As we enter into the 5th week of the season, teams begin to seperate themselves, and region play has kicked off. Our power 25 gets updated weekly, and if you missed this weeks update you can check it out HERE. We also update our classification polls every week, and those can be found HERE. 

Be sure to check out our weekly scout blog, as we add notes and video daily. 

Starr's Mill

From top to bottom, Starr’s Mill deploys one of the deepest lineups in the state, and it’s been in full display to open the year. The Panthers have opened the season with a 7-1 record including scoring double-digit runs in five of those wins. It starts with the up-the-middle bats with the Panthers, led by Georgia Tech commit CF Bo Walker. The senior has shown power to all-fields early this spring, including a few loud home runs. The senior middle-infield duo of Georgia State commit SS Austin Sellers and powderkeg two-sport Virginia commit 2B Max Prozny have shown strong power/speed combos early with solid hit tools as well, not too mention above-average gloves. Mississippi State commit OF/LHP Heath Whitlock has shown an advanced hit tool that shows up every game with real strength in the frame that’s produced impressive raw power that’s flashed with some big-time opposite field home runs. Middle Tennessee commit OF/1B Drew Richardson has been finding consistent barrels as well as uncommitted senior 1B Jack Ryan, who’s performing as well as the immense amount of D1 commits in the lineup. Pitching by committee has been strong as they head into region play, shutting down some powerful offenses in Newnan and Ola along the way.

Austin Sellers

Tift County

The Tift County Blue Devils are off to a 9-1 start, and just swept Lee County to open the year in region play. They had a strong returning cast, and everyone is contributing to their early success in 2024. Future Gamer and Georgia Southern commit, John Davis is leading the way on the mound with 20.2 innings pitched. He has only allowed 1 earned run, and has struck out 30 batters. At the plate he is batting near .300, and will surely heat up as they get into the thick of region play. Following Davis on the mound is senior John Dorman. He has tossed 16 innings and only allowed 3 earned runs while striking out 19. Dorman is a strong framed righty that really knows how to pitch and fill up the zone. Junior, Ryan Whitley rounds out their starting rotation with 13 innings pitched, 3 earned runs, and 16 strikeouts. Starting pitching is one of the keys to success in high school baseball, which has been a big piece for the Blue Devils. Relief pitching can often be just as important. Will Pridgen and Kennesaw State commit Tyler VanSumeren have been nearly perfect out of the pen, only allowing 3 runs between the 2 of them, and striking out 16 batters. Great pitching can’t win games without a sound offense. The entire Tift line up has been contributing with senior Brady Moretz. Moretz is hitting .448 on the year, and was one of my favorite players last spring. He recently committed to East Georgia, and will be a steal for them, and could easily be at the division 1 level in 2 years time. John Dorman is leading the run production with 12 RBI’s. Two uncommitted juniors that will make an impact at the next level are Mac Brooks and Landon Parrish. Brooks is batting .413 and Parrish is hitting .375 on the year. The entire Tift line up is hitting over .300, and it is scary to think that 2 of their best bats in John Davis and Tyler VanSumeren haven’t found their stride yet as both are hitting right under .300. As region play begins to heat up we plan to make our way down south for a double header match up against Houston County, that will most likely decide the region champ.

North Hall

The Trojans are off to an 11-1 start with their only loss being a close one to Walnut Grove. There are 5 top caliber teams in their region, and only 4 make the playoffs. It is going to be a battle in region play, but the Trojans are off on the right track. They are nearly just returning 2 of their starters in Luke Sanders and Micah Jimerson from basketball. Sanders is a spark plug type player, that is an above average glove in the field that will make all the tough plays. Jimerson is a power bat that will be a catalyst in the bottom half of the order to drive in runs. Their entire line up is full of tough outs, being led by speedster and Kennesaw State commit, Ajay Jones. Jones is a menace on the base paths, and be from 1st to 3rd in a few pitches. Following him up is senior, Jon Jon Read. Read was impressive last season, but has shot up a couple inches, and really looks the part at shortstop. He is a + defender with above average arm strength. One of the toughest outs in the region he has been on a tear at the plate. Read and Sanders are a strong duo on the left side of the infield with not much getting by them. Sophomore, Kenny Foudy leads the way behind the plate, and has been producing at the plate all season. Kaleb Sexton is their go to guy on the mound, and can compete with anyone in the state. The lefty has seen a jump in velocity since last season, and has a legit 3 pitch mix to pair with the mid 80’s fastball. Junior Campbell Payton has really stepped up on the mound, and been another strong lefty on the mound. Coach Flow has created a great culture at North Hall, and this year he has a tight knit team that could go deep into the playoffs.

Kaleb Sexton, 2026

Mills Lothridge, 2025

Coffee

The Coffee County Trojans are off to an impressive 11-1 start in 2024. The Trojans had big wins against Brantley County and Colquitt County last week. Junior Michael Strickland has been producing both at the plate and on the mound. Strickland is batting .375 with 3 Homers on the year and 10 RBI’s. On the mound Strickland has a 3-0 record with 24 K’s and a 1.94 ERA. USC-Aiken commit Payton Bryant is leading the offense for the Trojans posting a .417 BA. Bryant has 2 HR on the year and 13 RBI. Bryant has also played well behind the plate and leading the pitching well. Another Aiken commit Cannon Jones is having a strong Senior year for Coffee post a .433 BA to this point with 13 hits. Jones also has a high OBP of .622. Freshman Gavin McElroy has been a real impressive arm primarily out of the pen this year. McElroy has 14.1 IP with a 1.46 ERA. He has 17 K’s with 2 saves on the year as well. Sophomore SS Ben Fussell has been the anchor of the defense and has been getting on base at the top of the order for the Trojans with a .459 OBP. The Trojans start region play this week with a top 10 5A matchup against Greenbrier in a 3 game series.

Michael Strickland, 2025

Newnan

The offense that the Cougars are producing right now is flat out scary. Sitting at 11-3, Newnan has hit everything in sight in the month of March going 5-0 so far while outscoring their opponents by a ridiculous 77-7 over the span. West Georgia commit, senior CF Cam Barnes has been a leader in the middle of the order hitting .404 with 19 RBI so far this spring, majority batting right behind fellow senior and Georgia State commit 1B Wills Maginnis who’s been equally impressive with 16 runs and 2 long balls to go along with .375 average. Clemson commit junior SS Dax Kilby is an x-factor on both sides for the Cougars and has met expectations so far with a .345 average and 15 RBI to go along with a vacuum for a glove at short. Freshman MIF/RHP Hayes Maginnis has been a bright spot this spring at the plate and especially on the mound with a sparkling 1.00 ERA and velo that continues to grow. Mars Hill commit senior RHP Carson Daniel has been strong on the mound for the Cougars punching out 20 in 17 IP to go along with a 2.80 ERA. Uncommitted junior Cole Gilmore has been lights out so far out of the bullpen, dancing around hard contact with a sub-1.00 ERA. Newnan has all the bats to continue to score runs with the best of them in 6A, and if the pitching continues to keep producing like this, than this can be a major team to watch the rest of 2024.

Hayes Maginnis

Dax Kilby

Marist

The Marist War Eagles got off to a strong 10-1 record and is currently #5 in the Prep Baseball Georgia class 6A rankings. The war eagles are coming off of a statement win against the #4 team in Florida, Pensacola Catholic. Marist is led by a strong pitching staff with Georgia Tech Commit, Jamie Vicens, and Junior David Albert at the top of the rotation. The pitching staff has gotten off to a good start with keeping opposing offenses at bay for the most part. Two sophomores and two standouts at the Prep Baseball Georgia Preseason All-State event Martin Shelar and Jack Richerson have played big roles in the lineup for the War Eagles. Shelar is hitting .444 with 8 RBI's. Even though the Eagles are off to such a great start they have been without one of their biggest bats in the line up, and that is Future Gamer, John Loudon. He is 6 for 11 with a home run, and his brief time bag, and will be a big piece moving forward. Joe Montembeau has been contributing on both sides with 11 innings on the mound with a win and a save. He is also hitting .419 on the year with 4 doubles. Another junior that is off to a hot start is, Brock Bergey. He is hitting over .500 with 17 at bats so far. Marist has gotten big wins this year against North Oconee and Mill Creek. Marist started region play with a 4-0 record and a clean 3 game sweep of South Cobb, and a 3 game region series this week against North Atlanta. The War Eagles won game 1 last night 2-1 with Games two and three to come later in the week. Marist will look to stay hot throughout region play and make a push deep into the class 6A playoffs.

Martin Shelar

David Albert