Athletes Beyond Bartow update for week ending April 30

Collegiate schedules are completed or winding down for many locals in softball and baseball, but the minor league baseball seasons for Sam Howard and Connor Justus are early in 2017.

Former Canes pitcher and now Auburn Tigers freshman left-hander, Elliott Anderson, had possibly the most significant appearance of his young career this past weekend against SEC-rival Mississippi State, while the local players on the Reinhardt University softball team captured another AAC title and are headed to the NAIA national tournament.

This week’s Athletes Beyond Bartow update also includes news for collegiate track and field and the conclusion of the 2017 season for Peyton Gollhofer and the Ball State University women’s tennis team.

MiLB

SAM HOWARD — Hartford Yard Goats (Double-A, Eastern League; Colorado Rockies organization; Georgia Southern; Cartersville HS). . . In his third start of the year and second with Hartford, Howard went four innings and allowed two runs on two hits and a pair of walks in a 2-1 home loss to Richmond. For the season, he is 0-1 in three games and has worked 10.2 innings. He has eight strikeouts and a 2.53 ERA. Hartford is 8-12 and five games back of the Trenton Thunder (NYY) in the Eastern Division of the Eastern League.

CONNOR JUSTUS — Inland Empire 66ers (Class A Advanced, California League; LA Angels organization; Georgia Tech; Cartersville HS). . . Justus has endured a slow start at the plate with the 66ers through their first 20 games batting normally in the six or seven slot of the order. In 73 at bats he has a .164 batting average with six RBIs, but has drawn a dozen walks for a .291 on base average. He has a .955 fielding percentage in 82 total chances and has been part of 18 double plays. The 66ers are 10-14 and currently 4 games back of Rancho Cucamonga (LAD) in the South Division of the California League.

COLLEGE BASEBALL

ELLIOTT ANDERSON — Auburn University (Freshman, LHP, Cartersville HS). . . picked up a win with two and one-third innings of relief Saturday as 5th-ranked Auburn won 5-3 at 7th-ranked Mississippi State. He entered the game with one out and the bases loaded in the fifth inning, but induced a ground ball double play to enable the Tigers to escape the inning with out a run. Over the next inning and one-third, Anderson allowed one earned run on four hits. He struck out one. He also worked an inning and two-thirds last Tuesday in a 5-2 home loss to Troy where he did not allow a run on two hits and struck out two. Anderson now has eight appearances for 8.2 innings with an 8.31 ERA and seven strikeouts. Auburn (32-14, 14-7 SEC) hosts a three-game series with Alabama Friday through Sunday.

CARRINGTON EVANS — Augusta University (Freshman, OF, Cartersville HS). . . He was 0-for-4 in a 10-4 home win over Claflin last Tuesday and went 1-for-8 as the Jaguars split a two-game weekend series at Columbus State. Evans finished the season with a .301 batting average that included two homers, five extra-base hits, and 13 RBIs in 103 at bats across 30 games and 23 starts in the outfield. He made no errors defensively during the year. Augusta finished the year 21-25 overall and 10-14 in the Peach Belt Conference. The Jags finished in a tie for eighth and did not qualify for the PBC post season tournament.

TY FOWLER — Tennessee Wesleyan College (Senior, RHP, Cartersville HS). . . pitched three innings of relief last Tuesday and was tagged with the pitching loss in a 6-2 home loss to 20th-ranked University of the Cumberlands (KY). Fowler gave up a four hits, including a home run and a pair of earned runs. For the season he has made eight appearances with 12.1 innings pitched and a 2.45 ERA. 6th-ranked TWC (35-18, 20-7 Appalachian Athletic Conference) plays in the AAC Championship Tournament that begins this Wednesday in Kingsport, TN

MICHAEL GOSS — UNC-Greensboro (Senior, 1B, Cartersville HS). . . hit his fifth home run of the season Sunday to cap a 3-for-14 weekend as the Spartans won two-of-three games at Mercer in the Southern Conference. UNC-Greensboro (26-16, 10-5 Southern Conference) hosts Elon in a non-conference game Tuesday and plays at SoCon opponent Virginia Military Institute Friday through Sunday.

BRADLEY HOOD — Georgia Highlands College (Sophomore, RHP, Cass HS). . . pitched the ninth inning last Thursday of a Chargers’ 9-8 home loss to Gordon State. He allowed a pair of hits, but no runs and struck out two. GHC (34-18, 11-9 GCAA) has moved into second place in the conference with a four-game conference series remaining this week with West Georgia Tech. The Chargers host Tuesday and finish with three games at West Georgia Tech Friday and Saturday. The Chargers will host the GCAA tournament at LakePoint May 10-13

SEAN McDERMOTT — Cleveland State CC (Sophomore, 1B, Adairsville HS). . . was 5-for-10 with a double as the Cougars won one of three home games against Jackson State CC Friday and Saturday. The Mercer commit is hitting .371 for the season with eight homers and 35 RBIs in 174 plate appearances. CSCC (33-16, 13-14 TCCAA)

SOFTBALL

KENNEDY BAILEY — Union College (KY) (Freshman, C, Cartersville HS). . . went 5-for-10 with three RBIs and a run scored last week playing in three games. She played in a regular season win over Truett McConnell last Wednesday and in a conference tourney loss to Milligan (TN) and a tourney win over Point. She hit .288 for the year with two home runs and 14 RBIs in 22 games and 21 starts. The Bulldogs’ season ended with a 6-4 loss to Tennessee Wesleyan Friday in the AAC tournament. Union was 29-28 this season.

TAYLOR BRASELTON — Reinhardt University (Senior, SS, Woodland HS). . . the Lady Eagles’ shortstop had a hit in three of four Appalachian Athletic Conference Tournament games last week and was 3-for-14 in the tourney with three runs, a stolen base, and one RBI. Reinhardt swept four games with four, one-run wins to take the tournament title in Kingsport, TN, defeating St. Andrews (NC), Tennessee Wesleyan, and Milligan (TN) twice. The 16th-ranked Eagles (41-14-1) advance to the NAIA Softball Championship Opening Round May 15-17 at a site to be determined. The most likely site assignment for RU appears to be Georgia Gwinnett in Lawrenceville, GA

SYDNEY FLOWERS — Reinhardt University (Senior, OF, Woodland HS). . . scored a run in the Lady Eagles’ one-run AAC championship game victory over Milligan (TN). Reinhardt swept four games with four, one-run wins to take the tournament title in Kingsport, TN, defeating St. Andrews (NC), Tennessee Wesleyan, and Milligan (TN) twice. The 16th-ranked Eagles (41-14-1) advance to the NAIA Softball Championship Opening Round May 15-17 at a site to be determined. The most likely site assignment for RU appears to be Georgia Gwinnett in Lawrenceville, GA

CASSIDY HOWREN (photo right) — Reinhardt University (Junior, C, Adairsville HS). . . drew a walk and had a sacrifie hit in the AAC championship game victory over Milligan (TN). Howren was 0-for-8 in the tournament. Reinhardt swept four games with four, one-run wins to take the tournament title in Kingsport, TN, defeating St. Andrews (NC), Tennessee Wesleyan, and Milligan (TN) twice. The 16th-ranked Eagles (41-14-1) advance to the NAIA Softball Championship Opening Round May 15-17 at a site to be determined. The most likely site assignment for RU appears to be Georgia Gwinnett in Lawrenceville, GA

HUNTER IRVIN — Reinhardt University (Sophomore, OF, Cartersville HS). . . was 0-for-1 in the AAC Championship Tournament, but did score a run in the Lady Eagles’ one-run championship game victory over Milligan (TN). Reinhardt swept four games with four, one-run wins to take the tournament title in Kingsport, TN, defeating St. Andrews (NC), Tennessee Wesleyan, and Milligan (TN) twice. The 16th-ranked Eagles (41-14-1) advance to the NAIA Softball Championship Opening Round May 15-17 at a site to be determined. The most likely site assignment for RU appears to be Georgia Gwinnett in Lawrenceville, GA

KAILAH RAIN — Emby-Riddle University (Junior, OF, Cartersville HS). . . 1-for-9 in a three-game home sweep of Eckerd College Friday and Saturday. She finished the year with a .185 batting average in 22 games after hitting .346 in 78 games during her first two seasons with the Lady Eagles. ERU finished the year 26-22 overall and is transitioning to NCAA D2 and the Sunshine State Conference.

TAYLOR WAITS — Brewton-Parker College (Freshman, OF, Cartersville HS). . . saw action as an outfield starter, but had no plate appearances in an eight inning loss at Auburn-Montgomery last Tuesday. BPC was eliminated by Middle Georgia State at the Southern States Athletic Conference Tournament last Thursday and finished the season with an 11-40 record.

TAYLOR WEEKS — Reinhardt University (Senior, OF, Adairsville HS). . . the Lady Eagles’ left fielder made the AAC Championship All-Tournament Team with a 6-for-12 tournament performance in four games. Weeks had a double, coaxed one walk, and scored four runs in the tourney. Reinhardt swept four games with four, one-run wins to take the tournament title in Kingsport, TN, defeating St. Andrews (NC), Tennessee Wesleyan, and Milligan (TN) twice. The 16th-ranked Eagles (41-14-1) advance to the NAIA Softball Championship Opening Round May 15-17 at a site to be determined. The most likely site assignment for RU appears to be Georgia Gwinnett in Lawrenceville, GA

LAUREN WOMACK — Georgia Highlands College (Sophomore, SS, Cass HS). . . the Chargers’ shortstop made numerous outstanding defensive plays and was 5-for-16 with a walk and two runs scored, but GHC came up short at the Georgia Collegiate Athletic Association Championship Tournament going 3-2. Both tourney losses came to eventual champs, Georgia Military College. Georgia Highlands finished 43-14.

ANNALYN YANTIS — Samford University (Sophomore, P, Cartersville HS). . . made a sixth inning appearance Saturday at Georgia Tech in a 9-1 loss. She allowed a hit and a walk and did not record an out. Samford (21-32, 9-6 Southern Conference) plays their final regular season conference series this weekend at Western Carolina. The SoCon tournament is May 9-13 in Chattanooga.

TRACK AND FIELD

BREE COLE — Jacksonville State University (Freshman, Cartersville HS). . . finished 15th with a time of 5:12.57 in the 1500M run this past weekend at the Western Carolina Invitational in Cullowhee, NC. Jacksonville State finished fourth in the 10-school meet behind Kennesaw State, Georgia State, and WCU. Next for the Lady Gamecocks is the University of Tennessee Challenge Saturday.

SAMANTHA PATTERSON (photo right) — Jacksonville State University (Junior, Woodland HS). . . placed third in the pole vault at the Western Carolina Invitational Friday in Cullowhee, NC with a mark of 3.45 meters. Jacksonville State finished fourth in the 10-school meet behind Kennesaw State, Georgia State, and WCU. Next for JSU is the University of Tennessee Challenge Saturday.

BLAKE PERRY — Jacksonville State University (Junior, Cartersville HS). . . placed sixth in the triple jump at the Western Carolina Invitational Friday in Cullowhee, NC with a mark of 11.09 meters. Jacksonville State finished fourth in the 10-school meet behind Kennesaw State, Georgia State, and WCU. Next for JSU is the University of Tennessee Challenge Saturday.

TENNIS

PEYTON GOLLHOFER — Ball State University (Sophomore, Laurel Springs Academy, Cartersville native). . . paired with Carmen Blanco at Line 1 doubles to win 6-3 against their Miami-OH opponents, but lost her Line 2 singles match 2-6, 6-7 (1-7) as the Lady Cards season came to an end with a Mid-American Conference tournament semifinal loss. Gollhofer was 14-4 in doubles matches this season playing usually at Line 1 or Line 2. She was also 11-7 in singles matches playing all her matches on Line 1 or 2. Ball State finished the year with a 20-3 mark.