GA Power 25: March 9

Mon March 9, 2020
Phil Kerber
Georgia Scouting Director

Our third GA Power 25 update is live. This week, there was less movement in the rankings from top to bottom, mostly due to the fact that many of the games scheduled were cancelled because of yet another rain soaked week. The weather did break over the weekend, allowing for some games, and many of the state’s top teams made their way to Hoover, AL to play.

Here are the top headline coming out of last week’s action, from March 2 to March 8.

Top-6 Take Care of Business

+ There was no change in the ranking of the top-6 teams, as they all, more or less, took care of business this weekend. In total, they went a combined 14-2 on the week with the only losses coming from Parkview and Buford. Despite picking up a loss, No. 1 Parkview (10-2) maintains the No. 1 spot in the poll. The Panthers opened up their weekend in Hoover with a walk-off loss to Archbishop McCarthy (FL), but bounced back to defeat No. 11 Harstelle (AL) 1-0, Decatur 5-1, and Doral Academy (FL) 4-0. The View Boys are back in action today with a home doubleheader against Meadowcreek, and then they host Grayson on Thursday.

After falling in the championship of LaGrange Toyota Invitational two weekends ago to No. 8 North Paulding, No. 4 Buford (10-2) traveled to Hoover and once again made it to the championship game. On their way to the finals, they defeated No. 19 Central Phenix (AL) 4-0, North Broward (FL) 1-0, No. 4 Hewitt-Trussville (AL) 3-1, before falling to No. 16 Mountain Brook (AL) 1-0. Buford have challenged themselves early in the season and come out looking extremely impressive. They hold on to their No. 4 ranking this week and are still the top ranked 5A team, but No. 5 Carrollton (11-0) are hot on their heels. Buford only have one game this week, facing Hart County at Coolray Field on Saturday.

Backend Top-10 Mix Up

+ No. 7 Brookwood (9-2): Since dropping two games early in the season to No. 3 North Gwinnett (7-3) and No. 6 Mill Creek (11-1), the Broncos have been on an absolute tear, winning seven straight games over Meadowcreek, Hillgrove, Peachtree Ridge, North Forsyth, Archer, and Grayson. The offense has been on an absolute tear, led by SS Wes Franklin (2020; Mercer). Franklin had an explosive week at the plate, going 9-for-13 with 5 HRs, 2 3B, 2B, and 11 RBI in four games last week. On Saturday, the 6-foot-3, 205-pounder blasted four home runs, two against Archer and another two against Grayson. The offense is clicking just in time for a mega matchup later this afternoon against No. 6 Mill Creek. The Broncos will travel to Hoschton, looking to avenge an early season loss. They will travel to Lambert later in the week and then host Central Gwinnett in a doubleheader on Thursday. 


+ No. 9 Loganville (8-3): It is safe to say the Red Devils are back. The three-time defending 5A state champions challenged themselves in the first few weeks of the season, and it seems like facing some of the state’s top teams has begun to pay huge dividends. Their only losses this season come by way of No. 1 Parkview, No. 3 North Gwinnett and No. 11 Blessed Trinity. Loganville traveled to Hoover this past weekend and won their pool and then claimed their Bracket championship in stunning fashion. They took out PBR Florida Preseason No. 16 Doral Academy (FL) 4-1, blanked Vestavia Hills (AL) 7-0, avenged a loss to No. 11 Blessed Trinity 3-2. Then, in the finals, up against No. 9 IMG Academy (FL), a team with 12 Division I commits, the Red Devils punished the baseball en route to a 13-1 victory. It does not get any easier this week, as Loganville travels to No. 6 Mill Creek (11-1) on Tuesday, in another top-10 matchup, and head to Archer on Thursday. 

Moving On Up

+ No. 14 East Coweta (10-2): The Indians hopped into the rankings last week at No. 19 and move up five spots to No. 14 this week after an impressive sweep of Campbell this weekend. While Campbell is an unranked team, they do have two of the state’s top 2021 pitchers in LHP Andrew Herrmann (Wofford) and RHP/SS Michael Braswell (South Carolina). Facing Herrmann in Game 1, East Coweta scored three late runs to break a 2-2 tie and take the game 5-2. Then, in Game 2, up against Braswell, the Indians needed 13 innings to walk-off Campbell 3-2. This week, they have a two game set against Westlake and make a visit to McIntosh.
+ No. 19 Lee County (10-1): What a wild week it was for Lee County. The Trojans went a perfect 3-0 with three extra inning victories. First, Lee County defeated Thomas County Central in 11 innings. Then in the FL/GA Border Battle, the Trojans went eight innings against Rickards (FL), scoring six runs in the top of the 8th to win 7-1. Finally, in another eight inning affair, Lee County sealed the deal with a two run 8th inning against West Nassau (FL), claiming their third extra inning victory of the week 3-1. This week, they host Tift County and Upson-Lee, before travelling to Warner Robins to take on an up and coming Northside team.

Newcomers

+ No. 23 Walnut Grove (6-1): The Warriors are riding a six game winning streak after dropping their season opener to Apalachee in nine innings. Walnut Grove avenged that loss two weeks later, defeating Apalachee 7-2. Last week was a light schedule with only one game taking place against Oconee County, due to all the rain. The Warriors have a huge week ahead of them with two games against Madison County and a trip to a very dangerous North Forsyth.

+ No. 24 Grovetown (8-0): One of the few remaining unbeaten teams in the entire state, and the only in 6A, the Warriors have been dominant in all facets of the game, scoring 64 runs and allowing a measly 13 runs on the year. This week will be Grovetown’s biggest test of the season when they face off against No. 13 Greenbrier in a three game set. Taking the series would be a very impressive feat, and if the Warriors can manage a sweep, look for them to shoot up the pool even higher. 

The Official GA Power 25 Rankings

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