Athletes Beyond Bartow: Update on local professional and collegiate athletes for the week ending February 4

February 5, 2024

Charles Wilson / BartowSportsZone.com 

It is the busiest time of the year for our local Athletes Beyond Bartow. 

Winter sports are moving into the final weeks of the regular season and preparing for conference tournaments and post-season play. Meanwhile, Spring sports are kicking off their seasons.

This week’s update includes more than three dozen athletes from Cartersville and Bartow County and their contributions to their teams and programs across North America.

MLB

MASON BARNETT — Kansas City Royals (3rd yr. pro; Auburn; Cartersville HS) … the 23-year-old right-hand pitcher is a non-roster invitee to participate in the Royals’ spring training in Surprise, Arizona. Barnett was a 3rd round selection of the Royals in 2022, the 87th pick overall. He finished the 2023 season with the Northwest Arkansas Naturals, the Royals’ Double-A affiliate.

LOGAN MARTIN — Kansas City Royals organization (2nd yr. pro; Kentucky; Cartersville HS) … the 22-year-old right-hand pitcher saw action in 2023 with the Rookie-level ACL Royals and the single-A Columbia Fireflies. His 2024 assignment is undetermined.

ANTHONY SEIGLER — New York Yankees organization (7th-yr. pro; Cartersville HS) … the Yankees first-round selection in 2018 (23rd overall) finished the 2023 season with the Double-A affiliate Somerset Patriots. The 24-year-old’s 2024 assignment is undetermined.

NBA G LEAGUE

ASHTON HAGANS — Rip City Remix (4th yr. pro; Cartersville native; Kentucky; Newton HS) … had a pair of double-double performances last week. He scored 16 points and had 10 assists last Tuesday in a 112-107 win at the Salt Lake City Stars. On Friday, he scored 12 points with 10 assists in a 121-102 home loss to the South Bay Lakers. Hagans also totaled 10 rebounds and three steals in those two games. Rip City (9-5, 4th in the Western Conference) plays at the Motor City Cruise on Tuesday and has two games at the Sioux Falls Skyforce on Friday and Saturday. 

BASKETBALL SUPER LEAGUE

A.J. MOSBY, JR. — Sudbury Five (6th-yr. pro; Alcorn State; Cartersville HS) … scored 26 points with nine assists, eight rebounds, and two steals last Friday in a 126-125 home win over the Newfoundland Rogues. Sudbury (6-4) hosts the London Lightning on Saturday night.

COLLEGE BASKETBALL

BRAXTON BENHAM — Berry College (Jr., Cass HS) … scored 17 points with six assists, five rebounds, and three steals this past Sunday in an 89-72 win at Hendrix College (Arkansas). He also had eight points with six rebounds, six assists, and three steals last Friday in a 76-65 win at Rhodes College in Memphis. The Vikings (13-9, 10-1 Southern Athletic Association) host Centre College on Friday and Sewanee on Sunday.

ZAYLAN CHANEY — Tallahassee CC (So., Cartersville resident, Legacy Academy) … scored eight points with four rebounds and two steals this past Saturday in a 96-86 win at Northwest Florida State. The Eagles host Pensacola State on Wednesday and Chipola College on Saturday.

CLAIRE DAVIS — Palm Beach Atlantic University (So., Cass HS) … scored 13 points and grabbed six rebounds with three steals, two assists, and one blocked shot last Wednesday in a 91-63 home win over Barry University. She also scored six points and had seven rebounds this past Saturday in a 75-72 win at Rollins College. The Sailfish (12-9, 6-7 Sunshine State Conference) visit Lynn University on Wednesday and host Tampa on Saturday night.

JA’KA’YAH DRAUGHN — Chattanooga State CC (Fr., Cartersville HS) … scored three points with two steals, two rebounds, and one assist last Wednesday in a 76-60 win at Cleveland State CC. The Tigers (19-1, 9-1 TCCAA) play at Motlow State CC on Wednesday and host Dyersburg State CC on Saturday.

JUSTICE HAYES — Point University (Jr., Cass HS) … scored 14 points with four rebounds and two assists this past Saturday in an 83-61 home loss to Middle Georgia State. The Skyhawks (6-16, 0-14 Southern States Athletic Conference) play at Blue Mountain Christian on Thursday night and at Tennessee Southern on Saturday.

DiANTHONY HEATHCOCK — Columbia International University (Sr., Woodland HS) … contributed a pair of double-double performances last week as the Rams split conference games. He scored 16 points and had 10 rebounds with a blocked shot and one assist in a 77-75 win at Montreat College last Wednesday. Heathcock then scored 19 points with 11 rebounds this past Saturday with one assist in an 86-83 home loss to Union College (Ky.). CIU plays at Reinhardt on Tuesday and at home against Milligan on Saturday.

HALEY JOHNSON — Central Georgia Tech (So., Cass HS) … grabbed 10 rebounds and added a blocked shot and one steal in a 53-47 home win this past Saturday over Albany Tech. Johnson also scored three points with two assists last Wednesday in a 70-59 home win over Georgia Highlands. The Titans (10-11, 7-3 GCAA) host East Georgia State on Wednesday and Southern Crescent Tech on Saturday.

T.J. PRINTUP — Tusculum University (R-Fr., Adairsville HS) … scored two points with seven rebounds and one blocked shot last Wednesday in a 73-72 win at Mars Hill University. Printup also scored five points with one rebound this past Saturday in a 73-62 home win over Newberry College. The Pioneers (9-10, 7-6) visit UVA-Wise on Wednesday and host Wingate on Saturday.

LONDAISHA SMITH — Salem University (Jr., Cass HS) … saw action but did not record a stat line last Wednesday in a 69-58 loss at Davis & Elkins College. The Tigers (4-16) host Glenville State on Wednesday and play at Concord University on Saturday.

WRESTLING

COLTON BISHOP — Reinhardt University (Jr., Woodland HS) … finished 2-2 in the 125-pound division at the Cumberland Phoenix Open this past Saturday in Lebanon, Tennessee. Reinhardt competes in the Appalachian Athletic Conference Championships on Saturday, February 17 in Lakeland, Florida.

EASTON BISHOP — Reinhardt University (Jr., Woodland HS) … finished 2-2 in the 133-pound weight class at the Cumberland Phoenix Open this past Saturday in Lebanon, Tennessee. Next for Reinhardt is the AAC Championship Tournament on February 17 in Lakeland, Florida.

CALEB HENSON — Virginia Tech (So., Woodland HS) … won his bout with a 7-1 decision as the Hokies defeated rival Virginia, 27-9 this past Friday. Henson remains the No. 2-ranked 149-pounder in the nation. Virginia Tech hosts Duke on Friday night.

TYLER McKNIGHT — Davidson College (Fr., Cass HS) … lost his 149-pound bout 7-6 in the Wildcats’ 27-9 home loss last Friday to Bellarmine University. Davidson visits Gardner-Webb on Friday night and wrestles at The Citadel on Sunday.

JABRIL WILLIAMS — Midway University (Jr., Cartersville HS) … lost his 165-pound bout in a 39-3 team loss to Campbellsville University last Friday. The Eagles will wrestle again on February 17 at the Mid-South Conference Championships in Bowling Green, Kentucky.

COLLEGE BASEBALL

CAL GOSS — Lee University (R-Fr., Cartersville HS) … allowed two earned runs on one hit and a pair of walks this past Saturday in a sixth-inning appearance as the Flames beat visiting Southern Wesleyan, 12-2. Lee (2-1) hosts Lincoln Memorial University on Wednesday and Mars Hill University for a three-game series on Saturday and Sunday.

COLT McKIBBEN — Lee University (So., Cartersville HS) … yielded four earned runs on three hits and one hit batsman last Friday in a sixth-inning appearance against visiting Southern Wesleyan. The Flames won the game 9-5 and won two of three in the series. Lee (2-1) hosts Lincoln Memorial University on Wednesday and entertains Mars Hill University on Saturday and Sunday in a three-game series.

DREW ROTHSCHILD — Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College (So., Cartersville HS) … has gone 4-for-22 with a double, two walks, and one stolen base through the Stallions' first seven games this season. ABAC dropped four games to St. Johns River State on January 26 and 29 and swept a three-game series with Cleveland State CC this past weekend. The Stallions (3-4) visit Santa Fe College in Gainesville on Wednesday and play at LaGrange College on Saturday.

STEVEN SPELL — Young Harris College (Grad, Cass HS) … went 3-for-10 with one hit in each game this past weekend as the Mountain Lions swept visiting Union University (Tenn.). Spell doubled and drove in a run in Friday’s game. He hit a home run in Saturday’s second game and finished with four RBIs in the series. YHC (3-0) has a three-game series this Friday and Saturday at the University of West Georgia.

COHEN WILBANKS — Georgia Gwinnett College (Jr., Cartersville HS) … went 2-for-6 with a double, a walk, a sac fly, and five RBIs appearing in three of four Grizzlies’ wins this past weekend. GGC swept two games with Rust College (Miss.) and Midway University (Ky.). The No. 2 Grizzlies (4-0) will play four games this Friday through Sunday in Sherlington, Louisiana against four NAIA-ranked opponents — No. 25 Freed-Hardeman (Tenn.), No. 22 Central Methodist (Mo.), No. 10 Missouri Baptist, and No. 5 LSU-Shreveport.

PRESTON WELCHEL — Cumberland University (Jr., Cartersville HS) … in four losses to 10th-ranked Webber International University (Fla.) and Warner University (Fla.), Welchel was 3-for-11 at the plate with one walk. The Phoenix (0-4) host 14th-ranked Indiana Wesleyan University on Friday and Saturday.

JORDAN WILKIE — Augusta University (Sr., Cartersville HS) … the Jags’ first baseman was hit by a pitch and scored a run but was 0-for-9 at the plate in three starts at home against West Georgia this past weekend — all losses. Augusta (0-3) hosts Erskine College on Tuesday and faces Kentucky Wesleyan College Friday through Sunday in a three-game home series.

SOFTBALL

KYLIE ARNOLD — University of West Alabama (Fr., Cartersville HS) … had one at-bat in each of two wins last Friday over Saint Leo University and Nova Southeastern University at the Gulf Shores Invitational. The Tigers also won over Lubbock Christian and a loss to No. 1 University of North Georgia. UWA (3-1) will play six games this Friday through Sunday against Embry-Riddle, 10th-ranked Tampa, and Eckerd College at the Daytona Beach Invitational.

LAINEY BAKER — Union University (So., Woodland HS) … a transfer from Samford University, Baker collected her first pitching with Union on Saturday by tossing a complete game shutout at the Mardi Gras Invitational in Youngsville, Louisiana. She scattered four hits and struck out seven in a 2-0 win over Southeastern Oklahoma. Baker was tagged with a pitching loss last Friday working 3-⅔ innings of relief in a 5-4 loss to Southern Arkansas. She yielded four earned runs on five hits and four walks with three strikeouts. The Bulldogs (2-2) will play Lenior-Rhyne University, Columbus State University, Tuskegee University, and Georgia College on Friday and Saturday at the Columbus State Classic.

HAYLEE DISHMON — Georgia Highlands CC (Fr., Cass HS) … went 8-for-16 at the plate with a triple, two walks, and scored five runs as the Chargers beat Calhoun CC twice last Wednesday and lost three games to Florence-Darlington Tech over the weekend.  Dishmon also stole five bases in those games. GHC (2-3) hosts Snead State CC on Wednesday and Walters State CC on Friday.

ANSLEY EVANS — Reinhardt University (Jr., Woodland HS) … went 4-for-13 at the plate with a double, three runs scored, two walks, and two RBIs as the Eagles won twice at Warner University (Fla.) but lost twice at Southeastern University (Fla.). The Eagles host Midway University (Ky.) for a doubleheader on Friday, February 16.

SADYE JOHNSON — University of North Georgia (Jr., Adairsville HS) … was 0-for-1 in a pinch-hitting role last weekend as the top-ranked Nighthawks went 4-0 at the Gulf Shores Invitational. UNG (4-0) beat West Florida, Spring Hill, Valdosta State, and West Alabama. The Nighthawks will play five games this Friday through Sunday as they host the Surf ’N Turf Classic in Dahlonega.

ERYN LEE — Reinhardt University (So., Cass HS) … went 3-for-10 with one RBI, one stolen base, and two runs scored in doubleheaders at Warner University (Fla.) and Southeastern University (Fla.) last Friday and Saturday. The Eagles (2-2) return to action on February 16 at home against Midway University (Ky.).

RACHAEL LEE — Gulf Coast State CC (So., Cass HS) … through the first eight games, the Commodores’ outfielder has gone 8-for-26 at the plate with one home run, one double, two walks, six runs scored, one stolen base, and four RBIs. GCSCC (5-3) will host Wallace State CC, Lurleen B. Wallace, Southern Union State CC, and Shelton State CC for games on Friday and Saturday.

AVA PERKINS — Lee University (Fr., Cartersville HS) … in a three-game series sweep of visiting Cedarville University (Ohio) last Friday and Saturday, Perkins was 3-for-7 with two doubles, two walks, four runs scored, two stolen bases, and one RBI. The Flames (3-0) play a doubleheader on Wednesday at Lincoln Memorial University and will host the Lee Invitational with Mercyhurst and the University of Indianapolis this Saturday and Sunday.

HOPE SHORT — Shorter University (Sr., Cartersville HS) … went 0-for-2 in a pair of pinch-hitting appearances this past Friday and Saturday as the Hawks won one of three at home against Young Harris College. Shorter (1-2) will face Kentucky Wesleyan, Miles College, Lincoln Memorial, Trevecca Nazarene, and Carson-Newman this Friday through Sunday in Huntsville at the UAH Charger Chillout.

ALEXA VARNER — Shorter University (Sr., Adairsville HS) … went 5-for-10 with one double, three runs scored, and one RBI as the Hawks went 1-2 at home against Young Harris College this past Friday and Saturday. Shorter (1-2) will have five games this Friday through Sunday at the University of Alabama-Huntsville Charger Chillout.

TRACK AND FIELD

NOAH BAER — Baldwin Wallace University (Fr., Woodland HS) … cleared 4.10 meters (13 feet, 5-½ inches) to win the pole vault event last Friday at the Oberlin College Kinsey Invitational. The Yellow Jackets are back in action Friday and Saturday at the Mid-February Meet at home and at the All-Ohio Indoor in Westerville, Ohio.

STEPHEN SMITH — Kennesaw State University (Sr., Cass HS) … placed fourth in the pole vault by clearing 4.70 meters (15 feet, 5 inches) at the Virginia Tech Doc Hale Meet this past Saturday. The Owls will be in action this weekend at the Music City Challenge in Nashville and the Tiger Paw Invitational at Clemson.

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Editor's note: If you know of someone we missed this week, send an email to BartowSportsZone@comcast.net. Keep in mind that the athlete must have made a statistical contribution during the week of Jan. 29 - Feb. 4 to be included in this edition.