GA Power 25: April 22

April 22, 2019
By Andy Sroka
Staff Writer

The eighth edition of the GA Power 25 update is live. With teams separated into class brackets for the GHSA playoffs, this is going to be our second-to-last GA Power 25 update until we publish our end-of-season rankings once the playoffs are finished.

With so many critical regional match-ups occuring last week, there’s been a hefty amount of movement up and down the rankings. We also welcome two new teams to the rankings and had to, unfortunately, bounce a couple of teams off as a result.

Let’s break it down.

TOP DOGS

+ No. 1 Parkview (26-4): Parkview is just the third team this spring to earn a No. 1 overall ranking on the GA Power 25. Their two-game sweep of crosstown rivals Brookwood – with the Region 7 title on the line – propelled them all the way past the Titans for the top spot on the rankings. PBR Georgia's own Kyle Colletta was on-site for the dramatic and thrilling 10-9 in extra innings in game one. The regional crown was still up for grabs on Thursday when the two met again at Brookwood, but this time the Panthers were able to glide to a 10-0 win in five innings, with the help of Xander Stephens from the mound, who limited the Broncos to just two hits.

They'll play again on Wednesday, against Peachtree Ridge, the fourth-place program repping Region 6. They'll be headed into the game on a 1-7 stretch, so the new No. 1-ranked Panthers have all the momentum on their side.

+ No. 2 Blessed Trinity (24-6): The Titans split their two-game series against Marist, and the War Eagles pushed them to the brink of the Region 7 title race. Just one win over Marist would assure Blessed Trinity the regional title, and in game one, the War Eagles stormed past BT with a six-run sixth inning that allowed them to secure a 10-5 victory. In game two, Marist struck first in the first frame, but the Titans answered with four runs of their own. They tacked on another two in the third and managed to hold off the War Eagles to earn a 6-5 win and, thus, a Region 7 title. Still, with how narrow this series was, Blessed Trinity is docked a single spot on the GA Power 25, as a result of Parkview's sweep of rivals Brookwood.

+ No. 3 North Gwinnett (25-5): North Gwinnett's headed into the playoffs on excellent form, having lost just once in the month of April and they haven't lost a series all spring long. They're coming off a three-game sweep of Duluth last week, which sets up their next match-up well. They're set to open their playoff race on Wednesday with Lakeside.

+ No. 4 Pope (23-5): Head coach Jeff Rowland has the Greyhounds hitting their stride right on time. Pope's on a seven-game win streak and their 7-2 win over Cambridge on the last day of the regular season is what ultimately clinched them their fourth straight regional title. The legendary 2019 class on this roster is responsible for all four consecutive regional championships, and they're also in search of a third straight state title. They're going to start their hunt for the three-peat on Wednesday with Creekview.

+ No. 5 Winder-Barrow (24-3): At this point, the 'Doggs are very possibly the hottest team in Georgia. Winder hasn't lost since March 9, meaning they've earned a 17-game win streak that has them coming into the postseason as the biggest threat to Pope's three straight titles. They, too, have won three straight regionals, and they went undefeated in Region 8 this spring to get there. As Pope's biggest 6A threat, the earliest they can meet the Greyhounds is in the state championship game, which would set up a raucous title game – provided the two teams can hurdle the field to get there.

+ No. 6 Cartersville (24-4): Cartersville's another program that is streaking their way to the playoffs. The Canes went undefeated in March to tally 24 total wins this spring, tied for the most-ever in program history. Oconee County is their next target and they'll welcome the Warriors to Cartersville with their nine-game win streak on the line.

REGIONAL RACES

+ No. 7 Loganville (21-6): The Red Devils' convincing two-game sweep of Walnut Grove last week handed Loganville the Region 8 title, their third straight. After enduring back-to-back losses at the start of April, Loganville hasn't lost since and have a really strong resume this spring – and even capped the spring season with a win over ranked Grayson to close out the regular season. They'll open the playoffs with Lithonia on Wednesday.

+ No. 8 Hillgrove (24-6): Hillgrove effectively earned the No. 1 seed with their series win over North Paulding a couple weeks back. Their two wins over North Cobb this week only solidified things and made them official, handing Hillgrove the Region 3 title and a No. 1 seed on the 7A bracket. They don't have it easy, with a Wednesday match-up over a solid 14-14 Wheeler squad. Still, the Hawks have been one of the best surprises this spring, having entered the season off the GA Power 25, ending the regular season inside the top-10.

+ No. 9 Walton (19-9-1): After sealing the Region 4 crown last Tuesday, the Raiders really just coasted through the final week of the regular season, prepping themselves for the postseason. They took two of three from Cherokee to wrap up the spring and are still awaiting word on which team they're playing.

+ No. 11 Marist (23-6): The War Eagles nearly swiped the Region 7 title away from Blessed Trinity on the last day of their regular season. After defeating the Titans in game one of the series, with the help of an ultra-clutch, two-out grand slam by Grey Taylor. The region was up for grabs in the final game two on Thursday and Marist did all they could to climb back from a four-run deficit but ultimately fell short, dropping that second game by a 6-5 score. Still, the War Eagles proved they could hang with one of the state's best teams. They'll open their postseason with Pickens on Wednesday.

+ No. 12 Milton (21-7): Milton's 11-2 win over Forsyth Central for the Region 5 title clinched them the No. 1 seed in their quarter of the 7A bracket. Curt McDonell and Jack Rhodes both homered in the game and Milton's 15 hits helped them glide to the title. They're in search of their first state title since the 2013 season and they'll open up with Rockdale County on Wednesday.

+ No. 15 Buford (18-9): Because rivals Loganville swept Walnut Grove, the Wolves leapfrogged the Warriors for the No. 2 seed in the region. On paper, Buford's record might not look all that impressive, but for a 5A squad, they've had one of the most challenging schedules of any program. Either way, they closed their final week of the regular season with four straight wins, including a 6-3 victory over Ringgold at SunTrust Park.

+ No. 23 Mill Creek (19-11): Taking two of three from Peachtree Ridge allowed Mill Creek to steal away the No. 2 seed in Region 6. The Hawks will be taking on Norcross in the first round of the playoffs as a result. They’ve been firing on all cylinders of late and are back on the GA Power 25 for the first time in five weeks.

STREAKING INTO THE PLAYOFFS

We noted the hot streaks of Parkview, North Gwinnett, Pope, Winder-Barrow, and Cartersville, but this season’s heavyweights and GA Power 25 mainstays aren’t the only white-hot programs headed into the postseason on a simmer.

+ No. 13 Heritage-Conyers (21-5): The Patriots have won eight consecutive games and are really simmering with the playoffs on deck. Heritage all but clinched the region with their three-game sweep of Greenbrier and it set them up with a No. 1 in their quarter of the 6A bracket. They have Glynn Academy on the calendar on Wednesday.

+ No. 14 Jefferson (24-1): The Dragons are the top ranked team in the 3A class, with a 24-1 record, fresh off a three-game sweep of Morgan County. They've lost just once this spring, back on April 4, and will begin their state title defense this Wednesday with a series against Westminster.

+ No. 19 Woodstock (20-10): Woodstock swept Roswell in three games last week to help propel the Wolverines to the postseason on a hot streak. They'll represent Region 4 as the No. 2 seed and are set to play Camden County in the first round of the playoffs.

+ No. 22 Harrison (22-6): The Hoyas are making their GA Power 25 debut this week have rattled off six straight wins to get to this point, as both regional champs and No. 1 seeds. They’re ranked just under Etowah, a team they lost to just earlier this month, but are otherwise heading into their playoff match-up with Dunwoody playing some of the best baseball they have all season long.

RISING

+ No. 17 Grayson (22-8): With a perfect 15-0 record in regional play, the Rams are coming into the 7A playoffs as a strong contender for a state championship. They swept their region's No. 2 seed, Archer, to close out regional action, which says more about their loss to Loganville in their last game of the season. They'll play Lambert on Wednesday in their march to the title.

SO LONG…

+ Kell (24-6): The Longhorns dropped two of the three games they played last week but still managed to pull out the Region 7 title in class 5A. Their 12-0 win over Woodland on Thursday is what had the Longhorns clinch the region. They'll slip off the rankings, but they're nonetheless one of the handful of teams that makes the 5A state title race one of the most competitive in Georgia. They have Jackson on the schedule for Wednesday.

+ Mountain View (20-9): Two losses in their three-game series against Collins Hill bounced the Bears from the No. 2 seed in their region, which proved to be a pivotal spot. Mountain View is now slated to play a tough Brookwood team in their opening round of the playoffs, in a rematch of a game the two played on March 19, one in which the Bears won, 5-3. Still, it's fair to say that Brookwood has been playing the better baseball lately, despite having lost to Parkview twice last week. This match-up is among the most interesting on the calendar in the opening round of the postseason.

ON THE BUBBLE

We revamped our On The Bubble section to greater reflect the programs just outside our GA Power 25 that still carry a great chance to bring home some kind of silverware this postseason. There are now 23 teams on our Bubble. Here are some notes on a few of them:

+ Bremen (23-5): If we had such a designation, Bremen would be the top ranked team in the 2A class. The Blue Devils have really dominated their competition this spring and no 2A team really comes close to what they’ve accomplished in 2019, so far. They open their playoffs with Union County on Wednesday.

+ Carrollton (24-5): The 5A Trojans narrowly missed out on the Region 7 title and are winners of nine straight and have lost just once in the last five weeks. They’ll be playing North Springs twice on Wednesday.

+ Redan (19-10): It’s Redan that’s spent as much time on the GA Power 25 as any other 3A program in the state, though Jefferson is poised to catch up to that mark. The Raiders got off track late this spring and have endured a four-game losing streak, but earned two big wins over Westminster last week to earn a No. 3 seed. They’ll play Morgan County in a hugely important 3A meeting.

+ Ringgold (24-6): The Tigers earned a third straight regional title and had a highly successful spring, and even spent a week on the GA Power 25 as a result – which is a pretty notable accomplishment for a 3A school. They’ll play Cherokee Bluff in round one.

+ Tattnall Square Academy (26-1): Pound for pound, the Tattnall Square Trojans are one of the toughest programs in the state. They’ve yet to lose a seven-inning game this spring and earned their sixth straight regional title this season. Tattnall Square has earned a bye through the opening round of the playoffs.