GHSA Playoffs Roundtable

The GHSA State Playoffs are set to begin later this afternoon. Our staff has been hard at work covering the state all season. We asked a series of questions from who would win state to who did you most wish was still playing and more. Check out what our staff has to say about the upcoming playoffs.

ROUNDTABLE DISCUSSION

Let’s start with what everyone wants to see, our predictions for the GHSA Playoffs.

1. Who do you predict will be state champions when it is all said and done.

Blake Davis:

7A-Going to go with Hillgrove’s pitching depth, athleticism and power bats.

6A-I have to go with Pope.  They have been here before and have a senior class that might be the most battle-tested in the state. This is not clear cut and is why I lean with experience.

5A-I am going to pick a rematch of last year’s state finals. Loganville vs Buford in another heavyweight fight.

4A- Blessed Trinity. Coach Harlen and its senior class know how to win, and they have the horses to get it done.

3A-Jefferson runs the table with its hard nosed brand of baseball.

2A-I have this as a Rockmart & Bremen race.  Rockmart has the advantage in terms of high end talent, but I will go with the depth of Bremen’s roster.

1A Public-Rolling with one of Shooter Hunt’s favorites in 2021 Dylan Thomas’ bat, Schley County goes the distance.

1A Private- Coach Duece Roark returns to his winning ways and Lakeview Academy shocks everyone.

Kyle Colletta:  7A - Going with the favorite here, I am picking Parkview to repeat as State Champs. The big key for the Panthers is going to be their bullpen. The starters will keep them in games, and their lineup will be one of the toughest in the state to face, but if the bullpen can show some depth and hold teams down late in games, the View Boys could be looking at their eighth state title.

4A - The Canes out of Cartersville. This lineup makes no lead too big for opponents. Preston Welchel (South Alabama) will lead them at the plate and Mason Barnett (Auburn) will set the tone on the mound. Looking ahead a bit, but a possible Cartersville vs Blessed Trinity rematch from earlier in the season, in the finals, could be the best matchup, regardless of class.

1A Private - Tattnall Square Academy is a safe pick for the 1A Private title. The Trojans are the team to beat with only one loss on the season. They have an athletic infield that also does plenty of damage on the offensive-end.

Andy Sroka:

7A: Sure, everyone knows how good Hillgrove’s been this spring. They’re the champs of a competitive Region 4 and they lost just six games in the regular season. But I think they’re even better than we’re realizing – and that comes with the caveat that they’re ranked No. 8 on the GA Power 25. The Hawks are led by a real bulldog on the mound, in ace Max DeJong, and they’re not short of talent on offense, either. Hillgrove is one of the most athletic teams in the 7A class and despite sharing their quarter of the bracket with Milton, Brookwood, and Mill Creek, it’ll be comforting to know that they’ve beaten all three at some point this season.

6A: I’m not sure how you can look past Winder-Barrow and Pope. Could I see a team like Heritage, Harrison, or Houston County swooping in and stealing a series from the ‘Doggs or Greyhounds? Yes. Am I betting on it? I just can’t. Winder is playing arguably the best baseball in the state, while Pope’s rolling at precisely the right time. But… Pope hasn’t exactly looked impervious this spring – at least, by their own standards. Is it because this group of seniors was just timing their run at the three-peat for this moment? Or are they just shy of the squad that’s won the last two state titles in this class?

For me, I think I have to go with the hot hand. And that means I’m going to take Winder-Barrow to be the team that ultimately knocks off the Greyhounds. But Pope would also be on the lookout for whichever team would await them in the semis, because HoCo or Harrison will likely be looming.

5A: I believe the 5A tournament is going to be the most exciting and must-see grouping out of all seven classes. Decatur has made some magic this spring, and though they’re not perfect, the fun they have is infectious and winning is, too. They don’t have it easy in the first round, with Rome on the schedule, but if the Bulldogs can push past them, it’ll make them all the more prepared for a deep run in the playoffs. I foresee them beating Buford to spoil last year’s rematch of last year’s championship between rivals Loganville and the Wolves.

But, in this scenario, can they beat the Red Devils? I think this is where the magic ends. Loganville has too much pitching for Decatur to get past in a best-of-three series. I have the Red Devils earning a third straight state title.

4A: The gut says Marist, my brain’s telling me the Titans. I think it’s because I just want to see a rematch of the electricity we saw in the final two games of the regular season. Marist proved that they could hang! In back-to-back contests, the War Eagles really showed that they had the personnel to compete with Blessed Trinity in a three-game set. The picture is a little clearer, I think, in this 4A class. I believe it’s a three-headed race between the Region 7 rivals and Cartersville… but Blessed Trinity is a machine that’s been tested all spring long. They won’t waver now. I’ll take the Titans.

3A: Jefferson Dragons, lock it up.

Phil Kerber: 7A - I think North Gwinnett cruises through to the semifinals where they get another whack at No. 1 Parkview. The two teams played an instant classic 10 inning game early in the season, with Parkview prevailing 8-6.

6A: Winder-Barrow vs. Pope is, in my mind, what it will all come down to. I think Winder-Barrow takes it from Pope in a tight back-and-forth three game series. SS Brady House (Tennessee), 3B Zack Smith (Mississippi) and 1B Hunter Marsh (Walters State) bang baseballs around the park.

5A - I think this one is the toughest of them all to predict, with that being said I am going to cheat and go with either Kell or Buford. Looking at the road to the State Finals, these two teams will be hands down the most battle tested. The two will presumably face off in the 2nd Round and then have a date with Ola in the Quarterfinals. The Final 4 will more than likely pit Kell/Buford against a very dangerous Decatur squad. If one of those schools can manage to run that gauntlet all the way to the State Finals, I think they will capture it.

4A - Marist. The War Eagles almost stole the 7A Regional Title right out from underneath Blessed Trinity’s feet with a two game sweep to end the season, but were beat back in game two. Luckily, Marist sits opposite of Blessed Trinity on the bracket. If Marist can get by Cartersville in the semis then they can complete the redemption story and beat Blessed Trinity for the state title.

2. Who do you think is poised to make a run?

Blake Davis: Redan has as much talent as anybody in 3A and if they decide to make a run, then look out.  Will have as big of a first round test as anybody in the state with Morgan County. Also have to look at Etowah in 7A, this region is not new to seeing lower seeds make a run, it’s a battle just to get into the playoffs every single year.  Sum does not equal the parts here, they pressure defenses from start to finish and will keep throwing quality LHP at you. Like the fact that the attack can come from anywhere and they have depth on both sides.

Kyle Colletta: Houston County (6A). The Bears have won nine of their last 10 games and have an uber-talented core of Georgia State commits in Chandler Dawson, Cameron Jones, and Jaden Woods that can go toe-to-toe with anyone on the mound. While HOCO had a slow start to the year, they have the talent on the mound to make them an incredibly tough team to take a 3-game set from.

Andy Sroka: Grayson is hardly a secret, but the Rams don’t get enough love. Technically, they lost the last game of their spring season to Loganville, but the game was practically an exhibition. Otherwise, Grayson’s been dominant. They lost twice to Florida programs on their spring break trip back at the start of this month but haven’t lost to a team from Georgia since dropping a contest with Parkview back on March 5. They also beat Brookwood a couple days after that loss, which will help if they wind up playing the Broncos next round.

Phil Kerber: A lot of talk will be made of Pope and Winder-Barrow being the favorites to win Class 6A, but Heritage-Conyers enters the postseason red hot. The Patriots have won eight straight games to finish the season and look likely to keep that streak alive when they host Glynn Academy on Wednesday.

3. Who is going to be the biggest surprise?

Blake Davis: Lakeview Academy is not known as a baseball power, but when Coach Duece Roark has had the talent, he normally produces.  In 4A watch out for Flowery Branch; they have the kind of pitching that can carry you in a playoff setting.

Kyle Colletta:  Mountain View of 7A. While they tied for second place in Region 6, they wound up getting the three seed and have an incredibly tough Brookwood team in the opening round. However, with Gavin Collyer (Clemson commit) on the mound, they have a chance to go 1-0 against anybody in the state, making them an interesting follow.

Andy Sroka: I wonder about Collins Hill, the team the GHSA selected as the at-large entrant into the 7A bracket. They took two of three from a simmering Mountain View team to close the regular season, and was surely what pushed them just over the line and into the playoffs for the committee. They’re led by Nasim Nunez, one of the state’s most dynamic players, and their dugout, perennially, is one of the most athletic. Walton has a knack for earning best-of-three wins, it’s what helped them claim a rigorous Region 4, but I wonder if Collins Hill can steal a series as the at-large team.

Phil Kerber: Redan from Class 3A has challenged themselves all year with a difficult schedule. I think now is the time that it all pays off. The talent of their roster is about as good as any with C Christian Webb (New Mexico), SS Kameron Guidry (Georgia), OF Kevin Kilpatrick (Grambling), OF Tyler Williams (Arkansas-Little Rock), RHP Enmanuel Martinez (Eastern Kentucky) and RHP Donye Evans (Kennesaw State).

4. Who has the toughest road to the Finals?

Blake Davis: 7A bracket with Woodstock, Hillgrove, Mill Creek, Camden County and Milton is going to be some sort of fist fight. But I do not envy the run that is front of Decatur.  Drawing Rome in the first round is no favor and has plenty of talent, and if the bulldogs survive that, in comes Walnut Grove most likely who just missed out in Region-8 to the two heavyweights Buford and Loganville. If they survive rounds one and two, they could get rewarded with Whitewater who is not your everyday three seed and come from the battle tested Region-3 group.  There may be tougher brackets, but think Decatur will have to endure the toughest road from start to finish to see the final four.

Kyle Colletta: Hillgrove (7A) has a tough road in an opening matchup against Wheeler. In order to get to the quarterfinals, they have a potential matchup with a physical Woodstock team. If they want to advance to the semis, they will likely need to outlast Milton or Mill Creek. Hillgrove has talent up-and-down their lineup, so it will be interesting to see how that bracket plays out.

Andy Sroka: If Parkview wasn’t Parkview, I think we’d all be sounding upset alert a little louder. Regardless, they share a grouping with the likes of North Paulding, Walton, Archer, North Forsyth, and even their first-round match-up with Peachtree Ridge won’t be easy. If the Panthers make it back to the state finals, they’ll have really earned it.

Phil Kerber: See my answer to Question 1. The winner of Kell/Buford second round matchup will have to beat Ola and Decatur to make the Finals.

5. What team(s) can turn the bracket upside down?

Blake Davis:Winner of Redan and Morgan County will be a factor down the stretch and I still see Etowah as a team that can make some noise coming out of that number four spot from Region-4.

Kyle Colletta: It is no secret what Etowah did throughout the regular season. The scrappy Eagles lost 2 out of 3 to Lassiter heading into the playoffs, but this 4-seed has a track record of upsetting some higher-ranked opponents.

Another potential bracket-buster is Rome of 5A. The 4 seed out of Region 7 has a tough matchup with Decatur, but the Wolves are not a team to sleep on come playoff time.

Andy Sroka: I’m in agreement with everyone here about Etowah. What they’ve done this season has been remarkable, almost to the point where I’m not even sure if it’d be an upset to see them make the quarters or semifinals. So, instead, I’m going to mention North Cobb. The Warriors are a No. 4 seed who more closely resemble a No. 2. They went 20-8 this spring and proved they could compete with regional foes North Paulding and Hillgrove, two teams with sincere title hopes. I could see North Cobb upsetting Newnan in the opening round and maybe even making it into the final four.

Phil Kerber: Hate to say it, but I have to agree with Kyle here. Etowah has the potential to make some noise. The Eagles had a stretch early in the season where they took down some of the top teams in the state. If they can recapture that form, then the rest of 7A better watch out.

Although I never got a chance to see them play, Denmark, the Class 4A 4 seed out of Region 7 could present some matchup problems. The Danes took a spring break trip to the Panhandle of Florida where they took down Tate High School, one of the top programs in Florida. Reports from that game lead me to believe the Danes could string together a couple of upsets.

6. What teams do you wish were still playing into the postseason?

Blake Davis: South Forsyth? What happened here? Mays is the team that I most wanted to see in the playoffs.  Losing the fourth seed in a tie breaker to Creekside in Region 5-6A, I wanted to see two of the states best in brothers Termarr Johnson 2022 and 2020 Tervell Johnson (Georgia Tech) on the big stage in the first round.

Kyle Colletta: North Atlanta. Coach Ricky Plante did a great job of having this team develop over the course of the year. It seemed like every time I saw them play, they looked like a new team. A few slip-ups late in the season watched their postseason hopes fade, but I would have loved to see Marc Church and Brett Roberts put their exciting style of play on display in the postseason.