It's not the championship of just any state that 10 baseball teams are seeking today and Saturday in the final round of the high school playoffs.

This is Georgia, "one of the big five," as Baseball America high school editor Nathan Rode calls it, with good reasons:

Joey Ivansco/AJC (ENLARGE)

Georgia high school baseball programs have become a hotbed for college and major league recruiters.

Vino Wong/AJC (ENLARGE)

Brookwood coach Rich Howard has the Broncos ranked in the top 5 in the nation in USA Today.

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• Brookwood, playing in the Class AAAAA final against Walton, is ranked No. 3 by USA Today.

• Griffin, playing for the Class AAAA title against Loganville, has Baseball America's No. 1-rated player, shortstop Tim Beckham.

• Ten of SI/Takkle.com's Top 100 high school prospects for 2008 are from Georgia.

• There were at least 43 Georgia high school players who appeared in the major leagues in 2007, almost enough to fill two teams.

Georgia's emergence as a baseball national power — there were only 20 Georgia natives in the majors in 1988 — can be linked to population growth, the success of the Atlanta Braves and the rise of year-round youth programs, state-wide, such as East Cobb Baseball, experts say.

"We have as good a baseball player in Georgia as anybody in the country," said Lee County's Rob Williams, coach of the annual Team Georgia high school all-stars. "A state like California and Texas might have more players, but we'll match our 20 with anybody's 20."

That's what Williams did last spring when his Georgia all-stars won the Oklahoma Sunbelt Classic, which featured all-state teams from Texas, California, Florida and Arizona, each in Rode's "big five."

Georgia also won the Sun Belt in 1990, 1991, 1996, 1997 and 2002. Jeff Francoeur and Brian McCann of the Braves and J.D. Drew of the Red Sox are former Team Georgia players.

"When we talk about the pipelines for talent, we're always talking about California, Texas and Florida, the big three, but now we're going to start talking about the big five," Rode said. "You absolutely have to include Georgia and Arizona now."

Georgia had 26 high school players chosen in the 2007 major league draft. Only Texas, Florida and California had more. Next were Arizona and Washington with 17 each.

The Georgia pipeline sustains the college teams of Georgia and Georgia Tech, which are playing today in the NCAA regional in Athens.

Georgia's 35-man roster has 28 home-grown players. Tech has 23, a much higher percentage than most of its sports teams.

Other Georgia colleges ranked in the Top 25 nationally in their divisions, all heavily populated by in-state players, are Columbus State, Valdosta State, North Georgia, Piedmont and Young Harris.

"We depend on [in-state recruits]," said Tech coach Danny Hall. "If you look at our success, it can definitely be attributed to the players from this state who have come here. ... The high schools themselves are committed to having great baseball programs. They hire good coaches, and they make the commitments facilities-wise. That's where it starts."

Hall also believes the success of the Braves in the 1990s inspired a new generation of young baseball players in Georgia.

The rise of East Cobb Baseball in the 1990s has been another catalyst. East Cobb, with its facilities, travel teams, tournaments and talent showcases, has developed dozens of pro players, including 18 from Georgia who played in the majors last year. They include Francoeur, McCann, Blaine Boyer, Adam Everett and Corey Patterson.

"East Cobb's been the driving force," Georgia coach David Perno said. "The tournaments they're playing in and the competition they get year-round ... they know what it takes to get to the next level."

Cobb County high school baseball has benefited as a result. Walton is seeking its second consecutive title. Lassiter, Harrison, Sprayberry and Walker have won titles in the past 15 years.

Walton coach Jeff Amos figures that all three of his starting pitchers and perhaps all but one every-day starter will play college baseball. All are year-round players.

Kell's Donnie English, who has coached in Cobb for more than 25 years, says that East Marietta's 1983 title in the Little League World Series was a spark that led to the formation of East Cobb Baseball a few years later.

"When they won the Little League World Series, that's when it really took off," English said. "All of a sudden, you had lot more interested in baseball, that and the Braves being here, and then winning that World Series [1995], you just saw big growth in baseball."

But Georgia's wealth of talent extends beyond metro Atlanta.

Columbus has won nine high school state titles since 1984. Greenbrier and Evans, located near Augusta, have won 10 since 1998.

Cartersville and Gainesville from North Georgia have won multiple state titles in the past 10 years.

Georgia teams from Columbus and Warner Robins have won the past two Little League World Series.

"That just shows you the depth and strength of baseball all over Georgia," said Team Georgia's Williams, whose all-stars will return to Oklahoma next month to defend their title. "Even though we're not as populous as some states, we can always find kids who'll play good old country hardball."

Several reasons Georgia is considered one of the best baseball states in the nation:

At least 43 former Georgia high school players appeared in the majors leagues in 2007.

Ten of SI/Takkle.com's Top 100 high school prospects for 2008 are from Georgia.

Griffin shorstop Tim Beckham is the nation's No. 1 high school prospect, according to Baseball America.

Georgia has won the Sunbelt Classic, a tournament of high school state all-star teams, six times, including 2007.

Teams from Warner Robins and Columbus have won the past two Little League World Series.

Brookwood is ranked No. 3 nationally by USA Today and No. 5 by Baseball America.

26 Georgia high school players were taken in the 2007 major league draft. Only California, Texas and Florida had more.

28 of the University of Georgia's 35 players and 23 of Georgia Tech's 34 players are from Georgia high schools.

East Cobb Baseball has developed 18 Georgia players who played in the majors in 2007.

At least 43 former Georgia high school players appeared in the major leagues in 2007:
Reggie Abercrombie, Columbus, Astros
* Michael Barrett, Pace Academy, Padres
* Blaine Boyer, Walton, Braves
Russell Branyan, Stratford Academy, Brewers
Jonathan Broxton, Burke County, Dodgers
Jason Bulger, Brookwood, Dodgers
* Marlon Byrd, Sprayberry, Rangers
Mike Cameron, LaGrange, Brewers
* Matt Capps, Alexander, Pirates
Buck Coats, Valdosta, Blue Jays
* Kyle Davies, Stockbridge, Royals
Dennis Dove, Irwin County, Cardinals
* J.D. Drew, Lowndes, Red Sox
* Stephen Drew, Lowndes, Diamondbacks
Terry Evans, Trinity Christian, Dodgers
* Adam Everett, Harrison, Twins
* Kyle Farnsworth, Milton, Yankees
* Jeff Francoeur, Parkview, Braves
Nick Green, Duluth, Yankees
* Robby Hammock, South Cobb, Diamondbacks
Willie Harris, Cairo, Nationals
* Jeremy Hermida, Wheeler, Marlins
Edwin Jackson, Shaw, Rays
Chuck James, Pebblebrook, Braves
Todd Jones, Osborne, Tigers
* Jeff Keppinger, Parkview, Reds
* Nick Markakis, Woodstock, Orioles
Macay McBride, Screven County, Tigers
* Brian McCann, Duluth, Braves
Dustin McGowan, Long County, Blue Jays
* Brandon Moss, Loganville, Red Sox
* Matt Murton, Eagle's Landing, Cubs
* Micah Owings, Gainesville, Diamondbacks
* Corey Patterson, Harrison, Reds
Eric Patterson, Harrison, Cubs
Brandon Phillips, Redan, Reds
Brian Rogers, Harrison, Pirates
Clint Sammons, Parkview, Braves
Levale Speigner, Thomasville, Nationals
Frank Thomas, Columbus, Athletics
Adam Wainwright, Glynn Academy, Cardinals
Jake Westbrook, Madison County, Indians
Rondell White, Jones County, Twins
* Former East Cobb Baseball player*
Note: Current or most recent major league team listed