Athletes Beyond Bartow: MiLB updates, track & field honors, college diamond action, and more
May 13, 2024
Charles Wilson BartowSportsZone.com
This week’s edition of Athletes Beyond Bartow includes updates on the locals in Minor League Baseball plus three other professionals. Vic Beasley and the Arlington Renegades snapped a losing streak; A.J. Mosby and the Sudbury Five fell in the Basketball Super League playoffs; and Jason Bohn was in action at the Regions Tradition in Birmingham on the PGA Champions Tour.
Former Adairsville standout, Nakiyah Washington, picked up Collegiate Conference of the South track and field honors while former Cass High pole vaulter, Stephen Smith, helped Kennesaw State win the Atlantic Sun Conference championship.
Meanwhile, collegiate softball and baseball schedules have moved into post-season play at most levels with the Division I baseball teams finishing a final week of regular season play before starting their conference tournaments.
MiLB
MASON BARNETT — Northwest Arkansas Naturals (3rd-yr. pro; Kansas City Royals Double-A affiliate; Auburn; Cartersville HS) … made a 4-⅔ innings start at home last Wednesday and was tagged with the pitching loss in a 6-3 loss to the Springfield Cardinals. Barnett allowed six earned runs on seven hits and three walks. He hit one batter and struck out six. The Naturals (16-15) went 4-2 in their series with Springfield. They visit the Arkansas Travelers for a six-game series on Tuesday through Sunday.
LOGAN MARTIN — Columbia Fireflies (2nd-yr. pro; Kansas City Royals Single-A affiliate; Kentucky; Cartersville HS) …. made a five-inning start with no decision last Friday at home against the Salem Red Sox in an eventual 5-4 win. Martin allowed no runs on two hits and one walk. The Fireflies were 3-3 last week against the Red Sox. Columbia hosts a six-game series with the Charleston River Dogs this Tuesday through Sunday.
ANTHONY SEIGLER — Somerset Patriots (7th-yr. pro; NY Yankees Double-A affiliate; Cartersville HS) … in four starts last week, Seigler was 3-for-11 with two doubles and one RBI as Somerset went 4-1 at the Altoona Curve. The Patriots (16-16) host the Portland Sea Dogs for a six-game series on Tuesday through Sunday.
UFL
VIC BEASLEY, JR. — Arlington Renegades (10th-yr. pro; Clemson; Adairsville HS) … made two tackles and forced one fumble in the Renegades’ 47-23 home win this past Saturday over the Memphis Showboats. The victory snapped a six-game losing streak for Arlington. The Renegades (1-6) visit the San Antonio Brahmas on Sunday.
BASKETBALL SUPER LEAGUE
A.J. MOSBY, JR. — Sudbury Five (6th-yr. pro; Alcorn State; Cartersville HS) … Sudbury lost its best-of-five playoff series with the London Lightning three games to one and was 1-2 in games last week. The Five’s only win in the series was last Wednesday at London, 128-118. The three losses were 106-101, 100-92, and 114-111. In the three playoff games last week, Mosby averaged 30.3 points, 4.3 assists, 2.6 rebounds, and 1.3 steals. In 36 games this season, Mosby averaged 24.8 points and shot over 45 percent from behind the arc. Both numbers were good for third in the league. Sudbury finished with a 20-16 record.
PGA CHAMPIONS TOUR
JASON BOHN — Champions Senior Tour (Acworth, 50, 32-yr. pro; Cartersville CC member) … carded rounds of 71-69-75-74 (289, 1-over) and tied for 46th place last Thursday through Sunday at the Regions Tradition at Greystone Golf and Country Club in Birmingham. The next senior PGA event is the KitchenAid Senior PGA Championship in Benton Harbor, Michigan.
TRACK AND FIELD
STEPHEN SMITH — Kennesaw State University (Sr., Cass HS) … finished fourth in the pole vault at the Atlantic Sun Conference Championships last weekend in Conway, Arkansas. Smith cleared 15 feet and ¼ inch. As a team, the Owls won the conference championship with 252 points. Central Arkansas (157) and Eastern Kentucky (129) rounded out the top three teams.
ERIC TOVIAVE — Belmont University (So., Cartersville HS) … qualified for the 400-meter hurdles final (55.66) and placed seventh in the event finals (55.02) at the Missouri Valley Conference Outdoor Championships this past weekend at Indiana State University in Terre Haute. The Bruins finished sixth in the conference won by Indiana State.
NAKIYAH WASHINGTON — Piedmont University (Grad student, Adairsville HS) … placed fourth in the shot put (40-07.50) and sixth in the Discus Throw (126-11) at the Lee University Last Chance Meet this past weekend. Washington earned Field Athlete of the Meet and Overall Athlete of the Meet for her work in the women’s throws at the Collegiate Conference of the South Meet. She was first in Javelin (33.92m), first in the shot put (12.48m), third in Hammer Throw (39.53m), and third in Discus (36.67m), The Lions finished second as a team behind Berea College (Ky,) in the conference championships hosted by Maryville College (Tenn.).
COLLEGE GOLF
BUCK BRUMLOW — University of Georgia (Jr., Cartersville HS) … the Bulldogs begin play in the 13-team NCAA Austin Regional on Monday at the par-71, 7,399-yard University of Texas Golf Club where the Bulldogs are seeded fourth. The top five teams from the 54-hole event will advance to the NCAA Championships with the top five teams from five other regionals. Georgia is paired with Wake Forest and Notre Dame in the opening round.
SOFTBALL
ANSLEY EVANS — Reinhardt University (Jr., Woodland HS) … the Eagles have been assigned to the five-team double-elimination NAIA Opening Round tournament at William Carey University (Miss.). Reinhardt opens the tournament on Monday against the hosts. The other three teams in the tournament are Indiana-Southeast, Stillman College, and Jessup (Calif.). In 48 games this season, Evans has a .345 batting average with 41 RBIs.
ANSLEY HIGHT — University of Southern Mississippi (Fr., Cass HS) … appeared as a pinch hitter last Wednesday in a 6-2 opening-round loss to James Madison at the Sun Belt Conference Tournament in San Marcos, Texas. The Eagles finished the year with a 22-29 record.
SADYE JOHNSON — University of North Georgia (Jr., Adairsville HS) … did not appear in the Southeast Region II games but the Nighthawks went 4-1 and advanced to the Southeast Super Regional against Lenoir-Rhyne on Tuesday and Wednesday. The winner of the best-of-three series advances to the NCAA D2 Women's World Series.
ERYN LEE — Reinhardt University (So., Cass HS) … the Eagles have been assigned to the five-team double-elimination NAIA Opening Round tournament at William Carey University (Miss.). Reinhardt opens the tournament on Monday against the hosts. The other three teams in the tournament are Indiana-Southeast, Stillman College, and Jessup (Calif.). In 45 games this season, Lee has a .319 batting average with 15 RBIs and 12 stolen bases.
RACHAEL LEE — Gulf Coast State CC (So., Cass HS) … produced a .408 batting average in 55 games this season with 42 RBIs and 52 runs scored. She also stole 12 bases. The Commodores were 40-15 for the season and Lee was named to the All-Panhandle Conference First Team for the 2024 season.
ALEXIS WOODS — Tennessee State University (Fr., Cass HS) … in four starts last week against Tennessee Tech, Southeast Missouri, Southern Illinois-Edwardsville, and Southern Indiana at the Missouri Valley Conferent Tournament, she was 1-for-10 at the plate with two walks, two runs scored, and one RBI. The Tigers finished the season with a 26-25 record. In her freshman season, Woods hit for a .225 average in 49 games and stole 11 bases. Her OPS was .568.
BASEBALL
DREW BILLINGS — Trinity Baptist College (So., Woodland HS) … was charged with four, unearned runs but retired the final five outs last Friday in the Eagles’ 8-2 loss to Bob Jones University. The loss eliminated TBC in the NCCAA South Region Tournament at Toccoa Falls. Billings allowed one hit, hit two batters, and fanned one. Trinity’s season ends with a 22-28 record. Billings made 16 appearances in 2024 working 21-⅓ innings. He was 4-4 with a 3.80 ERA.
CURT BONNER — LaGrange College (So., Cartersville HS) … was 0-for-1 and was hit by a pitch in two tournament game appearances this past weekend. The Panthers went 4-2 in the Collegiate Conference of the South Tournament and finished runner-up to Maryville (Tenn.). LaGrange was 26-17 this season. Bonner had a .266 batting average this season in 64 official at-bats with 14 RBIs.
HARRISON CHILDERS — Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College (Fr., Cartersville HS) … in a GCAA Tournament loss to South Georgia State last Wednesday, he was 2-for-5 at the plate with one double, one run scored, and one RBI. The Stallions concluded their season with a 19-31 mark. Childers appeared in 12 games as a freshman and hit .294 in 35 plate appearances with three RBIs.
COLIN EATON — Gordon State CC (So., Cartersville HS) … made a five-inning start and was the winning pitcher last Wednesday in the Highlanders’ 13-1 GCAA Tournament win over South Georgia State CC. Eaton allowed just one earned run on seven hits and one walk. He struck out three. Gordon State was later eliminated by Georgia Highlands in the tournament finals. The Highlanders finished their season with a 33-22 record. Eaton was 5-2 on the mound in 2024 in 12 starts and 13 appearances. He compiled a 4.06 ERA and 44 strikeouts in 51 innings pitched.
KENNY JINKS — Wheeling University (R-Sr., Woodland HS) … made the pitching start and took the loss last Wednesday as the Cardinals fell in the first round of the Mountain East Conference Tournament to the University of Charleston, 10-0. Jinks allowed eight earned runs on seven hits, three walks, and two hit batsmen. He struck out two. He was 5-4 on the season with a 5.30 ERA in 12 starts and 13 appearances. He worked 69-⅔ innings and struck out 75. Wheeling finished the season with a 25-26 record.
DREW ROTHSCHILD — Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College (So., Cartersville HS) … started all three GCAA Tournament games for the Stallions and went 3-for-12 at the plate with three runs scored and one RBI. ABAC defeated East Georgia in the opening round before falling to Georgia Highlands and South Georgia State. The Stallions finished the season with a 19-31 record, Rothschild hit .337 this season in 49 games and 202 plate appearances. He had five home runs and 48 RBIs.
TREY SCOTT — Alabama A&M University (Jr., Cass HS) … made two brief relief appearances last week against Alabama State at home and on the road at Mississippi Valley. The right-hand pitcher allowed one earned run on three hits and two hit batsmen. The Bulldogs (13-36, 9-18 SWAC) host Murray State on Tuesday and entertain Jackson State in a three-game conference series on Thursday through Saturday.
HANK SMITH — Jacksonville State University (R-Fr., Cartersville HS) … made a start at catcher last Tuesday in an 11-8 home win over UAB. Smith went 1-for-3 with a walk and a sacrifice. He also scored a run. The Gamecocks (18-31, 5-16 Conference USA) visit Kennesaw State on Tuesday and play at Sam Houston State on Thursday through Saturday in their final regular season conference series.
SCOTTY SMITH — Covenant College (Jr., Woodland HS) … made a 6-⅔ inning no-decision pitching start for the Scots in a 12-6 Collegiate Conference of the South Tournament game last Friday in Maryville, Tennessee. Smith allowed five earned runs on four hits, four walks, and two hit batsmen. He struck out four in the loss to Huntingdon College. Covenant’s season closes with a 16-26 record. Smith made 12 starts in 2024 and was 0-5 with a 7.39 ERA across 56 innings pitched. He struck out 33.
STEVEN SPELL — Young Harris College (Grad student, Cass HS) … although the Mountain Lions did not play last week, they were selected to the NCAA D2 postseason and were assigned to the three-team Southeast Regional #1 at Catawba College. YHC (39-13) plays UNC-Pembroke on Thursday in the first game of the double-elimination tournament. Spell has started all 52 games this season with a .321 batting average in 239 plate appearances. The third baseman has three homers and 39 RBIs with 18 extra base hits. He is also 14-for-14 in stolen base attempts.
KADEN STEPHENSON — Piedmont University (Fr., Cartersville HS) … entered defensively in the ninth inning last Friday during the Lions’ 4-2 loss to LaGrange at the Collegiate Conference of the South Tournament in Maryville, Tennessee. Piedmont lost two straight in the tournament to end their season with a 25-17 record.
COHEN WILBANKS — Georgia Gwinnett College (Jr., Cartersville HS) … went 1-for-3 with a sacrifice and a walk in the Grizzlies’ 13-0 conference tournament clinching win May 6 at home over Fisher College & University. The Continental Conference champs will host the five-team NAIA Lawrenceville Bracket that begins Monday through Thursday. Georgia Gwinnett (47-6) plays the Bushnell (Ore.) vs. Louisiana Christian winner on Monday at 5 p.m. Ottawa University Arizona and Faulkner (Ala.) are also in the Opening Round double-elimination tournament.
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