2024 GHSA Preview: Walnut Grove Warriors
February 1, 2024
The 2024 Georgia high school baseball season is quickly approaching and, as usual, excitement is abound throughout the state. Players and coaches have been working in preparation for the upcoming season and, as is the case each year, there are some very talented players and teams across Georgia.
Teams across the state have goals and aspirations to finish their seasons in mid-May inside one of Coolray Field, AdventHealth Stadium, or JI Clements Stadium at Georgia Southern University. We hope to familiarize our readers with many of the teams across the state as we preview individual teams across Georgia. We will take you right up to first pitch this season with these team previews, eventually releasing our Preseason Power 25 rankings that’ll carry us into the opening week of action.
Please keep checking back throughout the season as we will be your one-stop shop for everything related to high school baseball across the state. Each week we will be releasing our Players of the Week and updating the Power 25 rankings.
Our 2024 preseason coverage continues today.
High School: Walnut Grove Warriors
Head Coach: Carl Allen
Classification: 7A
2023 Record (Finish): 18-13 (Lost in first round)
Team X Handle: @BaseballWGHS
Team Strengths: Pitching
No. of Returning Position Players: 5
No. of Returning Pitchers: 7
TOP SENIORS
- Thomas Burke (LHP, OF - GA. Southern Commit)
- Hewett Jones (1B/RHP - Gordon St. Commit),
- Drew Baker (MINF, RHP - Wallace St. Commit)
- Carter Hodges (OF, LHP)
- Alec Clayton (OF - 2nd team all region)
- Sawyer Bradford (C)
TOP JUNIORS
TOP UNDERCLASS FOLLOWS
TEAM OUTLOOK
The Warriors will look to better their first round playoff appearance from last year in 2024. Pitching is one of the biggest keys to success in high school baseball, and the Warriors will have it, Led by left handed pitcher and Georgia Southern commit, Thomas Burke. Wallace State commit, Drew Baker and Gordon State commit, Hewett Jones will round out their starting rotation. Having 3 experienced seniors that are already commited will go a long way this season for the Warriors. The offense will have a strong cast of seniors with Alec Clayton, Sawyer Bradford and Carter Hodges. There could be some sophomores getting into the mix with Branson Blalock and JR Staffins. Blalock is a Juior Future Games almumni and we saw JR Staffins this fall, and both will be big assets for the Warriors the next couple of years. Junior, Sam Martell will also get into the mix on the mound. The lefty was in the low 80's last year with a strong frame, so he could be one to see this spring after the off season. The Warrios appear to have all the right pieces headed into the '24 season with a chance to compete for a region title.
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