Preseason Top 25: Team Rankings

With the first pitch of the 2019 Georgia high school season being thrown later this afternoon, it’s time for the PBR Georgia team to unveil its 2019 Preseason Top 25 Rankings. We’ve narrowed Georgia’s loaded number of baseball programs into a list of the best 25 teams, regardless of class. We’ll update and re-rank this top 25 weekly throughout the season, but we have to start somewhere. And, after much deliberation, PBR Georgia Scouting Director Blake Davis and the rest of the staff have named its preseason top 25.

So far this winter, we broke down classes 7A, 6A, and 5A, region by region. With 21 of the top 25 teams representing one of these three classes, we have already covered the majority of the preseason 25.

We’ll brush you up on the programs we’ve already touched on over the past month or so, as well as introduce you to the four teams we have not yet covered.

TOP 25

+ No. 25, Redan (3A)

Let’s start of by introducing you to a team we’ve not yet previewed. From Stone Mountain, the Raiders went 22-9 last spring but were ultimately disappointed by their first-round exit to a top-seeded Ringgold team. Redan was slated to return a healthy portion of last season’s contributors but it’ll also be boosted by the eligibility of high-profile transfers SS Kameron Guidry (Georgia commit) and OF Tyler Williams (Arkansas-Little Rock), two Division-I-bound seniors. While Guidry’s well-rounded profile has him set to join to powerhouse in Athens this fall, Williams is actually the No. 40-ranked prospect in the state’s 2019 class. Making their way back into the Raiders rotation will be RHP Donye Evans (Kennesaw State, 2020) and RHP Jordan Whitening (2019). Evans is a top-25 ranked prospect in Georgia’s 2020 class, too. Versatile prospects Kevin Kilpatrick (Grambling State, 2019) and Christian Webb (2019) are also set to push Redan into state title contention for their senior spring. Redan is the right combination of talented and hungry, which could carry them deep into the 3A playoff picture.

+ No. 24, Flowery Branch (4A)

 Branch took home third place in their highly competitive 5A region last spring, one in which featured the state champs (Loganville) and runners-up (Buford) – in fact, considering Branch made the semifinals themselves, their region represented three of 5A’s final four in 2018.

The Falcons have been reclassified for the 2019 season, moving down to the 4A class. Regardless of what region or class they’re in, Flowery Branch is going to be tough to beat on any field. With seven starters and eight pitchers making their way back to the dugout, there’s no reason to think that Branch won’t find its way back into the semifinals and beyond in their first 4A spring. The strength for the Falcons lies in its pitching staff, led by junior lefty Zander Sechrist, a Tennessee commit. He’s the No. 33-ranked prospect in the state’s 2020 class and has shown in the past that he’s skilled enough to compete with the best in the state. Andrew Armstrong, another junior lefty, is more than able to be this team’s No. 2. He’s been known to fill up the strike zone with low-80s stuff, but has the projection to make a velo jump in the near future – if that were to happen this spring, a Sechrist-Armstrong tandem could make the Falcons that much more of a threat when the elimination games begin.

Senior RHP Zach Wagner should be a reliable third arm attached to this pitching staff. He might get the opportunity over Armstrong to handle the second spot in the rotation, but either way, Branch is in good hands if these two are the ones backing up Sechrist. Junior two-way prospect Grant Lackey should also see some time on the mound, but the southpaw is predominantly an outfielder and will be able to command the offense and defense, since many of the positions on both the infield dirt and outfield grass are generally filled by younger and/or lesser experienced players.

And the Falcons are blessed with a trio of sophomores who saw some time at the varsity level last spring: Kaleb Freeman, Connor Larson, and Anthony Woeltje. All three should be able to play beyond their years, given the lessons learned along the way to the semifinals in 2018.

+ No. 23, Brookwood (7A)

 We covered the Broncos in full detail in mid-January’s Class 7A Region 8 breakdown, but we’ll touch back on Brookwood briefly. They’ll be fielding a younger-than-usual roster this spring, but will nonetheless be captained by seniors SS Will Mize, a Georgia State commit, and RHP Alex Flood (uncommitted). In typical Brookwood fashion, there’s bound to be underclassman somewhere on this roster who picks up some of the slack lost from the 2018 graduates. They’re a compelling watch for that reason alone.

+ No. 22, Mill Creek (7A)

 Last year’s 7A runners-up graduated some of its premier talent from a season ago. Still they’ll be led by C Alek Boychuk (South Carolina), the No. 6-ranked junior in the state. Also, fellow junior Brendan York (uncommitted), ranked in the state’s top 50 on the 2020 board, is a breakout candidate who could help the Eagles claw back into the 7A title scene.

+ No. 21, Valdosta (6A)

 While they might be the best team on paper within their own region, Valdosta looks fully capable of challenging Houston and Lee counties for the top spot in 6A’s Region 1. The Wildcats are led by Colby Thomas, a Mercer commit, who slugged 14 homers last spring. Valdosta’s Avery Stephens and Jude Ard (Tallahassee CC) are the talented, experienced seniors set to eat most of the innings on this staff, too.

+ No. 20, Milton (7A)

 Milton seniors 3B Graham Pauley (Duke) and RHP Cole Stupp (Kentucky) are two of the best prospects 7A has to offer. Strupp is on the national radar and is the No. 42-ranked prospect in the state’s senior class. At 6-foot-4, 195 pounds, Stupp has an ideal pitcher’s frame and puts it to good use. He can be relied about to man the top of this Milton rotation. Pauley is a left-handed-hitting third baseman with some real bat strength, fit for the middle of this order. They’ll be on the hunt after a first-round defeat to North Gwinnett last spring.

+ No. 19, Heritage-Conyers (6A)

 Their region’s reigning champs return a deep rotation that could take them far in the state tournament – provided they figure out their offensive identity by then. The staff is led by RHP Griffin Holcombe (Coastal Carolina, 2019), LHP Nolan Woodward (uncommitted, 2019), and OF/RHP Darryl Buggs (uncommitted).

+ No. 18, Cartersville (4A)

 The Class 4A runners-up in 2018 return one of the state’s top 2019 classes. RHP Mason Bennett (Auburn), C Jake Gooch (Georgia Tech), RHP Logan Martin (Sewanee), OF Preston Welchel (South Alabama), and 3B Jordan Wilkie (Lipscomb) make up a tremendous group of seniors poised to make noise all spring long, especially considering their narrow three-game championship series in 2018, where they fell in a pivotal game three to Jefferson, 6-3. The Canes will make a particularly stacked Class 6A even more fun to watch in 2019.

+ No. 17, Alpharetta (6A)

 Alpharetta is primed with two workhorses atop its pitching staff: southpaws Charlie Goldstein (Georgia) and Sam Stratton (Wofford). Expect returning starters OF Josh Maicon, C Bradley Rowlinson, and 1B/RHP Jacob Lassiat to form a formidable trio in the middle of this lineup. Sophomores 3B/OF Jack Barone, INF Ajinkya Gundaria, LHP/1B Keyton Hughes, and OF Jack Matty are all candidates to carve out a role for themselves this spring, too. In arguably the most competitive region in the state, Alpharetta has what it takes to stand out.

+ No. 16, Grayson (7A)

 Grayson is expected to retain its regional title for the third-straight season, especially with the help of one of the state’s top bats: junior infielder John Anderson. He’s ranked No. 9 in the state’s 2020 class for his adept feel in the right-handed batter’s box. Anderson is simply among the best bats in the state, regardless of age. He hit .393 and totaled 19 extra-base hits, including seven homers, as a sophomore for the Rams last season. The Georgia Tech commit is slated to account for some of the premium talent that graduated last spring, namely second-round draft pick Parker Meadows (Detroit Tigers).

On the mound, Kennesaw State-bound senior arms Bradley Blalock and Riley Bishop should help Grayson limit the opposition while the likes of Anderson & Co. go to work on offense. Blalock actually hit over .400 as a junior last spring, too, so he should be able to provide his own staff some run support. Top to bottom, this is one of the most complete teams in the state and goes to show just how good the 15 teams listed ahead of them are.

+ No. 15, Houston County (6A)

 Valdosta’s biggest competition within their own division belongs to the Bears of Houston County. Houston made it to the final eight at state last spring, where they needed three games to be eliminated by reigning champs Pope. In 2019, the Bears will be boosted by junior southpaw Jaden Woods, a Georgia State commit and a top-40 prospect in the state’s 2020 class. Seniors LHP Cameron Jones and RHP Chandler Dawson will make it to Georgia State’s campus a year before Woods, but will first help lead an experienced staff in an effort to make it even further than last year’s third-round appearance.

+ No. 14, North Paulding (7A)

 After an 8-7 finish in their region last spring, North Paulding might have the most buzz to come out on top of this region in 2019, ending Hillgrove's three-year run as champs. A plethora of starters return, including an ace in the making, RHP Zach Maxwell. The Georgia Tech commit has premium arm strength and is the No. 28-ranked senior in this state’s class. Three other seniors could pull their weight, too: OF Mickey McGuire, INF Cole Dunn, and RHP Chandler Wood (Chattahoochee Valley CC).

+ No. 13, Mountain View (7A)

 Mountain View might pose the biggest threat to state favorites North Gwinnett in 2019, behind ace RHP Gavin Collyer, a Clemson commit. The senior righty is bound to stir some real draft buzz this spring leading up to June’s MLB Draft, and if that’s the case, it means trouble for the teams in 7A. He’s a projectable 6-foot-1, 155-pound righty who’s able to sit in the 89-91 mph range already, and it feels safe to project more as he adds to his thin frame. Teammate and fellow senior Cole Johnston is a two-way prospect and could be the one effectively backing up Collyer on the hill as this team’s No. 2.

Junior Garrett Spikes is a Georgia-committed pitcher/shortstop who hit .371 in 2018 and led the Bears with a team-high 33 RBIs. And as far as x-factors go, while North Gwinnett might be relying on a pair of seniors, Mountain View could turn to an important sophomore. OF Kenny Mallory is a two-way prospect with a ton of upside and could help the Bears in 2019 with his impact versatility.

+ No. 12, Winder-Barrow (6A)

 Not much has changed for Winder-Barrow, as 10 of last year’s biggest contributors are back in the dugout this spring, including sophomore Brady House. The uber two-way prospect is already committed to Tennessee and is truly a star in the making, ranked No. 4 on PBR’s overall 2021 board. Winder-Barrow will be capable of taking home regional titles, and more, as long as House is in the dugout. Eligible transfer RHP Cain Tatum will be on this staff, too, a top-50 ranked senior in the state. And senior experience and leadership will be evident on this team as well. Two-way prospect Zack Smith, an Ole Miss commit, as well as OF/LHP Trace Jeffers, LHP Austin Lockridge, OF Sam Darling, and UTL Lance Sikes will all play key roles in this team extending their season all the way to state title contention.

+ No. 11, Allatoona (6A)

 After a record-setting season, Allatoona is back strong in 2019. They fell just short of the ultimate goal in 2018, runners-up in the state tournament, taking Pope to a game three finale. The Buccaneers set a school record for wins last spring and are bringing back a few of the names that were an integral reason why they were able to do so. Seniors Kyle Reichert (Liberty), Tyler Messick (uncommitted), and Tyler Schultz (Birmingham Southern) are set to lead Allatoona back through the state tournament once more, in search of redemption for the team that fell a game short a season ago.

With the amount of talent they graduated though, they’ll need some help. Sophomores Hunter Paulsen and Brett Bloomquist are precisely what Allatoona needed to inject themselves back in the race for a consecutive Region 5 title. They needed a 15-1 regional record in 2018 to fend off River Ridge by a game for the title, and they’ll need next-level production out of the pair of sophomores this spring to get there, and beyond, this season.

+ No. 10, Loganville (5A)

 As back-to-back state champs, the Red Devils lost a handful of its top talent to graduation, but it has the prospects ready to fill the void left behind. Its 2019 class stacks up pretty well when compared to its 2018 class. This spring, they’ll be led by junior SS Dylan Strickland (Georgia Tech) as well as seniors RHP Connor Bruce (Georgia Southern), OF Jacob Boyd (South Carolina Aiken), C Allen Brown (Presbyterian), and C Blaine Marchman (Georgia State).

Strickland is becoming one of the best shortstops in the state, ranked No. 15 overall on the Georgia 2020 rankings. He’s an exceptional athlete complete with all the necessary actions to stick to shortstop, complemented by sound bat-to-ball skills that has him committed to a D-I powerhouse. This rotation will be led by Bruce, the No. 27-ranked senior in the state. He’s still teasing talent out of his 6-foot-6 frame, and could take another step forward this spring, helping the Red Devils connect on a third straight title.

+ No. 9, Woodstock (7A)

 Penciling in one of the state’s best bats mends a lot of problems for any team, and it’s not like Woodstock had many to begin with. Spencer Keefe, a Georgia commit, is the name on the Wolverines’ roster you might be the most familiar with. He’s ranked on PBR Draft HQ’s top 100 and is the No. 6-ranked senior in the state’s 2019 class. Keefe occupies third base, primarily, and has among the top hit tools in this class. He missed the team’s run all the way to the state semifinals, where they challenged eventual champs Parkview to a three-game series, handing them their only loss of the state tournament. Had be been healthy, who knows how that series plays out.

Keefe isn’t set to do it alone, either. He’s flanked by SS Brennan Milone, a South Carolina commit, and LHP Josiah Siegel (Georgia Tech). Milone is an all-around competitor who helps Woodstock win in more ways than one. When Keefe missed the postseason last spring, Milone carried the Wolverines. Had the two both been in the lineup against the eventually champs, they could have been the ones squaring off against Mill Creek. And a rotation led by Siegel is an experienced one – he's been giving Woodstock some big innings ever since he was a sophomore. This is the stage in the rankings where, really, any of these teams have a righteous claim to wind up as state champions.

+ No. 8, River Ridge (6A)

 River Ridge are another program that had their season end at the hands of back-to-back champs Pope. They were eliminated in last year’s state semifinals, but many of those same faces are back in 2019, including top-ranked seniors: RHP/3B Brandon Smith (Georgia) and OF/C/RHP Ethan Anderson (Tennessee). Talented juniors Kobe Braddock and Aaron Osada are set to support the versatility of Smith and Anderson – Braddock will from the middle of the infield, and Osada will from the mound. The all-around abilities from the two seniors is what makes the Knights so dynamic, however. They’re going to pitch big innings and drive in critical runs in River Ridge’s run back at state.

+ No. 7, Walton (7A)

 Few teams have both star power and depth, and that’s what makes the Walton Raiders just an impediment for the rest of the teams striving for a 7A title. Senior prospects like SS Pierce Gallo (Clemson), LHP Jake Baldino (Virginia), and 1B Luke Boynton (Nebraska) all have D-I destinations after this, their final prep season of their careers. Gallo and Baldino are both ranked within the state’s top 50 and Gallo is the No. 18-ranked member of the state’s 2019 class. His premium athleticism makes him stand out on both sides of the ball. As for Baldino, the lefty oozes projection with his 6-foot-4, 170-pound frame and has been able to run his fastball up into the 88 mph range – though, he sits around 84-86 mph more comfortably.

Walton’s balance is something few teams have, and is an element to their team that will help win them close games in the dog days of the state tournament.

+ No. 6, Buford (5A)

The top-ranked Class 5A program Buford has one of the longest lists of returning contributors in the state, experience that could help them avenge losing to rivals Loganville in last spring’s championship series. There are five college-committed prospects to take note of here, including a pair of seniors headed to Auburn in the fall: RHP Ramsey David and OF Austin Turner. David – ranked No. 24 in the state’s senior class – is a long and lean 6-foot-3 with projection and has the stuff to be relied upon to become this team’s first choice on the mound. Turner is a great athlete who was one of Buford’s best hitters as a junior last spring.

Beyond these two, there’s LHP Sean Adams, a Georgia Southern commit – someone who’s capable of being most teams’ ace, whereas at Buford he’ll pack the punch behind David. Georgia Southwestern-bound OF Christian Griffin (2019) will see more playing time this spring. Corner infielder Brandon Joliff (Young Harris College) has some serious middle-of-the-order pop. Then, there’s 1B/DH Reece McIntyre, a genuine football prospect who’s committed to Ole Miss to play offensive tackle – naturally, he’s equipped with bat strength, too. Another southpaw to look out for: Dylan McKinnis, a Jackson State commit. And don’t forget about this uncommitted senior righty, C.J. Couch. He’s a sidearm righty with a funky delivery  that makes for an uncomfortable at-bat, an increasingly tough task come May when he relieves David or Adams.

So Buford is, for the most part, building off a 28-win season with more matured and experienced pieces. They’ve got the talent in place to return to the title game and win it this time, for the first time since the second-overall pick in the 2018 MLB Draft, Joey Bart, helped the Wolves win it all in 2015.

+ No. 5, South Forsyth (7A)

South Forsyth is returning six starters from the lineup that carried the War Eagles to a 14-1 finish in Region 5, including one of the top pitchers in the entire state, RHP Landon Sims. The No. 3-ranked prospect in Georgia’s 2019 class has a commitment to Mississippi State and is ranked No. 48 on the PBR Draft 100. Sims is a two-way star for his high school, roaming the outfield or filling up the DH slot when he’s not on the mound. A rotation headlined with a frontline arm like this can elevate any program from regional title to state title aspirations.

Sims won’t go it alone, though. Seniors Steven Thompson and Peyton Presley will make up the rest of the starting rotation and both are committed to Georgia Highlands JC. Two of the younger prospects on this team who also saw some action for the War Eagles are SS Gehrig Frei and 3B Josh Green. Frei is a switch-hitting sophomore who has the inside track at this team’s starting shortstop gig and Green is a junior who should handle the hot corner this spring. The talent and star power on South Forsyth makes them an alluring choice to win it all this season.

+ No. 4, Parkview (7A)

The powerhouse Parkview is accustomed to seeing their team this high up a list like this. The Panthers are the reigning 7A champs and look just as capable of repeating as they have in years past. Their elite coaching staff allows for an immense level of growth in-season, something they saw last year, too. Parkview’s packing the punch in the middle of their order with the likes of backstop Jonathan French, a Clemson commit, OF Makenzie Pate, who’s headed to Coastal Carolina, and 2B Allan Del Castillo (uncommitted). These three seniors can lay the foundation for a program looking to repeat as state champs for the first time since the 2011-12 spring seasons. French, specifically, was one of this team’s top bats as a junior a season ago and should be able to take over as the team’s primary run producer this year. He hit .355 and drove in 25 runs for the Panthers in 2018. Del Castillo has earned reputation as a hard-nosed competitor and played in 37 games for last season’s state-winning squad, hitting over .300, too.

On the mound, Parkview is set to aided by an increased role from RHP Miles Garrett, a junior, who’s committed to Vanderbilt. He’s the No. 30-ranked junior in the state, known for getting the most out of his undersized, athletic frame with a upper-80s fastball. The rotation is young and Garrett’s development will be paramount to a repeat run in state. Another junior, OF Jonathan Ponder, looked good at the plate in limited looks last season and could become an impactful presence in this lineup this spring. He’s the No. 27-ranked junior in Georgia’s 2020 class.

It’s hard to ever underestimate Parkview, so don’t be in danger of making that mistake this spring.

+ No. 3, North Gwinnett (7A)

The top-ranked 7A team in the state has a chance to be Georgia’s most high-powered offense. The juniors are all on the state’s 2020 board: OF Josh Shuler (ranked No. 2; South Carolina commit), OF Dalton Pearson (No. 4; uncommitted), C Corey Collins (No. 5; Georgia), and RHP Brandt Pancer (No. 38; uncommitted), so get used to familiarizing yourself with the Bulldogs over the next couple of springs.

Shuler has a chance to be one of the state’s fiercest bats, regardless of age, this spring after spending part of the summer with the 17U USA Baseball National Team Development Program. Pearson’s an excellent athlete who’s getting stronger and already has superior bat-to-ball skills. Collins has middle-of-the-order thump and slots in nicely amidst Shuler and Pearson.

The lack of a go-to arm behind Pancer limits some of the enthusiasm for North Gwinnett, but barely. This is the rare kind of team that is able to win most, if not all, of its games by out-slugging their opponents.

+ No. 2, Blessed Trinity (4A)

The top 2019 prospect in the state of Georgia – and one of the top MLB Draft prospects this June – is Blessed Trinity’s SS C.J. Abrams (Alabama). After losing in two games at the hands of eventual champs Jefferson last spring, the Titans and their special senior class have the momentum to come out of the 4A class on top. The BT program has had a phenomenal 10-year run in the state and, along the way, there might not have been a more gifted group than this 2019 class.

Abrams is one of the twitchiest and quickest players in the nation and has a loose and easy swing that allows him to barrel a ton of balls. And, obviously, in order to get as high as No. 2 on the Preseason 25, you’ll need more than just one elite talent. Joining Abrams are fellow D-I-committed seniors Jake Smith (Air Force), Ryan Davis (Alabama-Birmingham (football)), and Steele Chambers (Ohio State). Sophomore D.J. Radtke, an Auburn commit, is one of the country’s best 2021s and he should be relied upon to handle a significant chunk of the innings on the mound.

The Titans are one of the grittiest and toughest teams in the state, led by a star-level core of talent. BT’s prestigious 2019 class might be in line for a storybook finish.

+ No. 1, Pope (6A)

Where else could you rank the back-to-back champs? Speaking of best senior classes in its program’s history, the Greyhounds seniors have an astounding record of 97-22 and has a chance to go down as one of GHSA’s winningest programs in the entire state’s history.

By now, you might be familiar with which seniors the Greyhounds are penciling into the lineup game in and out. If not, here’s a refresher (as expected, it’s a deep and highly skilled set of names): SS Buddy Floyd (Georgia commit), 1B/C Caden Smith (Mercer), 3B/RHP Max Pralgo (Miami-Ohio), RHP Gage Vailes (Kennesaw State), RHP Andy Herlitz (Birmingham Southern), OF Ian Hancock (Birmingham Southern), OF Will Lantis (Birmingham Southern), and OF Andrew Feld (Emory).

The Popes’ 2019 class has won a regional title in all three of its springs are going for a fourth straight in what will be a heavyweight bout among them, Cambridge, and Alpharetta. Favorites for a third straight state title, Pope is PBR Georgia’s No. 1-ranked team on its Preseason Top 25 Rankings.

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