The Cartersville girls tennis team lost to Buford 3-2 Wednesday in the quarterfinal round of the Class AAAA state playoffs at Dellinger Park. Emma McCary won her match on the No. 1 singles line and Kenly King won the No. 3 singles line for the Lady Canes. Buford advances to the state semifinals to face the winner of the quarterfinal match between North Hall and Marist. The Lady Canes soccer team lost in the opening round of the Class AAAA state playoffs Wednesday evening to visiting Grady, 3-0. Grady led 2-0 at the intermission and added a third goal in the game’s 47th minute. The Lady Canes finished their season with a 10-8 record and were the Region 7-AAAA runner-up. Grady, the third seed from Region 6-AAAA, improved to 11-4-2 and advances to play Region 3-AAAA champion, Windsor Forest, in the second round.

All the schedules and standings for Spring 2016 sports with the Bartow County Recreation Department are available online at the following LINK. BCRD currently has youth soccer, softball, and baseball competing in a wide range of age groups. See this LINK to access each age groups schedules and standings.

Georgia Highlands College lost the opener of a four-game series with Gordon State College Tuesday night at LakePoint, 16-8. The visiting Highlanders struck for eight runs in the fourth and fifth innings combined to grab an early 8-0 lead, but the Chargers did not go away. GHC responded with a seven-run sixth inning to cut the lead to 8-7, but that would be as close as the Chargers would come. Gordon State added four runs in the seventh inning and four more in the ninth to put the game away. The Chargers added a final run in the eighth. The middle of the Highlanders’ order did the bulk of the damage for Gordon State. Aubrey McCarty, Ty Hobbs, and Ryan Young combined for eight hits that included a pair of homers, four doubles, and nine RBI. GHC starting pitcher, Daniel Gooden, suffered the pitching loss and was lifted after 4 and 1/3 innings. The Chargers also used Jack McClure, Nick Constan, Dalton Isley, Chris Morton, Sean Wilson, and Bradley Hood in relief. The Georgia Highlands’ offense produced thirteen hits. Jonathan White had three hits. Brandon Bell (3 RBI), Brandon Etheridge, Nick Fink, and Mitch Burger (RBI) finished with two hits each. Devin Bilardello (RBI) and Zach McCrum had the other Chargers’ safeties. Joel Munoz added one RBI. With their win, Gordon State (25-24 overall) moves into sole possesion of fourth place in the Georgia Collegiate Athletic Association standings with a 10-11 conference mark. Georgia Highlands (24-25, 9-12) continues the series in Barnesville with a single game Thursday afternoon and a doubleheader on Saturday.

Cartersville’s Sam Howard ran into a bit of a rough patch in the fifth inning Tuesday night in his fourth start for the Modesto Nuts of the Class A-Advanced California League. The Visalia Rawhides struck for three runs, including a two-run, two-out homer by Rudy Flores off the 23-year-old southpaw. Howard, a third year pro in the Colorado Rockies’ organization, allowed four runs on six hits and a pair of walks in five innings pitched at Visalia. Howard struck out six. He left the game with the score tied 4-4 to receive no decision, but Modesto lost to the division leading Rawhides 5-4 in the tenth inning. For the season, Howard is 1-0 in 20 and 1/3 innings pitched. He has 25 strikeouts and a 3.10 ERA. Modesto, trailing Visalia by four games in the standings, continues a three-game series with the Rawhides April 27 and 28. Howard’s next start in the Nuts’ rotation will likely come at home early next week against the Lake Elsinore Storm, an affiliate of the Angels organization.

2016 Cartersville Little League (Major League) standings, upcoming schedule, and game capsules for April 12. Standings updated through April 26. SCORES Monday, April 25 Tigers 10, Crackers 4 Braves 9, Indians 5 Dodgers 8, Padres 5 Phillies 6, Colts 4 UPCOMING SCHEDULE Wednesday, April 27 5:45 - JFH - Indians v. Braves 5:45 - RY - Crackers v. Tigers Thursday, April 28 5:45 - JFH - Colts v. Phillies 5:45 - RY - Padres v. Dodgers Game Capsules for Major League games played April 12 Braves 5 Dodgers 2 Braves Hitters Caleb Daniel 3-3 with R, 2 RBI Jake Lawson 2-3 with 2B, 2 R, RBI Miles Owen 1-2 Nickolas Hruby 1-3 with 2B Joshua Clay 1-3 Chris Roper 1-4 with R Braves Pitchers Jake Lawson 5 2/3 innings allowing 2 R, 2 ER with 2 H, 2 BB, 8 K Miles Owen 1/3 innings allowing 0 R, 0 ER with 0 H, 0 BB, 1 K Dodgers Hitters Silas Freeman 1-2 with 2B Jaylen Benham 1-2 with BB, R Drew Rothschild 1-2 Tyler Taylor 1-2 Banks Wilson 1-3 with R Dodgers Pitchers Evan Sanders 2 2/3 innings allowing 4 R, 4 ER with 5 H, 3 BB, 5 K Philip Schiltz 2 1/3 innings allowing 1 R, 1 ER with 4 H, 1 BB, 3 K Drew Rothschild 2/3 innings allowing 0 R, 0 ER with 1 H, 2 BB, 2 K Banks Wilson 1/3 innings allowing 0 R, 0 ER with 0 H, 0 BB, 1 K Tigers 11 Phillies 3 Tigers Hitters Gavin Shrewsbury 3-4 with 3B, 2 R, RBI Jake Parker 2-4 with 2 2B, 2 R, RBI Kace Adams 2-4 with 3 R Jake Wehunt 1-4 with HR, 2 R, 4 RBI Jacob Evans 1-4 with R, 2 RBI Jack Whitley 1-4 with RBI Tigers Pitchers Jake Parker 1 1/3 innings allowing 2 R, 2 ER with 1 H, 1 BB, 1 K Jacob Evans 3 2/3 innings allowing 0 R, 0 ER with 0 H, 3 BB, 9 K Kace Adams 1 inning allowing 1 R, 0 ER with 0 H, 3 BB, 0 K Phillies Hitters Hunter Cochran 1-1 with 2B, BB, R, RBI Phillies Pitchers Luke Gambill 5 innings allowing 8 R, 4 ER with 7 H, 1 BB, 7 K Elliott Eastin 1 inning allowing 3 R, 0 ER with 3 H, 0 BB, 2 K Crackers 5 Colts 3 Crackers Hitters Jaylon Akins 1-2 with 2B, BB, R, RBI Thomas Norris 1-3 with 2B, R, RBI Issac Seigler 1-3 with 2B, RBI Tyler Shelton 1-3 with 2B, R Easton Elrod 1-3 Crackers Pitchers Tyler Shelton 4 innings allowing 3 R, 3 ER with 4 H, 2 BB, 7 K Drake Carver 2 innings allowing 0 R, 0 ER with 0 H, 1 BB, 4 K Colts Hitters Brody Tidwell 2-3 with R Jackson Rutledge 1-3 with R Nick Kennedy 1-1with 3B, BB, RBI Colts Pitchers Blake Sutton 3 1/3 innings allowing 5 R, 3 ER with 3 H, 4 BB, 2 K Tate Smith 2 2/3 innings allowing 0 R, 0 ER with 2 H, 2 BB, 1 K Padres 6 Indians 3 Padres Hitters Ernesto Cortes 3-3 with 2 2B, 3B, R, 4 RBI Collin Fletcher 1-2 with BB, R Sam Phillips 1-3 with 2B, 2 R, RBI Billy Ford 1-3 with R Padres Pitchers Ernesto Cortes 7 innings allowing 3 R, 3 ER with 5 H, 3 BB, 12 K Indians Hitters Harrison Childers 2-3 with R, RBI Noah Ford 1-2 with RBI Trip Bradley 1-3 with 2B, R Hunter Kelly 1-3 with R Indians Pitchers Noah Ford 4 innings allowing 3 R, 0 ER with 4 H, 0 BB, 6 K Harrison Childers 2 innings allowing 0 R, 0 ER with 0 H, 1 BB, 2 K Trip Bradley 1/3 innings allowing 3 R, 3 ER with 2 H, 1 BB, 0 K Game capsules provided by Cartersville Little League

The Cartersville boys soccer team fell to Grady Tuesday evening in the opening round of the Class AAAA state playoffs. The 1-1 game through regulation and overtime went all the way to PKs where Grady won 4-3. Grady scored its goal in regulation with approximately 17 minutes remaining on a penalty kick, but the Canes answered with a tying goal with less than 10 minutes remaining. Cartersville’s Pedro Robledo converted on a penalty kick to tie the game after Houston Reed was taken down in the penalty box. The game came down to a final PK by Grady. Reed, Osbaldo Senderos, and Cesar Abeja made PKs for Cartersville, but Grady converted on four of five shots, including their final attempt, for the victory. Grady advances to the second round where they will play at Region 2AAAA champ, Veterans. The Canes’ season concludes with a 12-5-1 mark. The Lady Canes host Grady Wednesday night in their opening round game.

The Georgia Highlands softball team split a doubleheader with visiting Chattanooga State CC Monday in a final non-conference tune-up before the Georgia Collegiate Athletic Association begins Thursday. Chattanooga State took a 6-1 lead into the seventh inning and held on for a 6-5 win in the opener, then the Chargers won the second game in a wild, 16-15 shootout. Ashley Jordan went 3-for-4 with one RBI in the first game. Kaleigh Mobley added a 2-for-2 performance and scored a run. Shannon Plese had three hits including a double and drove in a run for Chattanooga State. Madison Kurtz drove in two runs and Lillie McCrary had two hits and one RBI for the visitors. Labrisha Washington was the winning pitcher for the Lady Tigers with a complete game. She allowed 10 hits, two earned runs, and struck out six. In the nightcap, the Chargers took a 9-4 lead through three innings, but Chattanooga State scored 11 runs over the next two innings to take a 15-9 lead. GHC bounced back with a six-run sixth to tie and scored a run in the bottom of the seventh on a walk-off base on balls to Andria Booth for a 16-15 win. Carlee Thurmond went 4-for-4 with three doubles and seven RBI to lead the Chargers’ attack. Ashley Jordan had three hits and scored a run. Lauren Womack had two hits and one RBI. Booth had a hit, three walks, three RBI, and a stolen base. Kayla Street (3 IP, 4ER, 5H, 2BB, 2K) picked up the pitching victory for the Chargers with three innings of relief. Georgia Highlands (25-31 overall, 7-7 GCAA) opens play in the Georgia Collegiate Athletic Association championship tournament on Thursday. The 4th-seeded Chargers play 5th-seeded East Georgia in the first round at 1pm. The winner plays again Thursday at 5pm against top-seeded South Georgia State CC. The tournament is hosted by Gordon College and is being played at Strong Rock Christian School in Locust Grove. The tournament continues through Saturday (see bracket below).

Former Cartersville Hurricanes’ and Georgia Southern Eagles’ pitcher, Sam Howard, is off to a tremendous start with his new team. Howard, now with the Modesto Nuts of the Class A Advanced California League, has started three games with a 1-0 record in 15 and 1/3 innings of work. The 23-year-old lefty has struck out 19 and walked seven with opponents hitting only .145 against him. His 0.98 WHIP is also an impressive, early season number. Howard, a third round pick by the Colorado Rockies in 2014, was assigned to Modesto this season after spending the 2015 campaign with the Asheville Tourists. Modesto has started the season with an 8-9 record and trails Visalia (Arizona Diamondbacks affiliate) by three games in the California League’s North Division. Howard’s most recent start was April 20 at home against Bakersfield. He pitched 5 and 2/3 innings of shutout baseball, scattering three hits, two walks, and a hit batsman with seven strikeouts in a no decision. The Nuts eventually won the game, 1-0, with a run in the seventh inning. YouTube video of that performance from PurpleRowSBN: (Video footage from Colorado Rockies minor league LHP Sam Howard's start for the Modesto Nuts on April 20, 2016 against the Bakersfield Blaze at John Thurman Field in Modesto.) Modesto travels for a three-game series with the division leading Visalia Rawhides April 26-28 where Howard is due his next start in the Nuts' rotation.

The Cartersville girls and boys tennis teams advanced to the state quarterfinals of the Class AAAA playoffs Monday with 5-0 victories. The girls team defeated Mary Persons and the boys swept past Perry. The Lady Canes will now face Buford at home in the quarterfinal round. The Canes’ next opponent will be either North Hall or Eagles’ Landing. Playing dates are yet to be determined, but must be completed by April 30. LADY CANES 5, MARY PERSONS 0 Singles 1 — Emma McCary won 6-0, 6-0 2 — Ansley Thompson won 6-0, 6-0 3 — Kenly King won 6-0, 6-0 Doubles 1 — Kendyl Westmoreland / Jordan Ross won 6-0, 6-1 2 — Kindra Woodman / Taylor Riddle won 6-2, 6-1 CANES 5, PERRY 0 Singles 1 — Matthew Slocum won 6-3, 6-4 2 — Davis Edwards won 6-4, 6-1 3 — Will Allen won 6-0, 6-0 Doubles 1 — Russell Mathison / Ross Norwood won 6-3, 6-1 2 — Juan Zazueta / Ivy Nelson won 6-0, 6-0

The Adairsville girls tennis team had its record-setting season come to a close Monday afternoon with a 3-2 loss at Peach County in the second round of the Class AAA state playoffs. “Kylee McCauley played great,” Adairsville head coach Brett Tolbert said. “She played her best match of the year.” McCauley, playing on the No. 1 singles line, dispatched of her opponent in straight sets. “The No. 2 doubles team played great too,” noted Tolbert. “It’s a sad end to a history making season, but a great building block for the program.” With their victory, Peach County advances to face Central of Carrollton in the state quarterfinals later this week. PEACH COUNTY 3, ADAIRSVILLE 2 SINGLES 1 — Kylee McCauley (AHS) d. Jessica Estrada (PC) 6-4, 6-2. 2 — Alexandria Estradal (PC) d, Abby Asbridge (AHS) 7-6, 6-0. 3 — Ashley Etheridge (PC) d. Hannah Adcock (AHS) 6-1, 6-0. DOUBLES 1 — Arlett Rodriguez and Lizbeth Rodriguez (PC) d. Cali Mealer and Chloe Powell (AHS) 6-1, 2-6, 6-0. 2 — Makenzie Davis and Molly Smith (AHS) d. Emily Coon and Kayla Stelzer (PC) 6-0, 6-1

This week's 'Athletes Beyond Bartow' baseball report includes updates on 16 of the 24 former local high school baseball players currently contributing at their respective college programs across the country. A few schools are closing out their 2016 seasons and other are moving into conference and/or regional championship 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 CLIFTON DEMPSEY — Maryville College (Soph., Cartersville HS) . . Dempsey has a .331 batting average with 18 RBI in 43 games this season. The Scots (29-15) set a school record for wins in 2016 and await a potential at-large bid to the NCAA D3 Tournament after losing in their conference playoffs championship round. The NCAA D3 tournament field will be announced on Sunday, May 8. BRANDON ETHERIDGE — Georgia Highlands CC (Soph., Cass HS) . . . went 5-for-15 with a walk, scored four runs, and drove in one during a four-game series with Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College this past week. Etheridge has a .290 batting average in 47 games played with 17 RBI. The Chargers (24-24, 9-11 in GCAA) play a four game series against Gordon College this week with single games April 26 at the Rome Braves’ State Mutual Stadium and in Barnesville on April 28. The two teams also have a doubleheader April 30 at Gordon College. MICHAEL GOSS — UNC-Greensboro (Jr., Cartersville HS) . . . went 5-for-12, including a pair of doubles and a triple with three runs scored and two RBI in a three-game home series with East Tennessee State April 22-24. Goss has a .331 batting average for the season in 30 starts. He has 18 extra base hits, a .551 slugging percentage, and 26 RBI. UNC-Greensboro (31-11 overall, 10-2 Southern Conference) leads the conference standings. UNCG has a home game vs. Campbell April 26 and a home conference series with Samford April 29-May 1. ROBERT HARRIS — Troy University (Jr., Adairsville HS) . . .made an eighth inning relief appearance April 23, allowing a run on three hits in an 18-5 home, conference loss to University of Texas-Arlington. Harris has made 15 relief appearances for the Trojans for 24 and 1/3 innings and a 5.92 ERA. He has 26 strikeouts. Troy (23-18 overall, 9-9 Sun Belt Conference) has a three-game, conference series April 29-May 1 at Texas State University. HARRISON HATFIELD — Shorter University (Soph, Cartersville HS) . . . scored a run in two at bats during a 9-6 loss at Southern Wesleyan April 20 and was 0-for-2 in a loss at University of West Florida April 23. Hatfield has appeared in 21 games for the Hawks with nine starts. The Hawks (13-32 overall, 6-24 Gulf South Conference) conclude their season this week with a home, non-conference game against Emmanuel College April 26 and a three-game, conference set vs. Christian Brothers University April 30-May 1. BRADLEY HOOD — Georgia Highlands CC (Fr., Cass HS) . . . made a one inning relief appearance April 23 in a 14-9 loss at Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College. He allowed three runs on three hits and two walks. Hood has worked 13.2 innings in 12 appearances for the Chargers. He has ten strikeouts and has a 4.61 ERA. GHC (24-24, 9-11 GCAA) has a four-game series with Gordon College that begins April 26 at the Rome Braves’ State Mutual Stadium. Gordon will host a single game April 28 and a doubleheader April 30. TRIPP JAMIESON — Univ. of the Cumberlands (Jr., Cartersville HS) . . .went 2-for-7 with a walk, run scored, and one RBI as UofC split a pair of non-conference games April 19 and 20 against Milligan College (TN) and Asbury (KY). He then went 2-for-6 with a walk, run scored, and two RBI starting two games of a home, conference series with University of Pikeville (KY) April 23-24. Jamieson has a .263 batting average with two homers and 19 RBI in 35 games for the Patriots. Cumberlands (33-20 overall, 9-12 Mid-South Conference) hosts 6th-ranked Tennessee Wesleyan April 26 and opens play in the Mid-South Conference Tournament April 29 against Lindsey Wilson in Columbia, KY. CONNOR JUSTUS — Georgia Tech (Jr., Cartersville HS) . . . went 2-for-6 with three walks, four runs scored, and one RBI as the 26th-ranked Jackets split a pair of mid-week, non-conference games with Mercer and Georgia State April 19-20. Justus then went 7-for-14 with a pair of walks, five runs, and five RBI as Georgia Tech won two of three ACC games at Clemson April 22-24. Three of his hits for the week were homers. Tech plays at Georgia April 26 and will host Coastal Carolina for three games April 29-May 1. SEAN McDERMOTT — Cleveland State CC (Fr., Adairsville HS) . . . had one hit in each game and went 3-for-11 with 2 runs scored and a solo homerun as the Cougars dropped two of three at home to Dyersburg State CC. McDermott has a .390 batting average with 12 homeruns and 36 RBI in 43 games for CSCC. Cleveland State CC (28-18 overall, 15-9 Tennessee Community College Athletic Association) completes the regular season at Roane State CC in a three-game conference series April 29-30. HUNTER OSBORN — Reinhardt University (Soph., Cartersville HS) . . . made his 12th start of the season April 24 at Bluefield College (VA) in a 3-2 loss. He pitched five innings, allowing three runs on five hits and a walk. He struck out two. Osborn has a 6-4 season mark in 64 innings pitched with a 2.95 ERA. Reinhardt (28-23 overall, 9-15 Appalachian Athletic Conference) plays a three-game series at Bryan College (TN) April 29-30. MASON ROBINSON — Wallace State-Dothan CC (Soph., Woodland HS) . . .doubled with two RBI in an 8-5 win against Central Alabama CC April 18. He was 2-for-9, scored two runs, with a double and one RBI playing in three of four games during a home-and-home conference series with Faulkner State CC April 21 and 23. Robinson has a .292 batting average with two homeruns, 22 RBI, and six stolen bases in 42 games for the Governors. WSDCC hosts Gulf Coast State College April 25 and plays a conference, four-game series with Wallace State-Selma April 28 and 30. TRISTON SMITH — Young Harris College (Soph., Adairsville HS) . . . went 3-for-9 with a double and one run scored in a pair of non-conference losses April 19 and 20 to University of West Georgia and Brevard College. He then went 2-for-7 starting two of three conference losses at Georgia College April 22-24. Smith had a double, a walk, and scored two runs in the conference series. Young Harris College (12-35 overall, 6-21 Peach Belt Conference) has lost 11 straight. The Mountain Lions close out the 2016 season with a home, three-game conference series with Georgia Southwestern State April 30-May 1. JO JO UNDERWOOD — University of North Carolina-Greensboro (Jr., Cartersville HS) . . . had one at bat April 20 at Elon. He currently has made 21 game appearances with a .167 batting average and 3 RBI in 12 at bats for the Spartans. UNC-Greensboro (31-11 overall, 10-2 Southern Conference) leads the conference standings. UNCG has a home game vs. Campbell April 26 and a home conference series with Samford April 29-May 1. TYLER WILL — Berry College (Jr., Cartersville HS) . . . made an appearance April 19 and walked two batters at home against Covenant College. Will had 11 appearances and pitched 10 innings with a 3.60 ERA. The Vikings (27-17 overall, 11-10 Southern Athletic Association) went 2-2 in the SAA Tournament in Birmingham and were eliminated with a pair of losses to 7th-ranked Birmingham Southern College. ASA WILLIAMS — Reinhardt University (Sr., Cartersville HS). . . started in left field April 19 for the Eagles in a 4-0 loss at 3rd-ranked Georgia Gwinnett College. Williams has battled recent injury and has a .200 batting average in 12 starts and 15 game appearances with 35 at bats. Reinhardt (28-23 overall, 9-15 Appalachian Athletic Conference) plays a three-game series at Bryan College (TN) April 29-30. CHAZ WILSON — Columbus State University (Jr., Cass HS) . . . made a two inning relief appearance April 24 to close out the third game of a conference series sweep of visiting Armstrong State. He gave up a solo homerun, but no other baserunners and struck out one in a 13-8 win. Wilson has worked 18 and 1/3 innings in 13 relief appearances with a 5.89 ERA and 17 strikeouts. Opponents have a .206 batting average against him and his WHIP is 1.47. 13th-ranked Columbus State (36-10 overall, 21-6 Peach Belt Conference) has won 14 straight and needs to win two of three at home April 29-May 1 against UNC-Pembroke to win the conference regular season title. The Cougars, who have clinched no worse than the second seed in the PBC tournament, also play a non-conference game April 27 at Point University. 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

The North Georgia Snipers 13U baseball team captured the Grand Slam Baseball ‘Grip It and Rip It’ Tournament April 24 at Hobgood Park in Woodstock. The local travel team won three straight bracket games April 24 to win the title. Strong pitching performances carried the Snipers through the championship bracket. Taylor Elrod and Josh Jacobs combined for a 6-0 shutout of Paulding Thunder. Nicolas Wallin blanked the West Cobb Tide, 8-0, and Blaine Ingram pitched a complete game in the Snipers’ 16-4 championship game victory over the Sandy Plains Wildcats.