The Georgia High School Association has announced that opening day of the 2021 season will commence on Feb. 15. Programs were allowed to begin practicing in an official capacity on Jan. 18, meaning it's time for the PBR Georgia staff to break down the high school baseball scene in the state in the countdown to the first pitch thrown in 2021.Over the next several weeks, leading up to opening day, we will be publishing our team previews ahead of the 2021 spring season, touching on programs spanning multiple state classifications, counting down the official PBR Georgia Preseason Power 25 Rankings.

Team: Glynn Academy
Preseason Rank: 18
2020 Record: 12-2
Region: 2-6A
GHSA Classification: 6A
Head Coach: Trent Mongero
Returning Starters: 7
Returning Pitchers: 5

X-FACTOR
The pitching staff. Despite losing three arms with significant experience to graduation, the Red Terrors return a talented group of arms. Plus they added another, with a talented out of state transfer.

FSCJ commit OF/LHP Blake Wood (2021) will take up his place at the front of the rotation after posting a 4-0 record in the shortened 2020 season. Wood is an athletic prospect who can get it done as a two-way player. On the mound, he can run his fastball into the mid-8os and has great feel for his offspeed stuff. South Georgia State JC commit RHP Shaun Munoz (2021) and his submarine delivery are also back.

The Red Terrors will have two other impact left-handers as well in North Carolina commit OF/LHP John Long (2022) and LHP/1B Brady Davis (2022). Both prospects are pitch-ability arms, filling up the strike zone. Long has a big arm from the outfield, regularly throwing 90+ mph. If things click on the mound for him and we start to see similar arm strength, watch out. Davis posted a 2-0 record in his sophomore season.

John Long

What is really going to elevate this pitching staff from a good one to a great one is the arrival of RHP Tom Echols (2022). Echols made the move from Kerr-Vance Academy (NC) to Glynn Academy over the summer. Echols will add a true power arm to the staff, capable of running his fastball into the upp-80s. And the velocity will continue to increase given his physical 6-foot-4, 200-pounds frame.

Tom Echols

OUTLOOK
Glynn Academy was one of the big surprises of the 2020 season, racing out to a 12-2 record and ending the season as the No. 14 ranked team in the state. They may have been robbed at a chance of a special year. However, much of the core is back and a new addition on the mound has the Red Terrors ready to pick up where they left off.

The pitching staff is going to be deep and strong, and there is going to be loads of speed all over the field. However, where will the offense come from? Well, that well that will fall on a number of players. Wood will look to pick up where he left off at the plate in 2020, when he hit .500 with 11 stolen bases and 14 RBIs. OF Caden Hutchinson, (2021) 3B/SS Joe Cutia (2021), and Davis were both influential members of the lineup as well, hitting .389 with 10 stolen bases and .325 with eight RBIs, respectively. 

Blake Wood

Long has been on a meteoric rise over the past 12 months, culminating in his commitment to North Carolina last month. He has a quick twitch left-handed swing, capable of driving ball gap-to-gap with ease. Then you get to his elite speed. Long can flat out fly around the diamond with 6.5 60 speed. He is a dynamic player who is poised to have a breakout season.

John Long

Some youngsters will get a chance to make an impact on the lineup. There is 3B Hank Noonan (2023) who was able to see time as a freshman. His role will certainly increase. OF Ty Devlin (2023) will move up to varsity this year and has the potential to make the lineup. There is also a strong group of freshman waiting in the wings for the Red Terrors. C Ethan Finch, SS/3B AJ Ward and SS Gus Gandy are all talented 2024s who could potentially see some time this year. Either way, Coach Mongero has to feel good about the future of the program.

AJ Ward

Make sure to follow @PBRGeorgia on Twitter for the most-up-to-date coverage throughout the 2021 season.

Find more information on the 2021 Red Terrors below:

+ Full Schedule
+ Team Website
+ Team Twitter

Preseason Power 25 Countdown