Athletes Beyond Bartow: Anderson extends hot start, Howard continues surge
The two Cartersville left handed pitchers in pro baseball had scoreless weeks with their respective MiLB clubs to highlight this week's 'Athletes Beyond Bartow' report. First year pro Elliott Anderson has now made six appearances without allowing an earned run while sixth year pro Sam Howard is in the midst of a 16-game stretch where he has dramatically lowered his ERA.
ELLIOTT ANDERSON — Burlington Royals (1st yr. pro; LHP; Rookie Advanced Appalachian League; Kansas City Royals’ organization; Auburn; Cartersville HS)… made a two inning, non-save situation appearance last Thursday in a 5-0 win at the Elizabethton Twins. Anderson retired the final six outs of the game to complete his sixth consecutive appearance without allowing an earned run. In seven innings of relief work as a pro, he has allowed five hits and two walks while fanning six. He has maintained a 0.00 ERA with one save. Burlington is 12-13 in the Appalachian League East Division. The Royals trail the Pulaski Yankees by 3 1/2 games.
SAM HOWARD — Albuquerque Isotopes (6th yr. pro; LHP; Triple-A Pacific Coast League; Colorado Rockies’ organization; Georgia Southern; Cartersville HS)… appeared in two games last week — both at division-leading El Paso. In Thursday’s 9-8 win, Howard was credited with his second pitching win of the year. He entered in the fourth inning with two outs, struck out three of the four batters he faced as the Isotopes took a 9-4 lead to the sixth. In Sunday’s 12-3 win, Howard allowed one hit and struck out one in a scoreless eighth inning. For the season, he now has a 2-1 record in 34 relief appearances and 42 2/3 innings. His ERA, which was over 6.00 in late May has been whittled to 4.01 over his last 16 appearances. He has 54 strikeouts. Albuquerque (40-54) is in last place in the PCL’s Pacific Southern Division, 16 1/2 games behind El Paso.
CONNOR JUSTUS — Mobile BayBears (4th yr. pro; Inf.; Double-A Southern League; L.A. Angels’ organization; Georgia Tech; Cartersville HS)… appeared in three of Mobile’s five games last week. He started at second base last Monday at home in a 7-2 victory over Jacksonville and started at shortstop Saturday in a 9-4 win at the Tennessee Smokies. He was also utilized as a pinch runner and remained in the game to play third base in Thursday’s 5-3 win at Tennessee. He was 1-for-6 with a pair of walks and scored four runs in last week’s games. Through 78 games this season, Justus has a .181 batting average in 226 official at-bats. He has one home run, ten doubles, and 15 RBI. Defensively, he has a .941 fielding percentage in 273 total chances and has been part of 29 double plays executed by the BayBears. Mobile (11-12 second half) is currently in third place in the Southern League’s South Division second half, trailing Jacksonville by two games. Overall, Mobile is 38-53 for the year.
LUKE SCHILTZ — AZL Rangers (1st yr. pro; RHP; Rookie Arizona League; Texas Rangers’ organization; Cartersville native; Stoneman Douglas (Fla.) HS)… made a one inning relief appearance and his second pro appearance last Wednesday in a 16-5 win over the AZL Dodgers. Schiltz allowed one walk and struck out one while recording three outs in the sixth inning. The 19-year-old was taken in the 24th round in the MLB’s June draft. His AZL Rangers team is 14-7 and leads the Arizona League West Division.
ANTHONY SEIGLER — Charleston RiverDogs (2nd yr. pro; C; Class A South Atlantic League; N.Y. Yankees’ organization; Cartersville HS)… appearing in only four games this past week, Seigler was 1-for-15 at the plate and his season average has slipped to .195. The one hit for the week was his third double of the year Friday night in a 4-3, extra inning win at Columbia. Seigler has 18 starts at catcher and has a .988 fielding percentage in 162 total chances. He has thrown out 7-of-20 on attempted stolen bases. The RiverDogs (10-13 second half) are currently in fifth place in the South Atlantic League’s Southern Division second half. Charleston has a 47-46 mark for the entire season.
