Athletes Beyond Bartow: Update on local college and pro athletes across North America

This week's report includes updates on 33 local athletes at the professional and collegiate level in pro baseball, pro basketball, and pro football plus college tennis, golf, track & field, softball, and baseball.

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MiLB

MASON BARNETT — Quad Cities River Bandits (Kansas City Royals High-A affiliate; 2nd yr. pro; Auburn University; Cartersville HS) … made a five-inning start last Tuesday but received no decision in a 2-0 home win over the Wisconsin Timber Rattlers. Barnette allowed no runs on one hit and four walks while striking out seven. On Sunday, he picked up his first win of the year with a five-inning start as the Bandits beat the Rattlers 9-2. The right-hander allowed just one earned run on two hits and one walk. He fanned six. Quad Cities (7-7) has a six-game series Tuesday through Sunday at the Lansing Lugnuts.

ANTHONY SEIGLER — Somerset Patriots (NY Yankees Double-A affiliate; 6th-yr. pro; Cartersville HS) … played in just two games last Thursday and Friday going 1-for-5 at the plate with two walks, two runs scored, and a pair of RBIs. Somerset split a six-game series at home with the New Hampshire Fisher Cats. Now 8-7 for the season, the Patriots play a six-game series Tuesday through Sunday at the Washington Nationals’ affiliate Harrisburg Senators.

PRO BASKETBALL

A.J. MOSBY — Sudbury Five (National Basketball League of Canada; 6th yr. pro; Alcorn State; Cartersville HS) … scored 13 points Saturday night and 30 points Sunday as The Five swept a pair of home games against the Jamestown Jackals. Mosby added six rebounds, three assists, and one steal Saturday and had seven assists with four boards on Sunday. Sudbury (22-6) has a one-game lead in the NBL-C standings over the London Lightning with three regular-season games remaining. The Five plays at the Windsor Express this Friday night and at the KW Titans on Saturday night.

XFL

VIC BEASLEY — Vegas Vipers (9th yr. pro; Clemson; Adairsville HS) … finished the 2023 season with the Vipers totaling 15 tackles (six solo, nine assisted) with two fumble recoveries. The Vipers finished last in the XFL North with a 2-8 record.

TENNIS

EMILY BUSH — Young Harris College (Fr., Cartersville HS) … in a week that saw the Mountain Lions drop their final three matches, Bush had a doubles loss with teammate Joselyne Chapui on Line 2 doubles during a 4-0 loss to 25th-ranked Columbus State. She was also down a set and trailing 5-4 in the second set of her Line 2 singles match when the visiting Cougars secured the team win. On Tuesday, Bush and Chapui lost 6-2 at Line 2 doubles but she won her Line 2 singles match 6-1, 7-6 (7-5) in a 4-3 team loss at Augusta University. On Friday, YHC lost 5-0 to the 12th-ranked University of North Georgia in the first round of the Peach Belt Conference tournament in Columbus. Bush lost her first set and was trailing 5-3 in the second set of her Line 2 singles match. Young Harris finished the year with a 9-14 record.

CONNOR GUNNELL — Shorter University (Jr., Woodland HS) … lost his Line 4 singles match 6-0, 6-0 and lost at Line 2 doubles with teammate Yike Liu 6-0 as the Hawks fell to top-seeded Valdosta State 4-0 in the first round of the Gulf South Conference Tournament last Thursday. The Hawks had their season end with a 2-10 record.

EMILY SURCEY — Mississippi State University (So., Cass HS) … lost her Line 5 singles match 6-3, 6-3 as the Bulldogs were eliminated 4-1 by Kentucky in the opening round of the Southeastern Conference Tournament in Fayetteville, Arkansas. Surcey was 13-12 in her singles matches this season and 9-4 in doubles matches. Mississippi State finished the season with a 10-15 mark.

BRYCE VAN ORDER — Piedmont University (Jr., Woodland HS) … dropped his Line 2 singles match 2-6, 6-7 (6-8) as the Lions lost 7-2 Saturday at Belhaven University (Mississippi). Piedmont will participate in the Collegiate Conference of the South tournament beginning Thursday at the Rome, Georgia Tennis Center. The Lions are seeded No. 2 and will play Berea College (Kentucky) in the first round.

TRACK AND FIELD

STEPHEN SMITH — Kennesaw State University (Jr., Cass HS) … the Owls’ pole vaulter cleared 4.70m (15 feet, 5 inches) to finish sixth at the Georgia Tech Invitational this past Saturday. Next for KSU are the Penn Relays (Philadelphia) and North Florida East Coast Relays (Jacksonville) both scheduled for Thursday through Saturday.

ERIC TOVIAVE — Belmont University (Fr., Cartersville HS) … placed 24th in the 400M Hurdles (56.03) Saturday at the Georgia Tech Invitational in Atlanta. Next for the Bruins will be the Vanderbilt University Outdoor Music City Challenge on Friday and Saturday.

GOLF

BUCK BRUMLOW — University of Georgia (So., Cartersville HS) … tied for 34th of 74 players individually last Wednesday through Friday at the Southeastern Conference Championship held on the par-70, 7,005-yard Seaside Course at Sea Island Golf Club. The 31st-ranked Bulldogs finished ninth and missed the match play portion of the tournament by one shot. Brumlow fired rounds of 69-72-71 (2-over-par). Tennessee won the medal portion of the tournament but it was Florida defeating Vanderbilt 3-1 to win the SEC title in the match play portion of the event. Georgia awaits the 2023 Men’s Golf Selection Show on May 3 for a post-season regional assignment.

JAKE WEHUNT — Young Harris College (Fr., Cartersville HS) … shot rounds of 79-76-80—235 (19-over) and placed 42nd individually at the Peach Belt Conference Championship held this past weekend at the par-72, 7086-yard Forest Hills Golf Club in Augusta. The tournament was won by Georgia Southwestern with the University of North Georgia finishing six shots back. Young Harris placed ninth.

SOFTBALL

COLBI BALLARD — Shorter University (Sr., Cartersville HS) … was 0-for-3 in a pair of starts last Wednesday during a non-conference doubleheader at Columbus State University. Shorter (6-41, 1-25) returns to action Friday and Saturday in a three-game Gulf South Conference series at Lee University.

SKYLAR CHAPPELL — Cottey College (Sr., Woodland HS) … had one plate appearance Saturday in a 4-2 home win over Missouri Baptist University as the Comets went 4-0 for the week. Cottey (29-16, 16-2 American Midwest Conference) visits William Woods University (Missouri) for a doubleheader Tuesday.

PRESLY EDWARDS — Wesleyan College (Sr., Cartersville HS) … the Wolves (4-27, 2-14) lost all six games last week extending their regular season-ending streak to 13 games with doubleheader losses to Agnes Scott, LaGrange, and Huntingdon. Edwards was 6-for-20 at the plate in those games including a two-run homer and five total RBIs. The Collegiate Conference of the South tournament begins on campus sites Thursday.

ANSLEY EVANS — Reinhardt University (So., Woodland HS) … playing in four of the Eagles’ six road wins last week, Evans was 5-for-12 at the plate and stole one base. RU had two wins each at Tennessee Wesleyan, St. Andrews University (North Carolina), and Columbia International University. Reinhardt (31-9, 26-2) is the No. 1-seed at the double-elimination Appalachian Athletic Conference Tournament beginning Wednesday in Kingsport, Tennessee. The Eagles face 8th-seeded Milligan University in the first round.

MICHIAH HICKS — Reinhardt University (Fr., Woodland HS) … had a base hit in a pinch hitting appearance last Wednesday in a 10-1 win at Columbia International University (South Carolina). Reinhardt (31-9, 26-2) is just outside the NAIA Top 25 rankings heading into the Appalachian Athletic Conference Tournament beginning Wednesday in Kingsport, Tennessee.

SADYE JOHNSON — University of North Georgia (So., Adairsville HS) … was inserted as a pinch runner in the top of the seventh inning, scored a run, and played defensively in the bottom of the inning in a Nighthawks’ 11-1 win last Wednesday at Lincoln Memorial University.

North Georgia (48-5, 24-3) was 4-1 last week winning twice at LMU and dropping one of three at home to Lander University. The 2nd-ranked Nighthawks will host one of two, four-team double-elimination portions of the Peach Belt Conference Tournament this weekend.

ERYN LEE — Reinhardt University (Fr., Cass HS) … was 4-for-12 including one double, two runs scored, and one stolen base as the Eagles completed a 6-0 week with road doubleheaders at Tennessee Wesleyan, St. Andrews University (North Carolina), and Columbia International University. Reinhardt (31-9, 26-2) is the No. 1-seed at the double-elimination Appalachian Athletic Conference Tournament that opens Wednesday in Kingsport, Tennessee. The Eagles face Milligan University in the first round.

LAUREN McELHANEY — University of West Georgia (Jr., Cartersville HS) … was 0-for-4 with one walk in games Saturday and Sunday at Delta State University. For the week, UWG was 0-5 falling to 13-37 on the year and 8-19 in the Gulf South Conference. West Georgia hosts the University of Montevallo Friday and Saturday in a three-game GSC series to conclude their regular season slate.

ALEXA VARNER — Shorter University (Jr., Adairsville HS) … made a start in left field and was 0-for-2 at the plate last Wednesday in an 8-0 loss at Columbus State University. The Hawks (6-41, 1-25) return to action Friday and Saturday in a three-game Gulf South Conference series at Lee University.

BASEBALL

CURT BONNER — LaGrange College (Fr., Cartersville HS) … hit safely in all four games for the 9th-ranked Panthers last week. He was 7-for-15 at the plate with a double, three walks, and three RBIs as LaGrange beat No. 1 Birmingham-Southern College but then dropped two of three at Maryville College (Tennessee). The Panthers (25-11, 11-4 Collegiate Conference of the South) play at Emory University Tuesday afternoon before hosting a three-game set with Huntingdon College Friday through Sunday.

KENNY JINKS — Wheeling University (Sr., Woodland HS) … picked up a pair of pitching wins last Wednesday and Friday as the Cardinals beat visiting Indiana University of Pennsylvania and Fairmont State University. Wenesday’s win came in a scoreless fifth-inning relief appearance as Wheeling won 18-8 over IU-P. He had one walk and one strikeout. In a start on Friday, Jinks allowed four earned runs (six total) on seven hits and one walk. He struck out three improving his season mark to 7-1. Wheeling (23-17, 12-12 Mountain East Conference) hosts Seton Hill (Pennsylvania) Tuesday before playing a pair of doubleheaders at Alderson Broaddus University (West Virginia) Saturday and Sunday.

LOGAN MARTIN — University of Kentucky (Sr., Cartersville HS) … started and pitched into the third inning Friday allowing one earned run on five walks in an eventual 6-3 home loss to Texas A&M. The 15th-ranked Wildcats (30-9, 11-7) dropped two of three with the Aggies over the weekend. They host rival Louisville Tuesday night before heading to Nashville for a three-game SEC series with 5th-ranked Vanderbilt Friday through Sunday.

GUNNER MILLSAP — Southern Illinois University-Edwardsville (Fr., Cartersville HS) … issued a walk, but retired the other three batters he faced with flyouts last Wednesday earning his second pitching victory of the season in a 16-4 home win over Blackburn College (Illinois). The Cougars finished the week 2-3 with a win at Western Illinois and three losses at Arkansas-Little Rock. SIU-E (22-17, 5-7 Ohio Valley Conference) hosts Missouri Wednesday night and Southern Indiana Friday through Sunday in an OVC series.

DREW ROTHSCHILD — Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College (Fr., Cartersville HS) … has now hit safely in eight straight games and was 5-for-14 with his second home run of the season, a double, three walks, and four RBIs in four games last week as the Stallions won three of four against Gordon State College. ABAC (26-25, 12-8 Georgia Collegiate Athletic Association) hosts Georgia Highlands Tuesday, Andrew College Thursday, and South Georgia State on Saturday.

STEVEN SPELL — Young Harris College (Sr., Cass HS) … although the Mountain Lions lost all three games at Lander University over the weekend, Spell was 5-for-13 at the plate including a home run, one double, two RBIs, and a pair of runs scored. YHC (33-14, 21-9 Peach Belt Conference) hosts Lee University in a non-conference game Tuesday afternoon and begins the Peach Belt Conference tournament on May 5.

DEVIN WARNER — Georgia Gwinnett College (Jr., Cartersville HS) … in four games last week, Warner was 5-for-14 at the plate as the NAIA 4th-ranked Grizzlies won at Talladega University and swept a three-game home series with Brewton-Parker College. The third baseman homered, doubled, walked twice, scored five runs, and drove in four. Georgia Gwinnett (40-5, 8-0 Continental Athletic Conference) looks to extend its 11-game win streak this Friday and Saturday in a pair of doubleheaders with Fisher College (Massachusetts) at Buies Creek, North Carolina.

PRESTON WELCHEL — Tennessee Wesleyan University (So., Cartersville HS) … utilized twice as a pinch hitter and once as the Bulldogs’ starting designated hitter, Welchel was 0-for-3 with a walk and a run scored while TWU won two of three last Thursday and Friday at Montreat College (North Carolina). The NAIA 3rd-ranked Bulldogs (37-7, 26-1 Appalachian Athletic Conference) complete their regular season slate with a three-game series Thursday and Friday at St. Andrews University (North Carolina).

COHEN WILBANKS — Georgia Gwinnett College (Jr., Cartersville HS) … in three games last week, Wilbanks was 4-for-9 at the plate as the NAIA 4th-ranked Grizzlies won at Talladega University and swept a three-game home series with Brewton-Parker College. The catcher had a double, one sac fly, two walks, one hit by pitch, and five RBIs. Georgia Gwinnett (40-5, 8-0 Continental Athletic Conference) looks to extend its 11-game win streak this Friday and Saturday in a pair of doubleheaders with Fisher College (Massachusetts) at Buies Creek, North Carolina.

DAVIS WILLIAMS — Birmingham-Southern College (So., Cartersville HS) … entered in the fifth inning and tossed 3-⅔ scoreless innings but settled for no decision in a 5-3 loss Saturday at Hendrix College (Arkansas). Williams allowed three hits, one walk, and one hit batsman but kept the Warriors off the scoreboard. For the week, the Panthers went 0-4 with a loss at 9th-ranked LaGrange College and three losses at Hendrix. BSC (31-9, 14-7 Southern Athletic Association) begins their conference tournament Friday in a best-of-three series at home against Oglethorpe University. The Panthers will host the final four of the conference tournament May 5-7 if they advance.

JORDAN WILKIE — Augusta University (Sr., Cartersville HS) … in Jags’ losses last Tuesday at home to West Georgia and Wednesday at Coker University, the first baseman was 6-for-9 at the plate with a double, one walk, two runs scored, and two RBIs. Augusta (21-22, 11-15 Peach Belt Conference) visits Emmanuel College Tuesday before hosting a regular season-ending three-game conference series with USC Beaufort Friday and Saturday.

ZACH WILSON — Penn State University-Greater Allegheny (Jr., Woodland HS) … saw action in two of his team’s four wins last week over Penn State-Beaver. Wilson was 1-for-4 at the plate with a double, three walks, one run scored, and one RBI. PSUGA finished the season with a 17-18 record and missed the Penn State University Athletic Conference playoffs.