We are back with another edition of our GHSA Playoffs roundtable discussion. Our scouts have hit on some picks and missed on others, so let’s get right to it.

First Round Roundtable
Second Round Roundtable
Quarterfinals Roundtable

Semifinals Roundtable Discussion

1. Last week we took a look at how our picks to win state were holding up. After the quarterfinals, are your teams still alive?

Blake Davis: Still alive in 7A with Hillgrove who has a big test in an equally talented Grayson club. Hanging on in 6A with Pope and 5A with Blessed Trinity and still feel good about both of these. In 2A I am still alive with Rockmart, but they will be tested this week by Calloway.

 

Kyle Colletta: Two out of the three are still marching. Tattnall (1A Private) needed three games to take down Strong Rock, and Parkview (7A) had a close pair of games, but they advanced to the Semis. Cartersville (4A) were upset by Northside (Columbus) to end their great season. Houston County (6A), a team that I put a lot of faith in, lost in what was a great three-game series, to Harrison.

Andy Sroka: I still have three picks battling for state titles in this semifinal round. I believed, and still believe, in Hillgrove on the 7A side, though the test against Grayson is going to be a challenging one. My 6A pick, Winder-Barrow, was shockingly eliminated – swept actually – last week against Effingham County. I believe the winner on the 6A side is coming from the Pope-Harrison series.

In 5A, I thought Decatur and Loganville would meet in the title game and that’s still in play. I had the Red Devils securing a third straight title, too, which looks good so far considering they haven’t lost this postseason yet, Locust Grove did beat two GA Power 25 opponents to get here though.

My 4A pick, the Blessed Trinity Titans, was the safest selection but they’re still in it and they’ll be playing a surprisingly tough Denmark team today in the semis. And, infamously, I thought Jefferson would stroll to the title game on the 3A side, but were dropped in the first round instead.

Phil Kerber: Only one of my four original picks remain, North Gwinnett in 7A. I thought Etowah could have played spoiler in this one, given the form they were in early in the playoffs. However, North Gwinnett held it together, winning a crucial game three to advance to the semifinals. This sets up a matchup of two heavyweights, Parkview and North Gwinnett.

I am most surprised at what happened with my 6A pick, Winder-Barrow. I thought the Doggs would run the table and meet Pope in the finals, but that is no longer the case as Effingham Co. completed the sweep of Winder-Barrow. Effingham County have yet to lose a game this postseason. It should also be noted that neither has Heritage Conyers, Effingham County’s semifinal opponent.

I picked the winner of Kell/Burford to win state in 5A, and I was wrong. I knew of the prowess of Ola before the state tournament when I had an opportunity to see them play on their spring trip through the panhandle of Florida. So, it does not come as a huge surprise to me that they took down Buford. They have the pitching depth and offensive firepower to keep the train rolling.

I originally picked Marist to win 4A, they unfortunately lost in the second round to North Oconee. So, last week I picked a new winner, the Danes of Denmark. The first year school continues to roll through the playoff right into the semifinals after their series win over West Laurens. Now Denmark is faced with their toughest challenge of the year, Blessed Trinity and CJ Abrams in the semifinals.  

2. Did any team surprise you in the quarterfinals?

Blake Davis: 7A has not had many surprises with all 1 seeds heading into the Final Four.

In 6A Effingham County taking down the talented Winder Barrow Bulldoggs was a shocker.

Locust Grove in 5A is the only team to reach the Final Four that was not a 1 seed, but they are talented so this is not a huge surprise. The slipper still fits in 4A with the 3 seed Northside-Columbus and the 4 seed Denmark.   Northeast Georgia is making a statement in 3A with North Hall and Hart County both making the Final Four. In 2A seeing Bleckley County upend Bremen was a shocker.

Kyle Colletta: Northside is one team. They came into the playoffs as the 3 seed of Region 1, and they beat a very talented Cartersville team, in two straight games. Denmark also surprised me. I can admit that I was wrong for predicting that the Danes’ end would run! They beat West Laurens in three games to continue their outstanding season. Fight on, Danes.

Andy Sroka: To see Effingham County not just defeat but sweep Winder-Barrow was shocking, to me. The ‘Doggs were playing arguably the best baseball in the state and were riding a lengthy win streak only to see it end abruptly. And Buford was really good, but I thought Ola had a legitimate shot to pry that series away last round and the Mustangs did exactly that. It was a tight series, but Ola deserves some high praise for downing the Wolves. And Kyle mentioned it, but Northside defeating Cartersville was certainly an upset. Northside is proving that they can really pitch and they’ve swept all three of their series so far, and haven’t allowed more than three runs in any game this postseason.

Phil Kerber: 7A has gone according to schedule as Blake mentioned above, with each of the 1 seeds making the semifinals. Again, echoing Blake, Effingham County’s upset of Winder-Barrow certainly came as a surprise.

It did not come as a surprise to me, but it certainly has come as a surprise to the rest of 4A, Denmark’s incredible run to the 4A semifinals. I think the Danes will keep the magic going all the way to a state title.

3. What is your favorite storyline heading into the semifinals? 

Blake Davis: I am really enjoying this Hart County team who is being led by two 2021’s on the mound in Casey Tallent and Will Dean.  At the plate they are only just a little bit older with 2020’s Luke Lee and Chase Dalton. Traditional known for their basketball team this is a great story coming out of Northeast Georgia.

Andy Sroka: We have dueling three-peats in play. In the 6A and 5A brackets, both Pope and Loganville have won state the last two springs and are in the driver’s seat on their way to a third straight. The two programs are four wins away from winning a third straight state title. And Parkview has a chance to win their second straight championship, too. There’s a lot of familiar faces in the playoffs this year.

Phil Kerber: Denmark. Unbelievable story of a first year school squeaking into the playoffs, as the No. 4 seed from Region 7, with a sub-.500 regular season record, and making it all the way to the state semifinals.

Kyle Colletta: I will agree with Phil here and go with Denmark. Coach Smart obviously has the Danes playing their best baseball of the year. The only 4-seeded team remaining, they will look to beat their fellow Region 7 representatives in Blessed Trinity.

4. What are some of the most intriguing matchups in the final four?

Blake Davis: Parkview/North Gwinnett and Hillgrove/Grayson are both mega matchups.Ola and Decatur is going to be a battle and Rockmart vs Calloway is very interesting matchup.

Kyle Colletta: At this point in the playoffs, every matchup is exciting. There are still a few that have a little extra excitement along with them. North Gwinnett and Parkview looks like the most competitive series, on paper. On the other side of the 7A bracket, Grayson and Hillgrove is sure to be a close matchup, as well.

Obviously having Denmark as this year’s Cinderella makes each of their games even more intriguing. The Danes dropped a DH to Blessed Trinity in region play this year, but lost both games by only one run. I look for the series starting tonight to be a close one, with some extra juice behind it.

Andy Sroka: There isn’t a bad one, but Ola-Decatur is really catching my eye. I think the 5A bracket has been the most exciting class to watch this postseason and we have to exhilarating semifinals match-ups as proof, with Loganville-Locust Grove on the other side. I think we all knew the 7A chase was always going to be a dogfight, and the two battles we have today and tomorrow are also going to be must-see.

Phil Kerber: There are a lot of matchups that I like in the final four. The entire Class 7A semifinals are going to provide us with some fireworks as Blake alluded to. In 6A, I am excited to see if Effingham County is the real deal when they take on Heritage Conyers, or did they just catch Winder-Barrow at the right time. I have been very high on the 5A bracket, I think it has set up some of the best matchups around the state. The semifinal between Ola and Decatur will be no different.

5. We made some bold predictions last week, how did they turn out?

Blake Davis: 1 for 2 as Hart County is still dancing.

Kyle Colletta: Well, I am 0-2 on bold takes. I had Denmark’s run coming to an end last week, and I was wrong. I am not betting against the Danes again, and I will be heading to the doubleheader tonight at Blessed Trinity.

Andy Sroka: I took those Ola Mustangs to defeat the Buford Wolves and they pulled through. Back in our first roundtable, prior to the first game of the playoffs, I chose Decatur to make it through to the title game and I still see the Bulldogs fighting for state next week.

Phil Kerber: I was 1 for 3 on bold predictions last week, Denmark being the only one to pan out. Swung and missed on Lee County upsetting Pope and Etowah doing the same to North Gwinnett.