Athletes Beyond Bartow: Smith wins Georgia Tech Invite pole vault; Martin combines on no-hitter

Stephen Smith won first place in the men's pole vault during the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets Invitational.

Sewanee became one of the last collegiate programs in the South to begin their baseball season, but former Cartersville High hurler Logan Martin made sure Friday's debut was worth the wait.

After teammate Jake Pendergraft tossed three no-hit innings to open the game, Martin entered in the fourth and followed suit. The right-hander finished off the combined no-no with six innings of nearly flawless pitching.

Logan Martin combined with teammate Jake Pendergraft to throw a no-hitter in the opening game of the year for Sewanee.

Martin walked three but struck out six in his hitless frames, leading Sewanee to a 2-0 win over Covenant College. For his efforts, the sophomore earned Southern Athletic Association pitcher of the week recognition.

Elsewhere, two-time high school state champion Stephen Smith took first place in the men's pole vault Friday during the Yellow Jacket Invitational at Georgia Tech.

PRO BASEBALL

Sam Howard (Pittsburgh Pirates; 8th-yr pro; Cartersville HS) — Howard made his fifth relief appearance of the spring training schedule Friday and was tagged with the loss as the Pirates dropped an 11-9 decision to the Baltimore Orioles. Howard entered in the seventh inning and allowed a one-out single. He induced a fly out for the second out, but Cedric Mullins followed with a two-run home run that gave Baltimore an 11-9 lead. The former Georgia Southern Eagle southpaw finished the frame with a strikeout. He has a 3.60 ERA this spring in five innings with five strikeouts. Opponents have been limited to a .111 batting average against him.

COLLEGE BASEBALL

Mason Barnett (Auburn So., Cartersville HS) — Barnett suffered his first loss of the season in a start Saturday at fourth-ranked Ole Miss. Barnett was touched for six runs, four earned, on five hits and a pair of walks by the Rebels. He also hit a batter and struck out four in his three innings of work. Auburn scored three runs late to make it close but lost 6-5. The right-hander is 2-1 for the season with a 2.18 ERA and 21 strikeouts in 20 2/3 innings pitched. Auburn (11-8, 0-3 SEC) was set for a home game with South Alabama Tuesday night and to host Kentucky in a three-game conference series Friday through Sunday.

Clifton Dempsey (Toccoa Falls, Sr., Cartersville HS) — Dempsey went 2-for-5 with a double, a walk and two runs scored in a home doubleheader Saturday against Talladega College. Dempsey also stole a base. The Screamin’ Eagles split the doubleheader, losing 2-0 and winning 6-4. Toccoa Falls (9-13) was scheduled to host Truett McConnell Tuesday and a three-game series with Carolina University Friday and Saturday.

Jake Gooch (Central Alabama CC So., Cartersville HS) — In a four-game, home-and-home series with Calhoun CC, Gooch was 5-for-11 at the plate with a pair of doubles and eight RBIs. He also walked three times. Gooch now has 24 RBIs in 25 games and has a .354 batting average. CACC (16-12, 5-3 ACCC) was set to play at Wallace-Dothan CC Tuesday and play a four-game, home-and-home conference series with Bevill State CC Thursday and Saturday.

Lane Griffith (West Georgia Sr., Adairsville HS) — Griffith went 5-for-13 with a double and three RBIs in a three-game series against West Alabama Saturday and Sunday at home. West Georgia (10-9, 10-8 Gulf South Conference) hosts sixth-ranked Georgia College Wednesday and has a three-game home series Friday and Saturday with Lee University.

Brycen Jones (Central Alabama CC Fr., Cartersville HS) — Jones made a sixth-inning appearance Friday in the Trojans’ 5-2 loss to Calhoun CC. He allowed a hit and a walk, and he struck out one in the scoreless appearance.

Logan Martin (Sewanee Fr., Cartersville HS) — Martin was part of a combined no-hitter Friday with starter Jake Pendergraft, as the Tigers opened their season by blanking visiting Covenant College 2-0. Martin worked six no-hit innings of relief Friday to earn the pitching win. The right-hander walked three and struck out nine, facing 22 batters. As a result, Martin earned Southern Athletic Association pitcher of the week. Sewanee (1-2) was set to entertain Covenant College again Tuesday and host a pair of doubleheaders Saturday and Sunday with eighth-ranked Birmingham Southern.

Steven Spell (Young Harris So., Cass HS) — Spell entered as a defensive substitution and played second base in the Mountain Lions’ 23-3 win over Claflin Saturday. Young Harris (10-6, 10-5 Peach Belt Conference) was scheduled to play a non-conference doubleheader Tuesday at Union (Tennessee) and host sixth-ranked Georgia College in a three-game conference series Friday and Saturday.

Preston Welchel (Coastal Alabama-Bay Minette Fr., Cartersville HS) — Welchel went 1-for-10 at the plate and scored two runs in a four-game, home-and-home conference series with Wallace State-Dothan CC last Friday and Saturday. Coastal (10-21, 2-6 ACCC) will look to snap a six-game losing skid Thursday, when the Sun Chiefs start a four-game divisional conference series with Chattahoochee Valley.

Jordan Wilkie (Augusta Fr., Cartersville HS) — Wilkie was 0-for-3 with a walk, as the Jaguars split a doubleheader with Francis Marion Saturday at home. Augusta was set to host a three-game Peach Belt Conference series with Lander Tuesday and Wednesday and will entertain Georgia Southwestern in a conference three-game set Friday and Saturday.

BASKETBALL

Justice Hayes (South Georgia Tech Fr., Cass HS) — Hayes compiled three points, five rebounds, one assist and one steal in three games last week, when the Jets went 1-2.

DiAnthony Heathcock (Columbia International Fr., Woodland HS) — CIU finished 1-2, placing sixth, in the National Christian College Athletic Association national championship in Winona Lake, Indiana. Heathcock had seven points in a 79-72 opening-round loss to Alice Lloyd on Wednesday. During a 79-64 win over Southwestern Christian Thursday, he scored two points and grabbed two rebounds before fouling out. Heathcock posted eight points and two boards in an 87-68 defeat to Lancaster Bible College Friday.

T.J. Horton (Georgia Highlands Fr., Cartersville HS) — In two games, Horton totaled seven points, six rebounds and two assists, as the Chargers recorded a pair of three-point wins.

FOOTBALL

Johnny Bootz (Shorter Fr., Cass HS) — Bootz saw action along the offensive line in a 52-3 blowout win over Edward Waters Saturday at home.

Bryce Burgess (Reinhardt Jr., Adairsville HS) — Burgess ran once for no gain in a 35-24 win Saturday at Faulkner.

Tristan Carlton (Shorter R-Fr., Cartersville HS) — Carlton recorded one tackle in Shorter’s rout.

Hunter Hardin (Point Sr., Woodland HS) — Hardin started along the offensive front during a 28-14 loss to Kentucky Christian Saturday at Ram Stadium in Valley, Alabama.

Sean Holton (Davidson Sr., Cartersville HS) — Holton saw some time in a 41-24 triumph over Presbyterian Saturday at home.

Bradley Kirk (Shorter Jr., Cartersville HS) — Kirk made the participation report but didn’t record any stats, as the Hawks improved to 2-1 this spring.

Jacob Potter (Kennesaw State Jr., Adairsville HS) — Potter participated in a 37-27 win over Dixie State Saturday in Cobb County.

John Scifers (Incarnate Word Graduate Transfer., Woodland HS) — Scifers booted five kickoffs an average of 48.6 yards in a 56-45 win Saturday at home.

Jake Walker (Furman Sr., Cartersville native, Darlington HS) — Walker scored a 3-yard touchdown on his lone reception in a 20-18 defeat to Chattanooga Saturday at home.

Bryce Wilkins (Reinhardt Jr., Cartersville HS) — Wilkins contributed to a robust offensive performance, as the Eagles racked up 445 total yards en route to a 6-0 record and 4-0 mark in the Mid-South Conference.

GOLF

Lindsey Bonner (York Sr., Cartersville HS) — Anchoring York’s B team, Bonner shot an eight-over-80 — 40 each on the front and back nines — in the season-opening Spartan Invitational Saturday at Royal Manchester Golf Club in Pennsylvania. York’s A team won the event, while the school’s B squad would have finished third overall had its score been official.

SOCCER

Russell Shealy (Syracuse R-So., Cartersville native, Darlington HS) — Shealy recorded his first shutout of the season, making three saves over 110 minutes, in earning Syracuse a scoreless draw with North Carolina Saturday at home.

SOFTBALL

Colbi Ballard (Shorter So., Cartersville HS) — Ballard started all three games of a weekend series at Mississippi College and went 1-for-5 at the plate with one walk. The Hawks lost all three games in the series. Shorter (4-16, 0-12) hosts Georgia Southwestern Wednesday in non-conference action and will entertain Auburn-Montgomery in a three-game conference series Friday and Saturday.

Bella Carnes (Georgia College Fr., Woodland HS) — Carnes started in left field in the second game of Sunday’s doubleheader at Columbus State. Carnes was 0-for-2 with a walk as the Bobcats lost 11-1. Georgia College (4-14, 0-4 Peach Belt Conference) plays a conference doubleheader against Francis Marion Saturday at home.

Presly Edwards (Wesleyan So., Cartersville HS) — Edwards started both games of Sunday’s home doubleheader, as the Wolves beat Brevard College twice. Edwards was 1-for-6 with a walk and one RBI. She also made a sixth-inning pinch-hitting appearance in a 1-0 loss to Brevard Saturday. Wesleyan (5-13, 1-3 USA South Athletic Conference) hosts Piedmont in a four-game conference series Saturday and Sunday.

Brianna Hill (Covenant Fr., Woodland HS) — Hill started three of the Scots’ four games at first base this past weekend in a home series with Huntingdon College. Hill went 1-for-8 with a double and a walk. Covenant (10-12, 1-1 USA South Athletic Conference) hosts Johnson (Tennessee) Wednesday in a non-conference doubleheader and travels to Decatur to square off with Agnes Scott in conference play Saturday.

Hannah Todd (Kansas Sr., Cartersville HS) — Todd earned a two-inning save in the Jayhawks 8-2 win Saturday over South Dakota. She allowed no runs on one hit and one walk, recording one strikeout and facing nine batters. Kansas won all five games in the Jayhawk Invitational, with a win over Tulsa and two wins over both North Dakota State and South Dakota. The Jayhawks (16-8) host Arkansas Wednesday before starting Big 12 Conference play in a home series with Oklahoma State Friday through Sunday.

Alexa Varner (Shorter Fr., Adairsville HS) — Varner appeared as a pinch-runner in the fourth inning of Saturday’s 10-0 loss at Mississippi College.

TENNIS

Houston Medlock (Piedmont Jr., Adairsville HS) — In a road match Friday at USA South-foe Brevard, Medlock cruised to a 6-0, 6-2 win on Line 1 singles and contributed to an 8-1 triumph on Line 2 doubles. While he came up short in an 8-6 decision in doubles action Sunday at Pfeiffer, Medlock downed his singles opponent 6-3 in both sets.

Bryce VanOrder (Piedmont Fr., Woodland HS) — VanOrder dropped just one game in a dominant showing on Line 2 singles in what became a 9-0 victory over Brevard. Two days later, he eased to a 6-2, 6-3 win in a 7-2 triumph over Pfeiffer in nonconference action.

TRACK AND FIELD

Parker Breedlove (Reinhardt So., Cartersville HS) — Competing in the 10000-meter race, Breedlove finished 14th in 34 minutes, 38.79 seconds last week at Columbia International.

Stephen Smith (Kennesaw State So., Cass HS) — Smith won the pole vault, topping out at 4.70 meters, Friday during the Yellow Jacket Invitational at Georgia Tech.

VOLLEYBALL

Nedu Evans (Augusta So., Cartersville HS) — In road wins over Young Harris (Friday) and Lander (Saturday), Evans managed a total of seven kills, five digs and four block assists.

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