Athletes Beyond Bartow: Seigler joins Yankees at Spring Training

This week's Athletes Beyond Bartow update includes the return of MLB Spring Training for former Cartersville High catcher Anthony Seigler. The switch-hitting, former first-round draft pick is an invited non-roster player at the Yankees' camp and has already made a pair of starts.

In the renewed XFL, Adairsville's Vic Beasley continues to contribute as a veteran presence with the Vegas Vipers.

On the hardwoods, former Lady Tigers standout Nakiyah Washington wrapped up her senior season at Piedmont University as the program's all-time leading scorer.

This week's report includes updates on 40 local athletes contributing across the country.

XFL

VIC BEASLEY - Vegas Vipers (9th-yr. pro; XFL; Clemson; Adairsville HS) … had three tackles and recovered a fumble Saturday in the Vipers’ 18-6 home loss to the DC Defenders. Vegas (0-2) hosts the Seattle Sea Dragons this Saturday night.

MLB

ANTHONY SEIGLER — New York Yankees (6th-yr. pro; Cartersville HS) … the switch-hitting catcher who finished last season playing for the Yankees’ High Class A Hudson Valley Renegades, is a non-roster invitee at New York’s MLB Spring Training camp in Tampa. Seigler started two of the Yankees’ first three spring training games. Wearing No. 80, he was 0-for-1 with a walk Saturday during a 7-4 loss to the Philadelphia Phillies and was 0-for-2 Sunday in a 9-5 win over the Toronto Blue Jays. New York (2-1) plays every day this week with games against the Rays twice, the Tigers twice, the Nationals, the Pirates, and the Braves.

PRO BASKETBALL

ASHTON HAGANS — Greensboro Swarm (NBA G-League; 3rd-year pro; Cartersville native; Kentucky; Newton HS) … in three home games this past week the Swarm lost Wednesday to the Cleveland Charge and Friday to the Maine Celtics. Saturday, Greensboro topped Maine 122-110. Hagans totaled just four points for the week with 14 assists, 13 rebounds, five steals, and a pair of blocked shots. This week the Swarm (8-13) plays at the College Park Skyhawks in Atlanta Thursday morning and Saturday night.

A.J. MOSBY — Sudbury Five (6th year pro; NBL-Canada; Alcorn State; Cartersville HS) … in home wins last Monday and Saturday over the KW Titans, Mosby averaged 26.5 points, 6.5 rebounds, 2.5 rebounds, and added one steal. Sudbury (10-3) is currently second in the NBLC standings, one game behind the London Lightning. The Five host the division leaders Thursday night before visiting L’Academie D’Alma Saturday night and Sunday afternoon.

TRACK & FIELD

STEPHEN SMITH — Kennesaw State University (Jr., Cass HS) … the Owls’ pole vaulter placed fifth at the Atlantic Sun Conference Indoor Championship Meet and was one of three KSU competitors in the top five. The even was won by teammate Simon Seid with a vault of 16’-09.50”. Smith cleared 15’-01.75”. The Kennesaw State men finished second in the championship meet behind Liberty University. The NCAA Indoor Championship is March 10-11 in Albuquerque, New Mexico and the Owls begin their outdoor season March 24 at the NC State-hosted Raleigh Relays.

GOLF

BUCK BRUMLOW — University of Georgia (So., Cartersville HS) … after two rounds of the Southern Highlands Collegiate in Las Vegas, Brumlow is tied for 38th place following rounds of 72-74 on the 7,510-yard, par-72 Southern Highlands Club. The Georgia team was 14th of 15 teams with one round remaining on Tuesday. The Bulldogs are 9-over-par with North Carolina leading at 20-under-par. Texas (14-under) and Pepperdine (11-under) are just behind the Tar Heels.

BLANE DAVIS — Georgia College (So., Cartersville HS) … carded rounds of 84-79-79 — 242 and tied for 94th as the Bobcats finished 16th of 18 teams last week at the Saint Leo Invitational at Lake Jovita Golf & Country Club in Dade City, Florida. The tournament was won by Lee University finishing four shots clear of Nova Southeastern. Next for Georgia College is the Bearcat Classic hosted by Lander University in Greenwood, South Carolina.

CHANC WILLIS — Reinhardt University (Jr., Cartersville HS) …finished with rounds of 75-78-66 and tied for eighth overall as the Eagles placed fifth of eight schools February 20-21 at the Kinderlou Forest Spring Invitational hosted by Dalton State. The tournament was conducted at the 7,039-yard Kinderlou Forest Golf Club in Valdosta. Host Dalton State won the event by ten shots over Coastal Georgia. Reinhardt returns to action March 6-7 in the Point Invitational at Newnan Country Club.

BASKETBALL

BRAXTON BENHAM — Berry College (So., Cass HS) … scored six points and had three steals, three assists, three rebounds, and two blocks as the Vikings defeated Birmingham-Southern College 78-63 in the Southern Athletic Association tournament semifinals Saturday. Braxton followed with 12 points, seven assists, three steals, two rebounds, and one blocked shot in Berry’s conference title game 86-82 loss to Sewanee-University of the South. Benham appeared in 23 of the Vikings’ 28 games this season and made 18 starts. He averaged 11.3 points and 3.9 rebounds while leading the team in assists (79) and steals (50).

CLAIRE DAVIS — Palm Beach Atlantic University (Fr., Cass HS) … Saturday at Rollins College, Davis grabbed six rebounds, scored three points, and had one blocked shot in a 76-68 loss. PBAU (10-16, 6-14) did not qualify for the Sunshine State Conference championship tournament finishing ninth in the 11-team league. Davis played in 23 games this season for the Sailfish averaging eight points, five rebounds, one assist, one steal, and one blocked shot per game.

JUSTICE HAYES — Point University (So., Cass HS) … scored two points and had a pair of rebounds in the Skyhawks’ 69-57 loss last Thursday to Montreat College in the quarterfinals of the Appalachian Athletic Conference tournament in Kingsport, Tennessee. Hayes finished the year averaging five points, two rebounds, and one assist per game in 24 starts and 29 appearances.

DiANTHONY HEATHCOCK — Columbia International University (Jr., Woodland HS) … the Rams won four straight games last Wednesday through Saturday to win the program’s first-ever Appalachian Athletic Conference tournament championship and its first berth in the NAIA National Tournament. CIU had tournament wins over Bluefield University, Reinhardt University, Montreat College, and Bryan College to capture the conference title in Kingsport, Tennessee. Heathcock averaged 16 points, eight rebounds, one steal, and one block in the Rams’ tournament run. Columbia International will learn about its National Tournament first-round site and opponent in the NAIA’s Selection Show Thursday night.

T.J. HORTON — Georgia Highlands CC (So., Cartersville HS) … scored five points with two rebounds, one assist, and one steal last Thursday in a 69-65 home win over South Georgia State CC. Saturday, the Chargers won at South Georgia Tech but boxscore stats were not available at the time of this release. Georgia Highlands (19-9) completes regular season play this week at Gordon State Wednesday and at home Saturday against Albany Tech.

HALEY JOHNSON — Central Georgia Tech CC (Fr., Cass HS) … had four rebounds last Wednesday in a 70-41 home win over Andrew College. Johnson then scored one point with two assists and one steal in a 63-55 loss at Georgia Highlands CC on Saturday. CGTCC (9-20, 3-12) plays in the GCAA Tournament quarterfinals Tuesday night at Albany Tech.

JAYLON PUGH — Lander University (Grad student, Cartersville HS) … scored seven points with two assists, two steals, and one rebound in a Senior Night start at home last Wednesday as the Bearcats beat Young Harris College 83-53. Pugh followed that with nine points, four rebounds, and one assist in a 73-70 loss at Flagler College. Lander (20-8, 12-6), the No. 4-seed, opens the Peach Belt Conference Championship Tournament Thursday in Augusta against 5th-seeded Young Harris.

LONDAISHA SMITH — Alderson Broaddus University (So., Cass HS) … although Smith had a double-double last Wednesday, the Lady Battlers dropped a 98-74 decision at home to Wheeling University. Smith scored 17 points and grabbed 10 rebounds in the loss. She also had two assists and one blocked shot in the loss. Saturday, ABU fell at home to Notre Dame College 74-66. She scored 16 points with four boards, two steals, and an assist. The Battlers (5-22) are the 9-seed in the Mountain East Conference tournament and will play 8-seeded Concord University Wednesday night in the first round.

NAKIYAH WASHINGTON — Piedmont University (Sr., Adairsville HS) … helped the Lady Lions to the finals of the Collegiate Conference of the South title game by reaching double-figure scoring in all three games. Washington had 13 points, six rebounds, and three assists in a 97-71 win over Huntingdon College; 11 points, nine rebounds, one block, and one steal in a 75-73 win over LaGrange College; and scored 10 points with eight rebounds in a 71-63 loss to top-seed and host Berea College. Washington averaged 14 points and 7.5 rebounds for the Lions in 24 games this season. She completed her career with 1,256 points and the all-time scoring record for the Lions.

SOFTBALL

LAINEY BAKER — Samford University (Fr., Woodland HS) … made three pitching appearances last week including a complete game start and a 7-2 home win over IUPUI last Friday. It was Baker’s first collegiate win. In that victory, she allowed just one earned run on eight hits and one walk while fanning nine. Last Wednesday, she made a sixth-inning scoreless appearance at 7th-ranked Alabama yielding two hits. On Sunday, Baker collected her second pitching win in a four-inning start against Southern Indiana. She allowed no earned runs on three hits and three walks with a pair of strikeouts. Samford (5-9) plays at Kennesaw State Tuesday and will play five games Friday through Sunday at the University of Georgia Invitational. Samford will have a single game against Ball State before playing Stetson and the host Bulldogs twice each.

COLBI BALLARD — Shorter University (Sr., Cartersville HS) … in starts in the outfield last week at home against Auburn Montgomery and at Mississippi College, Ballard was 0-for-4 at the plate in the two losses. Shorter dropped two games at AUM and three at Mississippi College. The Lady Hawks (4-13, 1-5 Gulf South Conference) visit the 3rd-ranked University of North Georgia for a doubleheader Wednesday and host a three-game set with 8th-ranked Valdosta State Saturday and Sunday.

PRESLEY EDWARDS — Wesleyan College (Sr., Cartersville HS) … in four home losses last Friday and Saturday to Columbia College and Converse College, the Wolves’ catcher was 3-for-11 at the plate with one RBI. Wesleyan (1-9) hosts Agnes Scott College Tuesday, visits LaGrange College Thursday, and travels to Belhaven University (Mississippi) on Saturday.

SADYE JOHNSON — University of North Georgia (So., Adairsville HS) … was inserted as a pinch runner and remained in the game at catcher last Saturday in an 8-0 home win over the University of South Carolina-Beaufort. Johnson drew a walk in her only plate appearance. The Nighthawks went 5-0 last week topping the University of West Georgia twice and sweeping a three-game home series with the USCB Sand Sharks. UNG (15-1, 3-0 Peach Belt Conference), ranked No. 3 nationally, hosts a doubleheader with Shorter Wednesday and a three-game conference series with USC-Aiken Friday and Saturday.

RACHAEL LEE — Gulf Coast State CC (Fr., Cass HS) … was 2-for-2 with a double, a walk, and two runs scored on February 20 during an 8-0 home win over Motlow State. The Commodores swept a doubleheader with Motlow and then went 1-3 in four road games last Friday and Saturday against ABAC, Wallace State, Georgia Military, and Gordon State. Stats for those games were not available at the time of this publication. GCSCC (12-6) heads to Columbus, Georgia Friday and Saturday for the NFCA Leadoff Classic where they will face Rock Valley (Illinois), Parkland CC (Illinois), North Dakota State College of Science, and Wallace State-Hanceville.

LAUREN McELHANEY — University of West Georgia (Jr., Cartersville HS) … made a start last Wednesday and was 0-for-2 at the plate in an 8-3 loss at 3rd-ranked North Georgia. UWG was 0-5 for the week dropping two games at North Georgia and three conference games at Lee University. The Wolves (2-13, 1-5) host a three-game Gulf South Conference series with Union University (Tenn.) Saturday and Sunday.

HOPE SHORT — Shorter University (Jr., Cartersville HS) … was entered as a pinch runner and later had a base hit in her only plate appearance in an 8-0 home loss last Tuesday to Auburn-Montgomery. The Hawks were 0-5 for the week dropping a doubleheader with AUM and were swept in a three-game series at Mississippi College. Shorter (4-13, 1-5 Gulf South Conference) travels to the University of North Georgia Wednesday and entertains Valdosta State University for a conference series Saturday and Sunday.

ALEXA VARNER — Shorter University (Jr., Adairsville HS) … made three starts in the outfield and saw some time at shortstop during a home loss to Auburn Montgomery and two losses at Mississippi College last week. Varner was 0-for-5 at the plate with one walk. Shorter (4-13, 1-5 Gulf South Conference) makes the journey to the University of North Georgia Wednesday for two games and hosts Valdosta State University for a three-game conference series Saturday and Sunday.

BASEBALL

CURT BONNER — LaGrange College (Fr., Cartersville HS) … came off the bench in three games last week to catch for the NCAA D-III, 3rd-ranked Panthers. Bonner was 2-for-2 in his plate appearances with an RBI double and a three-run home run. He also scored twice. LaGrange was 3-1 in home games for the week with a win over Emory University and two wins in a three-game set with Rose Hulman Tech (Illinois). The Panthers (5-2) host Adrian College (Michigan) Tuesday night and host a three-game series with North Carolina Wesleyan Saturday and Sunday.

BLAINE INGRAM — Reinhardt University (So., Cass HS) … worked three innings of relief Sunday in a 16-5 home loss to Point University. The right-hand pitcher did not allow a run on two hits with no walks and two strikeouts facing 11 batters. The Eagles finished the week 3-2 beating William Carey (Mississippi) and Brewton-Parker College. They also won one of three at home with Point. Reinhardt (8-7, 1-2 Appalachian Athletic Conference) hosts Columbia International University Friday and Saturday in a three-game series.

KENNY JINKS — Wheeling University (WV) (Sr., Woodland HS) … a transfer portal pick-up from Shorter, Jinks has made a pair of appearances for his new team tossing three innings on February 19 at California University (Pennsylvania) and 2-⅔ innings at Bluefield State (West Virginia) last Friday. He allowed eight earned runs on eight hits in a 15-5 loss at California and yielded five earned runs on five hits at Bluefield during a 17-12 team win. He has eight strikeouts in the two appearances and was charged with a pitching loss in his first outing. Wheeling (3-3) travels to Carolina University (NC) Friday and Saturday for a three-game series.

BRYCEN JONES — University of West Georgia (Sr., Cartersville HS) … came out of the Wolves’ bullpen in the fifth inning last Wednesday at Tuskegee University during a 16-3 win and worked an inning and two-thirds. He allowed one earned run on three hits. He fanned two of the seven batters he faced. West Georgia (9-3, 4-2 Gulf South Conference) visits Georgia College Wednesday and will entertain a three-game conference series Friday and Saturday against Union University (Tenn.).

LOGAN MARTIN — University of Kentucky (Sr., Cartersville HS) … made his second start for the Wildcats last Friday night earning his first D-I pitching win since transferring from Sewanee. Martin went six innings allowing four hits and two walks that resulted in three earned runs as Kentucky beat Wright State 8-3. The right-hand pitcher struck out eight in the win facing 23 batters. The Wildcats won two of three in the weekend series. Kentucky (5-2) hosts Morehead State Tuesday and a three-game series against Indiana State Friday through Sunday.

COLT McKIBBEN — Lee University (Fr., Cartersville HS) … In a pitching start last Tuesday, the Flames’ southpaw gave up a pair of earned runs on four hits in 2-⅔ innings. He left with his team up 4-2 in an eventual 6-4 home win over Carson-Newman University. McKibbon has a 2.61 ERA in his first five appearances this season. Lee (7-8, 3-3 Gulf South Conference) hosts Lane College Wednesday and a three-game GSC series with Auburn-Montgomery Friday and Saturday.

SAM MELTON — Rockingham CC (Fr., Cartersville HS) … made a start Sunday at third base going 0-for-1 at the plate with two walks in a 7-0 loss at USC-Lancaster CC. The Eagles (2-11) visit Barton College JV for a doubleheader Wednesday and play three games at Virginia Peninsula CC Saturday and Sunday to start NJCAA Region 10 conference play.

GUNNER MILLSAP — Southern Illinois-Edwardsville (Fr., Cartersville HS) … struck out both batters he faced in the eighth inning Saturday in a 7-1 loss at Louisiana-Monroe. It was the Cougars' only loss of the week as they beat Illinois State and won two of three at ULM. SIU-E (5-2) entertains Western Illinois in a three-game series Friday and Saturday.

DREW ROTHSCHILD — Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College (Fr., Cartersville HS) … started at third base in three of the Stallions' four games last week and was 3-for-10 at the plate with two walks, one run scored, and one RBI. ABAC lost twice in a home-and-home with the College of Central Florida and lost twice at Tallahassee CC. The Stallions (5-13) host Santa Fe CC (Fla.) Wednesday and a doubleheader with Tallahassee CC Saturday.

STEVEN SPELL — Young Harris College (Sr., Cass HS) … in four starts at third base last week — one at Tusculum and three at North Georgia — Spell was 1-for-10 with a walk, one hit by pitch, one sacrifice fly, and one RBI. The Mountain Lions were 1-3 for the week with the win coming last Friday at UNG. Young Harris (10-5, 4-2 Peach Belt Conference) travels to Carson-Newman Tuesday and hosts Georgia College in a three-game conference series Friday and Saturday.

DEVIN WARNER — Georgia Gwinnett College (Jr., Cartersville HS) … in three starts at third base last weekend and three wins over visiting Indiana South Bend Warner was 2-for-10 including a walk, a double, and two RBIs. The 7th-ranked Grizzlies (12-2) play at No. 3 Tennessee Wesleyan Tuesday and will host two games this weekend against Clarke University (Iowa) and three against Lourdes University (Ohio).

PRESTON WELCHEL — Tennessee Wesleyan University (Jr., Cartersville HS) … in four home wins last week — one over Cumberland University (Tenn.) and three over Columbia International University, Welchel was 4-for-14 in the leadoff spot as the designated hitter. He had a walk, three RBIs, and scored five times in the four-game stretch. Third-ranked TWU (13-0, 6-0 Appalachian Athletic Conference) hosts 7th-ranked Georgia Gwinett Tuesday and visits Milligan University Friday and Saturday for a three-game AAC series.

COHEN WILBANKS — Georgia Gwinnett College (Jr., Cartersville HS) … the Grizzlies’ catcher made a pair of starts over the weekend against Indiana South Bend going 3-for-8 at the plate. GGC (12-2) won all four games in that series. The Grizzlies travel to third-ranked Tennessee Wesleyan Tuesday and host five games — two against Clarke University (Iowa) and three against Lourdes University (Ohio) — this weekend in Lawrenceville.

JORDAN WILKIE — Augusta University (Sr., Cartersville HS) … as the Jaguars won two of three games last weekend at home against Georgia Southwestern State, Wilkie was 4-for-11 with a walk, four runs scored, and one RBI. Augusta (3-8, 2-4 Peach Belt Conference) entertains the University of North Georgia Friday through Sunday in a three-game PBC series.

ZACH WILSON — Penn State Greater Allegheny (So., Adairsville HS) … had a pinch-hit RBI single and scored a run Sunday in a 13-4 home win over West Virginia Wesleyan. He also made a defensive appearance Saturday in a 9-2 loss to the Bobcats. PSGA (4-2) plays Lycoming College Saturday in Butler, Pennsylvania.