Athletes Beyond Bartow: Howard continues steady work for Pittsburgh
Although the Pittsburgh Pirates have struggled in the National League’s Central Division, Cartersville native Sam Howard has continued his steady work out of the Pirates’ bullpen in 2021. Howard has a 2.52 ERA in 31 appearances and has limited opposing hitters to a .133 batting average.
Elsewhere on the pro diamonds, former Canes Connor Justus and Anthony Seigler continue their work at Triple-A Jacksonville and High Class A Hudson Valley, respectively.
On the hardwoods of The Basketball League, A.J. Mosby scored 34 points last Friday in Shreveport’s win over Omaha.
PRO BASEBALL
SAM HOWARD — Pittsburgh Pirates (8th-year pro; Cartersville HS)… made appearances in three games this past week and gave up just one earned run across four innings pitched, but the Pirates fell in all three games. The lefty retired four of the five batters he faced in the eighth and ninth innings of a 2-1 home loss to the Los Angeles Dodgers last Wednesday. Howard then retired all four batters faced in the sixth and seventh innings of Friday’s 7-4 loss at Milwaukee. Sunday, the 28-year-old entered in the seventh inning at the Brewers with Pittsburgh trailing 4-2. He gave up a double and an eventual sacrifice fly out for the first earned run against him in his last six appearances. For the season, Howard has made 31 relief appearances covering 25 innings pitched. He has a 2-2 record with a 2.52 ERA and 33 strikeouts. Opponents have a .133 batting average against him. The Pirates are 23-41 this season and trail the Chicago Cubs in the NL Central by 14-1/2 games.
CONNOR JUSTUS — Jacksonville Jumbo Shrimp (6th-year pro; Miami Marlins organization; Cartersville HS)… started in four of five home games last week against the Norfolk Tides as the Jumbo Shrimp went 2-3 for the week. The 26-year-old infielder was 2-for-15 at the plate with a double and one run scored. Since moving up to Triple-A Jacksonville from Pensacola at the end of May, Justus has a .227 batting average with three RBIs in 14 games and 44 official at bats. The Shrimp have a six game series Tuesday through Sunday at the Charlotte Knights. Jacksonville is 21-14 this season and trails Triple-A East, Southeast Division co-leaders Durham and Nashville by three games.
ANTHONY SEIGLER — Hudson Valley Renegades (4th-year pro; New York Yankees organization; Cartersville HS)… the switch hitting catcher made four starts last week in a five game series at the Brooklyn Cyclones. Seigler was only 1-for-15 at the plate with one walk in the four games. His lone hit was a double. Since coming off the injured list June 1, he has a .143 batting average in eight games and 28 official at bats. Hudson Valley (20-14) has won four straight games to catch Aberdeen at the top of the High-A East, North Division standings. The Renegades are at home Tuesday through Sunday in a six game series against the Jersey Shore Blueclaws.
PRO BASKETBALL
A.J. MOSBY — Shreveport Mavericks (3rd year pro; Cartersville HS)… poured in 34 points and added four assists, four rebounds, and three steals last Friday in a 129-124 win over Omahas Finest. He then finished with 13 points, nine assists, seven boards, and one steal Sunday in a 143-114 loss to the division-leading Houston Push. Mosby is averaging 25 points, six rebounds, and six assists through 20 games this season. Shreveport (14-6) is in third place in the nine-team Central Division of The Basketball League. The Mavericks trail Houston by five games.
