Results from the 12-and-under GRPA District 5 baseball tournament at Westside Park in Whitfield County: Cartersville 12U Purple remained unbeaten Tuesday (June 23) and earned a spot in the championship game by defeating the Whitfield County Blackouts, 14-11. The Blackouts face Whitfield County 12U Wednesday at 6pm. The winner of that game must beat Cartersville 12U Purple twice for the district championship. Cartersville only needs one win. The 12U District 5 tournament championship round begins Wednesday at 8pm. A final "if necessary" game in the double-elimination event would be on Thursday, June 25 at 6:15pm if needed. The Cartersville 12U Purple roster includes: Nicholas Bailey, William Jackson Cline, Micah Earwood, Nicholi Alexander Freeman, Stan Charles Heidmann, Jr., Christian Hayes Martin, Trevor Jordan Montgomery, John Jackson Norris, Christopher Tyler Putz, James Matthew Surrett, and Ethan Christopher Wolfe. The head coach is Jimmy Cline.

The Bartow County 9-year-old Dizzy Dean team fought its way back through the losers' bracket to earn a third, rubber game with the Kennesaw Generals tonight (June 23) for the District 2 championship. Kennesaw won the first tournament meeting between the two teams Sunday, 13-10, relegating Bartow to the losers' bracket. Bartow responded by defeating Powder Springs 17-1 in just three innings of their first elimination game to reach the championship round. Bartow scored a dozen runs in the first inning to take a huge advantage against Power Springs early. Cohen Chadwick pitched a 3-inning complete game, allowing only one run with three strikeouts. Ryan Johnson was 2-for-2 on a double and a triple to lead Bartow's offense. Rylam Lewallen (1-for-2, 3 runs scored), Zach Weaver (1-for-2, 2 runs), Aiden Cottinghim (1-for-2, double), and Cohen Chadwick (1-for-2) added to the attack. In the championship round opener and first rematch with Kennesaw, the Bartow offense stayed hot and handled the Generals 18-5 in four innings. Bartow scored four times in the first inning, added two more in the third frame, and then exploded for 12 runs in the fourth inning. Zach Weaver had a pair of doubles at the plate for Bartow. Landon Cole (2-for-2, double, 3 runs scored), and Landon Cole (2-for-2) led the offense against Kennesaw. Cole was the starting and winning pitcher (2 IP). Chadwick closed the game on the mound with 2 innings of work and a pair of strikeouts. The district tournament deciding game is tonight (June 23) at Adams Park in Kennsaw at 6:15pm.

Bartow County's 12 and under softball all stars clinched a spot in the GRPA District 5 championship game by shutting out Whitfield County Monday night (June 22), 13-0. The elimination game victory advances Bartow to a rematch in the finals tonight (June 23) against host Murray County. Murray won the first time these two teams met last Saturday. Bartow will need two wins over unbeaten Murray to win the double-elimination event. Madison Bentley dominated on the mound once again for Bartow County against Whitfield. She totaled six strikeouts in five innings of work. Bartow scored five times in the first inning and added seven more in the second frame to take control. The locals would add one more run in the third inning. Katherine Wheeler, Kyla Jenkins, and Bentley were 1-for-2 each to lead the Bartow bats. The Bartow victory Monday night also clinched a berth in the state tournament July 8-11 in Dublin at the Southern Pines Athletic Complex.

With only three teams remaining, one thing definitely has been determined at the Georgia Recreation and Parks Association District Five 10-and-under baseball tournament in Ellijay — a Cartersville team will be crowned champion. Cartersville 10U Purple came from behind and then held off Cartersville 9U Gray, 6-3 Monday night (June 22) to claim a spot in the championship round. Cartersville Purple is the only unbeaten team remaining in the double-elimination tournament and is only one win away from claiming the district title. Meanwhile, Cartersville 10U White won a pair of one-run games Monday night to stay alive in the losers’ bracket. Cartersville White edged Bartow County 7-6 and Calhoun 9-8. They will face Cartersville Gray Tuesday (June 23) at 6pm in an elimination game for both teams. The winner moves into the finals against Cartersville Purple at 7:30pm. If necessary, a second game in the championship round would be Wednesday at 6pm. The 2015 10-and-under District 5 baseball tournament is being hosted by the Gilmer County Recreation Department at Ellijay’s River Park. The Cartersville White roster includes: Brody Tidwell, Cole Jackson, Chandler Mathison, Silas Freeman, Kaden Stephenson, Gabriel Cox, Carson Horn, Knox Neal, Jack Chatman, Jordan Hall, Collin Genrich, and Joshua Clay. The manager is Ben Genrich and the coaches are Steven Chatman and Brian Cox. The roster for Cartersville 9U Gray includes: Nicholas Hruby, Joseph Womack, Caleb Daniel, Gavin Shrewsbury, Grant Knight, Miles Owen, Connor Stermer, Hayden James, Turner Abernathy, Andrew Stiles, Ayden Ray, and Coby Barrett. The manager is Daniel Knight and the coaches are Richard Daniel and Justin James. The roster for Cartersville 10U Purple includes: Avery Higgins, Trip Bradley, Will Litton, Thomas Norris, Paul Gamble, JaKiyon Porter, Brice Craig, Drake Carver, A.J. Christina, Hunter Kelly, Isaac McNair-Seigler, and Nicholas Kennedy. The manager is J.J. Norris. Coaches are Jeremy Carver and J.J. Jones.

Both Bartow County Recreation 10 and under softball all-star teams started their district tournament with quick victories Monday night. Bartow County is hosting the 2015 Georgia Recreation and Parks Association District 5 tournament for 10 and under softball this week at Hamilton Crossing Park. The 10 and under with pitching machine all-stars defeated Gilmer County 14-4 in 5 innings. Bartow pounded out 11 hits in the win. Leading the way for Bartow was Heidi Garner with 3 hits and Deandrea Applin with two hits. Bartow plays again Tuesday night (June 23) at 8 pm at Hamilton Crossing Park against Whitfield County. Whitfield County defeated Dalton 24-3 in their opening matchup. The 10 and under live arm Bartow All Stars only needed three innings to dispatch Calhoun 16-1. Bartow unloaded 16 hits and 10 different hitters recorded hits. Cassie Jones, Ansley Hight, Miciah Hicks, Haley Stiles, Olivia Talarico, and Lainey Baker each recorded two hits to lead the way. Bartow will play at 6:30 pm Tuesday night against Murray County who received an opening round bye. In the other game of the night Rome defeated Rockmart 16-1.

Results from the 12-and-under GRPA District 5 baseball tournament at Westside Park in Whitfield County: Cartersville Team No. 1 (Purple) defeated Whitfield County 12-0 to advance as one of only two remaining unbeaten teams in the tournament. They will now face another Whitfield County team, the unbeaten Blackouts. The winner Tuesday night (June 23) will move into the championship round Wednesday unbeaten and will be only one win away for the district crown. In other Monday action, Cartersville Team No. 2 (Gold) defeated Dalton 13-1 in an elimination game. They advance in the losers' bracket to face Calhoun Tuesday at 6pm. Bartow County lost to Gilmer County 12-11 Monday and finished seventh. The 12U District 5 tournament championship round begins Wednesday at 8pm. A final "if necessary" game in the double-elimination event would be on Thursday, June 25 at 6:15pm. The Cartersville 12U Purple roster includes: Nicholas Bailey, William Jackson Cline, Micah Earwood, Nicholi Alexander Freeman, Stan Charles Heidmann, Jr., Christian Hayes Martin, Trevor Jordan Montgomery, John Jackson Norris, Christopher Tyler Putz, James Matthew Surrett, and Ethan Christopher Wolfe. The head coach is Jimmy Cline. The Cartersville 12U Gold roster includes: Jaiden Antonio Avalos, Hayden Copeland Begley Cagle, Coy Michael Cappelen, Jonah Isaac Cooper, Jackson Kade Davenport, Tyler Earl Jacob Earick, David Jacob Evans, Austin Lucas Phillips, Jacob Hayden Ray, Adam Giles Turner, Jr., and Carter Banks Wilson. The head coach is Jamie Cooper.

Local and area high school softball players, coaches, and umpires will be sharpening their skills this week (June 22-25) at Woodland High School. Softball teams from Woodland, Cass, Cartersville, Carrollton, Rockmart, Creekview, East Paulding, and Darlington will spend the week playing one another in a summer camp format. Games are schedule each day for 9am, 11am, 1pm, and 3pm. The camp is not only designed for summer team work, it is part of the umpire training program conducted by the Georgia High School Association. GHSA officiating representative, Bob Earwood, will be leading and training the umpires in a camp atmosphere for the game officials as well. The Woodland camp is one of eleven such umpire camps conducted by GHSA all across the state during the months of June and July. For more about the camp, please see David Royal's 'Woodland softball hosting 4 play days' at The Daily Tribune News.

Cartersville High School football competed in one of Georgia's premier 7-on-7 summer football tournaments last week at the Corky Kell Invitational. Cartersville head coach, Joey King, had an opportunity to see his players in action against some high-caliber competition. For more, see Jason Greenberg's story, 'Canes go 3-3 at Corky Kell 7 on 7' at The Daily Tribune.

Georgia Highlands College and the Bartow County Recreation Department have partnered to offer a youth softball camp Monday, June 22 through Thursday, June 25 at Stars Field on the campus of Stars Pre-K Center. The camp offers player instruction each day from 9am to 12 noon for ages 6 to 12 years old. Drop off for campers begins at 8:30am each day with pick up by 12:30pm. Online registration is available at www.bartowcountyparksandrec.org/camps.html or call 770-387-5149 for more information.

The Bartow County 9-year-old all stars defeated Powder Springs Saturday night and have advanced to meet the Kennesaw Generals in the third round of the Dizzy Dean District 2 tournament Sunday at 5pm. The tournament is being played at New Georgia Baseball Association in Paulding County. Bartow opened the tournament Friday night (June 19) with a 25-4 victory over New Georgia in four innings. Bartow scored seven runs in the first inning and plated 17 more in the top of the fourth to rout the host team. Starting pitcher Layton Sanford (3 IP, 4K) picked up the pitching win for Bartow. Landon Cole led Bartow’s offense with a 5-for-5 performance that included four doubles. Aiden Cottingim and Ryan Johnson both went 3-for-4 for the locals. Hayden Blalock (2-for-4), Rylan Lewallen (2-for-3), and Easton Elrod (2-for-2 with 2 walks) added to the Bartow blowout. The 9-year-old Dizzy Dean District 2 tournament continues in Paulding County through Tuesday (June 23). ************ The Bartow 7-year-old all-stars were eliminated from their Dizzy Dean District 2 tournament Saturday with a loss to Powder Springs. The 7-year-old Dizzy Dean district tournament is being held at Adams Park in Kennesaw. In an opening 14-4 loss to New Georgia, Bartow’s Reed Ezell was 2-for-2 with a pair of runs scored. Cameron Scott and Lucas Baker were also 2-for-2 against New Georgia and scored one run each. ************ Upcoming Bartow teams at Dizzy Dean District 2 tournaments Bartow 6-year-old baseball team vs. Acworth Blue — Thursday (June 25) at 5:30pm at Oregon Park in Cobb County. Bartow 8-year-old baseball team vs. Oregon Park Piranhas — Friday (June 26) 7:30pm at Acworth Bartow 10-year-old baseball team — Friday (June 26) 6pm vs. Rome. Rome Baseball League is the host.

The Bartow County 12-and-under softball all-stars opened the GRPA District 5 tournament at Veterans Park in Chatsworth with a pair of victories over Rockmart and Whitfield County. Those wins placed Bartow 12U in the winners’ bracket final against host Murray County Saturday afternoon (June 20). Those results were not immediately available, but will be updated on Bartow Sports Zone. Bartow beat Rockmart 13-0 in both teams’ tournament opener Friday night (June 19). Madison Bentley pitched a complete game no hitter for Bartow. She recorded 11 strikeouts. Maggie Pruitt and Kyla Jenkins had three hits and a walk each to lead the Bartow offense. Harper Powell added a pair of hits. In a 3-2 win over Whitfield County, Bentley again pitched a complete game with six strikeouts. Bartow pulled out a back-and-forth contest in the bottom of the sixth inning. Tied 2-2 to start the sixth inning, Kyla Jenkins led off the inning with a walk. Jenkins then stole second on the first pitch to Harper Powell. Powell would then lay down a perfect bunt and Whitfield County made a throwing error that got past the first baseman and into right field. The mistake allow Jenkins to cross the plate for Bartow’s winning run. Harper Powell and Macy Vaughn were the leading hitters for Bartow against Whitfield. The 12U District 5 softball tournament continues Monday and Tuesday (June 22-23) in Chatsworth. Bartow 8U places 4th at district The Bartow County 8-and-under softball all-stars won a pair of elimination games Saturday to stay alive in the Georgia Recreation and Parks Association District 5 tournament at Gordon County, but later lost 14-8 to Whitfield County to finish fourth. Bartow lost to Gordon County 11-0 Friday night in their tournament opener, but wins over Bremen and Pickens County placed them in an elimination game against Whitfield County late Saturday afternoon. Haley Collum, Kate Self, Naxyria Roberts, and Elizabeth Hartsfield all had one hit apiece for Bartow in the opening loss to Gordon County. Bartow 8U bounced back, however, with a 5-3 win over Bremen Saturday. Kaitlyn Arnold, Haley Collum, Marlee Pruitt, Harley Powell, Kamryn Smith, and Alanya Carnes all had 1 hit each in the win. Bartow scored twice in the fifth and two more in the sixth to overcome a 2-1 deficit before a sixth inning Bremen rally came up just short. Bartow then defeated Pickens County 11-9. A five-run third inning proved to be the difference for Bartow as they held off a late rally by Pickens. Marlee Pruitt, Harley Collum, Aaron McCrary (double), Lane Callan, Alanya Carnes (triple), and Naxriya Roberts all had one hit apiece. Calhoun, Gordon County, and Whitfield County will continue to battle for the tournament title Monday.

Cartersville 10U Purple defeated Cartersville 10U White Saturday afternoon by an 11-5 score to advance in the GRPA District 5 tournament in Ellijay. Meanwhile, Cartersville 9U Gray knocked off Bartow Blue and Calhoun to also advance to a showdown with their familiar Purple Cartersville opponents. Both Cartersville teams remain the only unbeatens as the tournament takes a day off on Sunday. Cartersville Purple and Cartersville Gray will face off Monday at Ellijay's River Park at 7:45pm. Monday's winner in the double-elimination format will move into the District 5 championship game(s) and will need only one more victory to win the tournament. The loser on Monday will not be eliminated, but will need three straight wins to take the district title. Cartersville Purple (post game photo shown) took a 9-0 lead after the first two innings Saturday against Cartersville White and held on for their second win in the tournament. Thomas Norris, Trip Bradley, and Paul Gamble shared the pitching duties for Cartersville 10U Purple. The pitching trio scattered four hits and had five strikeouts going less than two innings each. Hunter Kelly had two hits including a homerun and 2 RBI, while A.J. Christina was a perfect 3-for-3 at the plate with an RBI to lead the offense. Gamble (2 RBI) and Norris also had two hits apiece. Bradley (RBI), Avery Higgins, Will Litton, and Brice Craig each added a hit. Nicholas Kennedy drove in a run. Cartersville 10U White plays again Monday at 6pm at River Park Field in Ellijay in an elimination game against Bartow 10U Blue. The Cartersville White roster includes: Brody Tidwell, Cole Jackson, Chandler Mathison, Silas Freeman, Kaden Stephenson, Gabriel Cox, Carson Horn, Knox Neal, Jack Chatman, Jordan Hall, Collin Genrich, and Joshua Clay. The manager is Ben Genrich and the coaches are Steven Chatman and Brian Cox. Cartersville 9U Gray defeated Bartow 10U Blue 9-4 Saturday and followed that with a victory over Calhoun. The win over Calhoun was Cartersville Gray's third straight win in the district tournament. The roster for Cartersville 9U Gray includes: Nicholas Hruby, Joseph Womack, Caleb Daniel, Gavin Shrewsbury, Grant Knight, Miles Owen, Connor Stermer, Hayden James, Turner Abernathy, Andrew Stiles, Ayden Ray, and Coby Barrett. The manager is Daniel Knight and the coaches are Richard Daniel and Justin James. Following their earlier defeat on Saturday, Bartow 10U Blue held off Pickens County 7-4 to avoid elimination. The Bartow White/Haralson County winner (in progress Saturday night) plays Calhoun Monday at 6pm at the Gilmer Co. High School softball field. Monday’s game is also an elimination game.