Athletes Beyond Bartow: Softball, baseball updates for the week ending March 17
Local college softball players Sierrah Gani and Paris Poston continue to be key offensive producers for their respective teams at Georgia Highlands College and Columbus State University while MLB spring training continues and multiple local players contribute on the college baseball diamonds. Auburn pitcher Elliott Anderson was credited with his third win of the season this past week and former Woodland standout Mason Robinson had a solid week at the plate for Louisiana Tech. At the professional level, Anthony Seigler (photo) is dealing with a quad injury while Sam Howard made another Cactus League appearance with Colorado and middle infielder Connor Justus continues his reserve role with the Los Angeles Angels.
SOFTBALL
SARAH FOX — Agnes Scott College (Fr., Inf., Cass HS)… finished the week 2-for-13 this past week as the Scotties struggled on offense as a team. Fox scored a pair of runs and walked three times with a stolen base. Agnes Scott lost eight games, falling in doubleheaders at Birmingham Southern, at Pfeiffer, at home to West Georgia Tech, and at Salem College. The Scotties (2-14) play at Piedmont College Wednesday before hosting Brevard College and Maryville (TN) College over the weekend.
SIERRAH GANI — Georgia Highlands CC (So., Inf., Cass HS)… went 4-for-5 with a double and a walk in a doubleheader at Andrew College Saturday driving in six runs and scoring three. She then went 2-for-5 with one RBI as the Chargers split a conference doubleheader at ABAC. GHC (12-12, 5-5 Georgia Collegiate Athletic Association) has a conference doubleheader at West Georgia Tech Saturday.
PARIS POSTON — Columbus State University (Fr., OF, Cartersville HS)… was 3-for-13 last week with a walk, two doubles, and two RBI as the Cougars won three of four road conference games. CSU swept Peach Belt foe USC-Aiken Friday and split at Lander University on Sunday. Poston is hitting .253 with a SLG% of .387 and an OPS of .716 through 26 appearances this season with 75 at-bats. Columbus State (20-9, 3-1) hosts Emmanuel College Wednesday before traveling to Augusta University for a PBC doubleheader Sunday.
HANNAH TODD — Kansas University (So., P, Cartersville HS)… made a pair of one inning appearances Friday and Saturday against Tulsa. She gave up three earned runs on three hits and a walk Friday with one strikeout. Saturday Todd worked a shutout frame with a walk and two strikeouts. The Jayhawks were 2-2 for the weekend against Tulsa and Nebraska in the Rock Chalk Challenge. Kansas (7-19) has a final week of tuneups before beginning Big 12 Conference play. They host Omaha Monday, travel to Wichita State Wednesday, and entertain University of Green Bay Friday and Saturday.
ANNALYN YANTIS — Samford University (Sr., P, Cartersville HS)… started, but received no decision in three innings of work during a 6-5 win last Monday over Northern Iowa. Yantis also started and worked two innings in a 15-2 loss at Ole Miss last Friday. She gave up six earned runs on six hits and hit two batters. Samford (9-21) hosts Tennessee Tech Tuesday afternoon before opening Southern Conference play this weekend with a three-game series at UNC-Greensboro.
PRO BASEBALL
SAM HOWARD — Colorado Rockies (6th yr. pro; LHP; Georgia Southern; Cartersville HS)… worked a successful eighth inning allowing no base runners and struck out two in a 2-1 win over Kansas City last Friday. Howard has a 2.25 ERA in four innings of work this spring in three relief appearances with a WHIP of 1.75. The Rockies are currently 10-12 in Cactus League action.
CONNOR JUSTUS — L.A. Angels (4th yr. pro; MIF; Georgia Tech; Cartersville HS)… was 0-for-1 but scored a run last Thursday in a 7-7 tie with the Milwaukee Brewers. Justus entered off the bench to play second base. He also entered defensively at third base and started a double play, but did not have a plate appearance in Friday’s 2-1 win over Arizona. Saturday he again entered to play third base and was 0-for-1 at the plate. This spring with the MLB club, the 24-year-old is 5-for-16 (.313 BA / .353 OBP / .853 OPS).
ANTHONY SEIGLER — N.Y. Yankees (2nd yr. pro; C; Cartersville HS)… Sam Dykstra of MiLB.com reported last week that Seigler is dealing with a quad strain and may be held back in extended spring training to start the year. The report also states that he would have likely opened the year at Low-A, but this injury will delay his full-season debut.
COLLEGE BASEBALL
ELLIOTT ANDERSON — Auburn University (So., LHP, Cartersville HS)… made three appearances last week for the 12th-ranked Tigers who were 4-0 for the week including a home, three-game SEC sweep of Tennessee. Anderson worked two innings allowing three hits with six strikeouts Tuesday in a 6-2 win at South Alabama. He then picked up his third win of the year in the series opener with the Vols on Friday. The southpaw entered in the seventh inning with two outs in a scoreless game and walked a batter before the next hitter reached on an error. On the same play, however, the lead runner was cut down trying to advance to third to end the inning. Auburn went ahead in the bottom of the frame with Anderson as the pitcher of record. In Saturday’s win, he retired the final four outs without a run. He allowed a pair of hits and a walk while fanning one. Auburn (18-2, 3-0) has now reeled off 13 straight wins and plays at Alabama-Birmingham Tuesday night prior to a trip to Mississippi State this weekend for a three-game conference series.
CARRINGTON EVANS — Augusta University (R-So., OF, Cartersville HS)… entered off the bench in four games last week, Evans walked twice and scored a run in a 6-5 home win over Newberry. He doubled and was hit by a pitch with two RBI and two runs scored in a 19-10 win over Paine College on Wednesday. In his only plate appearance Friday, the outfielder walked in a 17-6 home conference win over Flagler College while Saturday he entered to play centerfield and failed to reach in his only at-bat during a 13-1 loss. The Jaguars (13-12, 4-11 Peach Belt Conference) play at Anderson University Wednesday and travel to Dahlonega for a three-game set at University of North Georgia this weekend.
LANE GRIFFITH — University of West Georgia (Jr., C, Adairsville HS)… went 3-for-12 last week in four games with the Wolves. UWG lost to 24th-ranked Columbus State last Wednesday, but swept a three-game Gulf South Conference series with Alabama-Huntsville over the weekend. Griffith scored three runs, walked twice, and drove in a pair of runs across the four games as well. West Georgia (10-15, 7-7) plays at Emmanuel College Wednesday then takes on University of Montevallo in a three-game GSC series this weekend.
HARRISON OSBORN — Point University (So., RHP, Cartersville HS)… had a rough outing Sunday in a 12-4 loss at Truett-McConnell University. Osborn allowed five runs in the first inning and did not record an out in the second of his seventh start of the year. He finished the day with seven earned runs allowed on nine hits. For the season, Osborn is 3-2 with a 6.55 ERA in 33 innings. The Skyhawks (18-10, 4-5) host NAIA 3rd-ranked Faulkner University Tuesday and travel to Milligan College this weekend for a three-game Appalachian Athletic Conference series.
MASON ROBINSON — Louisiana Tech (Sr., OF, Woodland HS)… Robinson fared much better than his Bulldog squad this past weekend. Louisiana Tech was swept by Southern Miss in a Conference USA opening series, but did manage a mid-week win Tuesday over Sam Houston State. Robinson finished the week 5-for-15 with two walks, a stolen base, and two RBI in the four games. The Bulldogs (11-8, 0-3) host Mississippi Valley State Tuesday and travel to Middle Tennessee for a three-game conference series this weekend.
TRISTIN SMITH — Young Harris College (Sr., Inf., Adairsville HS)… went 5-for-16 in five games last week for the Mountain Lions. His production included a double, four RBI, and two runs scored. YHC was 4-1 for the week with a doubleheader sweep at Lee University and two wins in a three-game home Peach Belt Conference series with Francis Marion University. Young Harris (17-8, 6-4) hosts Lee Wednesday before traveling to St. Augustine, Florida for a three-game PBC series at Flagler College over the weekend.
TYLER WASHINGTON — Young Harris College (Sr., OF, Adairsville HS)… was 1-for-4 in Saturday’s 10-4 loss to Francis Marion. He then had a pinch hit appearance, was hit by a pitch, and played left field in Sunday’s 14-0 win over the Patriots. Washington also entered as a pinch runner and played the outfield in a 6-3 win in Game 2 of Sunday’s doubleheader with FMU. Young Harris (17-8, 6-4) went 4-1 for the week and will now host Lee Wednesday prior to a trip to Flagler College this weekend for a three-game conference series.
