Athletes Beyond Bartow: Todd earns save and win in twin bill, post-season continues for some locals
While the Division I teams of the NCAA are entering the final week of the regular season, all of the other levels of college baseball and softball are either well into or entering the 2022 post season.
Former Cartersville pitcher and current University of Houston grad student, Hannah Todd, posted a pair of outstanding performances in the circle for the Cougars last Wednesday against Texas A&M. The right hander worked the final 9-1/3 innings of a doubleheader to pick up a Game 1 save and an extra innings win in Game 2 over the Aggies.
On collegiate baseball diamonds, four local pitchers and four other position players saw action this past week -- some in post-season play.
At the professional baseball level, Connor Justus continued to hit over .300 in Triple-A while Anthony Seigler hit safely in each of his starts during the week. Meanwhile, Sam Howard has been designated for assignment by the Pittsburgh Pirates organization.
PRO BASEBALL
SAM HOWARD — Indianapolis Indians (9th year pro; Pittsburgh Pirates organization; Georgia Southern; Cartersville HS) … the southpaw was optioned to Triple-A Indianapolis May 2 ahead of the Pirates’ roster reduction to 26 players. He has since been designated for assignment and dropped from the Pittsburgh 40-man roster this past Saturday.
CONNOR JUSTUS — Charleston Dirty Birds (7th year pro; Triple-A Independent Atlantic League; Georgia Tech; Cartersville HS) … had a solid week at the plate going 6-for-19 with a double, one home run, two walks, three runs scored, and five RBIs. The shortstop has a .308 batting average through 16 games and 64 plate appearances this season. The Dirty Birds are 9-7 and currently third in the South Division of the Triple-A Atlantic League behind Gastonia and High Point.
ANTHONY SEIGLER — Tampa Tarpons (5th year pro; NY Yankees organization; Cartersville HS) … the switch-hitting catcher hit safely in all five games started last week going 5-for-18 with a double, one home run, four walks, and five runs scored. He also stole one base as the Tarpons went 4-2 at the Bradenton Marauders. Tampa (13-13) is in fourth place in the Florida State League’s West Division. The Tarpons play a six game series at the Dunedin Blue Jays Tuesday through Sunday.
SOFTBALL
MORGAN COOPER — Columbus State University (Fr., Woodland HS) … was utilized as a pinch runner Saturday in a 6-5 Peach Belt Conference tournament win over Flagler College. The Cougars also beat Lander in the semifinals before falling to North Georgia in the championship game. Columbus State (30-24) also finished second in the PBC regular season but the Cougars did not receive an NCAA D2 National Tournament at-large bid.
PRESLY EDWARDS — Wesleyan College (Jr., Cartersville HS) … the Wolves’ catcher went 1-for-4 as her team was swept by Piedmont in the best-of-three championship series of the USA South Athletic Conference. Wesleyan (24-16) had its season end after not being selected for an NCAA D3 at-large bid.
HANNAH TODD — University of Houston (Grad Student, Cartersville HS) … enjoyed an outstanding day in the circle last Wednesday during a Cougars’ doubleheader sweep of Texas A&M. The righty retired the final five outs and earned her second save of the season in the Cougars first 3-2 home win over the Aggies. Todd entered in the sixth inning with one out yielding just one hit, an intentional walk and no runs while fanning two of seven batters faced. She then started the second game of the doubleheader — another 3-2 win — and worked all eight innings. Todd scattered five hits and one intentional walk giving up just two earned runs for her tenth win of the year. Houston (26-26-1) will play next in the American Athletic Conference single-elimination tournament that begins Thursday in Greenville, North Carolina.
BASEBALL
MASON BARNETT — Auburn University (Jr., Cartersville HS) … made a four inning start last Friday giving up a pair of earned runs on five hits and two walks. He struck out five with no decision in the 18th-ranked Tigers’ eventual 11-8 home loss to 3rd-ranked Arkansas. Auburn (32-16, 13-11) plays at Troy Tuesday before hosting a three game series with Alabama Friday through Sunday.
JAKE GOOCH — Central Alabama CC (So., Cartersville HS) … hit safely in all five games last week and finished the stretch 6-for-12 with two doubles, four walks, two runs, and six RBIs. The Trojans were 2-3 falling at Wallace-Dothan and splitting a four game series with Wallace State-Hanceville. CACC did not qualify for the conference post season tournament and finished the season 24-31 overall and 12-20 in the Alabama Community College Conference.
KENNY JINKS — Shorter University (So., Woodland HS) … struggled in a pitching start as the Hawks’ lost their Gulf South Tournament game to No. 1-seed Delta State, 13-0, Friday at Choccolocco Park in Oxford, Alabama. The southpaw faced just six batters surrendering five earned runs on three hits and two walks. The Hawks (29-21) bounced back to defeat Auburn-Montgomery, Valdosta State, and Lee to reach an fourth straight elimination game Tuesday against Alabama-Huntsville. In Monday’s 11-1 win over Lee, Jinks entered in the third inning and worked four shutout innings to earn the pitching victory. He scattered three hits and one walk while striking out three. Tuesday’s Shorter/UAH winner will play Lee for the GSC’s automatic bid to the NCAA D2 National Tournament.
MASON McBEE — Coastal Alabama - South (Fr., Cartersville HS) … made a pair of relief appearances last week at home against Enterprise State CC. The righty worked the sixth inning, facing five batters in a 3-1 loss last Thursday. He allowed one earned run on a walk and two hits. Saturday, McBee entered in the fifth inning and did not allow a run in 1-1/3 innings yielding one hit and one walk in a Sun Chiefs’ 10-9 win. Coastal (29-23-1, 19-13) has a play-in game Thursday against Bevill State for the ACCC Tournament that continues through Tuesday, May 17 at Choccolocco Park in Oxford, Alabama.
STEVEN SPELL — Young Harris College (Jr., Cass HS) … went 3-for-10 with a sac fly and two RBIs as the Mountain Lions won their best-of-three conference tournament play-in series against visiting Flagler College. Spell reached base six times overall in the series by adding two walks and was hit by a pitch. YHC (35-17) opens the Peach Belt Conference four-team, double-elimination bracket against top-seed Columbus State Friday afternoon in Columbus.
PRESTON WELCHEL — Coastal Alabama - South (So., Cartersville HS) … in a four game series last week with Enterprise State, the Sun Chiefs’ outfielder went 6-for-14 at the plate with a walk, two runs scored, and three RBIs. Coastal (29-23-1, 19-13) has a play-in game Thursday against Bevill State for the ACCC Tournament that continues through Tuesday, May 17 at Choccolocco Park in Oxford, Alabama.
COHEN WILBANKS — Georgia Gwinnett College (So., Cartersville HS) … entered as a defensive substitute at catcher Sunday in the eighth inning of the Grizzlies’ 9-1 home win over Fisher College (Massachusetts) in the Continental Athletic Conference Tournament. Georgia Gwinnett (42-14) won the GAC title with a 5-2 victory over Fisher Monday. The Grizzlies will host the NAIA Opening Round starting Monday May 16.
DAVIS WILLIAMS — Birmingham Southern College (Fr., Cartersville HS) … closed out the final two innings Monday of the Panthers’ Southern Athletic Association Championship series clinching win over 6th-ranked Millsaps College. Williams faced nine batters allowing one earned run on no hits and three walks to finish off an 8-3 win. Coupled with Sunday’s 14-4 win, 3rd-ranked Birmingham Southern (38-8) won the best-of-three series and will head into the NCAA D3 National Tournament as SAA champs.
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