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GHSA Playoffs: Four straight state trips: Pope, Robertson down Harrison in game three

May 16, 2019
By Blake Davis
Georgia State Director

Marietta, GA – Blake Davis, PBR Georgia’s scouting director, made it to Marietta for the winner-take-all game three between Harrison and back-to-back champs Pope. The Greyhounds have really been tested all playoffs, however, and this was their fourth game three of the postseason already. But while they’ve been tested, their depth has prevented them from breaking.

GAME THREE

In an area known for its high school baseball prowess, the Pope and Harrison programs left it all on the field in game three of their semifinals series. In the end, Pope claims, once again, a berth in the state title series for the fourth year in a row. The Greyhounds are now fully healthy and, with senior Georgia recruit Buddy Floyd back patrolling shortstop, Pope looks exactly the way we anticipated when we called them the No. 1-ranked team back in the preseason.

 

Buddy Floyd SS / Pope, GA / 2019

GEORGIA COMMITMENT

After missing much of the spring season with what was described as a freak ankle injury, Floyd is back to doing what he does best. He’s an outstanding defender who plays low to the ground with excellent hands, feet, and instincts. All that, combined with his ultra-quick release, make him a huge x-factor for this Pope program. At the plate, Floyd plays small ball as well as anyone from both sides of the batter’s box, and he also brings with him some sneaky gap power. His on-field instincts, leadership, and his hard-nosed approach can’t be quantified – he is a winner, who embodies the Greyhounds, a team considers the state title series a home away from home.

Pope played about as well in this game three as you could possibly expect. They tallied 12 hits, led by seniors Caden Smith (Mercer commit), Max Pralgo (Miami-OH), Ian Hancock (Birmingham-Southern), and junior Nate Shipley (South Carolina-Upstate); each of them recorded multi-hit days at the plate in the ballgame.

On the mound, the Greyhounds opted to call on a familiar name in game three: 2020 southpaw Reid Robertson, who was again up to the monumental task. He allowed just two hits and prevented the Hoyas from scoring a single run in his overwhelming complete-game performance. Robertson has the ability to work the outer half with three quality pitches, in his fastball, changeup, and well-located breaking ball.

Backing up Robertson, Pope was just as impressive defensively on Wednesday. Pralgo and Floyd both made some strong plays in the field to end innings and simultaneously kept Harrison from scoring.

Behind Rebertson Pope was just as impressive defensively in the field.  With Max Pralgo and Buddy Floyd both making strong defensive plays up the middle to end innings and keeping zeros on the scoreboard.

This time of the year, it comes down to depth and culture, and Pope is full of it, in spades. They’ll head back to Rome for the 6A title series on Monday where they’ll play an equally talented Heritage-Conyers club, one that is hungry for a state title of their own.

For the Hoyas, it was a fantastic run inside a great 2019 campaign. They pushed the back-to-back champs to a game three in the semifinals, sincerely challenging a full-on dynasty built by Greyhounds head coach Jeff Rowland.

Hoyas starter Camden McNearney took the loss in this one. The senior right-hander is headed to Birmingham-Southern in the fall and showed plenty of next-level ability in this start. He’s athletic on the mound and has a compact arm stroke and repeats his delivery well. He limited the damage Pope was doing at the dish and sat in the 84-87 mph range with his fastball and well-shaped curve that he was able to land when the situation called for it.

Next up for the Greyhounds, a trip to State Mutual Stadium, home of the Rome Braves, where they’ll be seeking to complete the three-peat.

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