Athletes Beyond Bartow: Howard rejoins MLB Rockies; Lawrence, Forristall, and Cruz on CFB national a

Sam Howard was recalled to the Major League Baseball Colorado Rockies this past week and was utilized right away in home games against the Boston Red Sox and Pittsburgh Pirates. Also in pro baseball, Elliott Anderson’s Burlington Royals of the Rookie Advanced Appalachian League advanced to the league’s championship series that begins Monday against Johnson City of the St. Louis Cardinals organization.

College football, cross country, and soccer are also underway with several local contributors. Trevor Lawrence was in the spotlight Thursday night as he helped guide the top-ranked Clemson Tigers to a 52-14 victory over Georgia Tech. Tight end Miller Forristall scored the season’s first touchdown for the 2nd-ranked Alabama Crimson Tide and Charlotte placekicker Jonathan Cruz converted all his PATs and averaged over 60 yards per kickoff with a pair of touchbacks. All three of the aforementioned former Cartersville Hurricanes are included on 2019 preseason college football awards watch lists. Lawrence is on the Heisman Trophy watch list for the nation's top player. Forristall is among the tight ends being watched for the Mackey Award and Cruz is on the Groza Award watch list for the nation's top place kicker.

Former Woodland cross country standout, Baylee Evans, performed well in her collegiate debut and Cartersville native Russell Shealy recorded a shutout at goalkeeper for the top-ranked Maryland Terrapins.

-- Top image: Sam Howard, (top down on right) Lawrence, Forristall, Cruz

PRO BASEBALL

ELLIOTT ANDERSON — Burlington Royals (1st yr. pro; LHP; Rookie Advanced Appalachian League; Kansas City Royals organization; Auburn; Cartersville HS)… pitched the eighth and ninth innings last Tuesday in a non-save opportunity and 10-4 win at the Bluefield Blue Jays. Anderson allowed no runs on two hits and struck out two. His season ERA is now 0.91 in 19 appearances and 29 and 2/3 innings. The first year pro has three saves in four opportunities. He has walked only 12 (two intentionally) and opponents have a .211 batting average against him. In Game 3 of the Royals best-of-three Appy League playoff series with Pulaski, Anderson worked a perfect eighth inning and was one of six Royals pitchers utilized in the rubber game. Burlington outlasted Pulaski to win 5-4 in 17 innings to reach the league’s championship series. Game 1 for the Royals in the best of three title series will be Monday at the Johnson City Cardinals. Games 2 and 3 (if needed) will be at Burlington.

SAM HOWARD — Colorado Rockies (6th yr. pro; LHP; Georgia Southern; Cartersville HS)… the Triple-A Albuquerque Isotopes’ 2019 Pitcher of the Year was called up to the MLB Rockies roster this past week and made home appearances against the Boston Red Sox and the Pittsburgh Pirates. Wednesday night in an eventual 7-4 loss to Boston, Howard was called in from the bullpen in the fifth inning to face a pair of batters. He issued a walk to Mitch Moreland and then struck out Brock Holt for the second out of the inning before being lifted. In Saturdays 11-4 loss to the Pirates, the southpaw worked the final two frames allowing a ninth inning run. He struck out the side in the eighth around one hit. Howard added one more strikeout in the night, but yielded a run on three hits. In Triple-A this season, he was 4-1 with a 3.91 ERA in 42 appearances with 62 strikeouts. In now eight MLB appearances in 2019, Howard has a 6.75 ERA in 10 and 2/3 innings with 13 strikeouts. The Rockies are 59-79 and are out of the playoff race trailing the NL West Division-leading Los Angeles Dodgers by 29 games.

CONNOR JUSTUS — Mobile BayBears (4th yr. pro; Double-A Southern League; L.A. Angels organization; Georgia Tech; Cartersville HS)… In five games this past week, Justus was 2-for-16 at the plate with two walks. He scored four runs. For the season he has a .184 batting average through 115 games and 346 official at-bats. He has two homers and 23 RBI. Defensively, Justus has a .951 fielding average playing mostly at shortstop although he has seen time at second base and third base. Mobile (50-85) has missed the post-season and will host the Tennessee Smokies Monday in the BayBears final game of the season.

LUKE SCHILTZ — AZL Rangers (1st yr. pro; Rookie Arizona League; Texas Rangers organization; Cartersville native; Stoneman Douglas (Fla.) HS)… made a five-out appearance September 25 as the Rangers fell to the AZL Royals 8-3. Schiltz did not allow a run on two hits with a strikeout. Schiltz did not make a playoff appearance, but the Rangers won four straight games in the Arizona League’s single-elimination playoffs to win the league title.

FOOTBALL

TREY CREAMER — Fort Scott CC (So., RB, Cartersville HS)… returned three kickoffs for an 18.7 yard average August 25 in a 20-16 win over Highland CC. (Sat. 31st 40-29 win at Coffeyville CC / stats not loaded) The Greyhounds (2-0) will host Hutchinson CC Saturday, September 14 at 8 p.m.

JONATHAN CRUZ — UNC Charlotte (So., PK, Cartersville HS)… kicked off eight times for a 61 yard average and two touchbacks Thursday night in the 49ers 49-28 win over Gardner-Webb. He also made all seven of his extra point kicks. Charlotte (1-0) travels to Appalachian State Saturday afternoon for a 3:30 p.m. kickoff.

MILLER FORRISTALL — Alabama (R-Jr., TE, Cartersville HS)… caught a 27-yard touchdown pass from Tua Tagovailoa to open Crimson Tide’s scoring in the second quarter of a 42-3 blowout of Duke in Atlanta. He later added another catch for a six yard gain. 2nd-ranked Alabama (1-0) hosts New Mexico State Saturday at 4 p.m.

HUNTER HARDIN — Point University (Jr., OL, Woodland HS)… started at right guard for the Skyhawks in a 59-0 loss Saturday at Kennesaw State. Point was limited to only 129 total yards and 37 yards rushing. The Skyhawks (0-1) play at NAIA 13th-ranked Lindsey Wilson College (KY) Saturday afternoon.

JACOREY JOHNS — Wake Forest (R-Fr., DE, Cartersville HS)… had a quarterback hurry on a 3rd and 8 play in the fourth quarter as the Demon Deacons edged Utah State Friday night, 38-35. Wake Forest (1-0) travels to Houston to play at Rice Friday night in an 8 p.m. kickoff.

TREVOR LAWRENCE — Clemson (So., QB, Cartersville HS)… completed 13 of 23 passes for 168 yards and one touchdown last Thursday night as top-ranked Clemson beat visiting Georgia Tech 52-14. Lawrence also ran three times for 24 yards and one score. He did throw a pair of interceptions with his long pass completion going 62 yards to Tee Higgins in the second quarter for a touchdown. The Tigers (1-0, 1-0 ACC) will host Texas A&M Saturday at 3:30 p.m.

JACOB POTTER — Kennesaw State (So., LS, Adairsville HS)… the KSU starting long snapper saw action in the FCS 7th-ranked Owls’ 59-0 shutout of visiting Point University Saturday. Kennesaw State (1-0) travels to Kent State Saturday for a 12 noon kickoff.

AVERY SHOWELL — Georgia Tech (R-So., DB, Cartersville HS)… made a fourth quarter solo tackle in the Yellow Jackets’ 52-14 loss last Thursday night at top-ranked Clemson. Georgia Tech (0-1, 0-1 ACC) hosts South Florida Saturday at 2 p.m.

JAKE WALKER — Furman (Jr., TE, Cartersville resident, Darlington HS)… had a first quarter catch for only one yard in the FCS 11th-ranked Paladins’ 46-13 home win over Charleston Southern. Furman (1-0) travels to Atlanta Saturday night to play at Georgia State in a 7 p.m. start.

CROSS COUNTRY

BAYLEE EVANS — Troy University (Fr., Woodland HS)… ran 36th overall and was sixth for the Lady Trojans in her first collegiate event. Her time was 16:26.98 in the 4K Jacksonville State University Struts XC Season Opener at Choccolocco Park in Oxford, AL. The women of Troy finished runner-up to Auburn in the 14-team event. Troy runs again Friday at the University of South Alabama Azalea City Classic. The course in Mobile is at the Old Brookley Gulf Pines Golf Course.

SOCCER

KURT MOORE — Birmingham Southern (Sr., GK, Euharlee resident, Darlington HS)… had seven saves Saturday in the Panthers’ season-opening 3-2 loss to visiting Pensacola Christian. Birmingham Southern (0-1) plays at Huntingdon College Wednesday night, will host Gordon College (MA) Friday, and travel to Emory University Sunday night.

COURTNEY RHEA — Berry College (So., MF, Cartersville HS)… was inserted in the 80th minute of the Vikings’ 4-2 loss Sunday at University of New England. Berry (1-1) also had a win Friday at Maine Maritime. They return home to play Piedmont Wednesday and host Wesleyan Sunday afternoon.

ANTHONY ROBLEDO — Reinhardt University (So., MF, Cass HS)… was inserted with about 10 minutes remaining in the first half in the Eagles’ 4-3 loss to visiting Ottawa (AZ). Reinhardt (1-2) returns to the pitch Saturday night at home against Life University.

RUSSELL SHEALY — University of Maryland (So, GK, Cartersville resident, Darlington Academy)… started and had two saves in 90 minutes as the Terrapins opened the 2019 season with a 1-0 home win Thursday over South Florida. Maryland (1-0) hosts Virginia Monday night before traveling to UCLA for a Friday night tilt.