Athletes Beyond Bartow: College softball and baseball teams reach the heart of their conference schedules
April 8, 2024 Charles Wilson / BartowSportsZone.com
As college softball and baseball schedules have reached the heart of their conference schedules, this week’s Athletes Beyond Bartow edition also includes updates on pro basketball, Minor League Baseball, the United Football League, collegiate tennis, track & field, and golf.
NBA
ASHTON HAGANS — Portland Trailblazers — (4th yr. pro; Cartersville native; Kentucky; Newton HS) … in just over 12 minutes of playing time last Wednesday, Hagans had three rebounds and one assist in an 89-86 home win over the Charlotte Hornets. The Trailblazers were 2-2 for the week with a win over the Washington Wizards and losses to the Orlando Magic and Boston Celtics. Portland hosts New Orleans on Tuesday, Golden State on Thursday, Houston on Friday, and Sacramento on Sunday.
BASKETBALL SUPER LEAGUE
A.J. MOSBY, JR. — Sudbury Five (6th-yr. pro; Alcorn State; Cartersville HS) … totaled 49 points with 10 rebounds, 10 assists, and two steals in two home games this past weekend. The Five beat the Glass City Wranglers 141-106 but lost to the Newfoundland Rogues 113-110. Sudbury (14-11) has home games on Saturday night and Sunday afternoon with the Los Angeles Ignite.
MiLB
MASON BARNETT — Northwest Arkansas Naturals (3rd-yr. pro; Kansas City Royals Double-A affiliate; Auburn; Cartersville HS) … made a 5-⅓ inning start this past Saturday and received no decision in an 11-4 home loss to the Tulsa Drillers. Barnett allowed one earned run on two hits. He recorded eight strikeouts. The Naturals (0-3) play a six-game series this week on Tuesday through Sunday at the San Antonio Missions.
LOGAN MARTIN — Columbia Fireflies (2nd-yr. pro; Kansas City Royals Single-A affiliate; Kentucky; Cartersville HS) … did not make a pitching appearance as the Fireflies opened the season 1-2 at the Augusta Greenjackets. Columbia hosts the Myrtle Beach Pelicans for six games Tuesday through Sunday.
ANTHONY SEIGLER — Somerset Patriots (7th-yr. pro; NY Yankees Double-A affiliate; Cartersville HS) … made starts last Friday and Sunday at second base. He was 0-for-5 at the plate with three walks and scored one run. The Patriots won two of three at home over the Richmond Flying Squirrels. Somerset (2-1) plays a six-game series Tuesday through Sunday at the New Hampshire Fisher Cats.
UFL
VIC BEASLEY, JR. — Arlington Renegades (10th-yr. pro; Clemson; Adairsville HS) … had only one tackle but it was a quarterback sack on a 3rd and 10 play in the first quarter that forced St. Louis to settle for a failed 52-yard field goal attempt. Arlington lost the game 27-24 to the Battlehawks however, and slipped to 0-2 on the season. Arlington (0-2) hosts the D.C. Defenders on Saturday at 1 p.m.
TENNIS
EMILY BUSH — Young Harris College (So., Cartersville HS) … lost her two Line 1 doubles sets with partner Meghna Mallath and dropped her two Line 2 singles matches last weekend in a 4-3 team win at Converse University on Saturday and a 4-3 team loss at home to Belmont Abbey this past Friday. The Mountain Lions (9-8, 3-2 Carolinas Conference) visit North Greenville University on Tuesday and will host Erskine College on Saturday afternoon.
EMILY SURCEY — Samford University (Jr., Cass HS) … in a 4-3 team win at home last Thursday over Chattanooga, Surcey and partner Grace Keller won their Line 2 doubles set, 6-1. Surcey lost her Line 2 singles match, 4-6, 3-6. This past Sunday in a 1-6 team loss at home to East Tennessee State, she and Keller lost their Line 2 doubles set 1-6 and she fell at Line 2 singles, 4-7, 4-6. The Bulldogs (7-11, 3-3 Southern Conference) have home matches Thursday against Alabama A&M and Saturday against UNC Greensboro.
BRYCE VAN ORDER — Piedmont University (Sr., Woodland HS) … in a 7-2 team win this past Saturday at home over Covenant College, he won his Line 2 singles match 4-6, 6-3, 7-5. On Sunday, Van Order and partner JC Foster lost their Line 3 doubles set, 2-8, in an 0-9 team loss at 16th-ranked Sewanee. The Lions will play Berea College (Ky.) and Asbury University (Ky.) at Berea on Saturday and will visit Maryville College (Tenn.) on Sunday.
TRACK & FIELD
PATRICK BOLLWERK — Berry College (Jr., Woodland HS) … finished 60th (15:40.73) in the 5000 Meter Run this past weekend at the Lee Fast Break Athletics Invitational in Cleveland, Tennessee. The Vikings’ next event is the Berry Field Day Invitational on Thursday through Saturday.
McKINLEY CHAPPELL — Berry College (So., Woodland HS) … finished 84th (16:10.46) in the 5000 Meter Run this past weekend at the Lee Flames Invitational in Cleveland, Tennessee. The Vikings’ next event is the Berry Field Day Invitational on Thursday through Saturday.
STEPHEN SMITH — Kennesaw State University (Sr., Cass HS) … placed 14th in the pole vault clearing 14 feet, 11 inches this past Saturday at the Crimson Tide Invitational in Tuscaloosa, Alabama. The next event for KSU is the Jim Green Invitational on Thursday through Saturday hosted by the University of Kentucky.
ERIC TOVIAVE — Belmont University (So., Cartersville HS) … placed seventh in the 400-meter hurdles (57.12) at the Ole Miss Walker Invitational this past weekend. He also placed 25th with a personal record time of 22.52 in the 200-meter run. Next for the Bruins is the Clay Invitational in Azusa, California on Thursday through Saturday.
GOLF
ANDERSON McCARY — Birmingham-Southern College (Fr., Cartersville HS) … finished 73rd with rounds of 96-107 as the Panthers placed 14th of 14 teams April 1-2 at the Wynlakes Invitational in Montgomery. BSC will play in the Cochran Collegiate in Cordova, Tennessee on April 15-16.
SOFTBALL
KILEY ARNOLD — University of West Alabama (Fr., Cartersville HS) … did not have a hit but had two pinch-hitting opportunities in wins at home against Tuskegee University and at Lee University. The Tigers (25-14, 12-12 Gulf South Conference) visit Columbus State for a doubleheader on Thursday.
LAINEY BAKER — Union University (So., Woodland HS) … suffered a pair of pitching losses this past weekend at the University of West Florida. She went three innings in a start last Friday and allowed five earned runs (six total) on eight hits with five strikeouts. On Saturday, Baker allowed just two earned runs on nine hits and one walk in 8-⅓ innings. She fanned 14. The Lady Bulldogs (22-17, 11-10 Gulf South Conference) dropped all three games in Pensacola at UWF but will try to bounce back this week at home against Ouachita Baptist University (Ark.) on Wednesday and Lee University on Friday and Saturday.
HAYLEE DISHMON — Georgia Highlands College (Fr., Cass HS) … went 1-for-7 with one RBI in a home doubleheader loss this past Saturday to Georgia Military College. The Chargers (9-24, 6-8) play at East Georgia State on Tuesday and host Andrew College on Friday.
ANSLEY EVANS — Reinhardt University (Jr., Woodland HS) … the 24th-ranked Eagles went 6-0 last week with doubleheader sweeps of Truett-McConnell, Columbia International, and the University of Pikeville. Evans was 6-for-16 at the plate with five walks, one double, six runs scored, and three RBIs. Reinhardt (27-7, 16-0 Appalachian Athletic Conference) hosts conference doubleheaders on Tuesday with Tennessee Wesleyan, Saturday with Montreat University (NC), and Sunday with Milligan University (Tenn.).
ALYSSA JARRETT — Piedmont University (Fr., Adairsville HS) … made an unsuccessful pinch-hitting appearance last Friday in a Lions’ loss at 7th-ranked Belhaven University. Piedmont (14-13, 8-2 Collegiate Conference of the South) host 5th-ranked Berry College on Tuesday, Huntingdon College on Saturday, and LaGrange College on Sunday in doubleheaders.
SADYE JOHNSON — University of North Georgia (Jr., Adairsville HS) … entered off the Nighthawks’ bench in the fourth inning last Tuesday in a 9-0 win at Shorter. She was 0-for-1 at the plate. UNG (38-5, 17-1 Peach Belt Conference), ranked No. 2 in the nation, hosts Alabama-Huntsville for a doubleheader on Wednesday and entertains Georgia College for a three-game conference series on Saturday and Sunday.
ERYN LEE — Reinhardt University (So., Cass HS) … in six starts last week and doubleheader wins over Truett-McConnell, Columbia International, and the University of Pikeville, Lee was 8-for-14 with one walk, one double, one triple, four runs scored, and six RBIs. She also stole four bases. The Eagles (27-7, 16-0 Appalachian Athletic Conference) host conference doubleheaders on Tuesday with Tennessee Wesleyan, Saturday with Montreat University (NC), and Sunday with Milligan University (Tenn.).
RACHAEL LEE — Gulf Coast State CC (So., Cass HS) … went 6-for-15 with two walks, one double, and four RBIs last week as the 12th-ranked Commodores split a doubleheader at Pensacola State and swept two games with Chipola College. GCSCC (34-10, 8-4 FSSAA) plays a doubleheader at 2nd-ranked Northwest Florida State on Tuesday and hosts Tallahassee CC on Saturday.
AVA PERKINS — Lee University (Fr., Cartersville HS) … saw action as the Flames’ designated player and in the pitching circle this past weekend as Lee won one of three home games with the University of West Alabama. Perkins was 2-for-6 at the plate with a home run and five RBIs. She also made two pitching appearances totaling one inning. She faced six batters allowing three runs (no earned runs) on two walks and one hit batsman. Lee (15-21, 9-12 Gulf South Conference) visits Jackson, Tennessee Friday and Saturday for a three-game conference series with Union University.
HOPE SHORT — Shorter University (Sr., Cartersville HS) … drew a walk in her only plate appearance last week during 9-0 home loss to 2nd-ranked North Georgia. The Hawks (2-37, 1-23) play two games at Georgia Southwestern State on Tuesday and two at the University of Alabama-Huntsville on Saturday.
ALEXA VARNER — Shorter University (Sr., Adairsville HS) … went 1-for-8 with one walk and one run scored in five home losses last week to North Georgia and Montevallo. The Hawks (2-37, 1-23) play two games at Georgia Southwestern State on Tuesday and two at the University of Alabama-Huntsville on Saturday.
ALEXIS WOODS — Tennessee State University (Fr., Cass HS) … in the Tigers’ three-game series this past weekend at Eastern Illinois, Woods was 2-for-9 with two walks and two runs scored. TSU (17-18, 8-7 Ohio Valley Conference) dropped two of three games last weekend. The Tigers host North Alabama on Wednesday and Southern Illinois-Edwardsville on Saturday and Sunday for a three-game conference series.
BASEBALL
DREW BILLINGS — Trinity Baptist College (Fr., Woodland HS) … pitched 1-⅓ innings of middle relief this past Saturday in an 8-4 win at Voorhees. He yielded no runs on one hit and two walks while fanning one. TBC (17-16, 7-2 NCCAA South Region) hosts Atlantis University for three games on Friday and Saturday.
CURT BONNER — LaGrange College (So., Cartersville HS) … entered defensively at catcher last Tuesday in a 12-8 Panthers’ win at Oglethorpe University in Brookhaven. LaGrange (17-7, 4-2 Collegiate Conference of the South) visits Berry on Tuesday night and plays a three-game conference series at Belhaven University (Miss.) on Friday and Saturday.
MICAH EARWOOD — Georgia State University (R-So., Cartersville HS) … faced five batters and pitched a scoreless seventh inning at Georgia last Tuesday in a 10-1 loss. Earwood walked two and was called for a balk but did not allow a run or hit. The Panthers (15-16, 7-5 Sun Belt Conference) play at Jacksonville State on Tuesday night and will host Southern Miss on Friday through Sunday for a conference series in Atlanta.
KENNY JINKS — Wheeling University (R-Sr., Woodland HS) … pitched all six innings and was tagged with the pitching loss last Saturday as the Cardinals fell at Notre Dame College (Ohio), 1-0. Jinks allowed three hits and four walks while striking out eleven. Wheeling (18-12, 8-8 Mountain East Conference) visits California University of Pennsylvania on Wednesday and hosts Frostburg State (WV) on Saturday and Sunday for a three-game conference series.
COLT McKIBBEN — Lee University (So., Cartersville HS) … allowed one earned run on two hits last Wednesday in the sixth inning of a 14-4 home win over Trevecca Nazarene University. The 14th-ranked Flames (28-10, 16-5 Gulf South Conference) will host Tusculum University on Tuesday night and visit Jackson, Tennessee for a three-game conference series at Union University on Friday and Saturday.
SAM MELTON — Rockingham CC (So., Cartersville HS) … was 0-for-1 off the bench this past Saturday in a 6-1 home loss to Caldwell Tech CC. Rockingham (15-24, 6-9 NJCAA D3 District 10) visits Barton College JV on Wednesday and hosts Virginia Peninsula CC for three games on Saturday and Sunday.
DREW ROTHSCHILD — Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College (So., Cartersville HS) … was 4-for-14 with one double and three RBIs in four games last week with South Georgia State CC. ABAC dropped three of four in the series. The Stallions (13-21, 5-7 GCAA) host East Georgia College on Tuesday and will play a single game on Thursday and a doubleheader on Saturday at East Georgia.
TREY SCOTT — Alabama A&M University (Jr., Cass HS) … pitched an inning of relief in the sixth inning last Wednesday in the Bulldogs’ 13-5 loss at North Alabama. Scott allowed two earned runs on three walks and one hit. He struck out one. Alabama A&M (5-25, 3-9 SWAC) plays at 4th-ranked Tennessee on Tuesday and plays a three-game conference series at Jackson State (Miss.) on Friday through Sunday.
PHILLIP SCHILTZ — Coastal Alabama-South CC (So., Cartersville HS) … made a pitching start and went 4-⅔ innings for a no-decision last Saturday as the Coyotes beat Lawson State CC 6-5. Schiltz allowed three runs (one earned) on two hits and three walks with two strikeouts. Coastal Alabama-South (20-16, 17-3 ACCC) plays a doubleheader at Wallace State-Hanceville on Thursday and will host the same team for two games on Saturday.
HANK SMITH — Jacksonville State University (R-Fr., Cartersville HS) … made a pair of defensive appearances last week facing Troy on Wednesday and Florida International on Friday. The Gamecocks (11-20, 2-7 CUSA) host Georgia State on Tuesday night and visit Lynchburg, Virginia Friday through Sunday for a three-game conference series at Liberty.
SCOTTY SMITH — Covenant College (Jr., Woodland HS) … made a seven-inning pitching start in an eventual 4-3 home win over Belhaven University (Miss.) this past Saturday but received no decision. Smith allowed two earned runs (three total) on seven hits, one walk, and one hit batsman. He fanned three. The Scots (12-17, 5-4 Collegiate Conference of the South) visit Sewanee for a doubleheader on Tuesday and will play a three-game conference series at Piedmont University on Friday and Saturday.
STEVEN SPELL — Young Harris College (Grad student, Cass HS) … went 2-for-9 with one walk and one RBI in a three-game conference series sweep at home of King University (Tenn.). The 15th-ranked Mountain Lions (28-9, 15-6 Conference Carolinas) will host the University of West Georgia on Tuesday and will play a three-game conference series at Southern Wesleyan University (SC) on Friday and Saturday.
PRESTON WELCHEL — Cumberland University (Jr., Cartersville HS) … while the Phoenix dropped four of five games with Tennessee Wesleyan and Freed-Hardeman, Welchel was 1-for-11 with four walks. His one hit for the week was a three-run homer last Saturday in a 6-3 loss. Cumberland (18-20, 2-7 Mid-South Conference) has a three-game series at Bethel University (Tenn.) on Friday and Saturday.
COHEN WILBANKS — Georgia Gwinnett College (Jr., Cartersville HS) … went 1-for-4 with one RBI on a sac fly appearing in three games last week. The Grizzlies won at home over Clark Atlanta and swept a doubleheader at Bryan College. GGC (33-5, 2-0 Continental Athletic Conference) hosts Johnson University (Tenn.) on Tuesday and plays three games at Tennessee Wesleyan on Friday and Saturday.
