The state’s high school baseball tournament begins Friday with 80 first-round series that will culminate in five champions crowned by May 30. Here is a look at the top teams and players to watch.
Class AAAAA
The favorite: There is none. Parkview, a team with seven .400 hitters, all underclassmen, is ranked No. 1 in the coaches poll, but every team in metro Atlanta, where the champion has resided the past seven years, has at least six losses. In 2010, none of the eight region champions reached the quarterfinals.
Other teams in the hunt: In addition to Parkview, region champions are Colquitt County, Newnan, Camden, Hillgrove, Lassiter, Alpharetta and Mill Creek.
Players to watch: Parkview junior Matt Olson (.470, 10 HRs) is his team’s top slugger and pitcher. Luella shortstop Julius Gaines is projected by some as a first-round pick in the June MLB draft. Lassiter leadoff hitter Nelson Ward has signed with Georgia.
Class AAAA
The favorite: Wayne County (24-0) is the only unbeaten team in any classification, but Marist brought back five starters from its 2010 championship team, including slugger/pitcher Daniel Singola and ace Brandon Leibrandt, son of former Braves left-hander Charlie Leibrandt.
Other teams in the hunt: Region champs besides Marist and Loganville are Pope, Mundy’s Mill, Lambert, Ola, Loganville and Lee County.
Players to watch: Wayne County’s Casey Kicklighter (Georgia Southern signee) and Tyler Palmer (Georgia signee) are perhaps the best offensive duo in the state, and Pope catcher Connor Lynch (Georgia Tech signee) and junior pitcher Duane Underwood might be the best battery. The best all-around player might be Georgia signee Heath Holder, a power hitter and ace closer for Loganville.
Class AAA
The favorite: The sentimental favorite is Ringgold (21-2), the 2010 runner-up. The team’s baseball field was demolished by a tornado last week but will carry on, playing its first-round series Friday against Riverwood at nearby Heritage High. Riding a 14-game winning streak, Woodward Academy (23-3) is metro Atlanta’s only region champion in AAA.
Other teams in the hunt: The No. 1 seeds are Columbus, Mary Persons, Crisp County, White County, Thomson, Spalding, Woodward Academy and Cartersville.
Players to watch: Columbus juniors Kyle Carter and J.T. Phillips were members of the Columbus Little League World Series champions from 2006. Though ranked only No. 6 in the coaches poll, as defending champ Columbus (20-6) probably is the logical team to beat.
Class AA
The favorite: Buford beat Blessed Trinity 5-3 last week to win Region 6-AA and take the No. 1 spot in the coaches poll. Buford hasn’t won a state title in baseball since 1977.
Other teams in the hunt: Other No. 1 seeds are Jeff Davis, Callaway, Berrien, Pike County, Adairsville, Hart County and Dodge County.
Players to watch: Berrien center fielder Larry Greene generally is rated as the top prospect in the state tournament since McIntosh’s Dwight Smith didn’t make it. Buford pitchers Josh Heddinger and Jake Burnette have signed with Georgia Tech.
Class A
The favorite: Defending champion Wesleyan beat No. 1-ranked Hebron Christian 1-0 in a non-region game Saturday that might be a preview to a quarterfinal series. But another Gwinnett County private school, Providence Christian, won Wesleyan’s region.
Other teams in the hunt: Private schools have won Class A each of the past seven years. Other private-school region champs are Landmark Christian, Aquinas, Darlington and Calvary Day.
Players to watch: Providence Christian’s Christin Stewart has 18 home runs, best in Gwinnett. Hebron’s Danny Lockhart (.605) has led Gwinnett in hitting the past two seasons.
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State baseball playoffs
When: First round (Friday-Saturday), second round (Wednesday-Thursday), quarterfinals (May 17-18), semifinals (May 23-24), finals (May 29-30)
Where: Each of five rounds of the state playoffs will be played at the home field of the higher-seeded team.
Format: Each round is a best-of-three series over two days, if necessary, with a doubleheader on the first day.
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