Athletes Beyond Bartow: Updates on professional and college athletes with local connections

Charles Wilson / @bartowsportszon Former Cartersville Hurricanes Mason Barnett and Anthony Seigler have started their MiLB seasons with the Quad Cities River Bandits and Somerset Patriots, respectively.

Barnett is with the High-A affiliate of the Kansas City Royals and former first-rounder Seigler has started this season with the New York Yankees’ Double-A affiliate in Somerset, New Jersey.

While the two pros get their 2023 seasons started on the diamond, former Cartersville standout A.J. Mosby is winding down his regular season schedule in the National Basketball League of Canada with the Sudbury Five.

At the collegiate level, this week’s edition includes updates on 30 athletes in five different sports.

L-R: Mason Barnett, Anthony Seigler, A.J. Mosby

MiLB

MASON BARNETT — Quad Cities River Bandits (Kansas City Royals High-A affiliate; 2nd yr. pro; Auburn University; Cartersville HS) … made a six-inning start last Tuesday with no decision as the River Bandits lost 8-4 at the Cedar Rapids Kernels. The right-hander allowed one earned run (two total) on two hits, three walks, and one hit batsman. He struck out six facing 24 batters. Quad Cities (3-5) hosts a six-game series Tuesday through Sunday with the Wisconsin Rattlers.

ANTHONY SEIGLER — Somerset Patriots (NY Yankees Double-A affiliate; 6th-yr. pro; Cartersville HS) … made five starts — three at catcher, two as DH — and hit safely in each game lifting his early season batting average to .280. The switch hitter was 6-for-18 with a pair of doubles, three walks, one sac fly, and four RBIs. He also scored five runs as the Patriots went 3-3 for the week in a series at the Binghamton Rumble Ponies. Somerset (5-4) host the New Hampshire Fisher Cats Tuesday through Sunday in a six-game series.

PRO BASKETBALL

AJ MOSBY — Sudbury Five (National Basketball League of Canada; 6th yr. pro; Alcorn State; Cartersville HS) … in three wins last week, Mosby averaged 23 points, five rebounds, three assists, and two steals. The Five defeated the Windsor Express 129-117 last Thursday and beat visiting L’Academie D’Alma 135-101 and 114-85 Saturday and Sunday. Sudbury (21-5) has a one-game lead in the standings over the London Lightning with five regular season games remaining. The Five host the Jamestown Jackals Saturday night and Sunday afternoon.

TENNIS

EMILY BUSH — Young Harris College (Fr., Cartersville HS) … had a 2-3 week individually as the Mountain Lions went 2-1 defeating Shorter and Piedmont but losing to 14th-ranked North Georgia. Against Shorter, Bush won 6-0, 6-1 at Line 2 singles, and won 6-3 at Line 3 doubles with teammate Catarina Marcko Ferreira. She also won her Line 2 singles match Saturday in a team win over Piedmont. She and teammate Joselyne Chapui won 6-1 at Line 2 doubles. Against North Georgia, Bush and Ferreira lost 6-1 at Line 3 doubles, and her Line 2 singles match was halted in the second set after UNG had secured the team victory. Young Harris (9-11, 1-4) hosts 25th-ranked Columbus State Monday and plays at Augusta University Tuesday. The Peach Belt Conference Tournament begins Friday at Columbus State.

CONNOR GUNNELL - Shorter University (Jr., Woodland HS) … had an 0-4 week at the Hawks went 0-2 at home against Valdosta State Tuesday and Young Harris College Wednesday. Gunnell and teammate Yike Liu lost twice at Line 2 doubles. He also suffered a pair of straight sets losses at Line 4 singles. The Hawks (2-9, 1-8) will host JUCO opponent Wallace State-Hanceville Tuesday to wrap up regular season play and then square off with top-seeded Valdosta State Thursday afternoon in the first round of the Gulf South Conference Tournament in Montgomery.

EMILY SURCEY — Mississippi State University (So., Cass HS) … in a 4-0 home loss Friday to 4th-ranked Georgia, Surcey was trailing 4-6, 1-3 in the second set when her match was halted. Sunday, she lost a Line 5 singles match 6-2, 7-6 (7-3) as the Bulldogs fell 6-1 at home to 14th-ranked Tennessee. Mississippi State (10-14, 0-13 SEC) heads to Fayetteville, Arkansas Wednesday to begin the Southeastern Conference Championship Tournament.

BRYCE VAN ORDER — Piedmont University (Jr., Woodland HS) … won his Line 2 singles match 6-0, 6-3 as the Lions won 9-0 Friday at LaGrange College. Piedmont (12-5, 4-1) wraps up the regular season schedule Saturday at Belhaven University (Mississippi). The Collegiate Conference of the South Tournament begins Thursday, April 27, site to be determined.

TRACK AND FIELD

STEPHEN SMITH — Kennesaw State University (Jr., Cass HS) … missed on three attempts at 4.83m (15 feet, 10 inches) and finished with no result Friday at the Samford University Track Challenge. Next for the Owls is the Georgia Tech Invitational Friday and Saturday.

GOLF

BUCK BRUMLOW — University of Georgia (So., Cartersville HS) … in a tuneup for the Southeastern Conference Championship that begins Wednesday, Brumlow helped lead the Bulldogs to a six-shot win Sunday as they hosted the Classic City One Day at the par-71, 7,178-yard University of Georgia Golf Course in Athens. Brumlow fired rounds of 71-66 (7-under-par) to finish second as an individual. As a team, the Bulldogs shot 22-under-par to beat Mercer University by six shots. Francis Marion University was third at 9-under-par. Tobias Jonsson of Mercer won the individual title with a 66-68 (10-under-par) 134 total. 31st-ranked Georgia travels to St. Simons Island for the SEC Championships Wednesday through Sunday.

CHANC WILLIS — Reinhardt University (Jr., Cartersville HS) … shot 83-78 (17-over) last Monday and Tuesday and tied for 21st of 32 golfers as the Eagles placed third of five teams at the Eagles’ Spring Invitational played at Barnsley Gardens Resort in Adairsville. Point University won the tournament by four shots over Truett-McConnell University. Reinhardt was seven shots back. Reinhardt heads to Seneca, South Carolina April 24-25 for the Appalachian Athletic Conference Championship Tournament at Cross Creek Country Club.

SOFTBALL

COLBI BALLARD — Shorter University (Sr., Cartersville HS) … in four starts last week — one at Emmanuel College and three at home against University of West Georgia — she was 4-for-10 at the plate including one double, one sacrifice hit, and one RBI as the Hawks went 0-5 for the week. Shorter (6-39, 1-25 Gulf South Conference) visits Columbus State University Wednesday for a non-conference doubleheader before completing the conference schedule Friday and Saturday in a three-game series at Lee University.

PRESLY EDWARDS — Wesleyan College (Sr., Cartersville HS) … the Wolves’ catcher was 4-for-6 and scored one run Saturday as Wesleyan lost 10-0 and 4-3 at Covenant College. Wesleyan (4-20, 2-8 Collegiate Conference of the South) is scheduled for a busy week with a doubleheader at Fort Valley State Tuesday, a doubleheader at Agnes Scott College Thursday, a home doubleheader with LaGrange College Friday, and a twin bill at home Saturday with Huntingdon College.

ANSLEY EVANS — Reinhardt University (So., Woodland HS) … appeared in four games last week as the Eagles went 6-0 against Kentucky Christian, Johnson University (Tennessee), and Bluefield University (Virginia). Evans was 6-for-12 at the plate with three doubles, two RBIs, and one stolen base. The Eagles (25-9, 20-2 Appalachian Athletic Conference) visit conference foes Tennessee Wesleyan University Monday, St. Andrews (North Carolina) Tuesday, and Columbia International University on Wednesday.

ERYN LEE — Reinhardt University (Fr., Cass HS) … saw action as a pinch runner in both games of a doubleheader last Wednesday at Johnson University (Tennessee). Lee scored one run and stole one base as the Eagles won both games helping complete a 6-0 week. Reinhardt (25-9, 20-2 Appalachian Athletic Conference) visits conference foes Tennessee Wesleyan University Monday, St. Andrews (North Carolina) Tuesday, and Columbia International University on Wednesday.

RACHAEL LEE — Gulf Coast State CC (Fr., Cass HS) … was 1-for-4 and scored one run as the Commodores swept a doubleheader last Tuesday at Tallahassee CC. GCSCC (28-17, 9-7 Panhandle Conference) plays Monday at Pensacola State CC, hosts Chipola CC Tuesday, plays at Northwest Florida State CC Thursday, and hosts Tallahassee CC Saturday.

LAUREN McELHANEY — University of West Georgia (Jr., Cartersville HS) … the Wolves’ catcher started one game at Lander University and one game at Shorter University going 1-for-6 at the plate with one run scored. UWG (13-32, 8-16 Gulf South Conference) lost twice at Lander and won both games last week at Shorter. The Wolves host Mississippi College Wednesday and play a three-game series at Delta State University Saturday and Sunday.

HOPE SHORT — Shorter University (Jr., Cartersville HS) … was 0-for-1 in a pinch-hitting appearance last Tuesday during a 16-5 Hawks’ loss at Emmanual College. Shorter (6-39, 1-25 Gulf South Conference) was 0-5 for the week. The Hawks visit Columbus State University Wednesday for a non-conference doubleheader before completing the conference schedule Friday and Saturday in a three-game series at Lee University.

ALEXA VARNER — Shorter University (Jr., Adairsville HS) … started in all five Hawks’ games last week going 2-for-12 at the plate with a pair of walks and two runs scored. Shorter (6-39, 1-25 Gulf South Conference) was 0-5 for the week. The Hawks visit Columbus State University Wednesday for a non-conference doubleheader before completing the conference schedule Friday and Saturday in a three-game series at Lee University.

BASEBALL

CURT BONNER — LaGrange College (Fr., Cartersville HS) … started four of five games last week for 9th-ranked LaGrange going 4-for-15 at the plate with one RBI. He also walked twice and scored one run. The productive week earned the catcher Collegiate Conference of the South Rookie of the Week honors. The Panthers beat visiting Oglethorpe University last Tuesday but then dropped two of three games at Piedmont University Saturday and Sunday. LaGrange (23-9, 10-2 Collegiate Conference of the South) plays No. 1 Birmingham-Southern College Tuesday night in Oxford, Alabama before traveling to Maryville College (Tennessee) for a three-game conference series Friday through Sunday.

KENNY JINKS — Wheeling University (Sr., Woodland HS) … pitched 4-⅔ innings of relief last Friday receiving no decision in a 14-11 Cardinals win at Frostburg State University (Maryland). Jinks allowed six earned runs on eight hits and one walk while striking out six. Wheeling was 3-2 for the week with a win at Clarion University (Pennsylvania) Tuesday and four games split with Frostburg State Saturday and Sunday. The Cardinals (19-16, 9-11 Mountain East Conference) host Indiana University-Pennsylvania Tuesday and have a pair of conference doubleheaders this weekend with Fairmont State University.

BRYCEN JONES — University of West Georgia (Sr., Cartersville HS) … retired the only batter he faced Saturday in the bottom of the sixth by groundout as the Wolves lost 13-1 at Shorter University. UWG was 2-2 for the week with a win at Emmanuel College and one win in three games at Shorter. The 30th-ranked Wolves (17-13, 14-10 Gulf South Conference) play at Augusta University Tuesday before visiting Delta State University Friday and Saturday for a three-game conference series.

LOGAN MARTIN — University of Kentucky (Sr., Cartersville HS) … allowed three earned runs on three hits and two walks with one strikeout in a no-decision start Friday at No. 1-ranked LSU. The 11th-ranked Wildcats came from behind to beat the Tigers 13-10 for their only win in three games in Baton Rouge. Kentucky (28-7, 10-5) hosts Xavier Tuesday night and has a three-game SEC series at home Friday through Sunday with Texas A&M.

COLT McKIBBEN — Lee University (Fr., Cartersville HS) … made pitching appearances in a pair of Flames’ home wins Tuesday and Saturday against Tusculum University and Union University. Those two scoreless appearances totaled 4-⅔ innings allowing three hits and two walks while striking out two. Lee was 3-1 for the week beating Tusculum and winning two of three with Union. The Flames (23-18, 12-12 Gulf South Conference) travel to Nashville Tuesday to play at Trevecca Nazarene University before heading to Memphis for a three-game conference series Friday and Saturday at Christian Brothers University.

GUNNER MILLSAP — Southern Illinois University - Edwardsville (Fr., Cartersville HS) … was touched for back-to-back solo home runs in a fifth-inning appearance and was tagged with the pitching loss in a 5-4 loss last Tuesday at Bradley University. The appearance also included a pair of walks. SIU-E finished 1-3 for the week winning one game in their series at Virginia Military Institute. The Cougars (20-14, 5-4 Missouri Valley Conference) play at Western Illinois Tuesday, host Blackburn College Wednesday, and visit Little Rock University for a three-game OVC series Friday through Sunday.

DREW ROTHSCHILD — Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College (Fr., Cartersville HS) … while the Stallions split four games in a home-and-home series with East Georgia State CC last week, Rothschild was 7-for-16 at the plate with one double, one triple, and one home run. He also walked once, scored three runs, and drove in seven. This week ABAC (23-24, 9-7 Georgia Collegiate Athletic Association) has a four-game series with Gordon State CC.

SCOTTY SMITH — Covenant College (So., Woodland HS) … allowed six earned runs on five hits and one hit batsmen in a two-inning start last Tuesday at home against Piedmont University. He struck out three and received no decision after the Scots came from behind for a 16-11 win. Covenant also split a pair of games at Maryville College (Tennessee) last Saturday. The Scots (11-15, 4-8 Collegiate Conference of the South) will play at Maryville Monday night.

STEVEN SPELL — Young Harris College (Sr., Cass HS) … started and hit safely in all five Mountain Lions’ wins last week. YHC beat Mars Hill and Carson-Newman at home and swept a three-game series at USC Beaufort. The third baseman was 6-for-19 including one double, seven walks, eight runs scored, and four RBIs. He also reached base twice after being hit by a pitch. 25th-ranked Young Harris (33-11, 21-6 Peach Belt Conference) looks to extend its eight-game win streak at home Wednesday vs. Lincoln Memorial University before traveling to Lander University for a three-game PBC series Friday through Sunday.

DEVIN WARNER — Georgia Gwinnett College (Jr., Cartersville HS) … went 5-for-10 last week with a pair of triples, four walks, one hit by pitch, and two RBIs in Grizzlies’ home wins over Talladega University, Crowley’s Ridge College (Arkansas), Voorhees University (South Carolina), and Florida National University. NAIA 3rd-ranked Georgia Gwinnett (36-5, 8-0 Continental Athletic Conference) plays at Talladega Tuesday before traveling to Brewton-Parker College Friday and Saturday for a three-game series.

PRESTON WELCHEL — Tennessee Wesleyan University (So., Cartersville HS) … coaxed a walk in a pinch-hitting appearance Saturday as the host Bulldogs beat Reinhardt University 15-12. Third-ranked Tennessee Wesleyan was 4-0 for the week with a win at Bryan College and three wins over Reinhardt. TWU (35-6, 24-0 Appalachian Athletic Conference) plays at the University of the Cumberlands (Kentucky) Wednesday night and visits Montreat College (North Carolina) Friday and Saturday for a three-game series.

COHEN WILBANKS — Georgia Gwinnett College (Jr., Cartersville HS) … the Grizzlies’ catcher started three of four wins last week going 1-for-8 at the plate including one double, one sac bunt, one sac fly, one hit by pitch, and three RBIs. GGC ranked third in NAIA, plays at Talladega University Tuesday afternoon and has a three-game series at Brewton-Parker College Friday and Saturday.

DAVIS WILLIAMS — Birmingham-Southern College (So., Cartersville HS) … pitched 3-⅔ innings of relief Sunday with no decision in a 4-0 loss to Centre College (Kentucky). Williams allowed one earned run (two total) on five hits, one walk, and one hit batsman. He struck out six. The NCAA D-III top-ranked Panthers won two of three games with the Colonels. BSC (31-5, 14-4 Southern Athletic Association) plays 9th-ranked LaGrange Tuesday night in Oxford, Alabama, and travels to Conway, Arkansas for three conference games at Hendrix College Friday and Saturday.

JORDAN WILKIE — Augusta University (Sr., Cartersville HS) … the first baseman was 3-for-11 and scored one run in four starts last week — one in a win at Erskine College and three at Columbus State University where the Jags lost two of three. Augusta (21-20, 12-15 Peach Belt Conference) hosts West Georgia Tuesday and plays at Coker University Wednesday in a pair of non-conference games.

ZACH WILSON — Penn State University-Greater Allegheny (Jr., Woodland HS) … saw action in two of his team’s four games over the weekend and was 0-for-2 at the plate with one walk and scored one run. PSU-GA (15-16, 7-9) split games with Penn State-Fayette. They visit Mount Aloysius Tuesday and conclude their regular season Friday and Saturday with home-and-home doubleheaders against Penn State-Beaver.