudson Swafford, and Steven Bowditch have afternoon starts. The 2015 season was a tremendous year for Hamilton's group of players as well. Multiple tour victories and two players on the Presidents Cup teams just to skim the accomplishments. Additionally, Golf Digest named Hamilton the number two golf coach on the PGA Tour for the 2015 season as voted by PGA Tour players. Scott Hamilton is the Director of Golf at Cartersville Country Club. His Scott Hamilton Golf Academy now coaches many prominent golf professionals on the PGA Tour, Champions Tour, WEB.com Tour, and LPGA Tour. Hamilton also offers online instruction through the Nashville-based OnTourGolf.com. Use the menu at the top of this page to find the latest golf instruction links. Bartow Sports Zone regularly tracks the players affiliated with Scott Hamilton Golf Academy and shares instruction from OnTour Golf.

Cartersville Parks & Recreation Department Youth football results Wednesday, October 14 at Dellinger Park 8U results HURRICANES PURPLE 8 HURRICANES GOLD 6 Hurricanes Purple edged Hurricanes Gold on a 2-point extra point pass credited to Christian Bridges. Maddox Frazier pounded in Purple’s touchdown on a 1-yard run. Jayden Evans scored for Hurricanes Gold on a 1-yard run. HURRICANES WHITE 19 HURRICANES BLACK 0 The defense earned a shutout and four different players scored as Hurricanes White defeated Hurricanes Black. Jachai Delgado, Braylon Long, and JaKeveon Porter each had scoring runs of 4, 5, and 20 yards, respectively. Preston Sorrells added an extra point run. Youth football reports are provided by CPRD and BCRD and are presented on Bartow Sports Zone by CiCi's Pizza of Cartersville.

Coach Kandace Bruno (photo) prepares her lineup card for Game 2 of the Class AAA opening round series at Franklin County. The Tigers won Game 1, 8-3. The Adairsville Lady Tigers got a 2-run homer and 4 RBI from Bailey Robinson as they took Game 1 of the best-of-three first round state playoff series at Franklin County. Adairsville scored five runs in the second and third frames to take control, then added three more runs in the fifth and sixth to secure the win. Loren Harris scattered six hits and struck out seven to earn the pitching win in the circle for the Lady Tigers. Franklin County scored five runs in the top of the first to take control early in Game 2 and evened the series. The deciding game will be hosted by the Lady Lions Thursday at 5pm. GAME 2 FRANKLIN CO. 9, ADAIRSVILLE 1 Series tied 1-1 FRANKLIN CO. —— 5-1-2-0-1 — 9R | 13H | 0E ADAIRSVILLE ——— 0-0-0-0-1 — 1R | 5H | 1E Adairsville hitters: Emily Collum — 1H Hannah Knapp — 1RBI Alyssa Hughes — 1H, Sac Loren Harris — 1H Bailey Robinson — 1H Havyn Isaac — 1BB Natalie Burrow — 1R, 1H Adairsville pitching: Alyssa Hughes — 2.2 IP, 11H, 8ER, 1BB Loren Harris — 1.2 IP, 2H, 1ER, 1BB, 1K _______________________ GAME 1 ADAIRSVILLE 8, FRANKLIN CO. 3 Adairsville leads best of three series 1-0 ADAIRSVILLE —— 0-2-3-0-2-1-0 — 8R | 13H | 3E FRANKLIN CO —— 0-0-0-1-2-0-0 — 3R | 6H | 2E Adairsville hitters: Emily Collum — 1R, Sac, 2H, SB Hannah Knapp — 1H Alyssa Hughes — 1R, 3H, 1RBI Tori Lee — 1R, SB Loren Harris — 2H, 1BB McKayla Tanner — 2R Morgan Deboard — 1R, 2H, Sac, 1RBI Bailey Robinson — 1R, 2H, HR, 4RBI Natalie Burrow — 1R, 1H, SB Adairsville pitching: Loren Harris — 7 IP, 6H, 3R, 2ER, 0BB, 7K Adairsville record: 17-17 Franklin Co. record: 26-5

​The Cartersville Lady Canes volleyball team made quick work of Windsor Forest Wednesday night in Savannah. Cartersville won in dominant fashion in straight sets 25-4, 25-2, and 25-6. With the victory, the Lady Canes advance to the second round and will face Buford.

Bartow County Recreation Department Youth football results for October 13 12U result at Calhoun Recreation BARTOW BUCS 19 CALHOUN COLTS 6 Thomas Knight ran for three touchdowns to lead the Bucs. Knight scored on runs of 45, 20, and 1 yard. Andrew Nguyen added a PAT run for the Bucs and Morocco Wilkey had a game ending interception as time expired. ______________________ 10U results at Old Cass High School BARTOW JETS 21 BARTOW STEELERS 6 Chris Roper had a rushing touchdown, a passing touchdown, and added a PAT run and pass to lead the Jets over the Steelers. Roper opened the scoring with a 67-yard scamper and his first PAT via the run. Roper then found Ethan Blome on a 48-yard pass, catch, and run with Blome adding the PAT. Caden Copeland rounded out the Jets’ scoring with an 18-yard rushing touchdown and Roper connected with Graham Hilburn for the PAT pass. Steelers’ quarterback, Tae Cochran, scored on a 12-yard run that made the score 14-6 at the time. Jayden Scott, Skylar Shore, and Roper were defensive standouts for the Jets. Brett Good led the Steelers defense. BARTOW PACKERS 12 CARTERSVILLE HURRICANES BLACK 0 The Bartow Packers defeated the Hurricanes Black Tuesday night with help from a very stout defense and a couple timely scoring drives. The Packers opened th Youth football reports are provided by CPRD and BCRD and are presented on Bartow Sports Zone by CiCi's Pizza of Cartersville.

The Georgia High School Association has released the official softball state playoff bracket for Class A private schools. Excel Christian Academy will open play as the No. 12 team in the state playoff bracket and travel to Macon to face 1st Presbyterian next Wednesday, October 21. The opening day is scheduled as a doubleheader in a best-of-three series. If a deciding game is necessary, it will also be played at 1st Presbyterian on Thursday, October 22. The winner of the opening round series advances to the double-elimination Elite Eight to be held at the Olympic Complex in Columbus October 29-31.

Bartow County Recreation Department Youth football results for October 13 8U Football at Hamilton Crossing Park Falcons 44 Steelers 20 The Falcons were led by the strong rushing performance of Ja’Kai Baldwin as they defeated the Steelers 44-20. Baldwin scored on rushes of 29, 38, 46, and 62 yards. Joshua Love found the end zone on a rushing touchdown of 20 yards, and Ezequiel Medina scored on a 35 yard scamper. Kelson Mitchell added a pair of PATs for the Falcons. The Steelers were led by Nicholas Wright and his three rushing touchdowns. Wright scored on runs of 54, 45, and 60 yards. Joseph Thorne and Lucas Baker coverted PATs for the Steelers. Bears 30 Raiders 0 The Bears defeated the Raiders 30-0 behind a stingy defense and a strong ground game. Isaiah Livsey scored three rushing touchdowns to lead the Bears. Livsey scored on runs of 31, 22, and 8 yards. Zachery Wallace and Casen Cochran also scored rushing touchdowns. Wallace punched one in from 5 yards out and Cochran broke loose on a 29 yard run for a score. Youth football reports are provided by CPRD and BCRD and are presented on Bartow Sports Zone by CiCi's Pizza of Cartersville.

Bartow County Recreation Department and Cartersville Parks and Recreation Department Youth football results for October 12 and 13 10U result Monday, Oct. 12 at Cedartown Recreation Department CEDARTOWN 19 C'VILLE HURRICANES WHITE 18 (OT) In regulation time, Cartersville White scored on their opening drive with a 60-yard run by Cedric McClinic to go ahead 6-0. Cedartown matched that score with less than two minutes remaining in the half. The defenses kept the second half scoreless and the game went to overtime. Rowan Billings scored twice in the overtime session on runs up the middle. The Hurricanes failed on both PATs. Cedartown matched both OT scores and converted their final PAT run to secure the victory. ____________ 10U results for Tuesday, October 13 at CPRD BARTOW COLTS 35 HURRICANES PURPLE 6 Caleb Cooley scored on touchdown runs of 56, 45, and 30 yards to lead the Colts. Kevin Henderson and Devin Henderson added touchdown runs for the Colts from 33 and 55 yards, respectively. Devin Henderson, Richard Houston, Jackson Christiana added PAT runs. Hurricanes Purple scored on a 29-yard run by Paul Gamble. BARTOW PACKERS 12 HURRICANES BLACK 0 No scoring information provided.​ ​_____________ 12U result for Tuesday, October 13 at CPRD PURPLE HURRICANES 35 ASHWORTH 6 Five different Hurricanes had scoring runs in the defeat of Ashworth. Tate Smith, Caleb Henson, Trevor Montgomery, Caleb Henson, and Micah Earwood had one touchdown each. Asa James added two extra point runs and Henson had another. Earwood also contributed a 2-point extra point kick. Youth football reports are provided by CPRD and BCRD and are presented on Bartow Sports Zone by CiCi's Pizza of Cartersville.

The final 2015 GHSA power ratings for Class A private schools were released today and Excel Christian Academy moved up two spots to eleventh. The Lady Eagles were ranked 13th in the previous ratings. At this point, schools have an opportunity to appeal their final rating if a school believes the formula was not correctly applied. The state playoff bracket will be announced by 4pm Wednesday, October 14. If there were any private school teams not ranked in the top 16 and they won their region tournament, those teams will be placed in the state playoffs bracket first and seeded according to their rating. The remaining spots will be filled by the top teams in the ratings. The Class A private schools bracket will consist of 16 teams. Each first round best-of-three series will be hosted October 21-22 by the higher seeded team. Teams will play a doubleheader on the first day. Any series requiring a third game will play on the second day. The final ratings list of the top 16 teams. Tattnall Square Academy ….. 7-A ….. 23-5 First Presbyterian …………… 7-A ….. 19-6 Brookstone ………………….. 4-A ….. 18-3 Stratford Academy ………….. 7-A ….. 17-6 Eagle’s Landing Christian…… 5-A ….. 18-9 Christian Heritage …………… 5-A ….. 25-3 Prince Ave. Christian ……….. 8-A ….. 17-7 Calvary Day School …………. 3-A ….. 17-12 Strong Rock Christian ………. 5-A …… 14-11 Mt. Vernon ……………………. 5-A …… 17-11 Excel Christian ………………. 6-A …… 15-11 George Walton Academy …… 8-A …… 11-11 Athens Christian …………….. 8-A …… 17-11 Fellowship Christian ………… 6-A …… 12-11 Mount de Sales Academy ….. 7-A …… 5-11 Landmark Christian …………. 5-A …… 15-13 Once teams are placed in the final bracket and seeded, the pairings for the first round will be: #16 at #1 #15 at #2 #14 at #3 #13 at #4 #12 at #5 #11 at #6 #10 at #7 #9 at #8 The Excel Christian Academy Lady Eagles finished regular season play 15-11 overall and 14-6 in Region 6A.