GHSA Playoff Preview: 7A Round Two

It was a wild week of baseball in the state of Georgia. We covered it at length in our Round One Recaps, and you can find Day One’s here and Day Two here. I recommend that you briefly browse through those because it perfectly sets the table for what we have to cover here today: 7A’s Round Two preview.

There are some ridiculously talented teams squaring off against each other already within this bracket, including a handful of GA Power 25 teams clashing. Let’s get to each of the eight match-below.

GROUP 1

+ Parkview (No. 1 on the GA Power 25) vs. North Forsyth

Parkview knows better than to underestimate anyone, and North Forsyth is definitely one of those under-the-radar teams left on the 7A board. The Raiders dropped four straight contests in the run-up to the conclusion of conference play, which wound up costing them something better than a No. 3 seed, but North Forsyth rallied in their opening series against Archer, sweeping them, impressively, even if it took two extra-inning victories. Their deep rotation really helps them cover up for flaws elsewhere on the roster, giving them a chance to upset the top-ranked team in the state, led by junior lefty Anthony DiMola, Georgia Southern commit.

NORTH FORSYTH: 18-12 overall | Key Wins: Forsyth Central (2-1), South Forsyth (2-1), Norcross, Denmark, South Warren (Ky.)

As for Parkview, they’ve built up one of, if not the, strongest resume in the state and the leapfrogged Blessed Trinity for the No. 1 spot on the GA Power 25 in last week’s update. They retained their No. 1 status in Monday’s final update of the regular season, thanks in part to their sweep of Peachtree Ridge. The Lions didn’t necessarily make it easy, but the Panthers’ one-two punch atop their staff, Xander Stephens and Miles Garrett, is as good as anyone else’s in the state. Given the state of the rotation in the opposite dugout, this series might have its runs come at an additional premium.

PARKVIEW: 28-4 overall | Key Wins: North Gwinnett, JSerra Catholic (Calif.), Blessed Trinity (1-1), Grayson, Norcross (twice), Buford (1-1), Marist, Brookwood (twice)

+ Walton (No. 8) vs. North Paulding (No. 9)

This is among the most highly anticipated match-ups of the second round, regardless of class. The two teams are equally matched and are ranked back-to-back on the GA Power 25 as a result. North Paulding has been on a tear since losing two of three to Hillgrove a couple of weeks ago, and it’s allowed them to get to the second round bolstered by momentum. They have a staff led by RHP Zach Maxwell, who’s stirred some MLB Draft buzz as of late. An arm like that can really sway a series like this – but Hillgrove isn’t short on either side of the ball themselves.

NORTH PAULDING: 25-6 overall | Key Wins: Mill Creek, Ringgold (1-1), Kennesaw Mountain (2-1), North Cobb (2-1), Westminster, Centennial

Collins Hill quickly created some attention as a potential bracket buster when they were named to the at-large spot on the 7A board, but Walton did away with all of that talk in a two-game sweep. The convincing sweep reiterated the Raiders’ spot on the GA Power 25, a big accomplishment since they’ve spent much of the season trying to erase a slow start out of the gate that featured losses to Blessed Trinity, Marist, Brookwood and Hillgrove within the first three weeks of the season. Since early March, Walton has really tightened things up, and their trademark series victory over a red-hot Etowah really pushed them back up the rankings, where they sit today. Walton’s dugout is budding with some of the state’s best Division-I-bound talent, like SS Pierce Gallo (Clemson), LHP Jake Baldino (Virginia), and 1B Luke Boynton (Nebraska). They’re not short on star power, at all.

WALTON: 23-9-1 overall | Key Wins: North Gwinnett, Etowah (2-1), Woodstock (2-1), Westminster, Cambridge

GROUP 2

+ North Gwinnett (No. 3) vs. Forsyth Central

You can call this one the battle of the bulldogs, what’s bound to be a hotly contested series between two squads that rolled through their first-round series. North Gwinnett has morphed into one of the state’s best teams this spring, though that’s not much of a surprise. All five of their losses came to teams that were ranked, at one time, on the GA Power 25 and three of them came to teams presently ranked inside the top-10. They’ve been led by one of the strongest 2020 classes in the state, including four prospects ranked inside Georgia’s top-50: OF Josh Shuler (South Carolina), OF Dalton Pearson (uncommitted), C Corey Collins (Georgia), and RHP Brandt Pancer (uncommitted). They’re a genuine title threat, but Forsyth Central is probably better than your average No. 2 seed.

NORTH GWINNETT: 27-5 overall | Key Wins: Flowery Branch, Dacula, Archer, Brookwood, Peachtree Ridge (3-0), Mountain View (2-1), Collins Hill (3-0), Mill Creek (2-1)

The other Bulldogs, the ones from Cumming, nearly poached the Region 5 title away from Milton. The regional crown came down to the final game of the regular season and the Forsyth Central had already beaten the Eagles twice, and a third win would earn them the region. But, it wasn’t meant to be, I guess. Milton stormed to the win and Forsyth Central was handed a round-one assignment with South Gwinnett instead. After walloping South, it’s time to battle North. Their rotation is anchored LHP Mitchell Gross and RHP Jacob Ryan (Georgia Highlands JC commit), but they’ll have to be up to their biggest task of the spring.

FORSYTH CENTRAL: 18-9 overall | Key Wins: Centennial, Alpharetta, South Forsyth (3-0), Milton (2-1), Lambert (2-1)

+ Etowah (No. 20) vs. Kennesaw Mountain

You’ll see for yourself shortly, but Etowah arranged arguably the most difficult in-state schedule of any team in Georgia in 2019, and their bravery paid off almost instantaneously. They began the spring outside of the GA Power 25, but were hastily put on it after they collected some huge upset wins throughout February and March. They cooled off a little in the middle of the season, but the Eagles have really been climbing back up to that dangerous early season form that had them as one of the state’s best stories. Still, the best Etowah could do in a wild Region 4 was come away with the No. 4 seed, which felt slightly disappointing. No No. 1 seed would welcome the challenge of playing the Eagles in round one, but Lowndes did their best. Etowah swept the series handily, outscoring the Vikings 18-2, restoring all of the hype the Eagles had back in March.

ETOWAH: 21-11 overall | Key Wins: River Ridge, Creekview, Cartersville, South Forsyth, Pope, Grayson, Milton, North Paulding, Kennesaw Mountain, Loganville, Harrison

You’ll also notice that this series is actually a rematch of a game between the two programs that took place on March 7, a 2-1 Eagles win. That quick non-region contest probably doesn’t mean much now, since it was almost two months ago already, but if anything, the Mustangs can take solace knowing that they were able to harness Etowah’s offense when they were at their hottest this spring. Justin Barnes actually homered in that game, too, and Gavin Scraggs tallied two hits as well. The two have been among the best bats on the team in 2019, so they’ll be eager to power the offense again in this series. Pitching has been the story for Kennesaw Mountain this spring, so Barnes and Scraggs will need to help pull their weight if they want to “upset” the No. 4 seed in this match-up.

KENNESAW MOUNTAIN: 21-10-1 overall | Key Wins: Kell, Rockdale County (twice), Harrison, North Cobb (2-1)

GROUP 3

+ Milton (No. 12) vs. Mill Creek (No. 22)

This quarter of the bracket features four teams ranked on the GA Power 25 and will pit No. 12 Milton and No. 22 Mill Creek against one another. The Eagles are led by seniors 3B Graham Pauley (Duke) and RHP Cole Stupp (Kentucky) and are targeting a much deeper run than a second-round appearance. It wasn’t long ago that Milton had to pull themselves out of a late-season rut. They dropped four straight between the end of March and early April but collected themselves en route to a Region 5 title, winning the final game of the regular season against Forsyth Central to do so. That region-clinching win could have sparked Milton back into shape at the ideal time.

MILTON: 23-7 overall | Key Wins: Mountain View, North Hall, Alpharetta, Cambridge (twice), North Forsyth (3-0), South Forsyth (3-0), Lambert (2-1), Woodstock

Mill Creek is looking to top the runners-up finish it dealt with last season, attempting to be the last team standing in May after coming so close in 2018. They lost some real talent from last year’s team, so it makes sense that it took a little bit for the Hawks to fully click as a unit. They’ve been playing a lot better since mid-March and it helped them earn a No. 2 seed in a wildly competitive Region 5, too. But they still get to pencil in Alek Boychuk everyday, a catcher who’s seen some time at the USA Baseball facilities in the past. Brendan York has also been a reliable bat for Mill Creek this season, and he’s helping a fierce lineup pick up the pieces at just the right time this season.

MILL CREEK: 21-12 overall | Key Wins: Marist, Denmark, Allatoona, Greenbrier, Dacula, Mountain View (2-1), Peachtree Ridge (2-1), Norcross (2-1)

+ Hillgrove (No. 7) vs. Woodstock (No. 18)

Aside from Walton-North Paulding, these two are the highest ranked teams on the GA Power 25 squaring off against one another in the second round. Both Hillgrove and Woodstock have played two of the toughest schedules in the state, second only to Etowah, probably. The Hawks have been able to handle the rigors of the season a little better and it’s reflected by an 11-spot difference between the two on the rankings. Hillgrove is looking to redeem themselves from their first-round exit in 2018 – at the hands of Etowah, coincidentally. They definitely have the personnel to do it, led by junior ace RHP Max DeJong. Seniors 1B Reid Brown (Austin Peay commit), OF Alex McCay (Mercer), INF Wade Richardson (Columbia State), and LHP Ethan Wright (Flagler College) have the ingredients to make it a special season in Powder Springs.

HILLGROVE: 26-7 overall | Brookwood, Allatoona, Walton, North Gwinnett, Lambert, Mill Creek, Kennesaw Mountain (twice), Milton, Etowah, North Paulding (2-1), North Cobb (2-1)

The Wolverines have had an up-and-down spring, for them anyway, but are probably enjoying their best stretch of the spring. Woodstock’s winners of seven straight, their longest win streak of the spring. They probably entered this season as the Region 4 favorites, but they finished second to Walton instead. Still, this offense is finally beginning to get into gear. We expected their firepower from that batter’s box would help them all spring long, but it just hasn’t been as consistent as they would have hoped. The talent is there, though, and Spencer Keefe (Georgia) and Brennan Milone (South Carolina) are capable of single-handedly powering an offense themselves. They might need to.

WOODSTOCK: 22-10 overall | Key Wins: Creekview, River Ridge, Richmond Hill, Benedictine, Harrison, North Forsyth, Lassiter (2-1), Etowah (2-1), Peachtree Ridge

GROUP 4

+ Grayson (No. 16) vs. Brookwood (No. 19)

Another really tight contest and very little separates the two squads. While their records are almost identical, the two teams had very different seasons. Grayson is all about their duo atop the rotation: Bradley Blalock and Riley Bishop. Both pitchers are headed to Kennesaw State in the fall and have really been able to help the Rams limit their opposition offensively all spring long. Meanwhile, junior infielder John Anderson is among the best hitters in the state and he’s going to be at the source if Grayson is able to take two from Brookwood. One concern here is that Grayson’s schedule wasn’t exactly as tough as some of the others we’ve covered to this point, so it’s actually mildly concerning that they still managed to lose nine games this season. Still, pitching matters quite a bit in the postseason, and Grayson has among the top one-two punches left in the 7A class.

GRAYSON: 24-9 overall | Key Win: Peachtree Ridge, Allatoona, Pace Academy, Brookwood, Rockdale County (3-0), Archer (3-0), Lambert (2-1)

Brookwood took the state’s No. 1-ranked program to the wire in Region 7 and just couldn’t pull out the upset, unfortunately, dropping their final two games of the season to Parkview. Regardless, the Broncos are a force to be reckoned with and they’re hungry for another shot at Panthers. It’s a long road to the championship series, but their statement sweep of Mountain View last round shows that they’re prepared to do it. For Brookwood, hopefully they’ll have learned from their 2-0 loss to the Rams back on March 7. It’s a young and talented group, but seniors Will Mize (Georgia State) and Alex Flood are two capable captains to steer the ship further in the playoffs.

BROOKWOOD: 23-9 overall | Key Wins: North Forsyth, Locust Grove, Walton, Mobile Christian (Ala.), Providence School (Fla.), Lambert, Mill Creek, Buford (1-1), Flowery Branch, Harrison, Norcross (3-0)

+ Newnan vs. Lassiter

While neither of these teams are ranked on the GA Power 25, both put together tremendous springs to get to this point. Newnan were the Region 2 champs and did well to win their first-round series against a tough No. 4 seed, North Cobb. The Cougars seem to have shaken off a mini-slump that they were enduring at end of March that lingered into April. They won four games to close the regular season, including one against East Coweta that allowed them to win their regional title. Taking two of three from North Cobb wasn’t easy, but it was never going to be. Seniors OF Woody Waters and LHP Jaxon O’Neal (Gordon CC) are prepared to make it past the second round this spring, where they were eliminated in 2018.

NEWNAN: 21-9 overall | Key Wins: Starr’s Mill, Lee County, Wheeler (3-0), East Coweta (2-1), Westlake (3-0), North Cobb (2-1)

Lassiter is the lone sub-.500 team remaining in the 7A class, but it makes a lot more sense when you realize that they call an unforgiving Region 4 home. They’re missing some of the faces that led them to a better finish inside the region last year, but the Trojans are still very talented, nonetheless. Ryan Getz (Mercer) can be relied on to turn in a quality outing in this series and Carson Strovinskas (Lee) has been a staple in the middle of the order. They needed three games to push past a 10-19 Colquitt County team, but when everything is clicking, Lassiter can hang with any team.

LASSITER: 14-19 overall | Key Wins: East Coweta, Chamblee, Bob Jones (Ala.), Bowling Green (Ky.), Etowah (2-1)

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