Athletes Beyond Bartow: Weekly update on local collegiate and pro athletes across the nation
This week's edition of Athletes Beyond Bartow includes updates on 29 local athletes around the nation contributing on their college or professional teams. On the baseball diamond, Cartersville High product Jordan Wilkie had a strong performance at the plate for his Augusta University Jaguars. The second baseman was 6-for-10 with a home run and 10 RBIs in a three-game series sweep last weekend at Claflin University.
Also from baseball reports, former Hurricane Jake Gooch drove in seven runs in a four game stretch for Central Alabama Community College.
On the softball diamond, Cartersville's Hannah Todd tossed a complete-game shutout last week to defeat Sam Houston University 1-0.
On the professional basketball scene, Cartersville native Ashton Hagans and former Canes' standout A.J. Mosby had key contributions with their teams in the NBA G League and The Basketball League, respectively.
SOFTBALL
MORGAN COOPER — Columbus State University (Fr., Woodland HS) …appeared as a pinch hitter Sunday in a 10-8 home loss to 9th-ranked North Georgia. The Cougars (16-14, 7-2) host West Florida in a doubleheader Wednesday and travel to Lander University for a three-game series Friday and Saturday.
PRESLEY EDWARDS — Wesleyan College (Jr., Cartersville HS) … finished 0-for-8 with one RBI in home doubleheaders with Birmingham Southern Thursday and Berea College Saturday. The Wolves were 2-2 in those games. Wesleyan (11-6, 2-0 USA South Athletic Conference) plays at Piedmont College Wednesday and at Covenant College Saturday.
ANSLEY EVANS — Reinhardt University (Fr., Woodland HS) … went 1-for-3 last Tuesday with a three-run home run in the bottom of the fourth inning during a 10-3 win. The third baseman then went 2-for-3 with a double and scored a run in a 6-2 loss against Tennessee Wesleyan. The Eagles (17-10, 7-3 Appalachian Athletic Conference) play at Bryan College Tuesday and at Kentucky Christian Thursday.
BRIANNA HILL — Covenant College (So., Woodland HS) … finished 0-for-3 in a 5-2 win Friday at LaGrange and had an unsuccessful pinch hitting appearance Saturday in a 6-4 loss at Huntingdon College. Covenant (12-9, 3-1) hosts 14th-ranked Berry College Tuesday and has Wesleyan at home Saturday in conference doubleheaders.
SADYE JOHNSON — University of North Georgia (Fr., Adairsville HS) … went 0-for-3 in a start at catcher but the 12th-ranked Nighthawks beat Young Harris 12-4 and swept the weekend series. UNG (26-10, 10-2 Peach Belt Conference) travels to Lee University for a doubleheader Tuesday and plays a three-game conference series at Georgia Southwestern Saturday and Sunday.
LAUREN McELHANEY — University of West Georgia (So., Cartersville HS) … made three starts last week in games at Eckerd College, at Florida Southern, and at West Alabama going 3-for-11 with one run scored. The Wolves were 1-6 for the week. West Georgia (11-21, 4-13 Gulf South Conference) has a doubleheader at Augusta University this Saturday.
HOPE SHORT — Shorter University (So., Cartersville HS) … made a pinch hitting appearance Saturday in a 14-4 home loss to University of Montevallo. The Hawks (4-27, 1-16 Gulf South Conference) play a doubleheader at Georgia Southwestern Wednesday and host a three-game conference series with Lee University Friday and Saturday.
HANNAH TODD — University of Houston (Grad student, Cartersville HS) … appeared in three games last week earning one win, suffering one loss, and appearing in one no-decision . The right handed hurler tossed a 7-inning shutout last Tuesday to defeat visiting Sam Houston 1-0. Todd scattered three hits, two walks, and a hit batsman while striking out three. In a 9-1 loss Friday, she surrendered four earned runs in 3-and-1/3 innings at Tulsa. She issued no walks but hit two batters and recorded three strikeouts. Saturday in a no-decision start, Todd yielded four runs (only one earned) in 3-and-1/3 innings on two hits and three walks. Houston rallied to edge Tulsa 13-11. The Cougars (17-16-1, 1-1-1 American Athletic Conference) host a doubleheader with Texas A&M Wednesday and entertain Memphis in a three-game conference series Friday through Sunday.
ALEXA VARNER — Shorter University (So., Adairsville HS) … made a pair of starts and appeared twice as a pinch runner last week as the Hawks went 0-5 against Young Harris College and University of Montevallo. Varner was 1-for-5 at the plate and scored twice. Shorter (4-27, 1-16 GSC) travels to Georgia Southwestern Wednesday for a non-conference doubleheader before hosting a three-game conference series with Lee University Friday and Saturday.
PRO BASEBALL
SAM HOWARD — Pittsburgh Pirates (9th-yr. pro; Georgia Southern; Cartersville HS) … worked his second, Grapefruit League one-inning appearance last Wednesday against the Detroit Tigers and faced seven batters in suffering a pitching loss Saturday against the Baltimore Orioles. In the 29-year-old’s scoreless frame against the Tigers he fanned two. The Orioles touched him for five earned runs on three hits including one two-run homer and two walks. The Pirates are 4-4 through their first eight exhibition games.
BASEBALL
MASON BARNETT — Auburn University (Jr., Cartersville HS) … had a no-decision start Tuesday in an eventual 13-12 win over South Alabama and made a relief appearance Sunday in an eventual 13-9 victory over Texas A&M as Auburn went 3-1 for the week. In the two appearances, Barnett worked five total innings allowing five earned runs on six hits, three walks, and one hit batsman facing 24 batters. He recorded five strikeouts. Auburn (17-7, 3-3 SEC) hosts Jacksonville State Tuesday and plays a three-game series at 7th-ranked LSU Thursday through Saturday.
MICAH EARWOOD — Georgia State (Fr., Cartersville HS) … retired the final four outs of the eighth and ninth innings last Tuesday in a 10-3 loss to Georgia at Coolray Field in Lawrenceville. Earwood entered with two outs in the eighth inning and allowed no runs on one hit and one walk. He struck out two of six batters faced in the inning and one-third. Georgia State (15-9, 4-2 Sun Belt Conference) plays at Mercer Tuesday and entertains a three-game conference series with South Alabama Friday through Sunday.
JAKE GOOCH — Central Alabama CC (So., Cartersville HS) … started in four of five games for the Trojans last week going 6-for-14 with a walk and one home run while driving in seven runs against Snead State and USC-Salkehatchie. Central Alabama (11-17, 3-8 Alabama Community College Conference) plays a home-and-home four-game conference series with Bevill State Thursday and Saturday.
KENNY JINKS — Shorter University (So., Woodland HS) … faced two batters in the fourth inning last Tuesday during the Hawks’ 6-4 win over visiting Carson Newman University. Jinks allowed a bunt single and induced one groundout sacrifice bunt. Shorter (16-12, 9-8 Gulf South Conference) hosts a non-conference game Tuesday with Georgia Southwestern and welcomes conference-foe Lee University Friday and Saturday for a three-game series.
LOGAN MARTIN — Sewanee - University of the South (Jr., Cartersville HS) … allowed just one earned run (seven total) on seven hits and three walks Saturday in a 7-1 loss at Berry College. The right-hander struck out five. The Tigers (2-21, 0-9 Southern Athletic Association) host Covenant College Tuesday before heading to Memphis for a three-game series at Rhodes College Saturday and Sunday.
MASON McBEE — Coastal Alabama South (Fr., Cartersville HS) … made a two inning relief appearance last Thursday at Chipola College in his team’s 11-6 win. McBee allowed four earned runs on seven hits and one walk. He struck out one. He also fanned one in a one inning scoreless appearance Monday during a 6-2 victory over Spring Hill College JV. The Sun Chiefs (14-14-1, 4-4 Alabama Community College Conference) play a four-game, home-and-home series Thursday and Saturday at Bishop State CC.
SCOTTY SMITH — Covenant College (Fr., Woodland HS) … entered in the fourth inning Saturday and retired six of twelve batters faced working through the fifth. Smith allowed two earned runs on four hits and two walks while striking out one. The Scots lost 18-13 to 6th-ranked LaGrange College falling to 9-12 on the season and 1-5 in the USA-South Athletic Conference. Covenant plays at Sewanee Tuesday and hosts Brevard College in a three-game conference series Friday and Saturday.
STEVEN SPELL — Young Harris College (Jr., Cass HS) … in a home game last Tuesday with Mars Hill and a three-game series Friday and Saturday at 2nd-ranked Columbus State, the Mountain Lions’ third baseman went 2-for-13 with two walks at the plate scoring one run and driving in two. Young Harris defeated Mars Hill and won one of three at CSU moving to 20-9 overall and 8-4 in the Peach Belt Conference. The Mountain Lions play at Mars Hill Tuesday and host a three-game series with North Georgia Friday and Saturday.
PRESTON WELCHEL — Coastal Alabama-South (So., Cartersville HS) … went a combined 0-for-6 with one run scored in a doubleheader split last Thursday at Chipola College and a game at Spring Hill College JV on Monday.
DAVIS WILLIAMS — Birmingham Southern College (Fr., Cartersville HS) … made a pair of two-inning pitching appearances last week in home games against 6th-ranked LaGrange College and Millsaps College. Williams allowed four runs, three earned on four hits and three walks last Wednesday in an 8-2 loss to LaGrange. He struck out one of 14 batters faced. He earned his second save of the season Saturday closing out the eighth and ninth innings. The right-hander surrendered just one hit, no runs, no walks, and fanned two. BSC, now ranked No. 2 in the nation, plays at UAB Wednesday and will host 25th-ranked Hendrix College in a three-game conference series Saturday and Sunday.
JORDAN WILKIE — Augusta University (Jr., Cartersville HS) … the Jaguars’ second baseman enjoyed a hot bat last weekend going 6-for-10 including a homer, a double, a sac fly, two walks, and 10 RBIs as Augusta swept a three-game non-conference series at Claflin University. The Jags (10-16, 0-9) host Newberry College Tuesday and USC-Aiken Thursday before traveling to Lander University for a three-game conference series Friday and Saturday.
PRO BASKETBALL
ASHTON HAGANS — Raptors 905 NBA G League; Cartersville native; Newton HS) … Hagans sat out a 130-115 win over Wisconsin March 23, but made up for lost time during the team's final two games of the week. In a March 27 rematch with Wisconsin, Hagans produced 15 assists to go with six points and five rebounds in a 123-105 victory. He bettered that output in a 111-103 triumph March 29 against Grand Rapids, contributing 15 points, 10 assists and eight rebounds.
A.J. MOSBY — Albany Patroons, The Basketball League (Cartersville HS) … produced a team-high 23 points in a 112-90 win over Pennsylvania in a March 26 home game. He added four rebounds and two assists. The day prior, Albany defeated Atlantic City 115-85, but stats were unavailable for that victory.
GOLF
CHANC WILLIS — Reinhardt University (So., Cartersville HS) … paced the Eagles and placed 20th overall in the Monument Golf Oldfield Classic March 28-29 in Okatie, South Carolina. Reinhardt finished sixth out of a dozen teams. Willis proved extremely consistent in the event, shooting a pair of 76s before ending with a 75 on the par-72 course.
TENNIS
HOUSTON MEDLOCK — Piedmont College (Sr., Adairsville HS) … paired with Patrick Dempsey to earn an 8-0 win on Line 1 doubles in a 9-0 triumph March 25 at Mississippi University for Women. He and Dempsey fell 8-1 on the top doubles line March 26 at Sewanee. Medlock also dropped a 6-0, 6-2 decision in a Line 2 singles match against the Tigers. As a team, Piedmont finished 4-1 during a busy three-day road stretch. Following a 7-2, full-strength win March 24 over LaGrange, the Lions split into two squads for the remaining matches, which also included sweeps of Berea (Kentucky) and Maryville (Tennessee) in USA South action.
EMILY SURCEY — Arkansas State University (Fr., Cass HS) … helped the Red Wolves capture their first Sun Belt Conference team win of the season with a 4-1 victory over Appalachian State March 27 at home. The former Cass star cruised to a 6-2, 6-3 victory on Line 2 singles. Surcey and doubles partner Hunter Roper received a forfeit win to help Arkansas State claim the doubles team point. The day prior, the team slumped to a 4-0 defeat against Coastal Carolina. Surcey and Roper dropped a 6-1 decision, while the local's singles match was abandoned with Surcey having won 7-6 (7-2) in the first set but trailing 4-1 in the second.
BRYCE VAN ORDER — Piedmont College (So., Woodland HS) … split his six matches over the three-day span. Against LaGrange, he emerged victorious on Line 1 singles, winning both sets by a 6-2 score. The southpaw teamed with Kody Dills on Line 2 doubles and came up short by an 8-3 margin, although the Lions still managed to win the doubles team point. Versus Mississippi University for Women, VanOrder eased to a 6-0, 6-2 win on the top singles line. On Line 3 doubles, he and Dills picked up an 8-0 victory. Even VanOrder's hot streak couldn't prevent Piedmont from suffering a 9-0 loss to Sewanee, as he dropped every game in singles play and paired with Dills in an 8-1 defeat.
TRACK AND FIELD
TERRY BERDIN — Reinhardt University (Jr., Cartersville HS) … came in 22nd in the 100-meter dash and ran the first leg of the 4x400 relay team that finished seventh at the Don McGarey Invitational hosted by Kennesaw State.
STEPHEN SMITH — Kennesaw State University (So., Cass HS) …In a home meet, Smith finished in a tie for third in the men's pole vault, clearing 4.65 meters.
~~ Nicholas Sullivan of The Daily Tribune News contributed to this report.
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