Welcome to PBR Georgia’s 7A week!

This week marks the start of our high school coverage, now that we’re about 23 days out from the first pitch of the GHSA season. Today, we’ll conclude our 7A coverage by predicting how we believe the top three teams in each region are going to look, and we’ll take a stab at estimating which four teams will be left standing in the state tournament, and who will be called the champ.

We previously covered regions 1, 2, and 3 here, regions 4 and 5 here, Region 6 here, and wrapped our regional breakdowns yesterday by covering regions 7 and 8 here.

Check out our predictions for the top-three finishes in each region below, and stay tuned for class 6A coverage coming your way next week.

REGION 1

Last spring, Lowndes got off to a loud start in the state tournament after winning Region 1 with a 9-3 record, 22-12 overall. Against Campbell in the first round of the playoffs, the Vikings scored 31 runs in their two-game sweep. Unfortunately, they combined for just five in the next two games against Lassiter, bowing out of title contention earlier than they had hoped and worked for.

This spring, Lowndes is returning much of the talent that helped them win the Region 1 crown last spring. Southpaw senior Dalton Smith (Georgia Tech commit) will help lead the squad from the mound and we’re calling our shot by predicting another first-place finish within their own region.

We have Camden and Colquitt county highs finishing second and third in Region 1, swapping spots from 2018. Our staff believes both teams will be formidable once again come the postseason, considering the two programs each won their first-round matchups in last year’s state playoffs. But Camden is primed to markedly improve upon last spring’s 4-8 regional record.

2019 PREDICTION	SCHOOL	2018 RECORD	2018 FINISH	LAST STATE TITLE
1st	Lowndes	22-12	Second Round	2000 (AAAA)
2nd	Camden County	12-20	Second Round	None
3rd	Colquitt County	22-12	Second Round	2003 (AAAAA)

Region 2

The Newnan Cougars are effectively returning the pitching rotation that lifted the team to an undefeated record in regional action in 2018. According to PBR Georgia State Director Blake Davis: “If pitching and defense wins championships, then count Newnan as the favorites in Region 2 again.”

Gordon CC commit Jaxon O’Neal was one of this region’s top arms a season ago, and his experienced should help his Cougars staff pin opposing offenses down. But, like last year, they’ll have to find a way to score runs when it matters most. Four combined runs in the round of 16 in the state playoffs booted them from the tournament earlier than the region champ expected.

It’s hard to sleep on this East Coweta team, too. The Indians went 12-3 in this region last year and have among Region 2’s best prospects: C/OF Ryan Dyal (Auburn). East Coweta offers Newnan its biggest challenge to another regional title, and if they’re able to grind out wins against their Region 2 rivals, unlike like last year, they could make things real interesting in April.

Campbell, Westlake, and Wheeler are likely going to be the programs fighting over third place among this group, but we give the edge to the Westlake Lions since they’ll get to rely on senior SS Myles Austin (Alabama) on defense and in the lineup. Though, Campbell could receive a big boost from sophomore righty Michael Braswell (South Carolina), one of the top 2021 arms in the country. Wheeler's returning a solid contingent of players from last year's team, too, giving them a real chance to make the state tournament again.

2019 PREDICTION	SCHOOL	2018 RECORD	2018 FINISH	LAST STATE TITLE
1st	Newnan	25-11	Second Round	1991 (AAAA)
2nd	East Coweta	18-13	First Round	None
3rd	Westlake	10-17	Missed Playoffs	None

Region 3

Hillgrove virtually coasted to a Region 3 title in 2018, finishing 15-1 in the group, 5.5 games better than second place Kennesaw Mountain. But things are set to look a little different atop the region this spring. North Paulding, a mostly unchanged team that cruised past Newnan in the round of 16 last year, looks like they have the special kind of group to take home some regional hardware in 2019.

The North Paulding senior class is balanced – from their offense to their defense – and is anchored by one of the state’s best starters: RHP Zach Maxwell (Georgia Tech). Sure, the Wolfpack finished third (8-7) last spring, but they got hot at the end of March and it carried them to a third-round berth and a close couple games with runners-up Mill Creek.

Still, Hillgrove looks as sound as ever and they proved to be North Paulding’s kryptonite last spring, earning three straight wins over the Wolfpack in mid-April. Led by junior RHP Max DeJong (Georgia) and seniors 1B Reid Brown (Austin Peay commit), OF Alex McCay (Mercer), INF Wade Richardson (Columbia State), and LHP Ethan Wright (Flagler College), it wouldn’t be surprising to see the Hawks atop this region again entering the state playoffs.

Kennesaw Mountain finished second in the region last spring and looks like it’s returning a healthy number of producers this year, too, in seniors OF Jarrett Guest and INF Will Crumb, but the absence of Ryland Goede doesn’t help their chances of a title run.

2019 PREDICTION	SCHOOL	2018 RECORD	2018 FINISH	LAST STATE TITLE
1st	North Paulding	22-15	Third Round	None
2nd	Hillgrove	24-9	First Round	None
3rd	Kennesaw Mountain	19-13	First Round	None

Region 4

One of the most competitive senior classes in the entire 7A class belongs to the Woodstock Wolverines, led by one of the state’s top overall prospects: the Georgia-committed Spencer Keefe. Keefe missed the entire 2018 state tournament, one in which Woodstock still managed to earn a spot in the semi-finals against eventual champs Parkview. They took the Panthers to three games where they fell short of a title game berth, but they have a lot to look forward to in 2019.

Keefe is back is primed to help carry the load offensively, but SS Brennan Milone, a South Carolina commit, is certainly going to be able to play his part in the batting order, too. On the mound, LHP Josiah Siegel’s (Georgia Tech) big-game experience could be a difference maker in April when Woodstock is pitted against some of the top talent the state has to offer.

In total, the Wolverines are returning six substantial starters to a team that finished 32-7 last spring and fell short of reaching the championship game, without arguably their best bat.

We believe Walton and Lassiter will be the two programs occupying second and third place in Region 4. The Raiders have real deal star power in their dugout, in seniors SS Pierce Gallo (Clemson), LHP Jake Baldino (Virginia), and 1B Luke Boynton (Nebraska). They were bounced in the first round last spring by an on-the-rise North Paulding team, but the recipe is here for a surprising run at state if everything comes together.

As for Lassiter, they’re the ones who downed Lowndes in the second round in 2019 and took Brookwood to three games in round three. The Trojans are deep on their staff, with seniors Mason Kearney (High Point) and Ryan Getz (Mercer), as well as junior RHP Geoffrey Watkins, set to handle most of the work from the mound.

The 2017 champs Etowah still have some pieces in their program that played a role in their unlikely run back in last year’s state tournament, but the 2019 version of their roster isn’t as deep as the three aforementioned teams. It’s a tough group.

2019 PREDICTION	SCHOOL	2018 RECORD	2018 FINISH	LAST STATE TITLE
1st	Woodstock	34-7	Semi-Finals	None
2nd	Walton	19-13	First Round	2016 (AAAAAA)
3rd	Lassiter	22-15	Third Round	2006 (AAAAA)

Region 5

With six starters returning to the South Forsyth dugout, it’d be hard to bet against the War Eagles from another first-place finish within Region 5. This team finished 14-1 in regional play last spring, six games better than Milton and Forsyth Central, two teams that tied for the region’s next-best finish at 8-7. This is a veteran, hard-nosed squad with both role players and stars, namely its ace: RHP Landon Sims (Mississippi State). He’s arguably the most talented prospect in the 7A class.

Having the ability to lean on Sims for a clutch performance once April rolls around should help South Forsyth aim higher than another regional title in 2019.

Milton has a good chance to repeat as this region’s second-place program, too, courtesy of the play from seniors 3B Graham Pauley (Duke) and RHP Cole Stupp (Kentucky), who are two prospects who should be up for all-Region honors by mid-April.

We also want to take note of North Forsyth here. Despite a fourth-place finish in last year’s standings, the Vikings had the second-best overall winning percentage in the region (.625; 20-12). Pitching is clearly North Forsyth’s strength, returning incumbent senior ace Brody Westbrooks (Georgia Tech) and juniors Garrett Staton and Miles Hartsfield. And 2020 southpaw Anthony DiMola (Georgia Southern) might be able to back up Westbrooks as this team’s No. 2 starter, ranked No. 44 in the state’s junior class.

2019 PREDICTION	SCHOOL	2018 RECORD	2018 FINISH	LAST STATE TITLE
1st	South Forsyth	28-8	Second Round	None
2nd	Milton	19-15	First Round	2013 (AAAAAA)
3rd	North Forsyth	20-12	First Round	1998 (A)

Region 6

Region 6, the most competitive region in 7A, is set to be another dogfight. North Gwinnett is loaded with one of the whole state’s best lineups, one through nine, including two of the top-five-ranked juniors in the state’s 2020 class rankings: OF Josh Shuler (ranked No. 2; South Carolina commit) and C Corey Collins (No. 5; Georgia). The Bulldogs are capable of solely slugging their way to a regional title, but the run support they’re expected to afford their rotation will help its young rotation mature by the time May’s here. North Gwinnett is not only this region’s favorite, but one of the state’s best bets to win a championship in 2019.

Mill Creek was 2018’s state runner-up but we think that, given how difficult this region is, they’ve graduated too much talent to compete with the Bulldogs as well as the two teams we think are going to finish in second and third place: Mountain View and Collins Hill.

Mountain View’s ace Gavin Collyer (Clemson) is the type of difference maker that could help the Bears in the postseason. Two-way prospects Garrett Spikes (Georgia) and Cole Johnston are set to help buoy the Bears in Region 6 and beyond.

And then there’s Collins Hill, who are rostering one of the best defensive shortstops in the country: Nasim Nunez (Clemson). Travis Burnette is a physical bat fit to pack some punch in the middle of this lineup, too.

Mill Creek and Peachtree Ridge are certainly capable of posing a threat in the state tournament, even if they don’t climb their way into the top three of this region.

2019 PREDICTION	SCHOOL	2018 RECORD	2018 FINISH	LAST STATE TITLE
1st	North Gwinnett	25-10	Second Round	None
2nd	Mountain View	24-11	Second Round	None
3rd	Collins Hill	10-20	Missed Playoffs	None

Region 7

Parkview, the winningest program of the last two decades, should be be able to take home Region 7 yet again. Jonathan French (Clemson), OF Makenzie Pate (Coastal Carolina), and 2B Allan Del Castillo (uncommitted) are the seniors at the core of Parkview’s efforts of a repeat title. Also, junior OF Jonathan Ponder can be counted on to pull his weight within this lineup, too.

Junior RHP Miles Garrett (Vanderbilt) has what it takes to lead this staff throughout April and May, when the pressure is on.

If Parkview is the Yankees, Brookwood is the Red Sox, and the rivalry is as alive as ever in 2019. For us, the Broncos are our pick to finish just behind the Panthers in Region 7. They hung with Parkview for much of last spring, right up until the final game of regional play. We predict things might get just as close this year.

Norcross finished third last spring and that’s where we see things playing out again in 2019, but they have the pieces to close the gap between them and Brookwood. The Blue Devils went 19-14 last year and have the experience in their lineup to keep pace with the heavyweights of this region. They graduated some real prospects from their rotation following 2018, so that could be where their regional and playoff hopes are left exposed, but it’s a quality roster.

2019 PREDICTION	SCHOOL	2018 RECORD	2018 FINISH	LAST STATE TITLE
1st	Parkview	35-6	Champions	2018 (7A)
2nd	Brookwood	29-12	Semi-Finals	2008 (AAAAA)
3rd	Norcross	19-14	First Round	1963 (B)

Region 8

After a near undefeated finish in Region 8 last year, Grayson is a heavy favorite to win the region again in 2019. They have the luxury of penciling in one of the region’s best bats game in and out, John Anderson (Georgia Tech), and have two next-level arms in Kennesaw State commits Bradley Blalock and Riley Bishop. The Rams are deep, even after losing Parker Meadows to graduation a year ago, who was a second-round draft pick by the Detroit Tigers in June’s MLB Draft.

Grayson has some underclassmen that can help account for the loss of Meadows and should be able to replicate the success they earned in Region 8, and maybe even a deeper run in the postseason after losing to Woodstock in the third round of the 2018 state tourney.

After the Rams, the field in this region is pretty wide open. Rockdale County looks much improved from last year and we like their chances at snagging a second-place finish. They earned a spot in the state tournament last spring but were dealt a tough hand squaring off with Parkview.

Archer, which finished third in 2018, is our pick to finish in that spot again, too. Junior two-way prospect Blake Bortak (Samford) is one of the team’s best pitchers and hitters and can be relied upon to do the heavy lifting for the Tigers on both sides of the ball. Seniors OF Mike Donnelly and SS Jordan Nathaniel will help round out Archer’s efforts to build off the team’s first-round exit from last year’s postseason.

2019 PREDICTION	SCHOOL	2018 RECORD	2018 FINISH	LAST STATE TITLE
1st	Grayson	24-15	Third Round	None
2nd	Rockdale County	15-17	First Round	None
3rd	Archer	15-16	First Round	None

THE FINAL FOUR

The 7A field is as competitive as you’d expect it to be, making it a difficult chore to pick a final four. But our staff believes these four teams will be representing their schools in the 2019 semifinals…

• Parkview

• North Gwinnett

• Woodstock

• South Forsyth

And we’ll leave you with one final prediction, the most important one. Who is going to be team hoisting the 7A trophy at the end of May? Here's your 2019 7A champion:

North Gwinnett Bulldogs

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