Athletes Beyond Bartow: Seigler to begin the year with Double-A Somerset Patriots

This week's edition of Athletes Beyond Bartow includes updates on more than 30 pro and college athletes currently contributing to their respective teams and programs.

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MiLB

ANTHONY SEIGLER — Somerset Patriots (AA affiliate, NY Yankees; 6th yr. pro; Cartersville HS) … a first-round draft selection and 23rd pick overall by the New York Yankees in 2018, Seigler has been promoted to the Double-A Somerset (New Jersey) Patriots of the Eastern League. Injuries limited the now 23-year-old to just 95 games over his first three professional seasons, most notably a fractured kneecap in 2019 that cut that year short before he returned for an abbreviated 2021 campaign in with the Hudson Valley Renegades. In 2022, Seigler hit .288 in 116 official at-bats between Tampa and Hudson Valley. He hit seven home runs and had 45 RBIs with a .405 on-base percentage. The Patriots open the 2023 season Thursday at home in a three-game series with the Harrisburg Senators.

XFL

VIC BEASLEY - Vegas Vipers (9th yr. pro; Clemson; Adairsville HS) … had one tackle and made one fumble recovery in the Vipers' second win of the season Saturday afternoon at home against the San Antonio Brahmas, 26-12. The Vipers (2-5) visit the St. Louis Battlehawks this Saturday.

PRO BASKETBALL

A.J. MOSBY — Sudbury Five (6th yr. pro; National Basketball League of Canada; Alcorn State; Cartersville HS) … averaged 14 points, five rebounds, two assists, and two steals as The Five split home games last week with the KW Titans. Sudbury (17-5) has a ½-game lead over the London Lightning with one month remaining in the NBLC schedule. The Five host the Windsor Express Saturday.

GOLF

DALTON HENSON — Reinhardt University (Jr., Cartersville HS) … carded rounds of 71-78-74 — 223 (7-over-par) and placed 27th individually as the Eagles finished fourth in the Monument Golf Oldfield Classic behind Coastal Georgia, Dalton State, and Point University. The 12-team event was held at Oldfield Golf Club March 27-28 in Okatie, South Carolina. Reinhardt will host their own Eagles Invitational April 10-11 at Barnsley Gardens.

JAKE WEHUNT — Young Harris College (Fr., Cartersville HS) … shot 79-76-76 — 231 (15-over-par) March 27-28 at the Tennessee River Rumble hosted by Lincoln Memorial University at the Wind River Golf Course in Lenoir City, Tennessee. Wehunt tied for 78th in the 100-player field. The Mountain Lions placed 18th of 20 teams in the event won by North Georgia at 18-under-par.

CHANC WILLIS — Reinhardt University (Jr., Cartersville HS) … fired rounds of 74-73-79 — 226 (10-over-par) and tied for 30th individually in the Eagles fourth place finish March 27-28 at the 12-team Monument Golf Oldfield Classic. Reinhardt will host their own Eagles Invitational April 10-11 at Barnsley Gardens.

TENNIS

EMILY BUSH — Young Harris College (Fr., Cartersville HS) … won her Line 2 singles match 6-2, 6-2 and teamed with Catarina Marcko Ferreira to win 6-0 at Line 3 doubles as the Mountain Lions beat Georgia Southwestern State, 7-0 last Thursday in Americus. Sunday, at 5th-ranked Flagler College, Bush lost 6-1, 6-2 at Line 2 singles and her doubles team fell 7-5 at Line 3 in a 6-1 loss. Young Harris (7-9, 1-2 Peach Belt Conference) makes the short trip to Dahlonega Saturday for a PBC match with North Georgia.

CONNOR GUNNELL — Shorter University (Jr., Woodland HS) … lost his Line 4 singles match 6-1, 6-2 and lost at Line 2 doubles with partner Yike Liu 6-2 as the Hawks fell to visiting 6th-ranked Valdosta State 7-0 last Tuesday. The next match for Shorter (2-8, 1-8 Gulf South Conference) is April 12 at home against Young Harris College.

EMILY SURCEY — Mississippi State University (So., Cass HS) … in a team 4-0 loss last Friday at home to Ole Miss, she lost her Line 6 singles match 6-2, 6-4. The Bulldogs (10-10, 0-9 Southeastern Conference) visit LSU Friday and play at Texas A&M Sunday.

BRYCE VAN ORDER — Piedmont University (Jr., Woodland HS) … won 7-5, 6-4 playing Line 2 singles during a 5-4 team loss at Covenant College Saturday. He then suffered a 6-1, 6-0 loss at Line 1 singles in the Lions’ 9-0 loss at 15th-ranked Sewanee-University of the South. Piedmont (10-5, 2-1 Collegiate Conference of the South) returns to action Friday at LaGrange College.

SOFTBALL

LAINEY BAKER — Samford University (Fr., Woodland HS) … pitched one inning of relief this past Saturday in a 7-5 loss at Western Carolina. She allowed three earned runs on four hits and recorded two strikeouts. The Bulldogs were 1-3 for the week with one win in three games against Western Carolina and a home loss last Wednesday to 19th-ranked Auburn. Samford (15-21, 4-2 Southern Conference) has a three-game conference series Friday and Saturday at home with East Tennessee State.

COLBI BALLARD — Shorter University (Sr., Cartersville HS) … made one start in right field last Friday and was 0-for-2 at the plate as the Hawks lost at West Alabama 13-1. Shorter (4-30, 1-18 Gulf South Conference) was swept by the Tigers in their three-game series. The Hawks host a doubleheader with Georgia College Wednesday and visit Delta State University for a three-game series Friday and Saturday.

SKYLAR CHAPPELL — Cottey College (Sr., Woodland HS) … appeared in two of six games for the Comets last week going 2-for-3 at the plate with a double and one RBI. She also scored one run. Cottey went 6-0 for the week against Bacone (Oklahoma), Harris-Stowe State (Missouri), and St. Louis College of Pharmacy. This week the Comets (19-14, 4-0 American Midwest Conference) host Columbia (Missouri) Wednesday and visit Williams Baptist (Arkansas) and Central Baptist (Arkansas) Friday and Saturday.

PRESLY EDWARDS — Wesleyan College (Sr., Cartersville HS) … made three starts as the Wolves swept Berea College (Kentucky) but was swept by Maryville College (Tennessee) in doubleheaders Saturday and Sunday. Edwards was 3-for-7 at the plate with a walk, two RBIs, and a pair of runs scored. She also stole one base. Wesleyan (4-16, 2-6 Collegiate Conference of the South) hosts a doubleheader with Agnes Scott College Wednesday.

ANSLEY EVANS — Reinhardt University (So., Woodland HS) … in a doubleheader split at Columbia College (South Carolina), Evans was 2-for-6 at the plate with a solo home run and two RBIs. The Eagles (17-9, 12-2 Appalachian Athletic Conference) play at Brenau University Thursday and host Kentucky Christian University Friday.

ERYN LEE — Reinhardt University (Fr., Cass HS) … went 1-for-5 last Friday as the Eagles split a doubleheader at Columbia University (South Carolina). Reinhardt also had a doubleheader canceled at St. Andrews University (SC) on Saturday. The Eagles (17-9, 12-2 Appalachian Athletic Conference) play at Brenau University Thursday and host Kentucky Christian University Friday.

RACHAEL LEE — Gulf Coast State CC (Fr., Cass HS) … was 0-for-2 in an 8-0 home loss to Tallahassee CC last Wednesday. The Commodores were no-hit in the loss and lost the first game of that doubleheader, 5-4. Sunday’s two home losses to Pensacola State CC did not have stats available at the time of this release. GCSCC (25-12, 6-2 Panhandle Conference) visits Chipola CC Tuesday and plays home-and-home doubleheaders with Northwest Florida State CC Thursday and Saturday.

LAUREN McELHANEY — University of West Georgia (Jr., Cartersville HS) … the Wolves’ catcher appeared in two of five games last week going 0-for-3 at the plate. UWG split a doubleheader with Columbus State University and took one of three in a weekend series with Christian Brothers University. The Wolves (9-28, 4-14 Gulf South Conference) host the University of West Florida Friday and Saturday in a three-game conference series.

HOPE SHORT — Shorter University (Jr., Cartersville HS) … made one appearance last week and was 0-for-1 at the plate in a 13-1 loss Friday at the University of West Alabama. The Hawks were 0-5 for the week against the Tigers and the University of West Florida. Shorter (4-31, 1-19 Gulf South Conference) entertains Georgia College Wednesday and visits Delta State University Friday and Saturday for a three-game conference series.

ALEXA VARNER — Shorter University (Jr., Adairsville HS) … made one start at shortstop in the Hawks’ five losses last week. She was 0-for-2 Saturday in an 8-0 loss at the University of West Alabama. The Hawks (4-31, 1-19 Gulf South Conference) host a doubleheader with Georgia College Wednesday and visit Delta State University for a three-game series Friday and Saturday.

BASEBALL

CURT BONNER — LaGrange College (Fr., Cartersville HS) … made a start in left field and went 1-for-4 with a double and two RBIs last Tuesday in a 4-3 win at Berry College. It was the Panthers' only game of the week. 9th-ranked LaGrange (18-6, 6-0 Collegiate Conference of the South) hosts Berry Tuesday and a three-game home series with Belhaven University (Mississippi) Thursday through Saturday.

KENNY JINKS — Wheeling University (Sr., Woodland HS) … completed five innings on the mound and picked up his fourth win of the season Sunday afternoon in a 5-4 Cardinals’ victory at Glenville State (West Virginia). The southpaw allowed three earned runs on eight hits and one hit batsman. He struck out four improving to 4-1 on the season. Wheeling (14-11, 5-7 Mountain East Conference) was 2-3 for the week. The Cardinals host Walsh University (Ohio) Tuesday and play a four-game conference series with Notre Dame College Friday and Saturday.

COLT McKIBBEN — Lee University (Fr., Cartersville HS) … made pitching appearances last Tuesday and Sunday at Tusculum and Valdosta State. He started and allowed one earned run in three innings on three hits and one walk at Tusculum in a 10-6 Flames win. He allowed one hit but struck out the side in the fifth inning Sunday in a 17-3 loss at Valdosta State. Lee (18-16, 8-10 Gulf South Conference) hosts a three-game conference series with the University of Montevallo Friday and Saturday.

GUNNER MILLSAP — Southern Illinois University - Edwardsville (Fr., Cartersville HS) … was inserted in the eighth inning with one out last Tuesday at the University of St. Louis and picked up his first pitching win by finishing the inning and the ninth. He allowed no runs on one hit and two walks in the 1-⅔ inning stint. He struck out two as the Cougars rallied for a 14-12 win. He also worked a scoreless eighth inning Sunday allowing one hit and one walk but with no decision in the Cougars’ 10-6 loss at UT-Martin. SIUE (16-10, 2-4 Ohio Valley Conference) hosts Saint Louis Tuesday and entertains Eastern Illinois in a three-game OVC series Thursday through Saturday.

SCOTTY SMITH — Covenant College (So., Woodland HS) … made a seven-inning pitching start last Saturday for no decision in a 6-4 Scots’ loss at Belhaven University. Smith allowed four runs (three earned) on five hits and two walks. He struck out three. Covenant (8-13, 2-6 Collegiate Conference of the South) hosts Sewanee Tuesday and three conference games with Piedmont University Thursday through Saturday.

STEVEN SPELL — Young Harris College (Sr., Cass HS) … made starts in all four of the Mountain Lions’ home games last week — a win over Southern Wesleyan and three over 13th-ranked Columbus State University. Spell was 6-for-15 at the plate with a walk and four RBIs. He was twice hit by a pitch and scored three runs. Young Harris (25-10, 15-6 Peach Belt Conference) visits No. 1-ranked North Greenville Wednesday and hosts Claflin University for three conference games Thursday through Saturday.

DEVIN WARNER — Georgia Gwinnett College (Jr., Cartersville HS) … went 4-for-11 with one home run, a walk, and one RBI as the 5th-ranked Grizzles went 2-1 at 14th-ranked Loyola University (Louisiana). GGC (31-5, 4-0 Continental Athletic Conference) plays three games at USC-Beaufort this Friday and Saturday.

PRESTON WELCHEL — Tennessee Wesleyan University (So., Cartersville HS) … went 1-for-3 with a walk and one RBI last Tuesday in a 10-4 home loss to University of the Cumberlands (Kentucky). The 2nd-ranked Bulldogs also had three wins over the weekend at Bluefield University (Virginia). TWU (28-6, 18-0 Appalachian Athletic Conference) travels to Cumberlands Wednesday and plays a three-game AAC series at Point University Friday and Saturday.

COHEN WILBANKS — Georgia Gwinett College (Jr., Cartersville HS) … made a home start against 16th-ranked Bryan College (Tennessee) last Tuesday and a pair of starts Saturday at 14th-ranked Loyola University (Louisiana) as the Grizzlies won all three games. Wilbanks was 6-for-7 at the plate with a double, one home run, and six RBIs. 5th-ranked Georgia Gwinett (31-5, 4-0 Continental Athletic Conference) visits USC-Beaufort Friday and Saturday for a three-game series.

DAVIS WILLIAMS — Birmingham-Southern College (So., Cartersville HS) … worked 3-⅓ innings of middle relief Sunday afternoon as the No. 1-ranked Panthers came from behind to win at Millsaps College 6-5 in 10 innings. BSC (27-3, 10-2 Southern Athletic Association) won two of three games in Jackson. They host a three-game series Friday and Saturday with Oglethorpe University.

JORDAN WILKIE — Augusta University (Sr., Cartersville HS) … in four home wins last week, Wilkie was 5-for-15 at the plate with a double, a sac fly, three walks, and five RBIs. He also scored three times as the Jaguars beat USC-Aiken and swept Lander University. Augusta (17-15, 10-11 Peach Belt Conference) has three conference games at USC-Aiken Thursday through Saturday.

ZACH WILSON — Penn State Greater Allegheny (Jr., Woodland HS) … was 0-for-1 at the plate with a walk and one run scored last Friday in a 3-2 loss at Penn State Mont Alto. PSUGA (13-10, 5-3) was 2-3 in five games last week and has home-and-home doubleheaders Friday and Saturday with Penn State Du Bois.