Athletes Beyond Bartow: Updates on local collegiate and pro athletes

Charles Wilson / BartowSportsZone.com

Highlights from this week's action: Former Cartersville Purple Hurricanes standout A.J. Mosby continues to compete with the Sudbury Five in the National Basketball League of Canada playoffs and former Cass baseball standout Steven Spell, a senior at Young Harris College, was named All-Peach Belt Conference First Team.

MiLB

MASON BARNETT — Quad Cities River Bandits (Kansas City Royals High-A affiliate; 2nd yr. pro; Auburn University; Cartersville HS) … in a no-decision start this past Saturday at the Great Lakes Loons, Barnett allowed four runs (three earned) on five hits and three walks. He struck out seven in five innings on the mound. The Bandits ultimately lost the game 7-6 in ten innings despite having a 6-4 lead heading to the bottom of the seventh. Quad Cities (10-16) is in fifth place in the Midwest League West Division and has a six-game home series Tuesday through Sunday with the Cedar Rapids Kernels.

ANTHONY SEIGLER — Somerset Patriots (NY Yankees Double-A affiliate; 6th-yr. pro; Cartersville HS) … saw action in four home games last week against the Binghamton Rumble Ponies going 2-for-12 with three walks, one run scored, and had a two-out RBI. The Patriots won five of six during the week. Somerset (17-9) is in second place in the Northeast Division of the Eastern League. They have a six-game series Tuesday through Sunday at the division-leading Portland Sea Dogs.

PRO BASKETBALL

A.J. MOSBY — Sudbury Five (National Basketball League of Canada; 6th yr. pro; Alcorn State; Cartersville HS) … the Five lost their final regular season game last Tuesday to the London Lightning 106-101 and began the NBLC playoffs as the No. 2-seed against 3rd-seeded Windsor Express. The Five and Express split the first two games of their best-of-five series this past Friday and Saturday at Sudbury. The Five won Game 1 108-99 and the Express won Game 2 103-100. Mosby scored 31 points with six boards, five assists, and five steals in the regular season finale. He then poured in 23 points with three rebounds and four assists in the playoff victory. In Saturday’s loss, he was limited to five points, one rebound, four assists, and one steal. Games 3 and 4 of the playoff semifinal are Wednesday and Friday at Windsor. If a Game 5 is needed, it is slated for Sunday afternoon hosted by The Five.

SOFTBALL

LAINEY BAKER — Samford University (Fr., Woodland HS) … made a pitching start Sunday and went 2-⅔ innings but did not receive a decision in a game the Bulldogs won 5-3 at Chattanooga. Baker gave up three runs (two earned) on four hits and four walks. Samford (23-29, 12-6 Southern Conference) is seeded No. 2 in the SoCon Championship tournament and opens the double-elimination tournament in Chattanooga Wednesday against East Tennessee State.

BASEBALL

CURT BONNER — LaGrange College (Fr., Cartersville HS) … although the Panthers hosted and entered the Collegiate Conference of the South tournament as the No. 1 seed, they lost their first two games in the double-elimination tournament — falling to Maryville College (Tennessee) 7-3 and Covenant College 2-0. Bonner made one start in left field and another as a designated hitter but was 0-for-8 at the plate. The Panthers ranked 23rd nationally, await an announcement from the NCAA regarding their post-season assignment.

KENNY JINKS — Wheeling University (Sr., Woodland HS) … made a four-inning relief appearance and collected his eighth win of the season last Friday in a 3-2 victory at West Liberty University. Jinks did not allow a run, hit, or walk in his appearance and fanned four of the thirteen batters faced. The Cardinals (28-20, 17-13) will be a No. 2-seed in the six-team Mountain East Conference tournament that begins Wednesday at GoMart Ballpark in Charleston, West Virginia.

COLT McKIBBEN — Lee University (Fr., Cartersville HS) … faced three batters in a third-inning relief appearance Sunday allowing one hit and one walk as the Flames lost 13-9 to Valdosta State at the Gulf South Conference Tournament in Oxford, Alabama. Lee (28-25) finished 2-2 at the GSC tournament. McKibben made 15 appearances this season for the Flames with a 4.13 ERA in just over 28 innings.

SAM MELTON — Rockingham CC (Fr., Cartersville HS) … made a pinch-hitting appearance and drew a walk in a 13-3 home win last Thursday over Virginia Peninsula CC. Rockingham finished the regular season with a 12-31 record. Melton appeared in 18 games hitting .216 in 52 plate appearances with 11 walks and eight RBIs.

DREW ROTHSCHILD — Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College (Fr., Cartersville HS) … went 2-for-6 with one walk and one RBI last week as the Stallions lost at East Georgia and won at Gordon State. ABAC (28-28, 14-11) is the No. 2 seed in the Georgia Collegiate Athletic Association tournament Monday through Thursday at LakePoint in Emerson. The Stallions’ first game in the double-elimination tournament is Tuesday against the Georgia Highlands/Andrew College winner.

SCOTTY SMITH — Covenant College (So., Woodland HS) … started on the mound, scattered five hits, and did not allow a run in 7-⅓ innings as the Scots knocked off top-seeded LaGrange College Friday at the Collegiate Conference of the South tournament. Smith was credited with his third win of the season in a 2-0 shutout. Covenant also had tournament losses to Belhaven (Mississippi) and Huntingdon College ending their season with a 16-18 mark. Smith completed the year with a .286 batting average and three RBIs in 14 official at-bats. On the mound, he was 3-4 in 11 appearances. He had a 5.75 ERA in 56-⅓ innings with a 31:15 K/BB ratio.

STEVEN SPELL — Young Harris College (Sr., Cass HS) … earned postseason honors from the Peach Belt Conference this past week when the Mountain Lions’ third baseman was named All PBC First Team. Meanwhile, Young Harris (38-15) went 4-1 hosting a double-elimination portion of the Peach Belt Conference tournament and advanced to this weekend’s best-of-three championship series against Georgia Southwestern State in Americus. Spell was 4-for-20 in those tournament games with two doubles, three runs scored, and three RBIs. He was also hit by a pitch twice.

DEVIN WARNER — Georgia Gwinnett College (Jr., Cartersville HS) … in a win over Iowa Wesleyan and two over Fisher College (Massachusetts) to win the Continental Athletic Conference Championship tournament, Warner was 6-for-9 at the plate with a walk, three doubles, four runs scored, and eight RBIs. The Grizzlies (47-5) will host an NAIA National Tournament Opening Round double-elimination tournament May 15-18 in Lawrenceville.

PRESTON WELCHEL — Tennessee Wesleyan University (So., Cartersville HS) … went 0-for-4 with a walk in one start and a pair of pinch-hitting appearances last week while the Bulldogs finished 2-2 at the Appalachian Athletic Conference tournament. Both losses were to eventual tournament champion Union College (Kentucky). NAIA 3rd-ranked TWU (42-9) awaits the national opening round tournament site and pairings announcements.

COHEN WILBANKS — Georgia Gwinnett College (Jr., Cartersville HS) … in a win over Iowa Wesleyan and two over Fisher College (Massachusetts) to win the Continental Athletic Conference Championship Tournament, Wilbanks was 3-for-8 with a double, hit-by-pitch, sac fly, and six RBIs. The Grizzlies (47-5) will host an NAIA National Tournament Opening Round double-elimination tournament May 15-18 in Lawrenceville.

DAVIS WILLIAMS — Birmingham-Southern College (So., Cartersville HS) … made a pair of relief appearances and was credited with one win in Southern Athletic Association tournament games. Both games were victories over Berry College. In a one-inning appearance Friday, the right-handed pitcher faced the minimum and struck out one in a 5-4 win. On Saturday, Williams entered in the sixth inning and worked 2-⅓ innings without receiving a decision. He allowed four earned runs on seven hits and one walk. The Panthers ultimately won the title-clinching game 9-6. BSC (36-9) awaits their NCAA D-III National Championship Tournament assignment.

JORDAN WILKIE — Augusta University (Sr., Cartersville HS) … went 1-for-12 with one walk and two runs scored as the Jaguars went 1-2 at the Peach Belt Conference double-elimination tournament in Americus. Augusta finished the season with a 26-24 record. Wilkie, who began his collegiate career at Lipscomb University, hit .292 in 49 starts and 192 official at-bats this season. He had three home runs and 33 RBIs. He also hit .317 with one homer and 23 RBIs in his junior season with the Jaguars.

TRACK AND FIELD

BILL ARCHER — University of Montevallo (So., Cartersville HS) … placed 12th in the 3000-meter steeplechase and 18th in the 1500-meter run at the Gulf South Conference Championship May 4-6. Archer completed the steeple in 9:58.36 and the 1500m in 4:03.49. The Falcons finished fourth as a team behind Lee University, Mississippi College, and Alabama-Huntsville at the seven-team title meet. Next on the schedule for Montevallo is the Lee University Last Chance Meet on Saturday.

GOLF

BUCK BRUMLOW — University of Georgia (So., Cartersville HS) … the Bulldogs found out last Wednesday they were selected to participate in the regional rounds of the 2023 NCAA Division I Men’s Golf Championships. Georgia was assigned as the No. 6-seed at the 13-team Bath, Michigan Regional to be held at Eagle Eye Golf Club. Illinois, Florida, defending national champ Texas, Oregon, and Kansas State are the top five seeds. The top five finishing teams at the 54-hole regional May 15-17 will advance to the national finals May 26-31 at Grayhawk Golf Club in Scottsdale, Arizona.