Teams to watch
1. Gordon Lee. The Trojans earned their second consecutive state runner-up trophy in Class A last year but have moved up to Class AA this season with an abundance of talent returning. Pitchers Conard Broom, Jake Rogers and Chaney Rogers form one of the top rotations in the state. 2. Ringgold. The Tigers lack serious star power this year, but don't let that fool you. With a pitching staff led by Devin Lancaster and power righty Zach Morris, this team will be a tough out in the postseason. 3. Sonoraville. The Phoenix have quietly built a strong program, and if the batting can catch up with the pitching, a serious playoff run could follow. Players to watch 1. Conard Broom, Gordon Lee. The senior pitcher is 35-5 and just nine wins away from tying the GHSA record for career wins. The Mercer University recruit has yet to have an ERA near 2, and last year he batted for the first time for the Trojans and hit .391. 2. Thad Harris, Sonoraville. Following a junior season in which the left-handed pitcher fashioned a 1.66 ERA and struck out 72 batters in 63 innings, he earned Perfect Game USA all-tournament first-team honors over the summer. He also batted .440 for the Phoenix last year. 3. Josh Core, Dade County. The senior two-way threat led the Wolverines with a .383 average and had 18 RBIs, 17 runs and 14 stolen bases while also fashioning a 5-2 pitching record with a 1.39 ERA in 2014.
If there was any celebrating among Georgia Region 6-AAA baseball coaches when perennial state power Cartersville moved up to Class AAAA, it didn't last for long.
The league, among the state's best in triple-A last season, won't suffer with the Purple Hurricanes leaving. In their place comes Calhoun, with loads of tradition -- including three state titles -- and with every intention of following the football and basketball teams in winning a 6-AAA title right away.
"The region this year, with Calhoun replacing Cartersville, I really believe is as strong as it's been since we formed the new region," said Ringgold coach Brent Tucker, himself no stranger to state playoff success.
Added Sonoraville coach Deron Walvraven: "Losing Cartersville and gaining Calhoun is pretty much an even swap. Everybody else puts a good team on the field. Every game will be a battle once we start region play, and it should be a lot of fun."
The Calhoun Yellow Jackets, Ringgold Tigers and Sonoraville Phoenix all are ranked in the top 12 in the state by the Georgia Dugout Club, and each of those teams will rely on strong pitching and hope the bats warm up with the weather.
Calhoun has a one-two pitching punch of John Allen Kendrick and Spencer Cross, each with an earned run average under 2 a year ago. The same is true of Sonoraville's Thad Harris and Drew Wilson, while Ringgold's Devin Lancaster and Zach Morris are the hardest throwers of the bunch. When the three teams face each other, runs likely will be hard to get.
"It's going to come down to how well we swing the bats," Walraven said. "We have all our starters back and they've been battle-tested since they were freshmen. If they put their best individual seasons together, we can do some special things. We don't have to score 10 to 12 runs a game, but we have to hit better than last year, especially against the good pitching in our region."
Sonoraville will have the edge in experience, as both the Jackets and Tigers graduated key pieces. Each of the teams is playing tough nonregion games to prepare. Adding to the league's intrigue this year is the growing rivalry Calhoun and Ringgold are building and the fact that Gordon County schools Calhoun and Sonoraville already have a not-so-friendly rivalry going.
"It's already been fun this year with Calhoun for us," Ringgold's Tucker said. "We played for softball and basketball championships this year and the football game was a great one, so we're looking forward to adding to it in baseball."
The coaches also mentioned that league programs at Adairsville, Coahulla Creek, Lakeview-Fort Oglethorpe and North Murray should all be improved.
"There are no gimmes in this league," Walraven said. "Each game will present a different challenge, which to me makes it a fun year."
Contact Lindsey Young at lyoung@timesfreepress.com or at 423-757-6296.