Athletes Beyond Bartow: Pro and college updates for April 3-10

This past week’s summary for ‘Athletes Beyond Bartow’ includes updates on 28 pro and collegiate competitors from Bartow County across North America.

MiLB

MASON BARNETT — Quad Cities River Bandits (2nd yr. pro; Kansas City Royals High Class A affiliate; Auburn University; Cartersville HS) … assigned to the Royals’ High Class A affiliate to begin the 2023 season in Davenport, Iowa. The River Bandits are in the Midwest League. Barnett did not pitch in his team’s opening weekend. Quad Cities dropped all three games Friday through Sunday to the South Bend Cubs. This week the Bandits play six games at the Cedar Rapids Kernels.

ANTHONY SEIGLER — Somerset Patriots (6th yr. pro; NY Yankees Double-A affiliate; Cartersville HS) … started two of his team’s three games in an opening weekend series against the Harrisburg Senators going 1-for-7 at the plate. The Patriots won two of the three games. Somerset plays six games Tuesday through Sunday at the Binghamton Rumble Ponies.

PRO BASKETBALL

AJ MOSBY — Sudbury Five (6th yr. pro; National Basketball League of Canada; Alcorn State; Cartersville HS) … scored 22 points and had three rebounds, two assists, and one steal in a 121-119 home win Saturday over the Windsor Express. The Five (18-5) lead the NBL-C by one-half game over the London Lightning.

TENNIS

EMILY BUSH — Young Harris College (Fr., Cartersville HS) … had the Mountain Lions’ only team point in a 6-1 loss at the University of North Georgia last Thursday. Bush outlasted 66th-ranked Johanna Lippert of UNG at Line 2 singles, 7-5, 5-7, 1-0 (10-8). She and her doubles partner, Catarina Marcko Ferreira lost at Line 3 doubles, 6-0. Young Harris (7-10, 1-3 Peach Belt Conference) visits Shorter University Wednesday afternoon, hosts Georgia College Friday, Piedmont Saturday, and Columbus State University Sunday in a busy week.

EMILY SURCEY — Mississippi State University (So., Cass HS) … lost both of her Line 6 singles matches last week as the Bulldogs dropped SEC matches at LSU and 2nd-ranked Texas A&M. Mississippi State (10-12, 0-11) host Georgia Friday and Tennessee Sunday in the final two regular season matches of the year.

TRACK AND FIELD

STEPHEN SMITH — Kennesaw State University (Jr., Cass HS) … cleared 15-06.25 (4.73m) and placed third in the pole vault last Friday and Saturday at the 18-team Kennesaw State Invitational. The Owls won the meet scoring 453 points followed by Life University, Cumberland University (Tennessee), and the University of Montevallo. Next for KSU is the Mt. Sac Relays Wednesday through Saturday in Walnut, California, and the Samford Invitational Friday in Birmingham.

ERIC TOVIAVE — Belmont University (Fr., Cartersville HS) … placed 14th in the 400m hurdles (57.78) and 19th in the 110m hurdles (19.23) at the Lee University Flames Invitational last Friday and Saturday. Lee won the 20-team event followed by Alabama-Huntsville, Wingate, and Belmont. Next on the Bruins’ schedule is the Pacific Coast Intercollegiate in Long Beach, California on Thursday and the Bryan Clay Invitational Thursday through Saturday in Azusa, California.

GOLF

BUCK BRUMLOW — University of Georgia (So., Cartersville HS) … tied for 13th as an individual and helped the Bulldogs to a tie for fifth place April 2-4 at The Calusa Cup in Naples, Florida. The nine-team tournament was conducted at the 7,320-yard, par-72 Calusa Pines Golf Club. Brumlow carded rounds of 73-76-71 as Georgia finished behind North Carolina, Wake Forest, Arizona State, and Vanderbilt. The Bulldogs tied with Texas Tech. Georgia concludes the regular season this Sunday by hosting the Classic City One Day in Athens. The SEC Championship will take place April 19-23 at Sea Island Golf Club in St. Simons, Georgia.

JAKE WEHUNT — Young Harris College (Fr., Cartersville HS) … shot 75-76 April 3-4 and tied for 13th individually at the Shorter University Hawks Invitational played at Stonebridge Golf Club in Rome. The Mountain Lions were co-runners-up with Cleveland State CC. The eight-team tournament was won by Kentucky State University. Next for YHC is the Peach Belt Conference Championship on April 21-23 at Forest Hills Golf Club in Augusta.

CHANC WILLIS — Reinhardt University (Jr., Cartersville HS) … shot 83 Monday in the first round of the Eagles Spring Invitational hosted by Reinhardt at Barnsley Gardens Resort in Adairsville. Following the opening round, Reinhardt was third behind Point University and Truett-McConnell University in the five-team tournament that concludes on Tuesday.

SOFTBALL

COLBI BALLARD — Shorter University (Sr., Cartersville HS) … in a pair of starts at Delta State last Friday and Saturday, Ballard was 1-for-6 with a double and one RBI at the plate. The Hawks (6-34, 1-22 Gulf South Conference) play a doubleheader Tuesday at Emmanuel College and will host the University of West Georgia Friday and Saturday in a three-game conference series.

ANSLEY EVANS — Reinhardt University (So., Woodland HS) … started one of two wins last Thursday at Brenau University but was 0-for-4 at the plate. The Eagles (19-9, 14-2 Appalachian Athletic Conference) host Kentucky Christian Tuesday before traveling to Johnson University (Tennessee) Wednesday, Bluefield University (Virginia) Thursday, and will host Columbia International University Saturday.

SADYE JOHNSON — University of North Georgia (So., Adairsville HS) … the Nighthawks’ catcher was inserted defensively in the top of the seventh Sunday in a 19-10 home loss to Columbus State. NCAA D-II No. 1-ranked UNG lost both games Sunday of their conference doubleheader with CSU snapping a 38-game winning streak. UNG (40-3, 19-2) bounced back Monday to defeat the visiting Cougars. The Nighthawks host a doubleheader with Auburn-Montgomery Tuesday and play three games Saturday and Sunday at Georgia College.

ERYN LEE — Reinhardt University (Fr., Cass HS) … was utilized as a pinch runner in one of last Thursday’s two wins at Brenau University. The Eagles (19-9, 14-2 Appalachian Athletic Conference) host Kentucky Christian Tuesday before traveling to Johnson University (Tennessee) Wednesday, Bluefield University (Virginia) Thursday, and will host Columbia International University Saturday.

RACHAEL LEE — Gulf Coast State CC (Fr., Cass HS) … made one start and appeared in two games last week as the Commodores dropped a pair of doubleheaders to Chipola CC and Northwest Florida State CC. Lee was 1-for-2 at the plate in her start. Gulf Coast State CC (25-16, 6-6 Panhandle Conference) visits Northwest Florida State Monday, Tallahassee CC Tuesday, and plays at Pensacola State Saturday.

LAUREN McELHANEY — University of West Georgia (Jr., Cartersville HS) … made one start in the Wolves’ three-game home series with University of West Florida last weekend going 0-for-2 at the plate. UWG (10-13, 5-16 Gulf South Conference) plays a non-conference doubleheader at Lander University Tuesday and visits Shorter University for a three-game conference series Friday and Saturday.

HOPE SHORT — Shorter University (Jr., Cartersville HS) … was 1-for-3 as a pinch hitter in three different games last week for the Hawks. Short had a hit at home against Georgia College last Wednesday in one of two wins but had a pair of unsuccessful pinch hitting appearances last Friday and Saturday at Delta State University as the Hawks dropped three games. Shorter plays at Emmanuel College Tuesday and entertains West Georgia this Friday and Saturday in a three-game Gulf South Conference series.

ALEXA VARNER — Shorter University (Jr., Adairsville HS) … scored one run in both games last Wednesday at home appearing as a pinch runner against Georgia College. The Hawks swept both games but lost three over the weekend at Delta State University. The Hawks (6-34, 1-22 Gulf South Conference) play a doubleheader Tuesday at Emmanuel College and will host the University of West Georgia Friday and Saturday in a three-game conference series.

BASEBALL

CURT BONNER — LaGrange College (Fr., Cartersville HS) … hit safely in all four of the Panthers’ games last week as LaGrange lost at home to Berry on Tuesday and swept a three-game series with Belhaven University (Mississippi) last Wednesday through Friday. Making starts in left field, Bonner was 7-for-14 with one home run and six RBIs. 10th-ranked LaGrange (21-7, 9-0 Collegiate Conference of the South) hosts Oglethorpe University Tuesday and plays a three-game conference series Friday through Sunday at Piedmont University.

KENNY JINKS — Wheeling University (Sr., Woodland HS) … made one start last Saturday at home against Notre Dame College (Ohio) and received no decision in a 7-6 loss. Jinks went 5-⅔ innings allowing four earned runs on one hit, seven walks, and one hit batsman. Wheeling was 2-3 for the week losing to Walsh University (Ohio) and splitting four games with Notre Dame College. The Cardinals (16-14, 7-9 Mountain East Conference) visit Clarion University (Pennsylvania) Tuesday and play a four-game conference series at Frostburg State University (Maryland) Saturday and Sunday.

LOGAN MARTIN — University of Kentucky (Sr., Cartersville HS) … made a two-inning scoreless start and received no decision as 9th-ranked Kentucky won 7-4 at Georgia last Friday. Martin walked two and struck out three. He was lifted with the game still scoreless. The Wildcats went 2-2 for the week with one other win at home against Dayton and two losses at Georgia. Kentucky (27-5, 9-3) plays at Louisville Tuesday and has a three-game SEC series at LSU from Thursday through Saturday.

COLT McKIBBEN — Lee University (Fr., Cartersville HS) … received no decision in a 3-⅓ inning home middle relief appearance against the University of Montevallo last Thursday. The Flames lost to the 10th-ranked Falcons, 19-16. McKibben allowed six earned runs on six hits and three hit batsmen. He struck out one. Lee won the other two games in the series 8-7 and 7-6. The Flames (20-17, 10-11 Gulf South Conference) host Tusculum University Tuesday night and a three-game series with Union University (Tennessee) Friday and Saturday.

DREW ROTHSCHILD — Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College (Fr., Cartersville ) … started three of four games going 2-for-10 at the plate as the Stallions went 2-2 in a series with South Georgia State CC. He had one triple and three RBIs and stole one base. ABAC (21-22, 7-5 Georgia Collegiate Athletic Association) has four games this week with East Georgia CC. The Stallions visit East Georgia Tuesday and host the Bobcats Thursday and Saturday.

STEVEN SPELL — Young Harris College (Sr., Cass HS) … the Mountain Lions were 1-3 last week with a loss at 2nd-ranked North Greenville and a three-game home sweep of Claflin University. Spell hit safely in all four games and was 5-for-17 with two walks, five runs scored, and four RBIs. YHC (28-11, 18-6 Peach Belt Conference) entertains Mars Hill University Tuesday afternoon, Carson-Newman University Wednesday, and visits USC-Beaufort Friday through Sunday for a three-game conference series)

DEVIN WARNER — Georgia Gwinnett College (Jr., Cartersville HS) … was 2-for-3 with a double and two RBIs in the Grizzlies' only game last week on Friday at USC-Beaufort. He was also hit by a pitch and stole a base during the 11-5 win. Third-ranked GGC (32-5, 5-0 Continental Athletic Conference) hosts Talladega University Tuesday night and plays three games at home Friday through Sunday in the CAC Showdown. The Grizzlies will play Crowley’s Ridge (Arkansas), Voorhees (South Carolina), and Florida National.

COHEN WILBANKS — Georgia Gwinnett College (Jr., Cartersville HS) … was 1-for-2 with one RBI in the Grizzlies’ 11-5 win last Friday at USC-Beaufort. The remaining two games of the scheduled three-game series were not completed. Georgia Gwinnett (32-5, 5-0 Continental Athletic Conference) is now ranked No. 3 in NAIA and will host three conference opponents — Crowley’s Ridge, Voorhees, and Florida National this weekend.

JORDAN WILKIE — Augusta University (Sr., Cartersville HS) … in four games last week Wilkie was 4-for-17 at the plate and scored three runs as the Jaguars went 1-3. They lost last Tuesday at Francis Marion University and dropped two of three Thursday and Friday at USC-Aiken. Augusta (18-18, 11-13 Peach Belt Conference) plays at Erskine College Tuesday, at Anderson University Wednesday, and at Columbus State University Friday through Sunday in a three-game conference series.

ZACH WILSON — Penn State Greater Allegheny (Jr., Woodland HS) … had two unsuccessful plate appearances last week as PSUGA dropped four games with Penn State Du Bois. Penn State-GA (13-14, 5-7) has four games Saturday and Sunday with Penn State Fayette.