Athletes Beyond Bartow update for week ending February 28

This week's update for college and pro athletes with Cartersville and Bartow County ties.

BASKETBALL

Jacquez Fountain (Albany Tech So., Cass HS) — While he struggled with efficiency, Fountain managed to post a 25-point, 13-rebound double-double in an 82-75 loss to Georgia Highlands Saturday at home. Albany Tech also swept Andrew last week, winning Tuesday on the road and Thursday at home. Fountain contributed nine points and five boards in Tuesday’s 62-52 victory, but stats were unavailable for Thursday’s 94-65 triumph.

T.J. Horton (Georgia Highlands Fr., Cartersville HS) — Horton put together a pair of stellar performances off the bench early in the week. He scored 16 points (6-of-9 FG, 4-of-6 3PT) in a 96-85 win over South Georgia Tuesday at home. Horton compiled 19 points, seven rebounds and three steals in a 116-106 overtime loss in a Thursday rematch on the road. Those outings earned him a start Saturday at Albany Tech. However, Horton went just 3-for-10 from the floor for nine points. He did rack up seven boards in the win.

DiAnthony Heathcock (Columbia International Fr., Woodland HS) — Heathcock posted six points and three rebounds in a 93-84 loss to Montreat in the Appalachian Athletic Conference tournament Thursday in Kingsport, Tennessee.

Jaylon Pugh (Furman Jr., Cartersville HS) — Pugh made his only shot attempt in a 5-minute cameo during Furman’s 72-63 win over The Citadel last Wednesday at home. He didn’t make an appearance in a 74-73 loss Saturday at Wofford.

Josie Summerville (North Park Jr., Adairsville HS) — Summerville helped North Park to a 2-1 record last week. She totaled six points and nine rebounds in a 56-54 win over Carthage last Tuesday and added 12 points and eight boards in a 65-63 triumph against Illinois Wesleyan Thursday. In a 77-61 loss Saturday at Illinois Wesleyan, Summerville contributed four points and an equal number of rebounds.

Nakiyah Washington (Piedmont So., Adairsville HS) — Washington opened the week with a dominant showing in an 81-60 win against LaGrange last Tuesday at home. She scored a career-high 31 points, while adding 13 rebounds and nine steals in the near triple-double. In a Friday-Sunday set at Maryville (Tennessee), Washington totaled 34 points, eight rebounds and nine steals. Piedmont won both games (68-60 and 76-65, respectively) to finish with a perfect 12-0 record in USA South regular-season play.

FOOTBALL

Terry Berdin (Reinhardt Jr., Cartersville HS) — Berdin ran twice for 6 yards apiece and hauled in a 4-yard reception in a 52-0 victory over Point Saturday at home.

Bryce Burgess (Reinhardt Jr., Adairsville HS) — Burgess rushed twice for 5 total yards in the resounding win over Point.

Hunter Hardin (Point Sr., Woodland HS) — Hardin played along the offensive front, but Point only garnered 150 yards of total offense in the loss to Reinhardt.

Bradley Kirk (Shorter Jr., Cartersville HS) — Kirk saw snaps but didn’t record any stats in a 35-3 loss Saturday at Kennesaw State.

Jacob Potter (Kennesaw State Jr., Adairsville HS) — Potter participated in the season-opening win against Shorter.

John Scifers (Incarnate Word, Grad Transfer, Woodland HS) — Scifers kicked off eight times, recording three touchbacks, in a 48-20 win Saturday at McNeese State.

Matthew Surrett (Olivet Nazarene Fr., Cartersville HS) — Surrett helped pave the way for an offense that racked up 471 total offensive yards in a 27-14 win against Missouri Baptist Saturday at home.

Jake Walker (Furman Sr., Darlington HS, Cartersville native) — Walker saw action but didn’t record any stats in Furman’s 14-13 loss Saturday at VMI.

COLLEGE SOFTBALL

BELLA CARNES — Georgia College (Fr., Woodland HS)… made five starts in left field last week in games at home against Anderson University, North Greenville University, and Catawba College. She was 1-for-15 at the plate and scored one run with appearances in six games. Georgia College (0-8) plays a doubleheader Saturday at Barton College and a doubleheader Sunday at Mount Olive University.

SKYLAR CHAPPELL — Cottey College (So., Woodland HS)… went 2-for-2 with a game-tying, solo home run in two separate pinch hitting appearances Friday and Saturday. Chappell had a base hit off the bench in a 4-0 win over Langston University (Okla.) Friday and a home run in a 5-4, eight inning win Saturday over Bellevue University (Neb.). The Comets (6-0) host Hannibal-LaGrange (Mo.) Tuesday in a doubleheader.

PRESLEY EDWARDS — Wesleyan College (So., Cartersville HS) … finished 2-for-7 with a run scored and two RBIs as the Wolves swept a doubleheader Sunday at Fort Valley State. She also went 0-for-2 in a start as the Wolves designated player Thursday in a 4-1 loss to Middle Georgia State. Wesleyan (2-6) hosts Covenant College Saturday.

BRIANNA HILL — Covenant College (Fr., Woodland HS)… contributed a walk and a hit in a pair of pinch hitting plate appearances Thursday as the Scots split a home doubleheader with Brenau University. Covenant (3-2) travels to Sewanee-University of the South Wednesday and hosts Wesleyan College Saturday.

HANNAH TODD — Kansas University (Sr., Cartersville HS)… fanned two and retired the final five outs in a relief appearance during a 5-3 loss at UT-San Antonio. Todd also allowed an earned run on a hit and three walks Saturday during a 9-5 win over Texas A&M-Corpus Chrisi, but struck out one and was credited with a save. Kansas (5-4) won four of five games over the weekend at the Texas-San Antonio Tournament. The Jayhawks play in the Arkansas Razorbacks Tournament Friday through Sunday and will face Drake, Arkansas, and Northwestern State in the five-game set.

ALEXA VARNER — Shorter University (Fr., Adairsville HS)… was utilized as a pinch runner Wednesday in the Hawks’ 5-4 win over Young Harris College. Shorter swept that doubleheader with the Mountain Lions but lost both games of a doubleheader Saturday at Columbus State. Shorter (4-7) plays a three-game Gulf South Conference series Friday and Saturday at home against West Georgia.

PRO BASEBALL

SAM HOWARD — (8th-year pro; Pittsburgh Pirates; Cartersville HS)… worked the third inning of the Pirates’ 6-4 win Sunday over Baltimore. It was the spring training opener for both teams. Howard, 27, faced five batters and gave up an unearned run following a Pittsburgh outfield error. The southpaw recorded two strikeouts and issued one walk in the inning. The Pirates’ regular season opener is slated for April 1 at the Chicago Cubs.

ANTHONY SEIGLER — (4th-year pro; New York Yankees organization; Cartersville HS)… the 2018 first round draft pick is one of 32 non-roster invitees at the Yankees spring training camp in Tampa. The 21-year-old is one of nine catchers working with New York pitchers in the pre-season. They Yankees started their 28-date Grapefruit League schedule Sunday.

COLLEGE BASEBALL

LEVI AYERS — Young Harris College (So., Cartersville HS)… allowed two hits and a walk in an eighth inning appearance for the Mountain Lions last Tuesday during a 16-10, 11-inning loss at home to Tusculum University. Ayers struck out one. YHC also split a doubleheader Saturday at Francis Marion SUNDAY GAME AT FRANCIS MARION. The Mountain Lions have a three-game, Peach Belt Conference series Saturday and Sunday at UNC-Pembroke.

MASON BARNETT — Auburn University (So., Cartersville HS)… worked an inning and one-third across the eighth and ninth innings Friday in the Tigers’ 4-3, 10-inning loss to Oklahoma. Barnett faced nine batters allowing one earned run on two hits and three walks. He struck out one. Auburn finished 1-2 at the Round Rock Classic with a loss Saturday to Baylor and a win Sunday over Texas A&M. Auburn (6-2) entertains Jacksonville State Tuesday and will host a four-game series with Xavier Friday through Sunday.

BAILEY CAMPBELL — Young Harris College (Jr., Cass HS)… made three starts this past week and was 2-for-12 at the plate with a run scored, a walk, and was hit by a pitch. The Mountain Lions lost an extra inning game to Tusculum Tuesday and won one of three games over the weekend at Francis Marion University. YHC (3-4, 3-3 Peach Belt Conference) plays a three-game conference series at UNC-Pembroke Saturday and Sunday.

JAKE GOOCH — Central Alabama CC (So., Cartersville HS)… went 3-for-10 with a double, two runs scored, and two RBIs during a four-game series with Gordon State Thursday and Saturday. CACC (9-5) travels to Andrew College Tuesday.

LANE GRIFFITH — University of West Georgia (Sr., Adairsville HS)… was 0-for-1 off the bench Saturday during a 13-10 home win over Delta State. The Wolves (5-7, 5-7) have a three-game, Gulf South Conference series at Shorter Friday and Saturday.

HUNTER HICE — Georgia College (So., Adairsville HS)… had a 2-for-2 performance Saturday, scored a run and drove in one in a 12-3 home loss to North Georgia. The 8th-ranked Bobcats won two of three games over the weekend against visiting North Georgia. Georgia College (5-1, 5-1) travels to Anderson University Wednesday and hosts a three-game conference series with USC-Aiken Friday and Saturday.

BRYCEN JONES — Central Alabama CC (Fr., Cartersville HS)… did not allow a run in a pair of brief relief appearances last week. Jones retired two batters in a fifth inning appearance Thursday at home against Gordon State CC. He struck out one but walked two before being lifted in an 8-4 loss. He also retired the only batter he faced in a sixth inning appearance Saturday, but CACC lost at Gordon State 9-5. The Trojans (9-5) play at Andrew College Tuesday.

LOGAN NELSON — Truett McConnell University (Fr., Cass HS)… started three of the Bears’ four games last week and appeared in all four. He was 2-for-10 at the plate with two walks, a run scored, and one RBI. He also stole a base. TMU went 1-3 for the week winning one game in a three-game home series with Milligan University (TN) and suffered a home loss to Montreat College (NC). Nelson, a catcher, has only one passed ball in 10 games, has a 1.000 fielding percentage, and has thrown out 2-of-4 baserunner steal attempts. Truett McConnell (8-7, 1-2 Appalachian Athletic Conference) plays at Toccoa Falls College Tuesday and travels to Union College (KY) for a three-game conference series Friday and Saturday.

KYLER PELFREY — Georgia College (Fr., Adairsville HS)… retired all three batters faced Saturday in a seventh inning appearance to close out a 16-6 win over North Georgia. The 8th-ranked Bobcats (5-1, 5-1 Peach Belt Conference) travel to Anderson University (SC) Wednesday before hosting a three-game conference series with USC-Aiken Friday and Saturday.

STEVEN SPELL — Young Harris College (So., Cass HS)… made a pinch hitting appearance last Tuesday in the Mountain Lions’ 16-10 extra innings home loss to Tusculum University. Spell drew a walk in the 11th inning and eventually scored a run. YHC (3-4, 3-3) plays a three-game conference series at UNC-Pembroke Saturday and Sunday.

PRESTON WELCHEL — Coastal Alabama-Bay Minette CC (Fr., Cartersville HS)…

started five of six games for the Sun Chiefs last week. He went 5-for-17 at the plate with a walk, a double, six RBIs, and stole two bases. Coastal went 4-2 for the week with a pair of wins over Gulf Coast State CC, a win over Shelton State CC, and Calhoun CC. The losses were to Northwest Florida State CC and Pensacola State CC. The Sun Chiefs (8-11) play a doubleheader Wednesday at Delgado CC in Louisiana.

JORDAN WILKIE — Augusta University (Fr., Cartersville HS)… made a ninth inning defensive appearance at second base Saturday in a 4-2 loss to visiting Flagler College. The Jaguars went 1-3 for the week dropping two of three to Flagler along with a Tuesday loss at Newberry College. Augusta (1-3, 1-2 Peach Belt Conference) plays a three-game conference series Friday and Saturday at Columbus State University.

SOCCER

Courtney Rhea (Berry Jr., Cartersville HS) — Rhea saw 6-plus minutes of action in a 2-1 loss to Maryville (Tennessee) last Wednesday at home.

Russell Shealy (Syracuse R-So., Darlington HS, Cartersville native) — Syracuse’s goalkeeper recorded one save in a 2-1 defeat against Bowling Green last Tuesday in Buffalo, New York.

TENNIS Connor Gunnell (Shorter Fr., Woodland HS) — Gunnell paired with Jovan Crikovic for a 6-1 win on Line 2 doubles in a 6-1 home win over Piedmont Friday in Rome.

Houston Medlock (Piedmont Jr., Adairsville HS) — In addition to falling to Gunnell and his teammate on Line 2 doubles, Medlock also dropped a 6-2, 6-0 decision on Line 1 singles in the loss to Shorter. In a 6-3 loss later Friday at Berry, Medlock fell 6-0, 6-0 on Line 1 singles and came out on the short end of an 8-4 score at Line 2 doubles.

Bryce VanOrder (Piedmont Fr., Woodland HS) — In Line 2 singles action during Friday’s doubleheader, VanOrder fell 6-1, 6-3 against Berry, and he lost a tiebreaker (10-3) against Shorter after winning the first set (6-4) and dropping the second (7-5).

TRACK AND FIELD

Trevor Knowles (Albion Sr., Woodland HS) — Knowles won the triple jump and added top-five finishes in the long jump and high jump in a standout showing at the MIAA Jamboree Saturday in Angola, Indiana. Knowles took the triple jump title with a distance of 13.9 meters — 0.67 meters more than his closest competition. His long jump topped out at 6.65 meters to finish third. Knowles’ high jump of 1.92 meters garnered him fourth place.

Stephen Smith (Kennesaw State So., Cass HS) — Smith finished in a tie for third place in the men’s pole vault, topping out at 4.46 meters, at the ASUN Indoor Championships Friday in Lynchburg, Virginia.