Athletes Beyond Bartow: Local MiLB stars enjoy fruitful week

May 5, 2025 Charles Wilson / BartowSportsZone.com

(L-R): Anthony Seigler, Mason Barnett, Logan Martin

MiLB

MASON BARNETT — Las Vegas Aviators (Oakland A’s Triple-A affiliate; 4th-year pro; Auburn; Cartersville HS) … made two five-inning starts in wins at home (April 29 and last Sunday) against Tacoma with no decision in either start. He allowed seven earned runs on ten hits and six walks. Las Vegas won all six games last week in their series with the Rainiers. The Aviators play six games this week at the Reno Aces. Las Vegas (23-10) started the week with a five-game lead in the Pacific Coast League West standings.

LOGAN MARTIN — Quad Cities River Bandits (Kansas City Royals High-Class A affiliate; 3rd-year pro; Kentucky; Cartersville HS) … improved his season record to 3-1 last Friday with a six-inning start at the Great Lakes Loons. He gave up two earned runs on four hits with no walks in a 7-5 win for the River Bandits. Quad Cities won four of six games at Great Lakes, improving to 18-8. Entering the week, the Bandits lead the Midwest League West Division by one game over Cedar Rapids. They play a six-game series this week at the Lake County Captains.

ANTHONY SEIGLER — Nashville Sounds (Milwaukee Brewers Triple-A affiliate; 8th-year pro; Cartersville HS) … appeared in all seven games for the Sounds at the Gwinnett Stripers last week. He was 9-for-18 at the plate, including eight walks, one home run, one double, one triple, six runs scored, and two RBI. Seigler also stole two bases. Nashville won four of seven games at Gwinnett and improved to 19-14 entering this week. The Sounds trail the International League West leader, Memphis, by one game as they host the Norfolk Tides for six games this week. 

SOFTBALL

MEGAN GREGORY — Campbell University (So, Adairsville HS) … tossed a complete game and earned the pitching victory last Friday in a 3-1 conference home win over Elon University. Gregory allowed one earned run on five hits and six walks with nine strikeouts for her eleventh win. The Camels (34-18, 19-8) will host the Coastal Athletic Association tournament on Wednesday through Saturday in Buies Creek, North Carolina. Campbell faced Stony Brook University on Wednesday in the first round.

ANSLEY HIGHT — Reinhardt University (So., Cass HS) … hit safely in all four of the Eagles’ Appalachian Athletic Conference tournament games last week, going 6-for-11 with one walk, one home run, two doubles, and seven RBI. The Eagles (28-10, 23-5 AAC) went 2-2 in the conference tournament. They will learn their NAIA Opening Round assignment on Tuesday evening.

ERYN LEE — Reinhardt University (Jr., Cass HS) … went 4-for-10 with two doubles and one RBI in four conference tournament games last week in Kingsport, Tennessee. The Eagles beat Columbia International twice, but suffered losses to Johnson University (TN) and Tennessee Wesleyan University. Lee drew six walks in the four games and stole two bases. Reinhardt (28-10, 23-5 Appalachian Athletic Conference) will be assigned to an NAIA Opening Round site on Tuesday.

RACHAEL LEE — Valdosta State University (Jr., Cass HS) … went 2-for-5 with one walk, but the Blazers were shut out in two straight Gulf South Conference tournament games last week in Oxford, Alabama. VSU (26-25) lost 5-0 to Alabama-Huntsville and 3-0 to Trevecca Nazarene University. Lee finished her season with a .267 batting average in 51 games and 161 official at-bats. She hit six homers and drove in 26 runs. She made only one defensive error all season in 76 chances.

ALEXIS WOODS — Tennessee State University (So., Cass HS) … went 3-for-10, including one double, one triple, one run scored, and three RBI as the Tigers won two of three over visiting Southeast Missouri State last weekend. Woods also stole one base. Tennessee State (23-21, 13-13 Ohio Valley Conference) begins the conference tournament in Peoria, Illinois, on Wednesday with games against Tennessee Tech and Southeast Missouri.

BASEBALL

CURT BONNER — LaGrange College (Jr., Cartersville HS) … went 2-for-11 at the plate as the Panthers went 1-2 at the Collegiate Conference of the South Tournament. Bonner had one double, three walks, and two RBI. He also stole one base. He finished the season with a .365 batting average in 36 games and 148 official at-bats with six homers and 32 RBI. LaGrange finished the year with a 19-23 record.

HARRISON CHILDERS — Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College (So., Cartersville HS) … had seven hits in 15 plate appearances during the Southern States Athletic Conference Tournament last week, including a 6-for-6 game that included one double and one RBI in a win over the University of Mobile. The Stallions also beat Thomas University, but lost to Loyola University (LA). Childers hit .301 for the season with one home run and 22 RBI. ABAC (35-14) awaits Wednesday's NAIA national tournament field announcement.

CALEB DANIEL — Georgia Tech (Fr., Cartersville HS) … had multiple hits in all three games of last weekend’s home series with Western Carolina University. Daniel was 7-for-13 with one home run, two RBI, and scored six runs in a three-game sweep of the Catamounts. Georgia Tech (33-14, 15-9 Atlantic Coast Conference) hosts Georgia Southern Tuesday night, visits Mercer University on Wednesday, and entertains the University of Louisville for a three-game conference series the weekend.

MICAH EARWOOD — Southeastern University (Jr., Cartersville HS) … retired one out in the ninth inning of an eventual 16-4 home win last Friday over Ave Maria University (FL). He faced five batters and allowed four earned runs on three hits and one hit batter. The Fire (41-13, 18-10 The Sun Conference) will host a double-elimination NAIA National Tournament Opening Round segment in Lakeland on May 12-15.

ELLIOTT EASTIN — Covenant College (R-So., Cartersville HS) … the Scots lost two straight games at the Collegiate Conference of the South Tournament, but Eastin was 5-for-9 with one walk and one RBI. The losses came to host Maryville College (TN) and Huntingdon College. Eastin hit .339 for the season in 32 games and 115 official at-bats. He had five doubles and 18 RBI. Covenant finished the year with a 19-22 mark.

COLIN EATON — East Tennessee State University (Jr., Cartersville HS) … made pitching appearances April 29 against UNC Asheville and last Sunday at VMI. He totaled 2-⅓ innings and allowed four earned runs on four hits and one walk. He fanned two and did not receive a decision in either game — both were Bucs’ wins. ETSU (34-12, 11-4 Southern Conference) plays at UNC Asheville on Tuesday and hosts Wofford University this weekend in a three-game conference series.

DAVID JINKS — University of Maine-Augusta (Fr., Excel Christian Academy) … went 1-for-5 in games April 30 at Southern Maine CC and home against York County CC. The Moose finished the season with a 10-21 record. Jinks hit .326 for the season with one home run and 25 RBI.

COLT McKIBBEN — Lee University (Jr., Cartersville HS) … did not appear in the two Flames' losses at the Gulf South Conference Tournament last week. He completed the season with a 2.86 ERA in 34-⅔ innings of work with 28 strikeouts. Lee finished the year with a 24-26 record.

LUKE MILLER — Columbus State University (Fr., Cartersville HS) … hit safely in all four of the Cougars’ Peach Belt Tournament games this past Saturday through Monday afternoon and was 7-for-20, including one double, two home runs, one walk, one hit by pitch, eight runs scored, and seven RBI. CSU won its conference tournament pool over Augusta, Georgia Southwestern, and the University of North Georgia. The Cougars (30-21) advanced to the PBC Championship Series to face Lander University on Thursday and Friday for the title. The Bearcats will host the games in Greenwood, South Carolina. 

HANK SMITH — University of West Georgia (R-So., Cartersville HS) … in two starts at Stetson University last weekend, Smith was 1-for-6 with two walks, one hit by pitch, and scored one run. The Wolves (18-26, 9-15 Atlantic Sun Conference) lost two of three to the Hatters. They host Kennesaw State on Tuesday and will entertain a three-game conference series with Florida Gulf Coast University Friday through Sunday.

SCOTTY SMITH — Covenant College (Sr., Woodland HS) … made a seven-inning start and received no decision in an eventual 8-6 conference tournament loss April 30 at Maryville College (TN). Smith gave up four earned runs on seven hits and two walks. He struck out seven. The Scots dropped two straight at the Collegiate Conference of the South tournament and finished with a 19-22 record. Smith was 4-2 in his senior season with a 4.20 ERA in 11 starts and 60 innings.

PRESTON WELCHEL — Cumberland University (Sr., Cartersville HS) … in five games at the Mid-South Conference Tournament in Bowling Green, Kentucky, Welchel was 5-for-20 with three walks, two homers, one double, one hit by pitch, four runs scored, and three RBI. The Phoenix went 4-1 to win the tournament, winning over Campbellsville University (KY) and Freed-Hardeman University (TN) to reach the title series. Cumberland won two of three against the 8th-ranked host, the University of the Cumberlands (KY). The Phoenix (37-16-1) await their assignment to an NAIA National Tournament Opening Round site.

SAWYER WILSON — Columbus State University (Fr., Cartersville HS) … was the pitcher of record Monday afternoon in the deciding game of the Peach Belt Conference Dahlonega pool as the Cougars defeated the University of North Georgia 16-11 to advance to the PBC Championship Series. Wilson entered in the seventh inning with one out and finished the seventh and eighth innings. He allowed two earned runs on three hits with no walks. Trailing 11-4, CSU rallied for twelve runs in the top of the ninth to gain the win. The Cougars (30-21) advanced to the best-of-three PBC Championship Series to face Lander University on Thursday and Friday. The Bearcats will host the games in Greenwood, South Carolina.

TRACK AND FIELD

ERIC TOVIAVE — Belmont University (Jr., Cartersville HS) … was on the Bruins' fifth-place 4x400-meter relay team (3:18.23) and was 26th (22.20) in the 200-meter dash this past weekend in Nashville at the Vanderbilt University Music City Challenge. Belmont competes next at the Missouri Valley Conference Outdoor Championships in Carbondale, Illinois, on May 17-18.

GOLF

BUCK BRUMLOW — University of Georgia (Sr., Cartersville HS) … the Bulldogs received their NCAA Regional assignment last Wednesday and will be the No. 4 seed at the 14-team Tallahassee Regional on May 12-14. The 54-hole regional will be played at Seminole Legacy Golf Club. Georgia is seeded behind Ole Miss, Florida State, and San Diego State. Other teams in the regional are Louisville, Northwestern, Notre Dame, New Mexico, Southern California, Michigan State, Furman, Augusta, Davidson, and Florida A&M. The top five teams from each regional advance to the NCAA Men’s Championship at LaCosta Resort in Carlsbad, California, on May 23-28.