Justus, Robinson hot at plate; Ledbetter makes collegiate debut to highlight this week's basebal

Former Cass Colonels pitcher, Cody Ledbetter, made his collegiate pitching debut last week for the Young Harris College Mountain Lions.

Connor Justus (Georgia Tech), had eight hits during the week to lead the Yellow Jackets and Mason Robinson (Wallace State CC-Dothan) had a seven-hit week for the Governors.

This week's 'Athletes Beyond Bartow' baseball report includes updates on 17 of the 25 current, former local high school baseball players contributing at their respective college programs across the country.

Bartow Sports Zone maintains a roster of local athletes competing currently on college or professional rosters. See the 'Athletes Beyond Bartow' page on this web site for more.

BASEBALL Week ending Sunday, March 20

CLIFTON DEMPSEY — Maryville College (Soph., Cartersville HS) . . . went 3-for-16 for the week as the Scots went 2-2. They salvaged one of three games at Ferrum and defeated Sewanee. Dempsey added four RBI, scored a run, and walked twice during the week. Demsey has a .328 batting average, nine RBI, and six stolen bases for the season. Maryville (18-6 overall, 8-4 USA South Athletic Conference) hosts Berry College March 22 and entertains Huntingdon College in a three-game series March 25-26.

BRANDON ETHERIDGE — Georgia Highlands CC (Soph., Cass HS) . . .went 5-for-15 in a four-game series with conference rival Darton College this past week, scoring three runs and driving in three. Etheridge has a .314 batting average with seven RBI and six stolen bases on the season. The Chargers (17-15 overall, 2-2 Georgia Collegiate Athletic Assocation) plays at East Georgia CC March 29 and hosts EGCC April 1-2.

TY FOWLER — Tennessee Wesleyan College (Jr., Cartersville HS) . . . walked one and struck out one in a ninth inning relief appearance March 19 during a 9-4 home win over Reinhardt University. Tennessee Wesleyan swept Reinhardt and improved to 18-7 overall and 8-1 in the Appalachian Athletic Conference. Fowler has pitched 5 and 1/3 innings in four appearances with a 3.38 ERA and a .273 batting average against. The Bulldogs host a doubleheader with Midland University March 23 and a three-game conference series against 23rd-ranked Bryan College March 25-26.

ROBERT HARRIS — Troy University (Jr., Adairsville HS) . . . worked the seventh and eighth innings March 19 during a 7-0 loss at Georgia Southern University. Harris allowed a pair of hits and two earned runs. He has thrown 13 and 2/3 innings in eight appearances for the Trojans with a 5.27 ERA. Troy (12-9 overall, 3-3 Sun Belt Conference) entertains Alabama A&M March 22 and plays at Arkansas-Little Rock for a three-game conference series March 24-26.

HARRISON HATFIELD — Shorter University (Soph, Cartersville HS) . . . went 1-for-5 with a walk and scored a run in a pair of home games during a series with Lee Univeristy March 19-20. He has a .973 fielding percentage in 37 chances this season as a middle infielder. Shorter (10-16 overall, 4-11 Gulf South Conference) was swept by Lee. The Hawks host Lincoln Memorial University March 23 and conference opponent, Alabama-Huntsville in a three-game series March 25-26.

BRADLEY HOOD — Georgia Highlands CC (Fr., Cass HS) . . . made a 2 inning relief appearance March 19 at Darton allowing an earned run on a hit and three walks. He struck out two. Hood has made nine appearances and pitched 10 innings with a 3.60 ERA. The Chargers (17-15 overall, 2-2 Georgia Collegiate Athletic Assocation) plays at East Georgia CC March 29 and hosts EGCC April 1-2.

TRIPP JAMIESON — Univ. of the Cumberlands (Jr., Cartersville HS) . . . went 2-for-11 with a pair of RBI during the Patriots’ 1-5 week. Cumberlands was swept in a three-game series at No. 1 in NAIA, Faulkner (AL) University, and salvaged one win in a three-game home series with Shawnee State University. In 21 games and 16 starts, Jamieson has a .250 batting average with two homers and 14 RBI. The Patriots (19-10 overall, 3-3 Mid-South Conference) play at Union (KY) College March 23 and at 8th-ranked Lindsey Wilson for a three-game series March 25-26.

CONNOR JUSTUS — Georgia Tech (Jr., Cartersville HS) . . . went 2-for-4, scored a run and drove in one in a 14-3 loss to Auburn March 15, then went 6-for-12, scoring five runs with a pair of walks and three RBI in a three-game conference sweep of visiting Virginia Tech March 18-20. Justus leads the Yellow Jackets with a .416 batting average and has started all 19 games. He has two homers, 16 RBI, and has stolen four bases. 25th-ranked Georgia Tech (15-4 overall, 3-3 Atlantic Coast Conference) plays at Kennesaw State March 22 and makes the trip to Chapel Hill, NC to face the North Carolina Tar Heels in a three-game, ACC series March 24-26.

CODY LEDBETTER — Young Harris College (Fr., Cass HS) . . . made his collegiate debut March 15 working an inning and one-third during a 20-12 home loss to Mars Hill College. He allowed a hit, a walk, and two earned runs. Ledbetter struck out one batter. The Mountain Lions (9-17 overall, 4-11 Peach Belt Conference) entertain UNC-Pembroke in a three-game conference series March 25-27.

SEAN McDERMOTT — Cleveland State CC (Fr., Adairsville HS) . . . started four of five games for the Cougars last week as they went 4-1. McDurmott was 6-for-16, scored three runs with a homerun and three RBI. Cleveland State CC swept a home doubleheader with Tusculum College JV March 16 and won two of three at Southwest Tennessee CC March 18-19. McDurmott has appeared in 23 games this season and has a .364 batting average. He has two homeruns, 15 RBI, and has scored 15 runs. The Cougars (15-10 overall, 6-3 Tennessee Community College Athletic Association) host Chattanooga State CC March 24-25 in a three-game series.

CHRIS MORTON — Georgia Highlands CC (Fr., Cass HS) . . . made a relief appearance, allowing two hits and a pair of unearned runs in a home, 5-2 loss to Darton College March 15. Morton has made five pitching appearances for 2.1 innings pitched and has not allowed an earned run. The Chargers (17-15 overall, 2-2 Georgia Collegiate Athletic Assocation) plays at East Georgia CC March 29 and hosts EGCC April 1-2.

HUNTER OSBORN — Reinhardt University (Soph., Cartersville HS) . . . suffered his first pitching loss of the year at Tennessee Wesleyan College March 18. The right-handed starter went five innings, allowed four earned runs on six hits and four walks. He struck out four. Osborn is 4-1 as a starter with a 1.95 ERA. The Eagles (20-10 overall, 5-4 Appalachian Athletic Conference) host Taylor University (IN) March 23 and travel to Milligan College (TN) for a three-game conference series March 25-26.

MASON ROBINSON — Wallace State-Dothan CC (Soph., Woodland HS) . . . was 7-for-15 with four doubles and a homerun last week at the Governors defeated Black Hawk College and split a four-game conference series with Chattahoochee Valley CC. Robinson has a .263 batting average, two homers, 13 runs scored, seven RBI, and five stolen bases in 23 games. WSCC-Dothan (16-10 overall, 4-4 Alabama Community College Conference) plays at Andrew College March 22 and will play a four-game series with Bishop State CC March 24-26.

TRISTON SMITH — Young Harris College (Soph., Adairsville HS) . . . started four games and appeared in five last week. He went 6-for-17 at the plate, scored twice, and drove in one run as the Mountain Lions lost twice to Mars Hill and won one of three games at Francis Marion University. Smith has a .343 batting average in 35 at bats across eight appearances. Young Harris College (9-17 overall, 4-11 Peach Belt Conference) entertains UNC-Pembroke in a three-game conference series March 25-27.

JO JO UNDERWOOD — University of North Carolina-Greensboro (Jr., Cartersville HS) . . . had a hit in a 16-4 home win over Marist March 20. Underwood is 2-for-9 in nine appearances for the Spartans. UNCG (15-5) won all four games last week, defeating University of Maryland-Eastern Shore and sweeping a three game series with Marist. Greensboro plays North Carolina A&T March 22 at Bridge Bank Park in Greensboro and will host Georgetown March 24-26.

TYLER WILL — Berry College (Jr., Cartersville HS) . . . made a one-inning relief appearance during a 3-2 win over Covenant College March 15. He allowed a hit, but faced only three batters due to a double play. In seven relief appearances, Will has worked seven innings with three strikeouts, a save, and a 3.86 ERA. Berry (17-8 overall, 4-5 Southern Athletic Association) travels to Maryville (TN) College March 22 before hosting a three-game conference series with Rhodes College, March 25-26.

CHAZ WILSON — Columbus State University (Jr., Cass HS) . . . made one relief appearance tossing a spotless eighth inning with two strikeouts in a 9-8 home loss to 25th-ranked Lander March 18. The 7th-ranked Cougars were only 1-3 for the week, losing a non-conference game to Lee University and won only one of three at home against conference leading Lander University. Wilson has pitched 12 and 1/3 innings in eight relief appearances. He has struck out 13 and has a .214 batting average against with a 4.38 ERA. Columbus State (21-7 overall, 9-3 Peach Belt Conference) plays Point University at home March 23 before traveling to Flagler College for a three-game PBC series in St. Augustine, FL, March 25-26.