Calhoun’s playoff run comes to an end with loss to Morgan County in Final Four.
Calhoun got a little measure of revenge on Thursday for an earlier loss this season and a season-ending loss last May.
The Jackets used a stellar outing from Brett Potts on the mound and some timely small-ball at the plate to defeat Cedartown 3-2 at home on Thursday.
Potts went six innings and gave up two runs on five hits while striking out 13 to earn the win against the Bulldogs, who defeated Calhoun (4-2) 12-4 on Feb. 24 and was also the team that eliminated the Jackets in the Class AAA Elite Eight last season.
Matthew Williams came in to pitch a scoreless seventh to earn the save as he gave up one hit and struck out one.
Offensively for Calhoun, Bryson Davis had a hit and an RBI, and Payton Morrow and Tanner Gallman also drove in a run apiece. Potts added two hits at the plate, and Williams, Nate Bonner and Alex Hinojosa also had a hit apiece.
The Jackets are on the road on Thursday at Woodland at 5:30 p.m. for another non-region contest.
In other recent prep sports action:
BASEBALL Sonoraville 16, Gordon Central 1
The Phoenix exploded for 10 runs in the second inning on Thursday to set the tone for a dominant home victory over their Gordon County rivals in non-region action.
Sonoraville (4-2) took a quick 3-0 lead in the first inning but really took control in the second with 10 runs to go up 13-0. They added three more runs over the next two innings to force the mercy rule in the fourth.
Tyler Lyles led the offense with two hits, including a double, and three RBIs, and Storm Carnes also had two hits with a double, two stolen bases and two RBIs. Grant Hegwood was the third Sonoraville batter with two hits and drove in a run.
Trent Walker had a hit and two RBIs for the Phoenix, Wyatt Castoe added a double and two runs scored, Gage Soulios had a hit and an RBI and Chase Kirby had a hit, three stolen bases and two run scored.
On the mound, Hegwood earned the win by pitching three innings and giving up one run (unearned) on two this while striking out five. Logan Jones pitched a scoreless inning of relief.
For Gordon Central (0-6) Clayton Hogue and Logan Hefner had the Warriors only hits, and Nate Tate drove in a run.
The Phoenix will have over a week off before their next game when they host Murray County on March 14 at 5:55 p.m. in their Region 6-AAA opener. Gordon Central was at Armuchee on Monday. (For details on that game, see Saturday’s Calhoun Times.) They host Rockmart on Friday at 5:30 p.m.
Sonoraville 10, Chattooga 0
Sonoraville kept their momentum going on Friday with their fifth straight win thanks to a combined shutout on the mound and a big offensive effort.
Wyatt Castoe pitched three scoreless innings to get the win for the Phoenix (5-2) as he allowed just two hits and struck out two. Gage Soulios pitched the final two innings in relief gave up two hits while striking out two.
Grant Clark led the offense with a 2-for-2 day with a home run and two RBIs. Soulios also had two hits with an RBI. Storm Carnes had a hit and two RBIs, and Chase Kirby added a hit, two stolen bases and an RBI. Tyler Lyles and Hagan Steely each had a hit and a run scored.
Calhoun loses two at doubleheader
The Jackets went on the road on Saturday for a non-region doubleheader and lost to host West Forsyth, 3-2, and Alpharetta, 11-0.
In the first game against West Forsyth, the Jackets (4-4) rallied to within one run with a score in the sixth inning but that’s as close as they would get in the loss. Bryson Davis had a hit and an RBI, and Julian Ipac drove in the other run. Jackson Braden added a double, and Carson Kemp, Brett Potts, Tanner Gallman and Payton Morrow also had hits.
Braden pitched the complete game but took the tough-luck loss. He went six innings and gave up three runs (one earned) on six hits while striking out three.
Calhoun was shutout in Game 2 by Alpharetta with Kemp, Davis and Ethan Crump managing the only three hits in the loss.
SOCCER Gordon Central boys 7, Chattooga 0
The Warriors used a balanced scoring attack to earn a convincing region road win on Thursday.
Kevin Valencia led Gordon Central (1-2-1, 1-1) with four goals against the Indians. Wilson Falla scored two goals, and Kenneth Cua scored one.
The Warriors hosted Armuchee and visited Model on Monday and Tuesday, respectively, this week. They are back home on Monday when they host Coosa at 7 p.m.
Sonoraville girls 5, Southeast Whitfield 1
After Southeast Whitfield scored the first goal of the game, the Lady Phoenix reeled off five straight to earn a non-region home win on Friday.
Bailey Brewer scored two goals for Sonoraville (6-1), Avery Hamilton had a goal and an assist and Prissilla Arambul and Averi Walraven also added single goals.
Sonoraville was on the road for a region contest at North Murray on Tuesday. (For details on that game, see Saturday’s Calhoun Times.) They will visit Ringgold on Friday at 5:30 p.m.
Calhoun boys 3, Heritage 1
Calhoun earned a solid non-region win at home on Friday thanks to a balanced offensive and defensive effort.
The Jackets (4-2) were led by Jorge Aranda with two goals. Oscar Huerta had a goal as well, and Alex Aguilar added an assist.
Calhoun will be home again on Thursday as they open their Region 6-AAA schedule against LFO at 7 p.m.
GOLF Phoenix win tri-match over Gordon Central, Dade County
The Sonoraville boys opened the season with a victory in a three-team match at Fields Ferry on Thursday.
The Phoenix shot a 181 to finish ahead of Gordon Central (184) and Dade County (187). Lane Strickland was the low man for Sonoraville with a 38. Ryan Redd carded a 39, Blake Rouzee shot a 47 and Destin Summers completed the scoring with a 57.
The Warriors were led by Isaac McEntyre who shot a 44. Jordan Hardin and Josh Hardin both carded 47s, and Branton Lawson shot a 49.
Sonoraville was at the Cartersville Country Club on Monday to take on Cartersville. (For details on that match, see Saturday’s Calhoun Times.) They return to Fields Ferry on Thursday to host North Murray at 4 p.m.
Gordon Central visited Adairsville at Barnsley Gardens on Tuesday. (For details on that match, see Saturday’s Calhoun Times.) They will play against Coosa and Pepperell on Wednesday at Stonebridge in Rome.
Calhoun, Gordon Central boys compete at Rambler Invitational
Both Calhoun and Gordon Central traveled to LaFayette Golf Club on Saturday to play in the Rambler Invitational and came away with solid results.
The Jackets finished 10th as a team and were led by Avery Dodd with their low score of 86. Hunter Hayes and Will Holden each shot an 88, Drew Gravitt had an 89 and Drew Eickman carded a 93.
Gordon Central’s low score came from Jordan Hardin with an 84. Joshua Hardin and Isaac McEntyre each shot an 88, and Stanton Walker shot a 100.
The Jackets hosted Model on Tuesday at Fields Ferry. (For details on that match, see Saturday’s Calhoun Times.) They will visit Cartersville at Cartersville Country Club on Monday.
Lady Jackets perform well at Glynn County Ryder Cup
The Calhoun girls came away with a third-place and 12th- place finish against tough competition at the Glynn County Ryder Cup in Jekyll Island on Saturday.
The Lady Jackets’ played in two pairs with Kate Mashburn and Molly Mashburn finishing third with a score of 66, and Maddie Crump and Katie Kauffman shooting a 72 to place 12th.
Calhoun is on the road at Coosa Country Club on Thursday to face Darlington in a nine-hole match.
TRACK Sonoraville sweeps home tri-meet
The Sonoraville girls and boys hosted LFO and Murray County on Thursday and each came away with top finishes in the team standings.
The Sonoraville boys scored 93 points to finish ahead of Murray County (47) and LFO (18). The Phoenix had first-place finishes from Nathan Ortiz in the pole vault (11-00) and 110 meter hurdles (16.19), Bailey Reece in the high jump (5-06) and triple jump (36-10.5), Tristan Key in the long jump (19-08.5) and 100 meter dash (11.32), Camron Keith in the 400 meter (58.31) and 4x400 meter relay (3:58).
The Lady Phoenix finished with 77 points as team ahead of LFO (44) and Murray County (22). Their first-place finishes came from Rozlyn Rule in the pole vault (7-06), Anikia Simpson in the high jump (4-08) and 400 meter (1:09.65), Sommer Quinn in the shot put (30-11.5) and the discus (7507), Sarah Carroll in the 100 meter dash (Tie-13.24), Averi Walraven in the 100 meter hurdles (19.59), McKenzie Green in the 300 meter hurdles, Avery Hamilton in the 800 meter (2:50), 4x100 meter relay (53.87) and 4x400 meter relay (5:03).
Sonoraville will next compete at the Yellow Jacket Invitational on Saturday at Calhoun starting at 9:30 a.m.
Gordon Central runs past competition in five-team meet
The Gordon Central girls and boys teams each finished atop the team standings to sweep wins at a home meet on Thursday against four other teams.
The Lady Warriors totaled 155 points to take first ahead of Coosa (101), Model (55), Southeast Whitfield (8) and Armuchee (5). They received first- place finishes from Brooklyn Towe in the long jump (14-02), Megan Hudson in the shot put (35-08) and discus (117-00), Lizbeth Alvarez in the pole vault (6-06) and the 4x400 meter relay (4:51.17) to go along with several other top-three finishes.
On the boys side, Gordon Central had 137.5 points to place first by a wide margin over Coosa (58), Model (49), Southeast Whitfield (49) and Armuchee (39.5). Leading the way with first-place finishes for the Warriors was Dustin Goswick in the long jump (18-10), Bryce Bussert in the 1600 meter (5:04.99), Morgan Swaim in the 400 meter (55.73), Kelby Mezick in the 100 meter dash (11.30) and 200 meters (23.52), Luke Beavers in the 110 meter hurdles (17.44), Race Hudson in the 300 meter hurdles (44.79) and Lee Ullman in the pole vault (10-06).
Gordon Central will be home again on Thursday to host Murray County, Armuchee, Pepperell and Model starting at 4:15 p.m.
TENNIS Calhoun sweeps Murray County
Both the Calhoun girls and boys earned 5-0 wins on Thursday at home against Murray County.
The Lady Jackets (2-0) lost only four sets in the entire match as they got points in singles from McCartney Kessler (No. 1), Carly Briggs (No. 2) and Marlee Nichelson (No. 3) and in doubles from the team of Jalen Holland and Emma King (No. 1) and the team of Molly Mashburn and Sammy Bramblett (No. 2).
For the Calhoun boys (1-0), they swept the singles matches with Cameron LeBoeuf (No. 1), Luke McKenzie (No. 2) and Coen Marcus (No. 3) earning wins. In doubles, the team of Aaron Lively and Matthew Turner (No. 1) and the team of Matthew McCanless and Rucker Reeves ( No. 2) also earned victories.
Calhoun visited Sonoraville on Tuesday. (For details on that match, see Saturday’s Calhoun Times.) Both Calhoun teams will compete in the LaGrange Tournament on Friday and Saturday.