The Georgia High School Association has announced that opening day of the 2020 season will commence on Feb. 10. Programs were allowed to begin practicing in an official capacity on Jan. 13, 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 2019.Over the next several weeks, leading up to opening day, we will be publishing our team previews ahead of the 2019 spring season, touching on programs spanning multiple state classifications, counting down the official PBR Georgia Preseason Power 25 Rankings.

Our Preseason Power 25 rankings coverage starts today.

Team: Mill Creek
Preseason Rank: 7
2019 Record: 23-15
Region: 6-7A 
2019 Region Finish: 2nd
GHSA Classification: 7A
Head Coach: Doug Jones
Playoff Run: Quarterfinals
Returning Starters: 4
Returning Pitchers: 2

X-Factor
Team chemistry. The Hawks lost a lot to graduation, however they do bring back a strong core starters from last season. 2020 MLB Draft prosepct, and one of the top catchers in the country, C Alek Boychuk (South Carolina), INF Brendan York (2020; Chattahoochee Valley) and INF Tim Simay (2021; Mississippi) will form a strong triplet at the top of the order and an airtight defense up the middle.

After the returnees, there will be a number of roles that need to be filled. Newcomers 1B Garner McKeon (2020; Gordon State) and 3B Trey Mullins (2020) will be counted on to man the corners of the infield and produce offensively. Right-handers Hayden Stone (2021), Davis Day (2021), and Kyle Beaty (2021) will also be looked upon to enter the rotation and bullpen after Mill Creek lost a large portion of their staff to graduation. Beaty may have the best shot. Built with a strong frame and an even stronger arm, he is able to touch 90 mph with his fastball.

The ability of the returning starters and the newcomers to click and mesh from the get-go will be tantamount in Mill Creek's success this season.  

Outlook

Expectations are high for the Hawks year in and year out, this year is no different. As was stated in the X-factor, the top of the order will be loaded with high-end prospects, none better than Boychuk. The right-handed hitting catcher has a strong 6-foot-1, 205-pound frame and routinely puts good swings on the ball. His trademark though is his advanced defensive ability. Boychuk will have no problem handling the pitching staff, controlling the running game and being one of the senior leaders.

Alek Boychuk

Up the middle of the infield will be returning starters York and Simay. York is an athletic, scrappy 5-foot-10, 160-pound right-handed hitter. A tough out at the plate, he has shown the ability to use the entire field with a line drive approach and will be a valuable asset. The biggest impact for the team will be from Simay. Simay made massive strides in his game over the summer, resulting in his commitment to Mississippi. A right-handed hitter, standing a lanky 6-foot, 160-pounds, Simay has an advanced hit tool and continues to grow into his frame, adding more and more strength. Even more impressive is that he know works in the mid-80s with his fastball and can ramp it up into the upper-80s when he needs to.

Tim Simay

LHP Zach Green (2020; Lousiana Tech) and RHP Keaton Anthony (2020; Iowa) are back and form a rough one-two punch on the mound. Green is an athletic 6-foot, 170-pounds and works with a three pitch mix. The fastball presently sits in the mid-80s, and he complements it with a sinking changeup and a 1/7 curveball that he can toss over for strikes in any count. Anthony, on the other hand, is a physical 6-foot-4, 210-pounder. The big righty can work up into the upper-80s with his fastball and features a sharp 12/6 breaking ball.

After these two workhorses, the pitching staff is up for grabs. Stone, Day, and Beaty will all get a chance to prove their worth on the mound, and will really be relied upon to contribute day in and day out. 

Mill Creek will have a strong defense and good team speed from top to bottom. A number of newcomers that we did not mention will provide Coach Doug Jones with the ability to mix and match lineups. Two such players to keep an eye on, who could be in store for a breakout season are OF/3B Landon Depratter (2021) and OF Caleb Spikes (2021). Depratter had an outstanding summer and fall at LakePoint, and if he carries it over into the spring season, he will be a valuable asset.

Landon Depratter

Make sure to follow @PBRGeorgia on Twitter for the most-up-to-date coverage throughout the 2020 season.

Find more information on the 2020 Hawks below:

+ Full Schedule
+ Team Website
+ Team Twitter

Preseason Power 25 Countdown