Athletes Beyond Bartow: Seigler off to nice start in Tampa

Anthony Seigler has started quickly with his new team, the Tampa Tarpons.

Cartersville High School product, Anthony Seigler, started his new assignment with the New York Yankees Class A affiliate Tampa Tarpons with a great start this past weekend. The 2018 first round draft pick went 3-for-6 with four walks, a double, a home run, and three RBIs in a pair of starts against Lakeland.

Elsewhere, 30 other local collegiate and professional athletes saw action and made contributions with their respective teams in action last week through Monday, April 11.

SOFTBALL

COLBI BALLARD — Shorter University (So., Cartersville HS) … failed to reach base in a pinch hitting appearance Saturday during a loss at Christian Brothers University.

PRESLY EDWARDS — Wesleyan College (Jr., Cartersville HS) … went 1-for-4 in Sunday’s doubleheader loss at Maryville College (Tennessee). The Wolves (12-11, 3-5) hosted Agnes Scott Tuesday, Huntingdon College Friday, and LaGrange College Saturday in USA South Athletic Conference games.

ANSLEY EVANS — Reinhardt University (Fr., Woodland HS) … went 1-for-5 with a double, two walks, and three runs scored in a doubleheader last Wednesday at Union College (Kentucky). Through 29 games played this season, the third baseman is hitting .325 with a homer and 11 RBIs. The Eagles are 23-12 this season and 13-5 in the Appalachian Athletic Conference. Reinhardt hosted a doubleheader with Point University Tuesday and has another with Brenau University Thursday.

BRIANNA HILL — Covenant College (So., Woodland HS) … went 0-for-3 Saturday in a start as designated player for the Scots during a 9-8 home win over Brevard College. Covenant (16-11, 6-2 USA South Athletic Conference) traveled to Berea College Tuesday, hosts Maryville (Tennessee) Wednesday, and plays at Piedmont College Saturday in conference doubleheaders.

SADYE JOHNSON — University of North Georgia (Fr., Adairsville HS) … made appearances at catcher in three games last week against Shorter University and Georgia College. At the plate she was 0-for-1 with one walk. The 16th-ranked Nighthawks (34-11, 16-2) have a three game Peach Belt Conference series at USC-Aiken Friday and Saturday.

LAUREN McELHANEY — University of West Georgia (So., Cartersville HS) … was 0-for-2 at the plate in a Saturday pinch hitting appearance and a Sunday start at catcher during home losses to 4th-ranked Valdosta State. West Georgia (11-24, 4-16 Gulf South Conference) played at Georgia Southwestern Tuesday in a doubleheader and travels to Alabama-Huntsville Friday and Saturday for a three game conference series.

HOPE SHORT — Shorter University (So., Cartersville HS) … went 3-for-6 with one hit in each game of a three game conference series at Christian Brothers University last Friday through Sunday. The Hawks dropped all three games and slipped to 5-35 on the season.

HANNAH TODD — University of Houston (Grad Student, Cartersville HS) … earned a pitching win Saturday at East Carolina with a complete-game performance. The Cougars’ hurler, now 8-5 on the season, issued no walks and surrendered three earned runs while scattering a dozen hits. She recorded one strikeout facing 29 batters. Houston (22-16-1, 6-1-1 American Athletic Conference) played at McNeese University Tuesday before hosting Wichita State in a three game conference series Thursday through Saturday.

ALEXA VARNER — Shorter University (So., Adairsville HS) … went 1-for-5 with one RBI in a pair of starts at shortstop for the Hawks in a weekend series at Christian Brothers University in Memphis. She also made an appearance as a pinch hitter in Saturday’s first game of the series.

PRO BASEBALL

ANTHONY SEIGLER — Tampa Tarpons (5th-yr. pro; NY Yankees organization; Cartersville HS) … the Yankees first round draft pick in 2018 has been assigned to begin the 2022 season with the Class A affiliate Tarpons. The 22 year old catcher went 1-for-4 with a walk in last Friday’s season-opening 9-6 win at the Lakeland Flying Tigers. In a start Sunday, the switch hitter was 2-for-2 with a double, a third inning home run, three walks, and three RBIs in a Tampa 9-5 win at Lakeland.

BASEBALL

MASON BARNETT — Auburn University (Jr., Cartersville HS) … started on the mound last Tuesday in Birmingham and went four innings with no decision. He yielded just one earned run on four hits and three walks and left the game with the Tigers leading UAB 3-1. Auburn went on to win 6-4 and won two of three against 12th-ranked Vanderbilt over the weekend. The Tigers (22-10, 7-5 SEC) hosted Samford Tuesday night and plays at Mississippi State in a three game series Thursday through Saturday.

JAKE GOOCH — Central Alabama CC (So., Cartersville HS) … walked twice, drove in a run, and scored a run but was officially 0-for-7 at the plate in three games last week against Calhoun Community College. The Trojans split the four game home-and-home series. CACC (15-21, 5-11 ACCC) hosted Wallace-Dothan Tuesday, hosts Marion Military in a doubleheader Thursday, and then travels to Marion for a Saturday doubleheader.

KENNY JINKS — Shorter University (Jr., Woodland HS) … made a pair of road starts on the mound and picked up a pitching win last week. In a four inning start at Carson-Newman he allowed just one earned run on five hits and two walks while striking out five and was credited with the victory as the Hawks won 4-2. He started again Sunday at Christian Brothers and went 2-and-2/3 innings. Jinks fanned two but surrendered four earned runs on four hits and three walks. He left the game with the Hawks leading 5-4 and they went on to win 12-8. Shorter (21-15, 12-11 Gulf South Conference) hosted Morehouse College Tuesday in their only game this week.

LOGAN MARTIN — Sewanee-Univ. of the South (Jr., Cartersville HS) … went 7-and-2/3 innings in a home start Saturday against Oglethorpe University but was saddled with the pitching loss as the Tigers fell to the Stormy Petrels 6-3. Martin was charged with three earned runs (five total) on five hits and five walks. He struck out nine. Sewanee (3-27, 0-15 Southern Athletic Association) hosts a three game series with Centre College Friday and Saturday.

MASON McBEE — Coastal Alabama-South (Fr., Cartersville HS) … entered in the sixth inning and retired the final five outs in a 5-3 home loss to Lurleen B. Wallace CC last Thursday. McBee allowed one, unearned run on three hits and one walk. He recorded two strikeouts facing ten batters in the appearance. The Sun Chiefs (18-18-1, 8-8 ACCC) have a four game, home-and-home series Thursday and Saturday with Chattahoochee Valley CC.

STEVEN SPELL — Young Harris College (Jr., Cass HS) … in a three game weekend series at Claflin, the Mountain Lions’ third baseman hit safely in each game and went 4-for-10 raising his season average to .294. Spell completed the series with a home run, one double, four walks, one sac fly, one hit by pitch, five runs scored, and three RBIs. Young Harris (25-12, 11-7 Peach Belt Conference) played at Carson-Newman Tuesday afternoon and will host a conference three game series with USC-Aiken Thursday through Saturday.

PRESTON WELCHEL — Coastal Alabama-South (So., Cartersville HS) … went 1-for-6 with a walk, one run scored, and one RBI in a four game, home-and-home series against Lurleen B. Wallace CC last week. The Sun Chiefs (18-18-1, 8-8 ACCC) play four games this Thursday and Saturday against Chattahoochee Valley CC.

COHEN WILBANKS — Georgia Gwinnett College (So., Cartersville HS) … entered off the bench at catcher in a pair of games against visiting Florida National University over the weekend and went 3-for-4 with two RBIs in two wins for the NAIA 11th-ranked Grizzlies. Georgia Gwinnett (28-9) played at 2nd-ranked Tennessee Wesleyan Tuesday afternoon then plays a doubleheader Saturday at Montreat College (North Carolina).

DAVIS WILLIAMS — Birmingham Southern College (Fr., Cartersville HS) … surrendered a walk and a hit, but retired the final two outs of a scoreless seventh inning last Saturday in an eventual 13-9, ten inning win at Centre College (Kentucky). Returned to the mound working the eighth and ninth innings of a 14-10 win at Centre Saturday. Williams kept the Colonels scoreless in the two frames allowing two hits and earned the pitching win — improving to 3-1 on the season. Birmingham Southern (24-7, 12-3 Southern Athletic Association) has a three game conference series Friday and Saturday at Oglethorpe University in Brookhaven.

JORDAN WILKIE — Augusta University (Jr., Cartersville HS) … while the Jaguars picked up one win in three home games over the weekend with USC-Aiken, the second baseman went 2-for-12 at the plate and scored three times. Augusta (11-23, 4-14 Peach Belt Conference) traveled to Erskine College Tuesday, hosts Anderson University Wednesday, and will entertain a three game conference series with North Georgia Friday and Saturday.

ZACH WILSON — Penn State Greater Allegheny CC (So., Woodland HS) … made a start at first base Saturday but went 0-for-3 at the plate in an 11-8 home loss to Penn State Fayette. PSUGA (9-12, 5-3 Penn State University Athletic Conference) hosts Mt. Aloysius CC Thursday prior to a three game series Friday and Saturday against Penn State-DuBois.

PRO BASKETBALL

ASHTON HAGANS -- Raptors 905, NBA G League (Cartersville native; University of Kentucky; Newton HS) ... Hagans and Raptors 905 downed Capital City Go-Go in the Eastern Conference semifinals before falling to Delaware in the conference finals during the NBA G League playoffs. In the 131-126, overtime semifinal win April 7, Hagans contributed eight assists to go with four points and three rebounds. Raptors 905 came up short in a high-scoring conference finals, dropping a 143-139 decision April 10. Versus Delaware, Hagans posted seven points, six assists and two rebounds. He added a steal in each postseason game.

A.J. MOSBY -- Albany Patroons (The Basketball League; Cartersville HS)A.J. Mosby (Albany Patroons, The Basketball League; Cartersville) — Mosby flirted with double-doubles in both of Albany's victories last week. The Alcorn State product racked up 27 points, eight rebounds and five assists in a 123-100 triumph April 8 over Reading. Two days later, Mosby posted 21 points, nine assists and three boards during a 113-105 win against Syracuse. He totaled three steals, while shooting 65.5% from the field, across the two games.

GOLF

DALTON HENSON -- Reinhardt University (So., Cartersville HS) ... paced the Eagles and finished tied for third overall in the Mountain Empire Intercollegiate hosted by Milligan (Tennessee) April 11-12 at Elizabethton Golf Course. After an opening round four-under 68, Henson shot an even par to close out the event and help Reinhardt come in third out of 10 teams.

CHANC WILLIS -- Reinhardt University (So., Cartersville HS) ... posted consecutive three-over 75s in the two-day tournament. His score placed him fifth on the team and 20th overall.

TENNIS

CONNOR GUNNELL -- Shortern University (So., Woodland HS ) ... dropped a 6-2, 6-0 decision on Line 6 singles and fell by a 6-1 final with his doubles partner in a team shutout loss April 9 at ninth-ranked West Florida. EMILY SURCEY -- Arkansas State University (Fr., Cass HS) ... proved to be the hero in sending Arkansas State to a 4-3 victory over Georgia Southern April 10 at home. The former Cass standout rallied for a thrilling 3-6, 6-4, 6-4 win on Line 2 singles. Trailing 4-2 in the decisive set, with all other matches having been decided, Surcey triumphed in four straight games to complete the comeback. Surcey and Hunter Roper led 5-4 in their Line 3 doubles match, when the Red Wolves secured the vial team point. The day prior, Surcey and Roper produced a 6-4 win, but Arkansas State dropped the other two doubles matches to visiting Georgia State. Surcey fell 6-3, 6-2 in singles action versus the Panthers, who emerged with a 4-0 win. CHRISTY TURNER -- Coppin State University (Sr., Woodland HS) ... paired with Mackenzie Jones for a 6-1 win on Line 3 doubles to help Coppin State secure the team doubles point April 11 at St. Joseph's. However, she dropped a 6-4, 6-2 decision on Line 4 singles, as the hosts landed a 5-2 win. BRYCE VAN ORDER -- Piedmont College (So., Woodland HS) ... competing on Line 2 singles, VanOrder cruised to a 6-1, 6-1 win against Brevard but fell 7-6 (7-2), 6-0 versus Covenant in a pair of home matches.

TRACK AND FIELD

BILL ARCHER -- University of Montevallo (Fr., Cartersville HS) ... placed fourth in the 3000-meter steeplechase during a 15-team event at UAB. TREVOR KNOWLES -- Albion University (Sr., Woodland HS) ... won the triple jump and helped Albion's 4x100-meter relay team during the Marv Frye Invitational April 9 at Ohio Wesleyan. The former Wildcat also recorded a runner-up finish in the long jump; placed fourth in the high jump; and came in 17th in the 100-meter dash.

~~ Nicholas Sullivan of The Daily Tribune News contributed to this report.