GHSA Class 1A-Public Preseason Top-10
February 9, 2022
The 2022 GHSA baseball season is less than a week away. Which means it is time to unveil our class-by-class top-10 rankings.
+ No. 1 Metter
The defending state champions will begin the season where they ended it, as the No. 1 team in the class. While the Tigers lost some key pieces to graduation, they return one of the state’s best in SS/RHP Rustan Rigdon (2024; Vanderbilt). Rigdon will be relied heavily on to power the offense and be a major part of the rotation.
RHP/C John Luke Glanton (2022; Georgia College and State University) will reprise his role in the rotation. The Tigers will need some other arms to step up, but with Rigdon and Glanton, they are in good hands to start.
Offensively, 3B/RHP Kyzer Anthony (2022; South Georgia State), OF/RHP Reco Coney (2023; Uncommitted), 1B/RHP Kaliq Jordan (2023; Uncommitted), and 1B/RHP Reese Hadden (2022; Uncommitted) are all back to help lead the charge.
+ No. 2 Gordon Lee
The Trojans finished as state runners up in 2021, falling to Metter in three games. While the pitching staff was hit hard by graduation, Gordon Lee does return one of their top arms in RHP Bo Rhudy (2023; Uncommitted). Rhudy is a big game arm who will keep the Trojans in any game they play this season. RHP/OF Tanner Wilson (2022; Uncommitted) and a committee of arms will fill in the gaps left by graduation.
Offensively there are less question marks for the Trojans. The return of SS Kade Cowan (2022; Uncommitted), OF Nathan Dunfee (2023; Uncommitted), C/RHP Brodie Genter (2023; Uncommitted), OF Garren Ramey (2022; Uncommitted) and 1B/LHP Blake Rodgers (2023; Uncommitted). Bringing back all this experience back has Gordon Lee in position to make a return trip to the state finals. Watch out for the big power bat of Rodgers to be a focal point of the offense.
+ No. 3 Irwin County
The Indians are primed to make some serious noise in Class 1A-Public. RHP/OF Cody Soliday (2023; Mercer) and 1B/RHP Bryce Clements (2023; Georgia State) create possibly the top one-two punch on the mound in the entire class. Soliday burst onto the scene early last summer with his upper 80s fastball and sharp breaking ball. The right-hander is capable of going toe-to-toe with any team in the class.
Soliday and Clements will also lend their services at the plate as well, but what just may put the Indians over the top is the arrival of 3B/C Cooper Yanzetich (2022; Uncommitted). Yanzetich provides another impact bat in addition to being a reliable defender.
+ No. 4 Charlton County
The Indians will battle Irwin County for the region title, but regardless of where they finish there, it would be no surprise to see another deep postseason run. OF William Rodeffer (2022; Albany State), 2B Colby Bryant (2022; Uncommitted), C Sean Russell (2022; Uncommitted), and OF Naajee Smith (2022; Uncommitted) are back for one last ride to lead the offense.
The pitching staff will be led by RHP/SS Gant Geiger (2023; Uncommitted). Geiger will create problems for opposing batters with his lively mid 80s fastball. After Geiger though, there are some question marks. Charlton County will need some players to step up and take some of the load off Geiger. Keep an eye out for RHP Ian Vickers (2023; Uncommitted) to potentially breakthrough after a solid summer season.
+ No. 5 Wilcox County
While the roster looks young on paper, the Patriots are an experienced team full of talent. The lineup has a few pieces to replace, but for the most part the core is back. OF BJ Gibson (2024; Tennessee) is one of the state’s top prospects, and will look to build on a successful freshman campaign. Gibson is a gamechanger who can affect the game in a multitude of ways.
The Patriots will need some arms to step up in order to repeat last year’s run. However, they will have the power arm of RHP Jordan Stephens (2023; Uncommitted) back. Stephens is a physical right-hander who can sit in the upper 80s. He will give Wilcox County a strong No. 1 on the bump.
+ No. 6 ACE Charter
The Gryphons may have surprised some teams last year en route to a 33 win season. This year will be a bit different as the team will have to do some growing up quickly. OF John Lewis (2022; Uncommitted) and 3B Gavin West (2023; Uncommitted) are back after a big 2021 season, and will carry more of the offensive load. Both will also see time on the mound.
One of the younger Gryphon’s who could make an impact right away is OF/RHP Cody Colter (2025; Uncommitted). Colter is physically advanced, standing a sturdy 6-foot-2, 190-pounds. His size and strength translate to the plate, where Colter can do serious damage.
+ No. 7 Claxton
Claxton rode the arms of SS/RHP Robbie Lane (2022; Uncommitted) and 3B/RHP Hayden Morris (2022; Uncommitted) to a school record 22 wins last season, and both are back to top that in 2022. The duo will also be prominent members of the lineup, capable of taking over a game.
1B/RHP Cade Sikes (2024; Uncommitted) and OF/RHP Dakota Haire (2023; Uncommitted) gained valuable experience on the mound last season, and will prove to be key pieces once more.
The lineup will also be bolstered by the return of OF Loghann Hendrix (2022; Uncommitted), OF Tanner Henry (2022; Uncommitted), C Eli Sapp (2022; Uncommitted).
+ No. 8 Schley County
The Wildcats will be back in the mix in 2022, but will have to replace SS Dylan Taylor (2021; Georgia). The ingredients are there to take that leap. Helping to close that gap will be C/LHP Trypp Lumpkin (2022; Uncommitted), SS Carson Westbrook (2024; Uncommitted), and C Jack Clark (2024; Uncommitted). Lumpkin will also help anchor the pitching staff alongside OF/LHP Owen Lamb (2023; Uncommitted).
+ No. 9 Washington-Wilkes
Washington-Wilkes could be labeled as the “dark horse” in the class. The Tigers return their entire pitching staff plus the majority of their starting lineup from a 25 win team in 2021.
LHP/OF Nathan Durham (2022; Uncommitted) and LHP/1B Robert Hunt (2023; Uncommitted) will retake their spots at the front of the pitching staff. RHP/OF Desmond Cofer (2023; Uncommitted) and RHP Morgan Shedd (2024; Uncommitted) saw significant time out of the bullpen. The four arms mentioned accounted for over three quarters of all the innings pitched last season for the Tigers.
The lineup loses three bats, but still have Cofer, Durham and Hunt who were offensive leaders. A number of underclassmen are in line to step up. C Trace Callaway (2024; Uncommitted) and C Levi Durham (2023; Uncommitted) are prime candidates after seeing significant time last year. There is also a strong contingent of sophomores who saw some time at one point.
+ No. 10 Crawford County
Crawford County is another one who could surprise some teams this season. The Eagles have a deep lineup led by by SS Judd Puckett (2023; Uncommitted), C/RHP Caleb Carr (2022; Uncommitted) and OF Brennan Hudson (2022; Uncommitted). Puckett is an impact bat who will make some noise in the class. Pitching will need to take a step in the right direction, but with their offensive capabilities, the Eagles will put up a lot of crooked numbers this spring.
2022 Class Polls
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