Lady Jackets headed to Elite Eight after win vs. Pierce County
The Calhoun Lady Jackets tennis team are now a step away from going where they have been only once before.
The Lady Jackets defeated Pierce County on Thursday afternoon 4-0 in the second round of the Class AAA State Tournament to advance to the Elite Eight. Calhoun (18-1) will now face Pace Academy in the third round as they look to advance to the Final Four for only the second time ever. (They accomplished the feat in 2015.)
On Thursday, Calhoun swept through the singles matches each in two sets and didn’t lose a game in the process. McCartney Kessler (No. 1), Carly Briggs (No. 2) and Emma King (No. 3) all won 6-0, 6-0.
The Lady Jackets also got a point at No. 1 doubles with the team of Marlee Nichelson and Jalen Holland earning a 6-3, 6-0 win. The No. 2 doubles team of Sammy Bramlett and Molly Mashburn were up a set after winning the first 6-3 before their match was pulled with the result no longer in doubt.
In other recent prep sports news:
GOLF Calhoun girls, Sonoraville boys lead after Day 1 of City-County Tournament
The first day of the two- day City- County Tournament finished up with the Calhoun girls and Sonoraville boys on top of the leaderboard on Thursday at the Calhoun Elks Club.
The Lady Jackets shot a 120 as a team to set themselves up as the leader. Kate Mashburn led the way for Calhoun with a 37, and Maddie Crump (41) and Katie Kauffman (42) completed the team score. Molly Mashburn (43) and Ella Bennett (50) also completed rounds.
The low score individually on the day came from Sonoraville’s Clara Hulsey who shot an impressive 1-under 35.
The Gordon Central girls came in with a team score of 154. Their low score came from Ciera Lawson who shot a 49. Celeste Huffman’s 52 and Abbigail Hayes’ 53 rounded out the team score. Kallie Millard also shot a 55.
On the boys’ side, the Phoenix had a great day led by Blake Rouzee’s 1-under 35. Ryan Redd added a solid round of 37. Paxton Jarrett (40) and Lane Strickland (41) finished the team score. Also completing rounds for Sonoraville was Destin Summer (44), Alex Naymick (52), Landon Ruff (54) and Cody Grantham (60).
Calhoun’s boys shot a 167 as a team with Avery Dodd coming in as the low man with 39. Taylor Gresham and Luke Jones each shot a 42, and Hayden Hayes carded a 44. Alex Rep (45), Will Holden (48), Matt Fletcher (53) and Dawson Mashburn (53) also completed rounds.
For Gordon Central, who shot a 170, Isaac McEntyre shot a 40 for their low score. Branton Lawson carded a 40, and Josh Hardin and Jordan Hardin both shot 44’s to complete the team score.
The teams will complete the City-County Tournament on May 9 at Fields Ferry. The Calhoun girls and boys will next play on May 1 at the Jack and Jill Invitational at Indian Hills (Marietta). Sonoraville’s girls will play at the Area Tournament next on May 4 at Fields Ferry, and the Sonoraville boys will play at the Boys Area Tournament on May 8 at Indian Trace. Both Gordon Central teams will host Model, Adairsville and Trion for a quad match at Fields Ferry on Thursday.
BASEBALL Calhoun 11, Adairsville 0
The Jackets got a no-hitter on the mound and a huge offensive day with 13 hits to earn a dominant region road win on Thursday.
The big story was junior Brett Potts, who completely shut down the Adairsville offense. The lefty went six innings and didn’t allow a hit while walking just one and striking out nine to earn the complete-game, no-hit win on the mound.
The offense for Calhoun (16-11, 11-6) had several players with multi-hit games. Tanner Gallman was 3-for-5 with an RBI, Ryan Randall and Ben King each had two hits and two RBIs apiece, Carson Kemp had two hits, including a triple, with an RBI and three runs scored and Brett Potts also had two hits and an RBI. Austin Trammell and Davis Allen each drove in a run as well.
SOCCER Calhoun girls 2, Sprayberry 0
The Calhoun Lady Jackets completed their regular-season with a solid road win on Friday.
The Lady Jackets (123), who recently won the Region 6-AAA title, took the lead in the first half with an Ashley Hartness goal off an assist from Adamariz Perez. The defense and goalkeeper Mia Smith took over the game from there denying several chances for Sprayberry.
Calhoun added another goal on a counter attack in the second half with Jenna Santori rocketing in a goal from more than 30 yards away off an assist from Michelly Huitanda.
The Lady Jackets will open the Class AAA State Tournament on Wednesday when they host East Jackson at 5 p.m.
Calhoun boys 1, Sprayberry 1
Calhoun earned a draw on Friday with a late penalty kick in a non-region contest.
The Jackets (12-4-1) had a defensive lapse in the first half to fall behind 1-0. But Calhoun battled back in the second half and earned a penalty kick with four minutes to play which Jorge Aranda converted on for the equalizer.
Calhoun goalkeeper Eduardo Fajardo recorded six saves in the game to keep his team in it.
The Jackets will be home on Wednesday at 7 p.m. to host East Jackson in the first round of the Class AAA State Tournament.
Sonoraville girls 2, Cartersville 0
Sonoraville moved some of their personnel around on Friday to account for an injury and still came away with a shutout victory in a non-region test on the road.
The Lady Phoenix (143) got a goal from Deya Irick off an assist from Bailey Brewer and then added their second goal on a penalty kick, which goalkeeper Sidney Stone put away in the final minute of the game.
Sonoraville used the non-region contest to move some players around as they try to fill the void left by midfielder Catherine Farist, who will miss the rest of the season with a leg injury.
The Lady Phoenix hosted Monroe Area on Tuesday in the first round of the Class AAA State Tournament. ( For details on that game, see Saturday’s Calhoun Times.)