Baseball draws: ELCA-King's Ridge rematch comes early

Eagle’s Landing Christian has been wanting a rematch with King’s Ridge Christian since the 2014 state semifinals, when King’s Ridge beat the defending champion Eagles and went on to win the championship.

But on principal, ELCA coach Doug Campbell says he’s still a little annoyed that the two Class A private-school baseball powers are meeting in the second round of the state playoffs on Wednesday.

Despite a 19-1 record against Georgia schools and an unbeaten mark against Class A opponents, ELCA is seeded only fifth among Class A private teams by the GHSA’s power ratings. King’s Ridge, despite being ranked No. 1 in the AJC poll, is seeded fourth.

Only one will advance to the semifinals.

‘’We aren’t really crazy about it, and neither are they,’’ Campbell said. “We play games to try to get better, not to accumulate points for seeding. Some schools know the deal. You can play a lot of .500 teams and get so many points for a win. But our guys are not sore at all. They’re glad they get a shot to play King’s Ridge because they lost to them last year.’’

The ELCA-King’s Ridge playoff series is one of 48 playoff series set to begin Wednesday with double-headers at the site of the higher-seeded teams. Third games would be played on Thursday if necessary.

ELCA and King’s Ridge are not the only teams in the AJC’s Top 10 that are playing each other. Others games like that are No. 6 Milton at No. 7 Kennesaw Mountain (AAAAAA), No. 5 Union Grove at No. 7 Stephenson (AAAAA), No. 8 Ola at No. 2 Allatoona (AAAAA), No. 9 Columbia at No. 5 Locust Grove (AAAA), No. 6 Pike County at No. 3 Whitewater (AAAA), No. 6 Westminster at No. 8 Ringgold (AAA) and No. 5 Jefferson at No. 2 Pierce County (AAA).

Classes AAAAAA to AA are playing for berths in the quarterfinals. The Class A private and public divisions are moving toward the final four.

At King’s Ridge, plenty of scouts are expected. ELCA center fielder Daz Cameron is viewed as a certain first-round pick in the June MLB Draft, probably in the top five. He’s hitting .490 with eight home runs and 21 stolen bases.

Also playing well are catcher D.J. Cooper (.413) and three-year starter Jalen Smith (.350), a third baseman. The pitching rotation is the team’s strength. Junior lefthander Cole Ganopulous (5-1, 0.96) has committed to Auburn. Hunter Sowell (6-0, 1.14) has signed with Young Harris. Matthew Kruger (6-0, 0.00 in 34 innings) has signed with Limestone.

ELCA is 19-4 overall. Its victory over Prestonwood Christian – ranked No. 6 overall in Texas and No. 86 nationally by MaxPreps – doesn’t count in the GHSA’s points system.

King’s Ridge returns almost every starter from its 2014 championship team. Brandt Stallings, a Georgia Tech signee, is hitting .507 with seven home runs. Left-hander Austin Higginbotham (8-0, 1.15) is the ace pitcher. He has signed with Austin Peay.

‘’Last year they were better in the playoffs than everybody, period,’’ Campbell said. “They came in and beat us soundly. Our seniors really want to play them again. Whether it’s the first round or the finals, I’m glad they’re getting a shot.’’

Class AAAAAA

(R4 #4) Marietta at (R5 #2) #9 Pope

(R1 #2) Lee County at (R7 #1) Collins Hill

(R5 #3) Etowah at (R4 #1) Harrison

(R1 #3) Lowndes at (R8 #1) Parkview

(R5 #4) #6 Milton at (R4 #2) Kennesaw Mountain

(R7 #2) North Gwinnett at (R1 #4) Valdosta

(R4 #3) Hillgrove at (R5 #1) Walton

(R7 #3) Mountain View at (R1 #1) Tift County

Class AAAAA

(R5 #2) East Paulding at (R4 #4) Northgate

(R2 #3) Jones County at (R7 #1) Forsyth Central

(R3 #4) South Effingham at (R5 #3) Alexander

(R2 #2) Evans at (R8 #1) #3 Gainesville

(R4 #2) Union Grove at (R6 #1) Stephenson

(R7 #2) Creekview at (R2 #1) #4 Greenbrier

(R4 #3) Ola at #2 Allatoona

(R8 #2) Loganville at (R1 #1) Columbus

Class AAAA

(R5 #2) Troup at (R3 #1) Wayne County

(R1 #2) Thomas County Central at (R7 #1) Cartersville

(R6 #2) Columbia at (R4 #1) #5 Locust Grove

(R2 #2) Perry at (R8 #1) Buford

(R4 #2) Griffin at (R6 #1) St. Pius

(R7 #2) Northwest Whitfield at (R2 #1) Veterans

(R4 #3) Pike County at (R5 #1) Whitewater

(R2 #4) Upson-Lee at (R8 #2) North Hall

Class AAA

(R5 #2) Central-Carroll at (R3 #1) Westside-Augusta

(R8 #4) Hart County at (R1 #2) Southeast Bulloch

(R5 #3) Cedartown at (R4 #1) Blessed Trinity

(R1 #3) Appling County at at (R8 #1) Oconee County

(R4 #2) Westminsterat (R6 #1) Ringgold

(R8 #3) Jackson County at (R2 #1) Jackson

(R4 #3) Decatur at (R5 #1) Callaway

(R8 #2) Jefferson at (R1 #1) Pierce County

Class AA

(R6 #3) Greater Atlanta Christian at (R3 #1) Screven County

(R2 #3) Jeff Davis at (R7 #1) Darlington

(R6 #2) Lovett at (R3 #4) Harlem

(R2 #2) Bacon County at (R8 #1) Rabun County

(R3 #3) Metter at (R6 #1) Wesleyan

(R7 #2) Gordon Lee at (R2 #1) Benedictine

(R3 #2) Dublin at (R5 #1) Heard County

(R8 #2) Union County at (R1 #1) Fitzgerald

Class A public

#8 Claxton at #1 Treutlen

#5 Hawkinsville at #4 Schley County

#14 Commerce at #6 Atkinson County

#7 Emanuel County Institute at #2 Charlton County

Class A private

#8 Savannah Christian at #1 Tattnall Square

#5 Eagle’s Landing Christian at #4 King’s Ridge Christian

#3 Brookstone at #6 Whitefield Academy

#10 Hebron Christian at No. 2 Providence Christian

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Todd Holcomb

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