Athletes Beyond Bartow: Pro and collegiate contributions from locals for the week ending April 27, 2025

April 28, 2025

Charles Wilson / BartowSportsZone.com

This week's edition of Athletes Beyond Bartow includes updates on three dozen local contributors at the collegiate and professional levels.

MiLB

MASON BARNETT — Las Vegas Aviators (Oakland A’s Triple-A affiliate; 4th-year pro; Auburn; Cartersville HS) … made a five-inning start with no decision April 23 in a 2-1 loss at the Round Rock Express. The 24-year-old righty allowed one earned run on four hits and one walk while striking out eight. Las Vegas (17-10) finished last week 3-3 at Round Rock and entered the week leading the Pacific Coast League West Division by three games over Reno. The Aviators host Tacoma for six games this week.

LOGAN MARTIN — Quad Cities River Bandits (Kansas City Royals High-Class A affiliate; 3rd-year pro; Kentucky; Cartersville HS) … earned his second pitching win in four starts this season last Friday with a six-inning home start against the Peoria Chiefs. The 23-year-old right-hander did not allow a run on two hits and two walks while striking out three in an eventual 13-4 win. Martin had his season ERA drop to 1.77 with the performance. The Bandits were 4-2 last week against the Chiefs. Quad Cities (14-6) began the week leading Cedar Rapids by two games in the Midwest League West. They play six games this week at the Great Lakes Loons.

ANTHONY SEIGLER — Nashville Sounds (Milwaukee Brewers Triple-A affiliate; 8th-year pro; Cartersville HS) … went 2-for-10, including a homer and one walk across four home games last week against the Durham Bulls. The 25-year-old also had two stolen bases. The Sounds were 3-3 in the series with Durham and entered this week 15-11 and ½ game behind the Memphis Redbirds in the International League West Division. Nashville hosts the Gwinnett Stripers this week for a six-game series through Sunday.

NFL

EVAN SLOCUM -- Indianapolis Colts (1st year pro; Wake Forest; Cartersville HS) ... is among the 14 undrafted free agents and two safeties who signed with the Colts after the draft. During his four-year tenure with the Demon Deacons, Slocum amassed 167 tackles and two interceptions. Analysts suggest that Indianapolis will probably need to include an additional safety in their 53-man roster, positioning Slocum to compete for that role or a potential spot on special teams.

SOFTBALL

KILEY ARNOLD — Shorter University (So., Cartersville HS) … went 0-for-2 in the Hawks’ 8-0 loss to Chowan University last Friday in the first round of the Conference Carolinas Tournament in Duncan, South Carolina. Shorter finished the season with a 13-31 record.

HAYLEE DISHMON — Georgia Highlands College (So., Cass HS) … in home wins over East Georgia State and South Georgia State last Friday and Saturday, Dishmon was 2-for-7 with one RBI. She stole one base and scored one run. GHC (34-14, 13-5 GCAA) faces Andrew College on Wednesday in the opening round of the conference double-elimination tournament. The Chargers are the No. 3 seed.

PEYTON DORN — Brewton Parker College (Fr., Woodland HS) … did not allow a run on one hit and one walk in the sixth and seventh innings of an 11-2 Barons’ win on April 22 at Spartanburg Methodist. On Wednesday, BPC (18-24-1, 11-15 Southern States Athletic Conference) begins play in the SSAC Tournament in Decatur, Alabama.

MEGAN GREGORY — Campbell University (So., Adairsville HS) … made two pitching appearances totaling 6-⅔ innings last Saturday and Sunday at College of Charleston. Gregory was charged with the pitching loss in both games. She allowed three earned runs on five hits and seven walks while striking out eight in the two games. The Camels (33-16, 18-6) host Elon for Thursday, Friday, and Saturday games.

RACHAEL LEE — Valdosta State University (Jr., Cass HS) … went 1-for-10 with one walk and one RBI as the Blazers dropped two of three home Gulf South Conference games against the University of West Florida. VSU (26-23, 19-13) is the No. 4 seed in the conference tournament that begins on Wednesday. The Blazers face Alabama-Huntsville in the first round.

AVA PERKINS — Lee University (So., Cartersville HS) … went 2-for-7, including one double, three walks, one run scored, and two RBI as the Flames won two of three games at home last Saturday and Sunday with Trevecca Nazarene University (TN). Lee finished the season 25-25 overall and 12-20 in the Gulf South Conference.

ALEXIS WOODS — Tennessee State University (So., Cass HS) … went 4-for-11 in four games last week with one walk and one run scored. The Tigers lost two of three games at UT Martin and a non-conference home game with Middle Tennessee State. TSU (21-20, 11-12 Ohio Valley Conference) hosts three conference games with Southeast Missouri on Saturday and Sunday.

BASEBALL

DREW BILLINGS — Trinity Baptist College (Jr., Woodland HS) … earned his tenth save of the season by closing the final two innings last Saturday of a 2-0 win over John Melvin Christian College (FL). Billings allowed two hits and one walk, securing the shutout. The Eagles (25-16, 9-3) will begin play in the National Christian College Athletic Association South Region tournament on May 5.

CURT BONNER — LaGrange College (Jr., Cartersville HS) … went 3-for-6 with one double, two RBI, three walks, one hit by pitch, and three runs scored last Friday in a doubleheader sweep of Huntingdon College. The Panthers (18-21, 10-8 Collegiate Conference of the South) will be the No. 4 seed and face Piedmont University in the conference tournament that begins on Thursday at Maryville College (TN).

HARRISON CHILDERS — Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College (So., Cartersville HS) … went 2-for-10 with one walk, one run scored, and one RBI last Thursday and Friday as the Stallions won two of three home games with Thomas University (GA). ABAC (31-15, 17-13 Southern States Athletic Conference) begins pool play in the conference tournament on Wednesday in Jackson, Tennessee.

CALEB DANIEL — Georgia Tech (Fr., Cartersville HS) … went 4-for-15 last week as the Yellow Jackets lost at Auburn and dropped two of three home games with Virginia. Daniel scored three runs with one homer, two RBI, and one walk. Georgia Tech (30-14, 15-9 Atlantic Coast Conference) hosts Western Carolina for three non-conference games on Friday through Sunday.

ELLIOTT EASTIN — Covenant College (R-So., Cartersville HS) … went 1-for-7 in a three-game home series against Asbury University (KY) last weekend. He coaxed one walk, scored three runs, drove in one run, and stole one base in the series. On Wednesday, the Scots (19-20, 5-13) begin the Collegiate Conference of the South Tournament at Maryville College (TN).

COLIN EATON — East Tennessee State University (Jr., Cartersville HS) … allowed one earned run on a solo home run and recorded two strikeouts April 22 during a one-inning relief appearance at Appalachian State University. The Buccaneers won the game 13-6. ETSU (30-12, 8-4 Southern Conference) hosts UNC Asheville on Tuesday before visiting VMI for a three-game conference series over the weekend.

DAVID JINKS — University of Maine-Augusta (Fr., Excel Christian Academy) … appeared in two games last week and went 2-for-8 at the plate, including one walk, one sacrifice fly, three runs scored, and three RBI. The Moose (9-19, 7-6 Yankee Small College Conference) host New Hampshire Tech on Tuesday for a YSCC Tournament Play-In game.

SAM MELTON —Guilford College (Jr., Cartersville HS) … in a pinch-hitting appearance at Roanoke College and an appearance off the Quakers' bench at home to play third base against Randolph-Macon College, Melton was 0-for-3 in the two losses. Guilford (22-16, 8-14 Old Dominion Athletic Conference) did not qualify for the ODAC championship tournament.

LUKE MILLER — Columbus State University (Fr., Cartersville HS) … went 6-for-12, including one triple, one double, five walks, six runs scored, and four RBI in the Cougars’ three-game sweep at Claflin University (SC). He also had one stolen base. For the second time, Miller was named the PBC Freshman Player of the Week. CSU (27-20, 17-10 Peach Belt Conference) begins the double-elimination portion of the conference tournament on Friday as the No. 4 seed and will play Georgia Southwestern at the University of North Georgia.

AYDEN RAY — USC Lancaster (Fr., Woodland HS) … singled and scored a run in the Lancers’ 20-2 home win this past Sunday over Gaston College. USC Lancaster (23-25, 15-15 NJCAA Region 10) will play in the Region 10 Tournament May 2-5 in Lexington, South Carolina.

HANK SMITH — University of West Georgia (R-So., Cartersville HS) … made two starts and four appearances last week. The Wolves lost at Georgia State and dropped all three games of a conference series at Jacksonville University. Smith was 1-for-8 at the plate. UWG (17-24, 8-13 Atlantic Sun Conference) plays three games this weekend at Stetson University.

SCOTTY SMITH — Covenant College (Sr., Woodland HS) … made a seven-inning pitching start and earned his fourth win of the season last Friday in a 14-4 home victory over Asbury University (KY). He also made an unsuccessful pinch-hitting appearance last Saturday in a 17-14 win over the Eagles. The Scots (19-20, 5-13 Collegiate Conference of the South) open the conference tournament at Maryville College (TN) on Wednesday against the hosts.

KADEN STEPHENSON — Piedmont University (So, Cartersville HS) … made a tenth-inning defensive appearance at shortstop last Saturday in an 8-7 home win over Maryville College (TN). The Lions (26-13, 12-6 Collegiate Conference of the South) play LaGrange College on Wednesday night in the opening round of the CCS Tournament in Maryville, Tennessee.

PRESTON WELCHEL — Cumberland University (Sr., Cartersville HS) … went 2-for-9 in three home games last weekend with the University of the Cumberlands (KY). He had one sacrifice fly and was hit by a pitch. He scored one run and drove in two in the series. The Phoenix won two of three games with the Patriots. Cumberland (33-15-1, 13-5) faces Campbellsville University (KY) on Wednesday afternoon in the Mid-South Conference Tournament opening round in Bowling Green, Kentucky.

BEACH VOLLEYBALL

LAUREN LAWSON — University of South Carolina (Fr., Cartersville HS) … lost 21-15, 21-12 with partner VB Trost to their University of Texas opponents in a Line 5 match during the Gamecocks’ 3-0 loss to the Longhorns in the first match of the Coastal Collegiate Sports Association Championship Tournament last weekend in Baton Rouge. The Lawson/Trost duo also lost at Line 5 in a 3-1 team loss to LSU. South Carolina finished the season with a 14-17 record.

TENNIS

EMILY BUSH — University of North Georgia (Jr., Cartersville HS) … won her Line 6 singles match 6-0, 6-0 as the 5th-ranked Nighthawks defeated Columbus State University 4-3 to win a second-straight Peach Belt Conference Tournament championship. Bush and partner Linn Goerdes lost their Line 2 doubles set, 0-6. She had two unfinished matches in the tournament semifinals as UNG beat Georgia College 4-1. Bush and Goerdes were leading 5-4 at Line 2, and she was trailing at Line 6 singles, 5-7, 2-4. This week, North Georgia (18-6) will receive its NCAA D2 national tournament assignment.

BRYCE VAN ORDER — Piedmont University (Grad student, Woodland HS) … playing Line 3 singles at the Collegiate Conference of the South Championship Tournament in Chattanooga, Van Order was tied 4-4 and had his match halted in a 4-0 team win over Huntingdon College. He defeated his opponent 7-6, 6-3 in a 4-1 team win over Covenant College in the semifinals, but lost 2-6, 3-6 in a 2-4 team loss to Asbury College (KY) in the championship. The loss marked the third consecutive year the Lions have lost in the CCS title match.

TRACK AND FIELD

HAYDEN CAGLE — Berry College (Sr., Cartersville HS) … finished sixth (140-3.00) in the javelin throw and ninth (42-00) in the shot put to help the Vikings to a second-place finish at the Southern Athletic Association Outdoor Championship last weekend at Sewanee-University of the South.

McKINLEY CHAPPELL — Berry College (Jr., Woodland HS) … placed eleventh (16:17.93) in the 5000-meter run at the SAA Outdoor Championship at Sewanee. The Vikings finished second in the conference behind Centre College (KY).

ANDY FORSYTH — Berry College (Fr., Woodland HS) … finished second in the 800-meter run (1:58.06) and was part of the third-place 4x400-meter relay team (3:24.73) as the Vikings finished in second place and 53 points behind Centre College (KY) at the Southern Athletic Association Outdoor Championship last weekend in Sewanee, Tennessee.

TYLER JONES — University of West Georgia (So., Woodland HS) … placed 20th (16:59.60) in the 5000-meter run last weekend at the 11-team Western Carolina Catamount Classic. UWG has the Gulf South Conference Championships on Thursday through Saturday at the University of Montevallo.

JOE WOMACK — Furman University (Fr., Cartersville resident, Darlington HS) … finished 16th (49.90) in the 400-meter dash April 25 at the UNC-Charlotte Invitational. The Paladins placed eleventh of 18 teams. Furman will compete in Birmingham in the Southern Conference Championship on May 12-13.

GOLF

BUCK BRUMLOW — University of Georgia (Sr., Cartersville HS) … carded stroke play rounds of 66-69-68 and tied for eighth individually to lead the Bulldogs to a sixth-place finish in the stroke play segment of the Southeastern Conference Championship last week on the par-70, 7005-yard Seaside Course at Sea Island Golf Club. In the tournament's quarterfinals of the match play segment, Brumlow lost 4&3, and Georgia lost 4-1 to Texas A&M. The Bulldogs will learn their NCAA Regional assignment on Wednesday. Regionals will be held May 12-14.

BRODY TIDWELL — Georgia State University (So., Cartersville HS) … shot 76-73-73 and tied for 50th individually as the Panthers placed tenth at the Sun Belt Conference Championship Tournament held at the par-72 7,157-yard Annandale Golf Club in Madison, Mississippi, April 19-21.