Athletes Beyond Bartow: Local college athletes contribute in six different sports

With delayed college seasons due to Covid-19 and new seasons beginning, former Bartow County high school athletes are currently active in a wide variety of sports across the nation. This week’s Athletes Beyond Bartow edition includes contributions from college basketball, football, track and field, wrestling, softball, and baseball.

BASKETBALL

JUSTICE HAYES — South Georgia Tech (Fr., Cass HS)… went 4-for-4 at the foul line in 4 minutes of action during an 81-60 win last Monday at Tallahassee CC. He didn’t feature in Saturday’s victory over USC Salkehatchie.

T.J. HORTON — Georgia Highlands CC (Fr., Cartersville HS)… posted five points, three rebounds and three assists off the bench in a 91-89 home win over USC Salkehatchie Friday in Rome.

DiANTHONY HEATHCOCK — Columbia International University (Fr., Woodland HS)…totaled two points, five rebounds and a block in a Thursday win over Bluefield (Virginia) and Saturday loss to Union (Kentucky).

JANA MORNING — Berry College (Sr., Cass HS)… reached double-figures in both games of a weekend set with Rhodes College, but Berry dropped both games at the Memphis-based school. A starting guard, Morning scored 15 points to go with five assists, four steals and three rebounds in a 64-62 loss Friday. The next day, she had a team-high 12 points, three boards, three assists and one swipe in a 74-59 defeat.

JAYLON PUGH — Furman University (Jr., Cartersville HS)… during a 7-minute cameo, Pugh knocked down a 3-pointer and secured a rebound in a 68-49 victory over UNC-Greensboro Monday at home.

JOSIE SUMMERVILLE — North Park University (Jr., Adairsville HS)… despite flirting with a double-double, Summerville and Co. dropped their first game of the season after three straight wins. North Park’s starting center recorded eight points, nine rebounds and one steal in a 57-49 loss Saturday at Carroll.

FOOTBALL

TERRY BERDIN — Reinhardt University (Jr., Cartersville HS)… carried the ball twice for 6 total yards and returned a punt for no gain in a 36-3 victory over Point in a season-opening win Saturday at Ram Stadium in Valley, Alabama.

BRYCE BURGESS — Reinhardt University (Jr., Adairsville HS)… hauled in two passes for 41 yards, while carrying the ball twice for 2 combined yards, in the rout of Point.

HUNTER HARDIN — Point University (Sr., Woodland HS)… a starter on the Skyhawks’ offensive line. Point was limited to only 179 yards of total offense and 101 rushing yards in a 36-3 home loss to Reinhardt.

TRACK AND FIELD

PARKER BREEDLOVE — Reinhardt University (So., Cartersville HS)… placed 13th in the 3000-meter race at the Rams February Invite at Columbia International. He finished with a time of 9 minutes, 27.82 seconds.

TREVOR KNOWLES — Albion University (Woodland HS)… captured the long jump title Friday at Trine in Angola, Indiana. His leap of 6.83 meters won the event. Meanwhile, Knowles placed third in the high jump, clearing 1.89 meters, and came in 12th in the prelims for the 60-meter sprint.

McKENNA TRAPHEAGEN — Georgia Tech (Fr., Woodland HS) … competing in the 3000-meter run, Trapheagen came in 17th, with a time of 10:34.45, at the South Carolina Invitational.

WRESTLING

LOGAN SIMS — Life University (Jr., Woodland)… The former Wildcats standout helped Life claim its second straight division title in the Mid-South Conference. Wrestling in the 141-pound division, Sims earned a 9-2 win over his Cumberland opponent in a 39-8 victory for second-ranked Life Friday in Mount Vernon.

SOFTBALL

COLBI BALLARD — Shorter University (So., Cartersville HS) … started twice in right field over the weekend as the Hawks opened the season at the Charger Chillout in Huntsville, Alabama playing four different teams. Friday, Ballard went 1-for-3 with a triple, one RBI, and scored a run in a 10-6 win over Miles College. On Saturday, she was 2-for-3 with one RBI in a 6-4 win over Kentucky Wesleyan. Shorter (2-2) opens Gulf South Conference play February 20-21 with a three game series against Valdosta State at Alto Park in Rome.

BELLA CARNES — Georgia College (Fr., Woodland HS) … saw her first collegiate action Sunday as a pinch runner in the first game of a doubleheader with Newberry University and then started the second game in left field. Carnes was 0-for-1 at the play but coaxed a pair of walks in an 11-1 loss. Georgia College (0-2) plays Erskine College and Mars Hill College Friday and Saturday in a pair of doubleheaders in Greenwood, South Carolina as part of the Brianna Surrento Kickoff Classic.

ALEXA VARNER — Shorter University (Fr., Adairsville HS)… entered as a pinch runner in three different games over the weekend at the Alabama-Huntsville Charger Chillout. Varner came around to score a run for the Hawks in each of those games. Shorter (2-2) opens Gulf South Conference play February 20-21 with a three game series against Valdosta State at Alto Park in Rome.

BASEBALL

CLIFTON DEMPSEY — Toccoa Falls College (Sr., Cartersville HS)… started at shortstop and was in the leadoff spot in the batting order in the Screaming Eagles’ opening day loss at Truett McConnell last Tuesday. Dempsey went 1-for-4 with a walk and scored a run in the 14-10 loss. At the Hoover, Alabama Score International over the weekend Dempsey was 1-for-4 and scored a run in an 8-7 win over Bethel University. He also made a start at third base and went 2-for-4 with a walk, a run scored, and one RBI in a 9-5 loss to Asbury University (KY). Toccoa Falls (1-2) plays at Middle Georgia State Tuesday and will host a three-game series with Bluefield College (KY) Friday and Saturday.

JAKE GOOCH — Central Alabama CC (So., Cartersville HS)… a starter at first base in the Trojans’ first five games, Gooch is 4-for-12 at the plate with seven walks and two RBIs. He has also scored four runs. Central Alabama (4-2) plays a home-and-home with Andrew College this week. The Trojans are at home Thursday and on the road Saturday.

LANE GRIFFITH — University of West Georgia (Sr., Adairsville HS)… went 1-for-4 with a walk in the Wolves’ season opener Sunday at Auburn-Montgomery. UWG (2-0) plays AUM again Monday afternoon and travels to University of Montevallo for a three-game series Saturday and Sunday.

BRYCEN JONES — Central Alabama CC (Fr., Cartersville HS)… made a pair of relief appearances in losses over the weekend as the Trojans played at Coastal Alabama - Bay Minette. Jones retired the final two outs of a 7-4 loss Friday and recorded two outs in the third inning of a 7-0 loss Saturday. Jones’ totals for the two stints include 1.1 IP, no earned runs, and one walk. Central Alabama (4-2) host Andrew College Thursday and travel to Andrew College Saturday.

LOGAN NELSON — Truett McConnell University (Fr., Cass HS)… made his first collegiate start last Wednesday at catcher and went 2-for-2 with one RBI in a 15-8 home loss to Olivet Nazarene (ILL). He started again in the second game of a Friday doubleheader and was 1-for-2 at the plate with three RBIs in a 10-8 win over the same opponent. Truett McConnell (5-1) hosts Cumberland University (TN) Wednesday and will entertain Bob Jones University Friday and Saturday in a three-game series.

PRESTON WELCHEL — Coastal Alabama - Bay Minette CC (Fr., Cartersville HS)… started in the Sun Chiefs’ first three games Friday and Saturday and was 3-for-9 with a walk, a double, a sacrifice fly, two RBIs, and a stolen base. Coastal split a four-game series with Central Alabama. Coastal Alabama-Bay Minette (2-2) plays a doubleheader at Nunez Community College Tuesday and travels to LSU-Eunice for a three-game series Friday through Sunday.

COHEN WILBANKS — Cleveland State CC (Fr., Cartersville HS)… has appeared in three of the Cougars’ first eight games with a walk in three plate appearances. Cleveland State (4-4) has a doubleheader Saturday at home against Vincennes University (IN).

-- contributions by Nicholas Sullivan, The Daily Tribune News and Charles Wilson, BartowSportsZone.com