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GA Power 25: March 16

March 16, 2020
Phil Kerber
Georgia Scouting Director

Our fourth GA Power 25 update is live. What began as a rain soaked season, has turned into a suspended one. Schools were still able to get some games in last week. With more games under everyone's belts, there is less movement in the top-25. That does not mean some moved up or down, and others entered the rankings for the first time this season. Let us dive right in.

Here are the top headlines coming out of last week’s action, from March 9 to March 15.

Mill Creek Makes a Statement

+ No. 2 Mill Creek (14-1): Since dropping their third game of the season to No. 5 Buford, Mill Creek have rattled off 12 straight victories, with wins over No. 23 Allatoona, No. 17 Loganville, No. 13 Greenbrier, and two over No. 7 Brookwood. Defeating Loganville and Brookwood on back-to-back days last week in addition to Dacula, has vaulted the Hawks all the way up to the No. 2 ranking in state. We were in attendance to see both of the games first-hand. The two games highlighted the duality of this squad, and how they can beat you a number of ways. Up against Brookwood, Mill Creek rode RHP Kyle Beaty (2021; uncommitted) all the way to the finish line. The right-hander pitched a gem, going a complete game while sitting 85-88 mph, touching 89, with a heavy, bowling ball-like fastball and a 74-76 mph slider, to pick up the win in a 2-1 game.


The following day, it was the offense’s turn to step up and carry the load. 3B Logan Depratter (2021; uncommitted) and Tim Simay (2021; Mississippi) had big days, going 3-for-3 with a homerun and five runs batted in and 3-for-4 with a triple, one run batted in and four runs scored, respectively. They were not the only one’s putting runs on the board, as the Hawks had an incredible eight different players record at least one run batted in.
This team just keeps winning and doing it in a variety of ways.

Carrollton Remains Perfect

+ No. 6 Carrollton (13-0): Despite falling one spot in the rankings from No. 5 to No. 6, on account of Mill Creek hopping the field up to No. 2, the Trojans remain perfect on the season. Carrollton has one of the deepest pitching staffs and well-balanced lineups that we have seen to date. The Trojans can trot out three division one pitchers, headlined by RHP/INF Sameul Simpson (2021; South Carolina), LHP/OF Eli Runyan (2021; South Alabama), and LHP/1B Colton Cosper (Mercer; 2021). This trio has shown time and time again that they can pound the strike zone and regularly get swing and misses.
Then you have the offensive capabilities of the lineup, which includes all the aforementioned arms. Runyan really sets the tone out of the leadoff spot with his advanced barrel control and hit tool. Add in SS Parker Willis (2021; uncommitted), the power bat of C Garrett “Bear” Madliak (2021; Georgia), and you have a potent batting order. Madliak, especially, can change the course of a game with one swing. Rated as one of the top bats in Georgia’s 2021 class, he can hit for power and average to all fields.
Back In the Top-10

+ No. 9 Blessed Trinity (12-4): The Titans have been in and out of the top-10 all season long, and this week, they are back, moving from No. 11 to No. 9. A perennial Class 4A power, the Titans started the season ranked No. 21, and quickly rose all the way up to No. 7 with some impressive early season victories at the GDC Tournament and Georgia Peach Invitational. They took a bit of a blow two weeks ago during their trip to Hoover, AL, but bounced back nicely this week with a 2-1 win over a tough Denmark team. This win has to be especially sweet for the Titans after they were upset in last season’s state semifinals to Denmark.

Making Moves

+ No. 11 East Coweta (11-2): The Indians have rather quickly rose up the rankings from an unranked team a month ago to a season-high No. 11. The Indians are riding a six game win streak, and have allowed only eight runs over this same span while putting up 53 runs.

+ No. 12 Lee County (13-1): Lee County has been dominating the southern parts of Georgia all season long. The Torojans are on an impressive nine game win streak and are outscoring their opponents by a near 3-to-1 margin.

+ No. 15 Calhoun (8-0): The Yellow Jackets have had a rough go of getting games in, playing just eight in total. We detailed some of Calhoun’s top prospects in the preseason, in our Prospect Watch. This same group of players have propelled Calhoun to a perfect 8-0 start. What has been particularly notable is what the Yellow Jackets pitching staff has been able to accomplish, allowing two or less runs in six of their eight games, and a measly 1.75 per game.

+ No. 16 Ola (10-3): Ola struggled at the GDC Tournament a few weeks ago, but have bounced back since then, going 6-1. In those six wins, the Mustangs have only allowed four runs and seem to have really hit their stride. It should come as no surprise that their pitching staff is dominating, led by one of the top left-handers in the state, LHP Patrick Holloman (2020; Georgia), RHP Nolan Sliver (2022; uncommitted), and RHP Caleb Fordham (2022; uncommitted).

+ No. 21 Grovetown (9-1): In one of last week’s most anticipated series, Grovetown took on No. 13 Greenbrier. The Warriors scored an impressive 4-2 victory in Game 1 over Greenbrier ace RHP Chase Dollander (2020; Georgia Southern). They had the Wolfpack on the ropes in Game 2, holding on to a 1-0 lead, but were derailed late in the game, falling 2-1. Game 3 of the series was not played out, as the season went into suspension. Despite going 1-1 on the week, the Warriors big win in Game 1 over Dollander, has earned them a rise in the rankings.

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