Baseball 'Athletes Beyond Bartow' update
The two current minor league baseball prospects from Cartersville -- Sam Howard and Connor Justus -- opened their respective 2018 campaigns this past week with both off to solid starts.
At the collegiate level, ten local athletes made contributions with their programs around the country during the week ending April 8.
MINOR LEAGUE BASEBALL
SAM HOWARD — Albuquerque Isotopes - Triple A Pacific Coast League (5th year pro; Colorado Rockies organization; Georgia Southern University; Cartersville HS)… made his first start of the 2018 regular season and earned a win Sunday as the ‘Topes won at Salt Lake 11-4. Howard (1-0) allowed two earned runs on six hits. He did not issue a walk and fanned four. Albuquerque (3-1) wraps up their series at Salt Lake Monday and hosts Las Vegas and Salt Lake Tuesday through Monday, April 16.
CONNOR JUSTUS — Mobile BayBears - AA Southern League (3rd year pro; LA Angels organization; Georgia Tech; Cartersville HS)… went 3-for-3 with a walk and a double in the BayBears season opener last Thursday at home as Mobile defeated Pensacola 9-4. He followed that with a 1-for-4 performance in a Friday loss. Justus was 0-for-3 in a Sunday afternoon doubleheader, but walked three times as the BayBears swept Pensacola 9-0 and 4-3. He started all four games playing shortstop in the first three games and second base in Sunday’s second game. Mobile (3-1) concludes a five-game series with Pensacola Monday and travels to Jacksonville for a five-game set Wednesday through Sunday.
COLLEGE BASEBALL
BRANDON ALLEN — Georgia Highlands CC (Fr., OF, Woodland HS)… made appearances in games Friday and Sunday for the Chargers and went 0-for-3 for the week. GHC was swept in a four-game conference series during the week with South Georgia State. The Chargers (24-15, 10-10) play non-conference games this week at Chattahoochee Valley CC Tuesday, at Emmanuel College (DH) Wednesday, and against Shorter University JV at LakePoint on Thursday.
ELLIOTT ANDERSON — Auburn University (Soph., LHP, Cartersville HS)… worked an inning and two-thirds in relief and was credited with the pitching win last Tuesday as the Tigers routed Alabama A&M 19-5. Anderson (4-0, 4.91 ERA) retired all five batters faced and struck out one. He has now appeared in 13 games and pitched 14 and two-thirds innings. Auburn (23-10, 4-8) plays at Samford Tuesday night before hosting a three-game SEC series with Mississippi State Friday through Sunday.
BAILEY CAMPBELL — Young Harris College (Fr., 1B, Cass HS)… struck out in his only pinch hitting appearance last week during a 14-8 loss Monday at Anderson (SC) University. YHC (21-17, 13-11 Peach Belt Conference) was 2-3 last week and plays at Southern Wesleyan (SC) Wednesday before hosting USC-Aiken in a three-game conference series Friday through Sunday.
BRANDON ETHERIDGE — Limestone College (Sr., OF, Cass HS)… went 3-for-13 with a walk, a sacrifice fly for an RBI, and scored two runs in four games last week. The Saints went 3-1 for the week with a loss at Wingate and a three-game conference sweep at home of Southern Wesleyan. Limestone (17-20, 9-9 Conference Carolinas) travels to Carson-Newman University Tuesday and plays a three-game series at North Greenville Friday and Saturday.
CODY JOHNSON — Georgia Highlands CC (Fr., RHP, Cass HS)… had a rough outing in his only appearance this past week for the Chargers. He entered in the eighth inning and allowed three earned runs on three walks and a hit in an 11-2 loss last Friday to South Georgia State. The Chargers (24-15, 10-10) play non-conference games this week at Chattahoochee Valley CC Tuesday, at Emmanuel College (DH) Wednesday, and against Shorter University JV at LakePoint on Thursday.
SEAN McDERMOTT — Mercer University (Jr., 1B, Adairsville HS)… started each game and went 3-for-13 as the Bears won mid-week road games at Savannah State and Georgia Southern but dropped two of three home conference games to Furman. McDermott had a double, two walks, and three RBI for the week. He was twice hit by a pitch and had a sacrifice fly. Mercer (26-8, 6-3) hosts Georgia Tech Tuesday and plays a three-game Southern Conference series at Samford Friday through Sunday.
HARRISON OSBORN — Point University (Fr., RHP, Cartersville HS)… started and went three innings for no decision last Tuesday in an eventual 5-4 10-inning loss at Talladega (AL). Osborn allowed no runs on two hits and no walks. He struck out one of the ten batters he faced. In Dayton, TN Saturday, Osborn went five innings in a start and 7-4 loss to Bryan College. He allowed seven earned runs on twelve hits and a walk. He fanned five. Point (21-17, 11-7) plays a doubleheader Tuesday at Toccoa Falls College and hosts Milligan College for a three-game Appalachian Athletic Conference series Friday and Saturday.
HUNTER REAID — Shorter University (Fr., C, Woodland HS)… was 0-for-1 but walked twice last Tuesday in a 4-1 home win over Clark Atlanta University. Reaid started that game and made a defensive appearance Sunday in an 11-4 Gulf South Conference win at Auburn-Montgomery. The Hawks (17-18, 7-12) play the rubber game of their series with AUM Monday, play at Georgia College Wednesday, and host a three-game conference series with University of Montevallo Saturday and Sunday.
TRISTIN SMITH — Young Harris College (Jr., Inf., Adairsville HS)… started all five games last week and went 3-for-20 with a homer, a walk, and six RBI as the Mountain Lions went 2-3. Young Harris won a non-conference game at Emmanuel College last Wednesday and won one of three Peach Belt Conference games at University of North Georgia over the weekend. YHC (21-17, 13-11) plays at Southern Wesleyan (SC) Wednesday and hosts USC-Aiken Friday through Sunday in conference games.
TYLER WASHINGTON — Young Harris College (Sr., OF, Adairsville HS)… started four of five games last week for the Mountain Lions as they went 2-3. For the week, Washington was 3-for-14 with two doubles, five walks, four runs, and one RBI. He has a .277 batting average for the year in 32 starts and 101 at bats. Young Harris (21-17, 13-11) plays at Southern Wesleyan (SC) Wednesday and hosts USC-Aiken Friday through Sunday in Peach Belt Conference games.
