Athletes Beyond Bartow: Local athlete updates from across the nation
While college softball and baseball teams are in the midst of their conference schedules, the 2019 minor league baseball season got underway this past week.
Former Cartersville High School pitcher Sam Howard and shortstop Connor Justus started their respective MiLB seasons with Albuquerque of the Pacific Coast League and Mobile of the Southern League. Meanwhile, eighteen local college softball and baseball players made contributions with their respective programs during the week, including former Canes' southpaw Elliott Anderson (photo) who improved to 5-0 with a 1.95 ERA.
PRO BASEBALL
SAM HOWARD — Albuquerque Isotopes (6th yr. pro; Colorado Rockies’ organization; LHP; Georgia Southern; Cartersville HS)… pitched the ninth inning of the Isotopes 11-4 opening day loss April 4 to Salt Lake. Howard entered with his team trailing 10-4 and, after two outs, gave up a solo home run to Jared Walsh. He recorded two strikeouts in the frame. Albuquerque (2-1) into Sunday’s game. CONNOR JUSTUS — Mobile BayBears (4th yr. pro; L.A. Angels’ organization; SS/2B; Georgia Tech; Cartersville HS)… appeared in three of the BayBears’ first four games, starting at shortstop in the season opener Thursday and again Saturday night. He entered as an eighth inning pinch runner in Friday’s game. He was 0-for-5 in his plate appearances. Mobile dropped its first three games to Pensacola, but beat the Wahoos in 11 innings Sunday. ANTHONY SEIGLER — Extended Spring Training (2nd yr. pro; N.Y. Yankees’ organization; C; Cartersville HS)… the Yankees’ first round draft pick in 2018 is nursing a quad injury sustained in Spring Training and will be held in extended training as minor league schedules begin. Seigler is expected to join the Class A Charleston RiverDogs at some point during the South Atlantic League’s first half.
COLLEGE SOFTBALL
SARAH FOX — Agnes Scott College (Fr., Inf., Cass HS)… played in three of the Scotties four games last week and was 4-for-10 at the plate with three RBI, a stolen base and a run scored. Agnes Scott split a doubleheader at LaGrange last Monday and lost two games Saturday at Berea (KY). The Scotties (5-25, 2-10 USA South Athletic Conference) play at Huntingdon Wednesday and host Wesleyan Saturday in their final two regular season conference doubleheaders.
SIERRAH GANI — Georgia Highlands College (So., Inf., Cass HS)… hit safely in all four Chargers’ games over the weekend. She was 4-for-10 including a double, a walk, three runs scored, and had five RBI. GHC (20-14, 11-7) has won five straight and eight of nine. The Chargers host conference leading Georgia Military College for a doubleheader Wednesday before traveling to Gordon State for a conference doubleheader Saturday.
SYDNEY HODORFF — LaGrange College (Sr., C, Woodland HS)… in six games last week, Hodorff was 4-for-17 at the play with a home run, a double, two runs scored, and six RBI as the Panthers went 3-3. LaGrange (9-13, 5-7) split with Agnes Scott, swept at Brevard, and lost two at Greensboro. The Panthers host Wesleyan College Wednesday, Judson College (AL) Thursday, and travel to Berea College (KY) Saturday for three doubleheaders this week.
HANNAH KNAPP — Talladega College (Jr., UT, Adairsville HS)… went 1-for-6 in four starts last week with one RBI. The Tornadoes split a home doubleheader with Point University last Tuesday and was swept in a pair of games at NAIA 4th-ranked Georgia Gwinnett on Saturday. Talladega (4-22) hosts Tennessee Wesleyan Thursday and Point Saturday in a pair of doubleheaders.
PARIS POSTON — Columbus State University (Fr., OF, Cartersville HS)… went 1-for-4 with a double, a walk, and one RBI on a sacrifice fly last Wednesday in a doubleheader split at University of West Alabama. On Saturday, Poston was 2-for-3 with a two-run homer to right field in the fifth inning and a RBI-single in the sixth inning of Game 1 as the Cougars swept a Peach Belt Conference doubleheader at Young Harris College. She finished the day 2-for-6 with three RBI and two walks. Columbus State (28-12, 8-2 PBC) is currently third in the conference with home doubleheaders this weekend against Francis Marion Saturday and UNC-Pembroke on Sunday.
HANNAH TODD — Kansas University (So., P, Cartersville HS)… made three appearances last week — one at Tulsa on Wednesday with two at Oklahoma State Friday and Saturday. She earned her second save of the season with two and one-third scoreless innings at Tulsa. She walked one but did not allow a hit in the Jayhawks’ 7-4 win. Todd also worked three and two-thirds innings Friday and was tagged with the pitching loss. She yielded six earned runs on six hits and four walks in an 8-1 loss at 13th-ranked Oklahoma State. In an inning and one-third Saturday, the right-hander gave up one earned run on two hits and two walks in a 7-3 loss to the Cowgirls. Kansas (14-24, 2-4 Big 12 Conference) hosts a three-game conference series with Oklahoma Friday through Sunday.
ANNALYN YANTIS — Samford University (Sr., P, Cartersville HS)… made one start last week and suffered the loss Saturday in a 9-4 defeat at Western Carolina. Yantis tossed three and one-third innings allowing six earned runs on five hits, one walk, and one hit batsman. The Bulldogs finished the week 2-2 with a pair of wins in the Western Carolina three-game series and a home loss to Belmont. Samford (17-25, 6-3 Southern Conference) host East Tennessee State Universitiy for a three-game SoCon series Saturday and Sunday.
COLLEGE BASEBALL
ELLIOTT ANDERSON — Auburn University (Jr., LHP, Cartersville HS)… picked up his fifth win of the season Friday by retiring all four batters he faced in the seventh and eighth innings as the 22nd-ranked Tigers came-from-behind to beat visiting 12th-ranked Arkansas 6-3. Anderson improved his season mark to 5-0 with a 1.95 ERA in 27 and two-thirds innings pitched. Auburn (23-9, 7-5 SEC) dropped three of four games last week losing twice to the Razorbacks and last Tuesday to Georgia Tech. The Tigers host Jacksonville State Tuesday and play a weekend three-game SEC series at Texas A&M.
LEVI AYERS — Georgia Highlands CC (Fr., P, Cartersville HS)… made two appearances last week including his second pitching win last Monday in a 12-3 win at Emmanuel College JV. Ayers went four innings allowing only one earned run on two hits and a walk. He fanned four. He also worked a scoreless eighth inning with a pair of strikeouts in the Chargers’ 11-8 home loss Saturday to Wallace State-Hanceville CC. Ayers has made seven appearances and tossed 11.1 innings with a 3.97 ERA this season. Georgia Highlands (23-17, 9-8 GCAA) has a busy week hosting a doubleheader with Emmanuel College Monday prior to a four-game conference series with Andrew College that begins in Cuthbert Tuesday and concludes at LakePoint Friday and Saturday.
BAILEY CAMPBELL — Young Harris College (So., 1B/DH, Cass HS)… walked in his only plate appearance last week. The pinch hitting at-bat came in the Mountain Lions’ 4-1 loss Friday to 9th-ranked University of North Georgia. Young Harris was 2-2 last week with a win over Emmanuel and one win over UNG. The Mountain Lions (24-13, 11-8 Peach Belt Conference) have a non-conference doubleheader at Mars Hill Wednesday and host Augusta University for a three-game conference series this weekend.
CARRINGTON EVANS — Augusta University (R-So., OF, Cartersville HS)… appeared in three games including a pair of starts in right field last week as the Jaguars won one of three at USC-Aiken and dropped a mid-week game at Valdosta State. Evans was 1-for-8 for the week with a walk and one RBI. Augusta (17-21, 6-18 Peach Belt Conference) plays a three-game series at Young Harris College this weekend.
HUNTER HICE — USC-Upstate (Fr., Inf., Adairsville HS)… was 1-for-2 with two walks, a run scored, and one RBI in a start as designated hitter and a 4-3 home win over North Carolina A&T last Wednesday. The Spartans went 4-1 for the week with a win over Charleston Southern and two wins in a three-game home conference series with Radford. USC-U (15-17, 4-8 Big South Conference) hosts a three-game BSC series with Presbyterian College this weekend.
KENNY JINKS — Shorter University (Fr., LHP, Woodland HS)… made a sixth inning appearance and walked the only batter he faced in a 12-6 Hawks’ home loss to Auburn-Montgomery last Friday. Shorter (19-17, 11-12 Gulf South Conference) hosts Lincoln Memorial University Tuesday afternoon before traveling to Clinton, Mississippi for a weekend GSC series at Mississippi College.
MASON ROBINSON — Louisiana Tech (R-Sr., OF, Woodland HS)… made two starts for the Bulldogs last week — home wins over McNeese State and UTSA — and was 2-for-4 with a walk and a run scored. He was also hit by a pitch in the McNeese State game. Robinson, batting .336 for the year in 29 starts and 110 at-bats, has 19 RBI and nine extra base hits including three home runs. Louisiana Tech (21-10, 8-4 C-USA) has won seven straight and plays a non-conference game at UL-Lafayette Tuesday prior to a three-game Conference USA series at Florida Atlantic this weekend.
TRISTIN SMITH — Young Harris College (Sr., Inf. Adairsville HS)… went 4-for-16 in four starts last week as the Mountain Lions went 2-2. Smith had a double and two RBI during the week. YHC (24-13, 11-8 PBC) travels to Mars Hill for a non-conference doubleheader Wednesday before hosting Augusta University for a conference three-game series Friday and Saturday.
DEVIN WARNER — Auburn University (Fr., Inf., Cartersville HS)… had a ninth inning pinch hitting appearance Saturday but struck out in the 22nd-ranked Tigers’ 8-0 loss to visiting 12th-ranked Arkansas. Auburn (23-9, 7-5 SEC) entertains Jacksonville State Tuesday and makes the trip to Texas A&M for a three-game set Friday through Sunday.
TYLER WASHINGTON — Young Harris College (Sr., OF, Adairsville HS)… started all four games for the Mountain Lions last week as they won at Emmanuel College and took one of three at home against University of North Georgia. Washington was 4-for-15 with a walk, a double, and six RBI. The Mountain Lions (24-13, 11-8 Peach Belt Conference) have a non-conference doubleheader at Mars Hill Wednesday and host Augusta University for a three-game conference set this weekend.
CAUY WILLIAMS — Wallace State-Dothan CC (Fr., RHP, Woodland HS)… made a one-inning relief appearance last Tuesday during a 12-2 Senators’ win over Central Alabama CC. Williams allowed one hit and one earned run. He also worked a scoreless sixth inning with one strikeout in an 11-0 victory Sunday over Wallace State-Selma CC. WSDCC (29-5, 14-2 Alabama Community College Conference) remains in first place in the ACCC South Division with games at home Monday against Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College, a home conference doubleheader with Lurleen Wallace CC Thursday, and a trip to Lurleen Wallace for a Saturday doubleheader.
GOLF
LINDSEY BONNER -- York College (So., Cartersville HS)... Bonner carded a pair of 82s to finish tied for 10th at the Spartan Invitational hosted by York over the weekend. She shot nine-over on both days, as York cruised to a 25-shot win in the first-ever event, which included 10 other teams.
TENNIS
PEYTON GOLLHOFER -- Ball State University (Sr., Cartersville native)... Gollhofer and the Cardinals routed preseason favorite Buffalo in their only matchup of the week, earning a 7-0 victory on Friday in Mid-American Conference action. Playing on Line 2 singles, Gollhofer eased to a 6-4, 6-0 win. She paired with Isabelle Dohanics for a 6-3 triumph on Line 3 doubles. With two MAC contests left to go, Ball State is in the middle of a jumbled mess in the standings. Currently 3-2 in the conference, the Cardinals are tied for fourth with Buffalo and Akron, which they will face in the regular-season finale on April 20 after a meeting with Northern Illinois (0-6 MAC) this coming Sunday.
TRACK AND FIELD
SPENCER FIELDS -- Rhodes College (Sr., Kingston native, Darlington HS)... Fields broke his own school record in the 10k with a time of 30 minutes, 12 seconds in the Colonial Relays, which took place last week in Williamsburg, Virginia. He finished third in the race.
