Class 6A Preview: Region 7

Welcome to PBR Georgia’s 6A week!

We continue our Georgia high school coverage, now that we’re about 18 days out from the first pitch of the GHSA season. Today, we’ll start wrapping up the 6A regional breakdown by honing in on Region 7, after covering regions 1 and 2 on Monday, regions 3 and 4 on Tuesday, and regions 5 and 6 yesterday.

We kicked off our GHSA coverage last week by analyzing the entire 7A class. Here are links to those preview posts, in case you missed them:

• Regions 1, 2, and 3 here.

• Regions 4 and 5 here.

• Region 6 here.

• Regions 7 and 8 here.

• 7A Playoff Predictions here.

Keep checking back all throughout the week for 6A content spanning all eight of the class’ regions.

REGION 7

The Pope Greyhounds are back-to-back 6A champs and is the 2019 favorite to win a third straight. The program’s legendary head coach, Jeff Rowland, is entering his 24th season at the helm of the Greyhounds and now occupies the dugout on a field the school named after him and his numerous accomplishments. And Pope’s Class of 2019 might be its best and most talented in Rowland’s illustrious tenure – which is really saying something.

This group of seniors has an astounding record of 97-22 and has a chance to go down as one of GHSA’s winningest programs in its 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).

There’s even a couple more senior contributors who are regularly in the mix, too.

Anyway, Pope’s 2019 class has contributed to Greyhound regional titles in all three of its springs so far and there’s really no case against them making it four out of four, especially with the senior who’s been at the center of this tremendous run since he first stepped foot on the Jeff Rowland Baseball Complex: Buddy Floyd.

The plucky 5-foot-7 shortstop is among the state’s best defenders. He’s a clutch shortstop who’s been known to make game-saving plays with both his glove and arm. Floyd is a four-year starter for the Greyhounds and is coming off an underwhelming statistical spring (for him) in which he battled through a wrist injury. With renewed health, the switch-hitter is ready to operate as Pope’s heartbeat before setting off for Athens in the fall.

Floyd’s most valuable on offense when he’s used as the team’s tablesetter, allowing for Greyhounds boppers like Smith to drive him in. He’s a top-50-ranked prospect in the state’s senior class for the big power potential he brings to middle of the order when he’s healthy.

Kennesaw State commit Gage Vailes will likely serve as Pope’s ace in 2019. The 6-foot-3, 175-pound righty is long and lean with a sky high ceiling of projection. He’s another top-50 prospect representing Pope on our state’s 2019 rankings.

Backing up Vailes in the rotation just might be Max Pralgo, who committed to Miami-Ohio as an infielder but has only seen his stuff improve steadily on the mound. He sits in the mid 80s with his fastball and has a feel for spin and has been able to locate well in our looks. And he’s still as talented as ever in both the batter’s box and at the hot corner. Pralgo is an integral piece to Pope’s chances at a third straight state trophy.

The Pope Greyhounds won’t be aimless after this loaded ‘19 class graduates, either. The rich get richer when the likes of sophomore James Tibbs is ready to step into a larger role the program. Tibbs, a Florida State commit, managed to break into Pope’s stacked lineup as a freshman last spring, earning the early reputation as one of the state’s best 2021 bats. He’s ranked just outside of PBR’s national top 100 because of his sweet left-handed stroke.

It’s hard to comprehend just how successful this one group of now seniors has been for the Greyhounds. They’re the favorites to make a storybook ending a reality in 2019, too.

James Tibbs (Spring, 2018)

Last season, Cambridge finished third in Region 7 and tied Alpharetta in regional play with a 10-6 record. By returning seven starters to the dugout in 2019, the Bears have a legitimate chance to make a deep run in the state tournament.

Senior righties Michael Polk, a Georgia commit, and Blake Renner, a Lincoln Memorial commit, are both set to lead Cambridge from the mound. The two sat atop this rotation for the Bears last spring and garnered a significant amount of valuable, big-game experience. Cambridge lost to No. 2-seed Gainesville in last spring’s first round of the playoffs, but Polk and Renner are fully capable of pushing the Bears further in the tournament in the final season of their prep careers. Polk, the No. 32-ranked prospect in the state’s 2019 class, is a highly projectable 6-foot-3, who generates regular arm-side run on his upper-80s fastball. As he continues to raise the roof of his own ceiling, it benefits Cambridge’s own win column, which could help them secure a deeper postseason run in May.

The rotation is deep, even beyond the two aforementioned prospects, but who will provide the offense for the Bears? Head Coach Evan Tieles might not be quite as deep in the lineup as he is in the rotation, but Cambridge isn’t going to have too many problems producing runs.

Ross Frederick, a catcher and first baseman who’s committed to Army, should be able to shoulder much of the load in the middle of the order, alongside Mitch Fleming (Montevallo). The two seniors will likely rotate between catcher and first base in the spring and will be tasked with providing their arms with leads to protect.

There’s a handful of juniors on the Bears who figure to play key roles in the Bears’ postseason run: C/INF Cody Rech (Western Carolina), OF/RHP Ryan Todd (Navy), and RHP Casey Young (Gardner-Webb).

The talent is there for Cambridge to put together a memorable season in Milton.

Onto 2018 semifinalists Alpharetta now, who finished second in this region a season ago and is returning many of their primary contributors from that team. Like Cambridge, the Raiders have two workhorses sitting atop their rotation: southpaws Charlie Goldstein (Georgia) and Sam Stratton (Wofford).

Unlike Cambridge, Alpharetta might need to take the first part of the season in order to find its identity on offense. Goldstein and Stratton are certainly gifted enough to keep opposing lineups down while its own figures out the most efficient way to cross home themselves. That isn’t to say that what the Raiders will be bringing into the lineup isn’t talented, either.

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.

This team is still a little young and inexperienced. Juniors Stratton and Lassiat saw plenty of action on last year’s semi-finalist squad, but Head Coach Marc Lassiat is also hoping to incorporate a few other juniors and sophomores into the mold, in order to find the lineup that clicks into place, competently backing up one of class 6A’s toughest staffs.

Charlie Goldstein (5/12/18)

Continuing the theme of stellar one-two punches atop the teams within this region, here’s another: Centennial’s Camren Landry (Georgia State) and Jonathan Cannon (Georgia).

The duo does more than just pitch for the Knights – Cannon, the No. 23-ranked prospect in the state’s 2019 class, also plays first when he’s not dealing on the mound. Landry does have the ability to roam the outfield as well. The offense will mostly come elsewhere for Centennial, however. Senior backstop Sam Janis and classmate Tahj Willis, a middle infielder, will be able to provide their share of run support.

It’s clear the Knights will be able to hang around most games, given the strength of the tandem atop the rotation. Offense will determine if they’re able to improve upon their 13-17 overall record last spring and chase a top-four spot within the region, like Dunwoody a season ago.

Last year’s four-place team, the Dunwoody Wildcats, landed the region’s final spot in the state tournament. They were matched up with Region 8 champs Winder-Barrow and put up a close fight in round one but were ultimately booted from title contention.

It was a positive showing for Dunwoody. The Wildcats learned some critical lessons in 2018 and have six returning starters in the program set to build off a 9-7 record in regional play last spring.

Senior two-way talent Jack Caiaccio was Dunwoody’s de facto ace last spring and is likely returning to that role again in 2019. Junior David Julian started at shortstop as a sophomore for the Wildcats last spring and was also one of the team’s best hitters. It’s fair to expect an even better year out of the athletic middle infielder – and Dunwoody will need it for another shot in the playoffs.

Despite finishing at the basement of Region 7 in 2018, Johns Creek has much to look forward to next month. After going 10-19 last spring, the Gladiators have some impact juniors who could turn the tide back into their favor – namely, North Gwinnett transfer Dalton Pearson. Pearson is the No. 4-ranked junior on our state board, is within the top-70 2020 prospects in the country, and is still uncommitted. He has the bat-to-ball skills presently and, being the son of a former NFL player, it’s safe to project for some power on the horizon.

Pearson won’t be doing it alone either.

Fellow junior LHP/1B Tyler Watson should be one of the top arms on this staff. He’s a Georgia Tech commit who’s only just actualizing his raw skill. Senior middle infielder Michael Margarite can be relied upon to contribute on both sides of the ball as well.

This might not be the Gladiators’ time quite yet, but 2019 could be an important building block on the way to serious regional contention in 2020.

And running through the last three programs in Region 7 quickly, we’ll touch on Northview, North Atlanta, and Chattahoochee.

The Northview Titans finished 6-10 in the region last spring and have seven starters returning to the team, including talented Tennessee righty Mark McLaughlin, who’s ranked as the No. 29 prospect on Georgia’s 2019 board.

The Warriors of North Atlanta have three returnees to take note of after a 10-17 spring in 2018: SS Brett Roberts (2019; Tennessee Tech), 3B Marc Church (2019; uncommitted), and LHP Narada Monge (2019; uncommitted).

And finally, there’s the Chattahoochee Cougars, who finished just short of a playoffs berth as the fifth-place tea in Region 7 last spring. While they’re returning eight starters this year, the Cougars are in search of a little more consistency on offense. Southpaw Davis Rokose is back at his seat as the No. 1 of this staff, but he and his staffmates will need a boost on offense to climb from fifth into a state playoff berth in 2019. Rokose is an uber talented lefty and Mississippi State commit who is ranked No. 20 in the state’s 2019 class.

Davis Rokose (10/19/18)

Keep an eye out tomorrow for a look at Region 8, the final look into our 6A region-by-region breakdown. In the meantime, you can follow us on Twitter @PBRGeorgia for the latest prep baseball news and notes.

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