Pro and college baseball update for 'Athletes Beyond Bartow'
Former Cartersville High School baseball players Sam Howard and Connor Justus saw action again this past week with their respective major league teams in Spring training. Meanwhile, the Adairsville High and Young Harris College duo of Tristin Smith and Tyler Washington enjoyed hot offensive weeks with their bats. In fact, Smith earned Peach Belt Conference Player of the Week honors as a result of his production.
The baseball update for 'Athletes Beyond Bartow' for the week ending Sunday, March 25.
MAJOR LEAGUE BASEBALL SPRING TRAINING
SAM HOWARD — Colorado Rockies organization (5th-year pro; LHP; Georgia Southern University; Cartersville HS)… was roughed up a bit in a 2.2 inning start Sunday, March 18 and was theh losing pitcher in a 13-0 loss to the San Francisco Giants. Howard, assigned to start the year with the Triple-A Albuquerque Isotopes was 1-1 in Cactus League action this spring in six appearances. He recorded two holds in relief and had one start. He worked 12.1 innings, walked five and struck out 13 for a 5.11 ERA. Opponents hit .250 against Howard this spring. Albuquerque opens its Pacific Coast League schedule with a five-game series at Salt Lake on Thursday, April 5.
CONNOR JUSTUS — Los Angeles Angels organization (3rd-year pro; SS; Georgia Tech; Cartersville HS)… entered to play shortstop in the bottom of the seventh last Thursday but did not have an at-bat in the Angels 4-3 loss to the Los Angeles Dodgers. Justus, who played the 2017 season with the Advanced Class A Inland Empire 66ers, will be receiving his 2018 minor league assignment at the end of this week.
COLLEGE BASEBALL
BRANDON ALLEN — Georgia Highlands CC (Fr., OF, Woodland HS)… went 2-for-2 with one RBI this past week in a pinch hitting role as the Chargers split four games with Gordon State CC. Allen raised his batting average to .385 with seven RBI in 11 game appearances. Georgia Highlands (22-10, 8-5) hosts ABAC Monday evening, plays at West Georgia Tech Wednesday afternoon, and meets Gordon State at home Friday night.
ELLIOTT ANDERSON — Auburn University (Soph., LHP, Cartersville HS)… entered in the fourth inning of 6th-ranked Auburn’s 6-4 loss last Tuesday at Georgia Tech to face nine batters. He allowed no runs on two hits and two walks, striking out four. He was also inserted in the bottom of the ninth Friday night at 11th-ranked Kentucky in a tie game with runners at first and third and one out. Kentucky’s walk-off run in the 5-4 Auburn loss scored on a wild pitch. He also faced two batters Sunday in the third inning with Auburn trailing 3-0. He allowed a walk, a hit, and a pair of earned runs as the Tigers eventually lost 13-3 in the second game of a doubleheader. Auburn (20-5, 3-2 SEC) faces Alabama Tuesday in Montgomery’s Riverwalk Stadium for the Capital City Classic. The Tigers then host a three-game series with Missouri Friday through Sunday.
BAILEY CAMPBELL — Young Harris College (Fr., 1B/DH, Cass HS)… grounded out in a pinch hit appearance Thursday during a 7-1 non-conference win at Truett-McConnell University. The Mountain Lions won four games this past week including a three-game sweep at home of 11th-ranked Flagler College. YHC (16-13, 10-8) hosts Emmanuel College Tuesday before traveling to Americus for a three-game Peach Belt Conference series at Georgia Southwestern Friday and Saturday.
NOAH DANIEL — Reinhardt University (Fr., Inf., Cartersville HS)… coaxed a walk in a pinch hitting role with the bases loaded in the bottom of the seventh inning to drive in a run last Wednesday in the Eagles 16-3 win over Toccoa Falls. RU (22-9, 9-3) was 3-1 for the week and travels to Talladega College Tuesday before hosting Point University Friday and Saturday in a three-game Appalachian Athletic Conference series.
BRANDON ETHERIDGE — Limestone College (Sr., OF, Cass HS)… went 2-for-10 in three starts in center field this past weekend with one walk, one RBI, and one run scored as the Saints swept a three-game conference series at Barton College (NC). Limestone (14-15, 6-6) hosts Wingate Tuesday and travels to Bristol, TN for a three-game Conference Carolinas series at King University Friday and Saturday.
CODY JOHNSON — Georgia Highlands CC (Fr., RHP, Cass HS)… made a one inning relief appearance Thursday in the seventh inning at Gordon State and was tagged with the pitching loss. He entered with the score tied 3-3 and allowed a pair of earned runs on a walk and a homerun as the Chargers eventually fell 9-4. Georgia Highlands (22-10, 8-5) hosts ABAC Monday evening, plays at West Georgia Tech Wednesday afternoon, and meets Gordon State at home Friday night.
SEAN McDERMOTT — Mercer University (Jr., 1B/DH, Adairsville HS)… started as the DH and scored a run after being hit by a pitch in the Bears’ 6-2 win last Wednesday at Georgia Tech. He was also hit by a pitch in a pinch hitting role Saturday during a 3-2 home conference win over Wofford. He added a double as a pinch hitter Sunday, but the Bears dropped a 14-10 decision to visiting Wofford. Mercer (19-6, 2-1 Southern Conference) travels to Tallahassee to face Florida A&M Tuesday and plays a three-game conference series at East Tennessee State University Thursday through Saturday.
HARRISON OSBORN — Point University (Fr., RHP, Cartersville HS)… suffered his first pitching loss last Tuesday but tossed a complete game five-hitter as the NAIA 25th-ranked Skyhawks were edged by 14th-ranked University of Mobile (AL) 2-1 in the first game of a doubleheader. Osborne walked one and struck out two in his seven innings of work. Point finished the week 2-3 by winning two of three over Truett-McConnell University over the weekend. The Skyhawks (19-11, 9-3 Appalachian Athletic Conference) play a three-game conference series at Reinhardt Friday and Saturday.
HUNTER REAID — Shorter University (Fr., C, Woodland HS)… started at DH and batted second in the lineup last Wednesday in the Hawks’ 7-5 home, non-conference win over Emmanuel College. Shorter (12-16, 4-10) had a 3-1 week that included winning two of three Gulf South Conference games at 2nd-ranked Delta State. The Hawks host Carson-Newman University Tuesday afternoon out of conference and entertain a three-game conference series with Alabama-Huntsville Friday and Saturday.
SAM SEAMAN — Gordon State CC (Fr., Inf., Adairsville HS)… had a base hit and scored a run in his only at bat last week. It came in a pinch hitting role last Tuesday during a 10-3 loss at LakePoint to Georgia Highlands CC. The two teams split four conference games during the week. GSCC (19-14, 5-4) plays at ABAC Wednesday and at LakePoint to face Georgia Highlands Friday night.
TRISTIN SMITH — Young Harris College (R-Jr., Inf., Adairsville HS)… had his best week of the 2018 season by hitting safely in four straight games — all starts — and going 6-for-12 with 11 RBI on three doubles, three homeruns with four walks and six runs scored. As a result, Smith was named Peach Belt Conference Player of the Week. Smith also stole a base and was hit by a pitch three times during the stretch. He raised his season batting average over 100 points to .294 as the Mountain Lions won at Truett-McConnell and swept a three-game conference series at home with 11th-ranked Flagler College. YHC (16-13, 10-8 Peach Belt Conference) hosts Emmanuel College Tuesday before traveling to Americus for a three-game conference series at Georgia Southwestern Friday and Saturday.
TYLER WASHINGTON — Young Harris College (Sr., OF, Adairsville HS)… extended his hitting streak to seven straight games by going 6-for-17 in four games last week. He hit a solo homerun at Truett-McConnell and had one other RBI in the series opener with Flagler College. Washington walked twice and scored four runs last week as the Mountain Lions won four straight. YHC (16-13, 10-8 Peach Belt Conference) hosts Emmanuel College Tuesday before traveling to Americus for a three-game conference series at Georgia Southwestern Friday and Saturday.
