It’s less than a month until the state baseball playoffs. Here’s a look at the No. 1-ranked teams in each class classification headed down the home stretch of the regular season.
Parkview (AAAAAAA) – Coming off a fourth state title in eight seasons, and the No. 1 national ranking from Baseball America, Parkview is on top again with a 16-2 record. Jonathan French, an Under Armour All-American who catches and plays first base, is hitting .524 (22-for-42) with three homers and 10 extra-base hits. He's committed to Clemson. Stephen Hrutisch, a junior who also catches and plays first, is batting .372 (16-of-43) with four homers. The Panthers have an outstanding rotation of Miles Garrett (3-0, 0.94, committed to Vanderbilt), Xander Stephens (2-1, 1.25, committed to Georgia Southern) and Cameron Orr (4-0, 1.69 ERA, committed to LaGrange College). Parkview plays Class AAAAA No. 1 Buford on Thursday. Buford and AAAA No. 1 Blessed Trinity administered both of Parkview's losses.
Winder-Barrow (AAAAAA) – Winder-Barrow, seeking its first state title since 1979, opened the season with a 9-5 victory over defending AAAAA champion Loganville and now sits at 14-3. The Bulldoggs haven't lost to any AAAAAA opponents. Sophomore shortstop Brady House, already committed to Tennessee, is hitting .569 with two homers and 10 extra-base hits in 51 at-bats. Also hitting around .400 or better are third baseman Zack Smith (.491, committed to Ole Miss), outfielder Trace Jeffers (.415) and outfielder Sam Darling (.396). Cain Tatum is 8-0 with a 1.19 ERA and 50 strikeouts in 30.1 innings. He's 6 feet, 7 inches and committed to Georgia. Winder-Barrow lost in the second round last season to River Ridge after winning Region 8.
Buford (AAAAA) – Buford was the runner-up last season to Loganville, which is No. 2 this season. They split a two-game series earlier this month, each winning one-run games. Buford has much of the same team this season. It's led by center fielder Austin Turner and right-handed pitcher Ramsey David, both signed with Auburn. Buford plays at Class AAAAAAA Parkview on Thursday afternoon.
Blessed Trinity (AAAA) – Blessed Trinity, ranked No. 1 most of last season, lost in the semifinals to eventual champion Jefferson but is back to its accustomed position as favorite. The Titans won national titles in 2014 and 2015. They're ranked No. 15 currently in MaxPreps' national poll, the Xcellent 25. C.J. Abrams (.361, signed with Alabama), Steele Chambers (.333, Ohio State football) have been the leading hitters. The top pitchers are Eric Moore (5-0, 2.16, signed with Emmanuel College) and D.J. Radtke (3-0, 1.93, Auburn).
Jefferson (AAA) – The Dragons won AAAA last season with upsets over Cartersville and Blessed Trinity. Now they're in AAA and are 14-0 overall, 7-0 in Region 8. It should be fun seeing Jefferson take on Morgan County (16-3, 10-0) in a three-game series next month. Shortstop Zac Corbin (switch-hitter signed with Kennesaw State) and catcher Lane Watkins (Georgia) are among the top returnees. Both also pitch.
Bremen (AA) – Bremen didn't make the playoffs last season and hasn't won a state title since 1990. But the west Georgia school dropped a class to AA this season, and that's made a difference. The Blue Devils are 17-4 overall, 9-1 in Region 5-AA. Power hitters Jimbo Brown and Brant Ivey, football players who play tight end and fullback, respectively, are hitting right at .400. Senior Carson Cook and junior Griffin Crook are the team's top pitchers.
Tattnall Square (A private) – Tattnall Square won a state title last season, going 8-0 in the playoffs, and is 17-0 this season with four regulars over .400 – senior outfielder B.J. Spears (.542, 20 stolen bases), junior thirdbaseman/pitcher Brooks Gorman (.488, four HR), sophomore first baseman/pitcher Carter Fink (.432, four HR), senior infielder Miles Morris (.447) and senior catcher Trey Ham (.405, signed with Lipscomb). Gorman is also the ace pitcher at 8-0 with an 0.67 ERA with 66 strikeouts in 42 innings. Tattnall's toughest remaining game is probably a rematch of the 4-3 victory over Stratford Academy from March 9, when Ham had a walk-off hit. That's set for April 2.
Gordon Lee (A public) – Gordon Lee swept through the Class A public playoffs last year, winning all eight games. The current team is 11-3 with two one-run losses and a 7-5 setback. Gordon Lee has lost only once (vs. Trion) to a Class A public school in two seasons. It's a pitching-dominant team led by Jake Wright, Logan Streetman, Brody Cobb and Hunter Hodson.
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