2024 GHSA Preview: Central Lions

January 11, 2024
Hudson Graham
Georgia Scouting Director

The 2024 Georgia high school baseball season is quickly approaching and, as usual, excitement is abound throughout the state. Players and coaches have been working in preparation for the upcoming season and, as is the case each year, there are some very talented players and teams across Georgia.

Teams across the state have goals and aspirations to finish their seasons in mid-May inside one of Coolray Field, AdventHealth Stadium, or JI Clements Stadium at Georgia Southern University. We hope to familiarize our readers with many of the teams across the state as we preview individual teams across Georgia. We will take you right up to first pitch this season with these team previews, eventually releasing our Preseason Power 25 rankings that’ll carry us into the opening week of action.

Please keep checking back throughout the season as we will be your one-stop shop for everything related to high school baseball across the state. Each week we will be releasing our Players of the Week and updating the Power 25 rankings.

Our 2024 preseason coverage continues today.

High School: Central Lions
Head Coach: Riley Presnell
Classification: 4A
2023 Record (Finish): 12-18 (Lost in first round)
Team X Handle: @CHSLionsBsball

Team Strengths: Infield play, returning all infielders and top of the lineup
No. of Returning Position Players: 6
No. of Returning Pitchers: 4

TOP SENIORS

TOP JUNIORS

TOP UNDERCLASS FOLLOWS

TEAM OUTLOOK

The return their entire infield and to of the order in 2024, which should get them started on the right foot. Senior, Maxx Williamson will lead the way on the mound with help from Tucker Lambert and sophomore Rhett Nelson. They will rely on some young arms, but have the line up to give them confidence and run support. They have senior, Brandon Musick to turn to in relief on the mound, giving them some experience. Junior, Korbin Dietrich had a big summer, and has a shot to produce some big numbers in 2024. Freshman Jake Ivester will have a shot to be a key contributor after they graduated their entire outfield. He was a junior future gamer in 2023, and is an uber athetic player that can make some dynamic plays in the outfield. If the Lions can find some consistency on the mound they will have the line up to get them back to the playoffs in 2024.

Upcoming Events

SHOWCASE	DATE	LOCATION
South Georgia Preseason ID	January 6th, 2024	Coffee County High School
East Georgia Preseason ID	January 7th, 2024	IVSA Training
North Georgia Preseason ID	January 13th, 2024	Georgia Highlands College
Georgia Preseason All-State	January 14th, 2024	IVSA Training