Local softball openers: Lady Canes win at Cedartown in extra innings

August 4, 2026

Charles Wilson / BartowSportsZone.com

The 2026 high school softball schedule got underway on Tuesday night for three local schools, with Cartersville exploding offensively in extra innings for a win at Cedartown, while Woodland and Cass came up short in their respective starts.

CARTERSVILLE 10, CEDARTOWN 2 (9 innings)

Two long balls and eight runs in the top of the ninth inning lifted Cartersville to a season-opening 10-2 win on Tuesday night at Cedartown.

Cedartown led 2-0 early with single runs in the bottom of the first and third innings. The Lady Canes tied the score in the top of the fifth on a two-run homer by LaKiaya Banks. Both teams went scoreless over the next three innings before Cartersville blew the game wide open in the top of the ninth.

In the Lady Canes’ ninth, Avaree Sellers doubled home two runs for a 4-2 lead. Zoie Shiflett followed with a grand slam home run later in the frame, and Taryn Bradley also added a two-run blast.

Presley Crabbe entered in relief of starter Shiflett in the fifth inning and collected the Lady Canes’ pitching win. She tossed 4-2/3 shutout innings, scattering one hit and two walks with 12 strikeouts. Shiflett worked the first 4-1/3 in the circle, yielding two unearned runs on five hits and no walks. She fanned three.

Shiflett led the Cartersville bats with four hits, including her grand slam. Emilee Brinson followed with three hits, including one double. Allana Williams produced two hits, including one double. Banks (home run, two RBI), Bradley (home run, two RBI), Sellers (double, two RBI), Kennedy Crenshaw, and Emma Miller each added one hit.

Cartersville (1-0) hosts Villa Rica on Wednesday at 6:30 p.m. and travels to Dalton on Thursday for a 5:30 p.m. start.

ALLATOONA 4, WOODLAND 0

The hosting Lady Buccaneers scored two runs in the first and fifth innings Tuesday evening en route to a 4-0 win over visiting Woodland.

Bucs’ pitcher Sophie Macurak limited the Lady Cats to only two hits and two walks while striking out six.

Evelyn Tucker suffered the pitching loss for Woodland, working all six innings in the circle. She allowed four runs (two earned) on 10 hits with no walks and fanned three.

Gracie Korb and Kylee Poston had base hits for the Wildcats.

Woodland (0-1) hosts Cedartown on Thursday at 5:55 p.m. and travels to Haralson County for a 5:30 p.m. first pitch on Monday.

VILLA RICA 3, CASS 0

The Lady Colonels outhit host Villa Rica five to four, but failed to produce any runs Tuesday night in a 3-0 season-opening loss on the road. 

Wildcats’ pitcher Peyton Harrison tossed a seven-inning shutout and struck out 13. She scattered five hits and three walks.

Villa Rica broke open a scoreless game with a run in the bottom of the fourth inning, then followed with two runs in the fifth.

Cass pitcher Kylie Gentry was tagged with the pitching loss after giving up three runs (two earned) on two hits and four walks. Gentry fanned five. Abagail Nalls retired the final four outs, allowing no runs on two hits and one walk with three strikeouts.

Natalie Hughes had two hits for Cass. Addy Bauder, Shyia Woods, and Nalls had the other Cass base hits.

The Lady Colonels (0-1) visit Allatoona on Thursday at 5 p.m.