Athletes Beyond Bartow: Fall collegiate sports underway

This week's report includes updates on 30 local athletes in a variety of sports across the country. The Minor League Baseball Double-A schedules have reached the final two weeks. The NFL has wrapped up the preseason and gets the regular season kicked off this week. College football is now underway and the update also includes locals in collegiate cross country and soccer.

MiLB

MASON BARNETT — Northwest Arkansas Naturals (KC Royals Double-A affiliate; 2nd-yr. pro; Auburn; Cartersville HS) … earned a pitching win last Friday with a five-inning performance at the Springfield Cardinals. He allowed a pair of earned runs on four hits and two walks. The righty had six strikeouts. Barnett improved to 5-7 on the season in 21 starts at High Class A and Double-A. The 22-year-old has a 2.97 ERA and 125 strikeouts in 106 innings pitched in 2023. The Naturals (27-28 / 3rd place - Texas League North Division second half) have two weeks remaining in the regular season. They are 56-68 overall. Northwest Arkansas plays a six-game series this week at the Frisco Rough Riders.

ANTHONY SEIGLER — Somerset Patriots (NY Yankees Double-A affiliate; 6th-yr. pro; Cartersville HS) … in four starts this past week, Seigler was 2-for-11 with a homer, five walks, one RBI, and one stolen base. The 24-year-old has a .165 batting average this season with four home runs and 24 RBIs in 188 official at-bats. The Patriots (76-49) have clinched an Eastern League playoff berth. Somerset hosts a six-game series this week with Erie.

NFL

MILLER FORRISTALL — Cleveland Browns (NFL; 3rd-yr. pro; TE; Alabama; Cartersville HS) … Following a second stint with the Cleveland Browns during the preseason, the tight end was released on August 27.

MANNY JONES — Pittsburgh Steelers (NFL; 2nd-yr. pro; DE; Colorado State; Woodland HS) ... Following the preseason with Pittsburgh, Jones was waived by the Steelers on August 28.

TREVOR LAWRENCE — Jacksonville Jaguars (NFL; 3rd-yr. pro; QB; Clemson; Cartersville HS) … appeared in two of three preseason games for the Jaguars completing 13 of 16 passes for 128 yards and one touchdown. He did throw one interception in the preseason opener at Dallas. The 2021 draft overall No. 1 pick and 23-year-old will look to lead Jacksonville back to the playoffs when the regular season opens Sunday at the Indianapolis Colts.

PRO GOLF

JASON BOHN — PGA Tour Champions (Acworth resident; Cartersville Country Club member) … earned his third best check of the 2023 season and his third Top 25 finish August 25-27 with a T16 finish at The Ally Challenge played at the par-72, 7,085-yard Warwick Hills Golf & Country Club in Grand Blanc, Michigan. The senior tour rookie fired rounds of 70-70-69 (7-under-par) and collected just over $33,100 in his twelfth event. Next on the Champions Tour schedule is the Ascension Charity Classic in St. Louis on September 8-10.

COLLEGE FOOTBALL

KOLBE BENHAM — Marist College (So., Cartersville HS) … made three total tackles including one solo in the Red Foxes’ 49-7 loss Saturday at Georgetown in Washington, D.C. Marist (0-1) hosts Davidson for their home opener September 16.

HAYDEN CAGLE — Berry College (Jr., Cartersville HS) … was a starter on the Vikings’ offensive line that helped roll out 424 total yards in a 67-34 home win Saturday over Huntingdon College. Berry (1-0) visits LaGrange College on Saturday night.

JOHNATHAN CLINE — University of Central Florida (Fr., Cartersville HS) … was listed as a participant for the Knights in their season-opening 56-6 win Thursday night over visiting Kent State. UCF (1-0) travels to Boise State on September 9.

CARLOS DEL RIO-WILSON — Syracuse University (R-So., Cartersville HS) … was 10-for-13 passing for 149 yards and three touchdowns coming off the bench Saturday as the Orange beat visiting Colgate 65-0. Syracuse (1-0) hosts Western Michigan on Saturday afternoon.

COLLIN FLETCHER — Reinhardt University (Fr., Cartersville HS) … was targeted twice as a receiver catching one pass for 10 yards. He also rushed for a successful two-point conversion in the Eagles’ 36-3 Thursday night win over Faulkner (Ala.) University. Reinhardt (1-0) entertains Southeastern University (North Carolina) on September 9.

JONAH GAMBILL — University of Memphis (R-Jr., Cartersville HS) … started on the offensive line for the Tigers as they produced 551 yards of total offense in 56-14 win over visiting Bethune-Cookman. Memphis (1-0) travels to Arkansas State on Saturday night.

TYWUN GORDON — College of the Sequoias (R-So., Adairsville HS) … was listed as a participant but did not have a stat line in the Giants’ 23-20 home loss to Butte College (California). Sequoias (0-1) plays at San Mateo College on Saturday afternoon.

SHADRE HURST — Tulane University (R-Fr., Cartersville HS) … was listed as a participant but did not have a stat line in the Green Wave’s 37-17 home win Saturday night over South Alabama. Tulane (1-0) entertains Ole Miss on Saturday afternoon.

TYLER MARTIN — Berry College (So., Cass HS) … saw action in the Vikings’ 67-34 home win over Huntingdon College. Berry (1-0) visits LaGrange College on Saturday night.

JAKE PARKER — Hutchinson (KS) CC (R-Fr., Cartersville HS) … was 2-for-4 passing for 15 yards in a backup role on August 26 as the Blue Dragons won their season-opener at Navarro College (Texas), 42-6. The NJCAA No. 1-ranked Dragons also beat visiting Ellsworth CC this past Saturday 72-7. Parker was 11-for-18 passing for 84 yards and one touchdown. He also rushed for 33 yards on five attempts. Hutchinson (2-0) travels to 2nd-ranked Iowa Central CC this Saturday.

J.P. PERRY — Berry College (Sr., Cass HS) … saw action but did not record a tackle in the Vikings’ 67-34 home win over Huntingdon College. Berry (1-0) visits LaGrange College on Saturday night.

SAM PHILLIPS — UT-Chattanooga (R-So., Cartersville HS) … had four receptions for 54 yards including a long reception of 24 yards and an 8-yard touchdown in the Mocs’ 41-27 loss at North Alabama. Chattanooga (0-1) entertains Kennesaw State Saturday night.

DEVONTE ROSS --- Troy University (So., Cartersville HS) ... had one third quarter reception that was good for a 13-yard touchdown and gave the Trojans a 34-20 lead at the time in an eventual 48-30 home win last Saturday over Stephen F. Austin. Troy (1-0) visits Kansas State this Saturday.

EVAN SLOCUM — Wake Forest University (Jr., Cartersville HS) … made a start at defensive back and had one tackle in the Deacons’ 37-17 win Thursday night (Aug. 31) over Elon. Wake Forest (1-0) hosts Vanderbilt on September 9.

DREW WILSON — Illinois College (Jr., Adairsville HS) … The linebacker saw action but had no stat line in the Blueboys’ 31-0 home win Saturday night over Millikin University. Illinois College (1-0) hosts Lake Forest College on Saturday afternoon.

CROSS COUNTRY

BILL ARCHER — University of Montevallo (Jr., Cartersville HS) … finished 38th (16:22) of 200 runners last Friday at the Jacksonville State University Foothills 5K Invitational at Choccolocco Park in Oxford, Alabama. The Falcons finished fourth in the 28-team race. UM hosts the Falcon Classic on Friday, September 15.

RYLEE EVANS — Western Kentucky University (So., Woodland HS) … finished 59th last Friday at the Belmont Opener in Nashville. The HIlltoppers placed seventh of 12 teams. Western Kentucky will host the WKU Invitational on Friday, September 15.

EMMA SEGARS — Georgia College (Fr., Woodland HS) … ran to a 56th place finish in 16:14 at the Jacksonville State University Foothills 4K Invitational last Friday. The race included 200 runners. The Bobcats finished 10th of 27 teams. Georgia College runs at the Julius Johnson Invitational at Mercer on Saturday, September 16.

DREW THAYER — University of Montevallo (Fr., Woodland HS) … finished 89th (17:10) last Friday at the Jacksonville State University Foothills Invitational 5K. UM hosts the Falcon Classic on Friday, September 15.

VOLLEYBALL

VANESSA JOHNSON — Truett-McConnell University (So., Cartersville HS) … saw action in one set during a 3-0 home win over St. Andrews (North Carolina) Saturday night as the Bears (4-4) finished 3-1 hosting the TMU Invitational. Truett-McConnell hosts Reinhardt Thursday night to open Appalachian Athletic Conference play.

MADELYN ORTON — LaGrange College (So., Cartersville resident, Cornerstone Prep) … totaled one service ace, one kill, and 14 digs in four set losses Friday and Saturday at Fort Valley State University and Oglethorpe University. The Panthers (0-2) host Wesleyan College on Tuesday and travel to Birmingham-Southern College on Thursday.

MEREDITH ORTON — LaGrange College (So., Cartersville resident, Cornerstone Prep) … had eight kills and 17 digs in a four-set loss at Fort Valley State University last Friday then contributed six kills and 16 digs in a four-set loss Saturday at Oglethorpe University. LaGrange (0-2) hosts Wesleyan College on Tuesday and travels to Birmingham-Southern College on Thursday.

MARIA PILIPOSYANS — Reinhardt University (So., Cass HS) …. totaled 10 kills, two digs, and three blocks as the Eagles went 2-1 August 25-26 in matches at Life University in Marietta. Reinhardt lost to Life in four sets, beat Keiser University in four sets, and swept three straight sets with Lindsey Wilson College. This past weekend the Eagles won four straight matches over Ave Maria (FL), Southeastern University, William Carey (MS), and Point University. Piliposyans had 19 kills and eight blocks. The Eagles (7-1) play at Truett-McConnell Thursday and host Columbia (South Carolina) and Faulkner (Alabama) on Saturday.

SOCCER

ABBIE CRAIG — Reinhardt University (So., Cartersville HS) … came off the bench and played 29 minutes in an 8-0 loss on August 22 to William Carey (Mississippi) played in Montgomery. She then started and was on the pitch for 59 minutes in a 1-0 loss at the University of Cumberlands (Kentucky) on August 26. This past Saturday, she came off the bench for 30 minutes of action in a 1-0 loss at SCAD Savannah. The Eagles (0-3) play Keiser University on Monday in Savannah and have their conference opener on Saturday at St. Andrews University (North Carolina).

BRADY CRAIG — Reinhardt University (So., Cartersville HS) … The defender played all 90 minutes in the Eagles’ 2-1 home win on August 26 at home over Point University and in a pair of scoreless ties Wednesday at Life University and Saturday at home against Cumberland (Tennessee) University. RU (1-0-3) opens AAC play Saturday at St. Andrews University (North Carolina).