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GA Power 25: Feb. 24

February 24, 2020
Phil Kerber
Georgia Scouting Director

Today marks the start of our official GA Power 25 update. The first two weeks have been rain soaked, leading to a lot of rain outs and rescheduled games. Luckily, the weekends have been dry and LakePoint Sports has been fully operational with its eight turf fields. There have been enough games for us to reshuffle the top-25 with some movers and newcomers.

From now on throughout the high school season, each and every Monday we will be updating the GA Power 25. As the weather gets warmer and sunnier, the board below is likely going to look a lot different than it does today, especially when May rolls around.

Here are the top headlines coming out of the last two week’s action, from Feb. 10 to 23.

Top Dogs

+ No. 1 North Gwinnett (3-1): The Bulldogs wasted no time opening up their season against some of the state’s top teams and top pitchers. They took down Lanier to start the season and then, in easily one of the most anticipated games of the early season, defeated No. 2 Parkview 2-1. The lone blemish on their record thus far came at the hands of then No. 22 Flowery Branch. It took all of nine innings, but the Falcons handed North Gwinnett a 2-1 loss in walk-off fashion. The Bulldogs bounced back with a 2-1 victory over preseason No. 8 Brookwood. It does not get any easier for North Gwinnett, either, as they travel to California this weekend to take on, according to PBR California’s Power 25, No. 17 Valley Christian, St. John Bosco, and Mater Dei.

+ No. 2 Parkview (3-1): As we mentioned above, Parkview dropped their season opener to No. 1 North Gwinnett. Since then though, the View Boys have been a force to be reckoned with. Chan Brown’s team outscored Bermar 36-0 in a doubleheader on Saturday and then travelled to preseason No. 6 Loganville and picked up a 6-1 win. Things turn up this week as they play co-host to the Georgia Peach Tournament where they will match up against Jefferson and Starr’s Mill.

On The Move

+ No. 3 Buford (5-0): Was highly thought of entering the season, ranking No. 4 during the preseason. They move up one spot after starting the season with five consecutive wins. One of the state’s top pitching staffs, the Wolves have held their opponents to an average of 1.25 runs per game. They will be tested this weekend at the LaGrange Invitational, which always brings a loaded field of teams together. If Buford comes away unscathed, they could be in store for another jump in the rankings.

+ No. 4 Flowery Branch (6-0): The Falcons have possibly had the most impressive start to the season out of any team in Georgia, and make a huge jump in the rankings from No. 22 to No. 4. They opened the season against Lanier and one of the state’s top pitchers, RHP Zachary Murray (2020; LSU). Then, in an instant classic, they handed No. 1 North Gwinnett a 2-1 loss in nine innings. Behind the arm’s of LHP Zander Sechrist (2020; Tennessee) and LHP Andrew Armstrong (2020; Florida State), Flowery Branch has not allowed more than two runs in their six games, and have collected three shutouts.



+ No. 6 Carrollton (6-0): Unranked in the preseason, the Trojans began their season at LakePoint Sports in the Georgia Dugout Club Tournament, and we had a front row seat to see them go 3-0 on the weekend, in impressive fashion. They opened up against preseason No. 9 Decatur, and outlasted them in a stunning 11 inning affair. After that, the rest of the weekend seemed to be a cake walk, as they shutout Northgate 7-0, and Lassiter 10-0. This past weekend, the Trojans took their talents on the road to Baseball at the Beach in Brunswick, winning some tight games against preseason No. 25 Fannin County, Milton and Brunswick. RHP Samuel Simpson (2021; South Carolina), OF/LHP Eli Runyan (2021; South Alabama), LHP Colton Cosper (2021; Mercer) and a strong supporting cast have the Trojans rolling.
+ No. 8 Greenbrier (6-0): Don’t sleep on the Wolfpack, who have quietly been taking care of business in Augusta moving up from No. 14 to No. 8. Led by one of the state’s top pitching prospects, RHP Chase Dollander (2020; Georgia Southern), Greenbrier has cruised to six straight wins to start the season. They will be tested this week when they welcome Burke County and No. 14 Winder-Barrow, and then travel to Mill Creek over the weekend.

+ No. 9 Walton (7-1): We have had the pleasure of witnessing six of Walton’s seven victories this season, as they played part in both weekends of the Georgia Dugout Club Tournament. The Raiders offense is a scary sight, averaging just over seven runs per game. C Jared Jones (2022; LSU), SS Kristian Campbell (2021; Georgia Tech) and Co. have faced some premium pitching and have not shied away one bit. Walton was a fringe top-25 team in the preseason, coming in at No. 24, but their hot start has solidified themselves as one the state’s best, as they move up to No. 9.
+ No. 10 Blessed Trinity (7-1): Another team we have seen early and often to start the season, our staff has been in attendance at all seven of Blessed Trinity’s victories, as they shoot up the rankings from No. 21 to No. 10. Our very own Hudson Graham saw them open up the season with a 10-0 victory of Cambridge (Game Recap). Then the Titans made their way to LakePoint in back-to-back weekends where they have done nothing short of dominate the competition, going a perfect 6-0 over the two weekends. The Titans have a tough weekend ahead of them at the Georgia Peach Tournament where No. 11 Loganville and Wayne County await them.

Newcomers

+ No. 16 Glynn Academy (8-0): Life in the southern part of the state has been good to the Terrors. Every year Glynn Academy welcomes team’s, from all over the state, to their home over the first two weekend’s of the season in the Baseball at the Beach tournament. This year, the Terrors have cleaned house with some very impressive wins over preseason No. 17 North Forsyth, South Effingham, Wayne County and River Ridge. This could be the start of a very memorable season, but a big test awaits Glynn Academy this weekend when they travel to Savannah to take on Savannah Christian.

+ No. 24 Locust Grove (5-1): The Wildcats just missed out on the preseason top-25, but have made quite the impression in the first two weeks of the season, opening up with five straight wins before dropping their first game of the season to South Forsyth. Locust Grove is the right mix of youth and veterans to make them a threat to move up the top-25 if they can continue to produce results. Some close calls early on have certainly forced this group to mature quickly and that will only benefit them down the line. Two big games lie in wait for the Wildcats this weekend as they welcome McIntosh, who they defeated 5-4 two weeks ago, and No. 7 Houston County.

+ No. 25 Calhoun (5-0): The lone representative from Class 3A sneaks in at No. 25 in our Power 25. The Yellow Jackets have gotten off to a hot start, winning their first five contests with relative ease. This weekend will be a good test for Calhoun when they welcome preseason No. 25 Fannin County to town for a Saturday doubleheader.

The Official GA Power 25 Rankings

 

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