Athletes Beyond Bartow: Howard, Seigler excel in MiLB action as Anderson, Warner continue at CWS
Former Cartersville Hurricanes enjoyed outstanding weeks on baseball diamonds as the minor league schedules reach their respective all-star breaks and Division I baseball continues at the College World Series in Omaha, Nebraska. Pitcher Sam Howard made three scoreless relief appearances last week for the Albuquerque Isotopes. Anthony Seigler wrapped up a successful opening week with his new Charleston RiverDogs team and Connor Justus reached the Southern League all-star break with the Mobile BayBears. Cartersville is also represented at the College World Series by Auburn’s Elliott Anderson and Devin Warner. According to a recent tweet by Canes’ coach Kyle Tucker, those two former Canes join former Cartersville standouts Will Startup (UGA), Josh Morris (UGA), and Lyle Allen (UGA) to participate in the CWS.
COLLEGE BASEBALL
ELLIOTT ANDERSON — Auburn University (Jr., LHP, Cartersville HS)… Anderson made a brief sixth inning appearance Sunday night in the Tigers’ opening game at the College World Series in Omaha. Anderson entered for starting pitcher Jack Owen with runners on first and second and no outs. He got a ground ball force play at third for the first out of the inning, but allowed a ground ball single through the right side by the next batter to plate Mississippi State’s first run of the game and make the score 3-1. Anderson was then lifted for pitcher Cody Greenhill who is typically the Auburn closer. Auburn (38-27) went on to lose a 4-1 lead in the ninth inning and fall 5-4 dropping them to the elimination portion of the bracket. The Tigers, in the College World Series for the first time since 1997, face Louisville Tuesday at 2 p.m.
DEVIN WARNER — Auburn University (Fr., Inf/OF, Cartersville HS)… Warner was not utilized in the Tigers’ Super Regional win over North Carolina the week before nor their first game Sunday at the College World Series in Omaha. Auburn suffered a tough 5-4 loss Sunday night to Mississippi State after leading 4-1. Mississippi State scored four runs in the bottom of the ninth for a come-from-behind victory. Auburn (38-27) plays Louisville Tuesday afternoon at 2 p.m. in an elimination game. The Tigers are in the College World Series for the first time since 1997.
PRO BASEBALL
SAM HOWARD — Albuquerque Isotopes (6th yr. pro; LHP; Triple-A Pacific Coast League; Colorado Rockies’ organization; Georgia Southern; Cartersville HS)… had one of his best weeks of the year with three appearances at the Iowa Cubs and at home against the Oklahoma City Dodgers and New Orleans Baby Cakes. Last Monday at Iowa, Howard struck out the side in a one inning seventh inning appearance, but the Isotopes were on the short-end of a 13-4 loss. Thursday at home against Oklahoma City, he entered with two outs in the seventh with the bases loaded and retired four of the five batters he faced without allowing a run. Howard got a groundout in the seventh to end the Dodgers’ threat and then allowed a single in the eighth before retiring the next three batters. The 26-year-old southpaw also worked a spotless eighth inning at home Saturday against the New Orleans in a 4-1 loss. For the season, Howard has a 1-0 record in 25 relief appearances. The southpaw has a 4.59 ERA in 33.1 innings pitched with 41 strikeouts. Opponents are batting .266 against him.
CONNOR JUSTUS — Mobile BayBears (4th yr. pro; Inf.; Double-A Southern League; L.A. Angels’ organization; Georgia Tech; Cartersville HS)… Justus was 4-for-22 at the plate last week as the BayBears finished up the Southern League’s first half schedule with eight games over six days. He finished the first half with a .189 batting average that included one home run, 12 RBI, and eight extra base hits in 175 at-bats across 60 games. Defensively, Justus has a .944 fielding percentage in 215 total chances splitting time at three infield positions — shortstop, second base, and third base. Mobile (27-41) finished last in the Southern League’s South Division first half. The standings reset for the schedule’s 70-game second half starting Thursday.
ANTHONY SEIGLER — Charleston RiverDogs (2nd yr. pro; C; Class A South Atlantic League; Cartersville HS)… Seigler has now played six games with his new club and is 7-for-19 at the plate typically batting in the No. 2 spot in the order whether catching or contributing as the team’s designated hitter. He has a pair of doubles and one RBI along with six walks for a .368 average, .520 on-base percentage, and .474 slugging percentage. The RiverDogs went 3-3 in those six games but missed securing a post-season playoff berth by one-half game. In three starts at catcher, Seigler has a 1.000 fielding percentage with no passed balls. He has thrown out one of two steal attempts against him. Charleston finished tied for second place with Augusta as Lexington won the first half division title. The standings will be reset Thursday for the second half of the season following the league’s All-Star break. For local fans, the RiverDogs return to Rome for a three game series June 24-26.
