Nearly half of the northeast Georgia area programs covered by AccessWDUN Sports made the postseason in 2024. However, only three made it to the quarterfinals or farther, and only a half-dozen more were able to make it out of the first round.
But there were some surprises, like Banks County (Region 8-2A) winning its first region title in over 50 years and North Hall not making the playoffs for the first time in 15 years. Cherokee Bluff advanced to its first-ever state finals in Class 4A but was swept by a powerhouse Starr’s Mill team in the championship series.
But as they say, that was then, this is now. And the 2025 campaign, which can throw out the first pitch officially on Monday, could be one to watch around the area.
The Bears lost several key cogs on that state runner-up squad but also returned another loaded roster, led by Region 8-4A Player of the Year KT Thompson. Cherokee Bluff, which is ranked No. 1 in Class 3A in the Coaches Box preseason poll, should be the early-season favorite in the new Region 8-3A. Jefferson, also in Region 8-3A, is ranked fifth in the preseason poll.
And speaking of the Trojans, they will be a team to watch in the new Region 6-3A, which will feature three teams -- Dawson County, GAC, and Pickens -- that made the quarterfinals or better last year. North Hall, which comes in ranked sixth in Class 3A in the preseason, could have the deepest pitching staff in the area but will have to improve an offense that struggled at times in 2024.
Buford in Class 6A is the other tam that advanced to the quarterfinals in 2024 in Class 7A. The Wolves come in ranked third in Class 6A in the preseason and will field a talented but inexperienced team early on.
Flowery Branch brings back a ton of experience from a team that played one of the toughest schedules in the state last year. They will be in a very tough Region 8-4A, paced by preseason Class 4A No. 1 North Oconee, but should be in the playoff conversation
Gainesville, which made its first playoff appearance last year in a half-dozen years, has a new coach, former Parkview skipper Chan Brown, and has seen an influx in talent. Big Red should be in the region title conversation in a Region 7-5A that is expected to be wide-open. But Seckinerg opens the season as the favorite in 7-5A and ranked eighth in the preseason poll.
Region 8-A Division 1 could be another fun region to watch. Banks County moved down to 8-A D1 and ranked eighth to open the season. Region 8-A D1 also houses perennial playoff teams Elbert County and Athens Academy, with Commerce ready to jump back into the playoff conversation, as well as a Rabun County squad that could be a sleeper team in 2025.
In all, including Brown, there were three coaching changes last year. Former player and standout alumni Zack English has taken over at West Hall, and Mack McCord is now leading the Johnson program.
(Below are the previews for our area teams we received information on to jump-start the 2025 campaign, listed in alphabetical order:)
BANKS COUNTY
-- COACH/YEARS AT SCHOOL: Jared Jones, 2nd season
-- REGION: 8-A D1
-- 2024 RECORD/ACCOMPLISHMENTS: 23-10, Region 8-2A champions (first region title since 1971), Class 2A 2nd round playoffs
-- KEY RETURNING PLAYERS: Sr. OF Aucy Jacobs, Sr. OF/P Austin Anderson, Sr. OF Cam Cooper, Sr. P Chase Morrison, Sr. Holden Thomas, Jr.C/P Gaven Sears, Jr. SS Owen Miller, Jr. Warren Leftwich, So. C/INF Judd Schmakel
-- SEASON OUTLOOK: The Leopards return several key defensive and offensive pieces from last year’s region title team, as well as a trio of pitchers that saw playoff action. They are in a tough region once again but should be in the playoff and region title conversation by the season’s end.
BUFORD
-- COACH/YEARS AT SCHOOL: Stuart Chester, 8th season
-- REGION: 8-6A
-- 2024 RECORD/ACCOMPLISHMENTS: 25-10-1, Region 8-7A champs, Class 7A quarterfinals
-- KEY RETURNING PLAYERS: Sr. OF Cannon Goldin (Ole Miss commit), Sr. P Braden Burton, Sr. 1B/P Luke Hopper, Jr. OF/P Ayden Lockett
--SEASON OUTLOOK: The Wolves will be very young and inexperienced to start the season after losing their entire infield, starting catcher, and 3 of their top 4 pitchers from a year ago. They will need Goldin to carry the offense while Burton, Hopper, and Lockett settle into their roles on the mound. The region is virtually the same as the old 8-7A, but with the Wolves perhaps dropping back to the pack, it could be a wide-open race for the playoffs.
CHEROKEE BLUFF
-- COACH/YEARS AT SCHOOL: Jeremy Kemp, 7th season
-- REGION: 8-3A
-- 2024 RECORD/ACCOMPLISHMENTS: 32-7 (most wins in program history), Region 8-4A champs, Class 4A state runner-up (best finish in program history)
-- KEY RETURNING PLAYERS: Sr. 1B/OF KT Thompson (Region 8-4A POY, Class 4A All State, .431 avg, 3 HR, 47 RBI, 47 runs, 39 SB, Georgia Southern commit), Sr. SS Ethan England (All Region 8-4A, Class 4A All State, .391 avg, 3 HR, 34 RBI, 40 runs, 17 SB), Sr. INF/P Landon Kemp (All Region 8-4A, .341 avg, 28 RBI, 31 runs, 37 SB), Sr. P Gabe Gowder (51.1 IP, 8-1, 67K, 1.50 ERA), Sr. P/OF Tucker Holton (60.1 IP, 7-2, 78K, 3.29 ERA), Sr. P Logan Robinson (16.1 IP, 2-0, 3 Saves, 2.57 ERA), Sr. P Nate Wilson, Jr. P/INF Bubba Coleman (All Region 8-4A, 2 HR,, 20 RBI, 31 runs, 13 SB), Sr. 1B Garrett Harper, Sr. C Owen Redwine, So. C/OF Beau Bruns, So. P/1B/OF Bryce Fontenot, So. P/OF Landon Rawlins
-- SEASON OUTLOOK: The Bears lost several key cogs off their championship series team but also return five starters in the field, including Georgia Southern commit Thompson, Kemp, England, Coleman, and Harper to anchor the offense and defense. They will be replacing Caleb Miele at catcher, and Gowder, Holton, and Robinson will all step up as the mainline starters on the mound to open the season. However, they should be poised to make another run at a region title and a deep playoff run in 2025.
CHESTATEE
-- COACH/YEARS AT SCHOOL: Griffin Olson, 2nd season
-- REGION: 6-3A
-- 2024 RECORD/ACCOMPLISHMENTS: 13-16
-- KEY RETURNING PLAYERS: Sr. Eli Chaffin (.333 avg, 13 2B (program record in a season, 25 SB), Sr. Thomas Martens (.317 avg, 25 stolen bases), Sr. Ethan Dunn, Jr. Tucker Dearing, Jr. Trenton Eaton, So. Zac Benna, So. Carter Edmondson, So. Parker Grant, So. Ryland Head, Fr. Riley Nix, Fr. Ethan Etris
-- SEASON OUTLOOK: The War Eagles return nine off of last year’s group that set a program record for stolen bases (150) and was good enough to make the playoffs in most any region except for the fact that Region 8-4A was perhaps the most difficult in the state in any classification. They’ve moved down to a 6-3A region that does have Pickens, GAC, and Dawson County, who all made the Elite 8 or better last year, but they should challenge for a playoff spot in 2025.
COMMERCE
-- COACH/YEARS AT SCHOOL: Steve Cotrell, 17th season
-- REGION: 8-A D1
-- 2024 RECORD/ACCOMPLISHMENTS: 9-22, Class A D1 playoffs
-- KEY RETURNING PLAYERS: Sr. SS/OF - P Mac Mullis, Sr. 2B/OF Evan Martinez, P Cowen Baldwin, P Michael Purvis
--SEASON OUTLOOK: Mullis and Martinez are the only returning players from last year’s group, and Cotrell will have to rely on a ton of inexperienced but talented underclassmen as they try to make it back to the playoffs in what will be a very difficult 8-A D1 field.
DAWSON COUNTY
-- COACH/YEARS AT SCHOOL: Logan Burt, 3rd season
-- REGION: 6-3A
-- 2024 RECORD/ACCOMPLISHMENTS: 21-11, Region 7-3A runner-up, Class 3A quarterfinals
-- KEY RETURNING PLAYERS: Sr. OF Jacson Rickett (UNG signee), Sr. UTL Elijah Odom (Lagrange College signee), Sr. OF/1B/LHP Preston Bannister, Sr. 1B Davis Glass, Jr. OF/3B Dylan Edwards, So. C/OF Carson Sosebee, So. RHP/3B/1B Case Gravitt
-- SEASON OUTLOOK: The Tigers return 7 from a group that was one of the surprise teams in Class 3A, advancing to the Elite 8 as a No. 3 seed. But they will be in a tough region once again with fellow quarterfinalists Pickens and GAC, as well perennial playoff team North Hall and a Chestatee team that has been on the verge of the playoffs the last few years in higher classifications.
EAST FORSYTH
-- COACH/YEARS AT SCHOOL: Kyle Counts, 3rd season
-- REGION: 8-4A
-- 2024 RECORD/ACCOMPLISHMENTS: 19-9 (most regular season wins in program history)
-- KEY RETURNING PLAYERS: Sr. SS Zach Aschoff, Sr. RHP/1B Wyatt Barden, Sr. LHP/1B/OF Trey Farr, Sr. C Mason Schreiber, Sr. RHP/DH Jackson Weir, Sr. OF JD Sexton, Sr. 3B/1B/RHP Ryan Ward, So. OF Makayle Moon, So. RHP/OF Grant Barden, So. C Kannon Weber
-- SEASON OUTLOOK: The Broncos graduated 11 seniors but do have half of their starters back this season. Look for Aschoff, Barden, Farr, and Schreiber to lead the way. A blow, however, was losing Weir on the mound with a season-ending elbow injury. But he should be the starting DH on offense. It will be another challenging region with the likes of North Oconee, Walnut Grove, Madison County, and Flowery Branch, but the Broncos should be able to challenge for a playoff spot by season’s end.
FLOWERY BRANCH
-- COACH/YEARS AT SCHOOL: Dusty Black, 2nd season
-- REGION: 8-4A
-- 2024 RECORD/ACCOMPLISHMENTS: 15-16, Class 5A 2nd round
-- KEY RETURNING PLAYERS: Sr. P/OF Kyle Adamec (1st Team All-State Class 5A, Region 8-5A 1st Team All-Region), Sr. C/1B Jackson Freeman (ETSU commit, 2nd Team Class 4A Preseason All-State), Sr. INF Luke Stone (Brewton-Parker commit), Sr. INF Anthony Almeroth, Sr. INF Tyler Folkers, Sr. OF/P Jones Lawler, Sr. P London Moshiri, Sr. P Jacob Miller, Sr. C/OF/P Antonio De La Torre (Emmanuel commit), Jr. OF Parker Bourrie, Jr. INF Riley Bourrie, Jr. OF David Ojeda (1st team Class 4A Preseason All-State, Region 8-5A 1st Team All-Region), So. P Riley Castaneda
-- SEASON OUTLOOK: The Falcons played one of the most difficult schedules in the state in 2024 and bring back a wealth of experience on the mound, at the plate, and in the field. Adamec can carry a team on the mound, and Freeman and Ojeda should anchor what should be a solid offense. Region 8-4A with North Oconee, Walnut Grove, Madison County, and East Forsyth will be another challenge for the Falcons.
GAINESVILLE
-- COACH/YEARS AT SCHOOL: 1st season, Chan Brown
-- REGION: 7-5A
-- 2024 RECORD/ACCOMPLISHMENTS: 13-15, Class 6A playoffs
-- KEY RETURNING PLAYERS: Jr. INF/RHP Dawson Vaughn, Jr. 1B/RHP Cohen Miller, So. OF/RHP Asher Stephens, Sr. OF/P Jacob Griffin, Jr. C Grier Burton, Jr. P Silas Ingram, Jr. OF/P Adrian Medina, INF/P Connor Thompson, So. INF/ P Beckett Brown
-- SEASON OUTLOOK: Big Red is coming off its first playoff appearance in several years and returns a good core from that group. And Coach Brown said Region 7-5A “is up for grabs” with no real clear-cut favorite. Brown led Parkview to the 2nd round of the Class 7A playoffs and comes from a perennial playoff power. Once he finds the right combinations, the Red Elephants could be a sleeper team by the end of the season.
HABERSHAM CENTRAL
-- COACH/YEARS AT SCHOOL: Chris Akridge, 16th season
-- REGION: 8-5A
-- 2024 RECORD/ACCOMPLISHMENTS: 21-11 (tied program record for wins), Class 6A 2nd round
-- KEY RETURNING PLAYERS: Sr. C Spencer Frady (TMU commit), Jr. LHP/OF Maverick Chitwood (1st team All-Region 8-6A), Jr. OF Kreed Barrett (All Region 8-6A), Jr. INF Hudson Gailey (All Region 8-6A), Sr. DH/P Callum Spivey, Sr. 1B/3B Charlie Mills, Sr. INF Dalan James
-- SEASON OUTLOOK: The Raiders return six of last year’s playoff team, including the bulk of a solid offensive attack. However, they will need to replace several key spots on the mound to compete in what should be a pretty good region with defending state champion Loganville, Winder-Barrow, Lanier, and Jackson County included.
JACKSON COUNTY
-- COACH/YEARS AT SCHOOL: Nick Pou, 2nd season
-- REGION: 8-5A
-- 2024 RECORD/ACCOMPLISHMENTS: 11-18
-- KEY RETURNING PLAYERS: Sr. Colin Price, Sr. Mitchell Bryce, Sr. Jack Teague, Sr. Landon VanWormer, Jr. Ollie Tingelhoff, So. Justin Mills, So. Bryce Garrison
--SEASON OUTLOOK: Another Region 8-5A program that has been used to make the playoffs over the years. The Panthers went through some growing pains last year with an inexperienced team but could be poised to make a run at a playoff spot in what will be a challenging region with defending state champion Loganville, Habersham Central, Winder-Barrow, and Lanier.
JEFFERSON
-- COACH/YEARS AT SCHOOL: Kyle Hardy, 3rd season
-- REGION: 8-3A
-- 2024 RECORD/ACCOMPLISHMENTS: 17-15, Region 8-5A runner up, Class 5A 2nd round
-- KEY RETURNING PLAYERS: Sr. P Eston Simpson (Class 5A 1st team All-State, 6-3, 1.84 ERA, 62K, Clemson signee), Sr. OF Rett Hemphill .330 avg, 23 runs, 21 SB), Sr. 1B/DH Josh Causey (.352 avg, 1 HR, 5 2B), Sr. 3B/1B Steven Tavares (3 HR, 9 2B, 16 RBI, South Georgia College signee), Jr. OF Ryan Reed (.317 avg,), So. OF Eli Primm
-- SEASON OUTLOOK: The Dragons won 17 games, played arguably the toughest schedule in school history in 2024, and in a tough region with defending Class 5A state champion Loganville. They bring a wealth of experience across the board and should challenge for a playoff spot and maybe a region title. However, Region 8-3A will be one of the tougher in Class 3A with preseason No. 1 Cherokee Bluff, Oconee County, and Monroe Area.
JOHNSON
-- COACH/YEARS AT SCHOOL: Mack McCord, 1st season
-- REGION: 6-3A
-- 2024 RECORD/ACCOMPLISHMENTS: 0-8, did not play a varsity schedule in 2024
-- KEY RETURNING PLAYERS: Sr C Nate Nguyen, So. CF/P Alex Alvarez, So. SS/P Rye Kelly, Sr. 1B Braden Black, Jr 2B/P Payton Rose, So. 3B/P Felipe Delgado, So. 2B/OF Alvaro Araujo, So. OF Diego Sanchez, Sr. SS Cruz Gobert
-- SEASON OUTLOOK: The Knights will be jumping back into region play after taking a couple of years off. They have a balance of upper and underclassmen, but how quickly they can adapt to what will be a very difficult region will be the key to their season. Challenging for a playoff spot may be another year away.
LAKEVIEW ACADEMY
-- COACH/YEARS AT SCHOOL: Deuce Roark, 26th season
-- REGION: GIAA District 4 4A/3A
-- 2024 RECORD/ACCOMPLISHMENTS: 7-13, GIAA Class 3A 1st round
-- KEY RETURNING PLAYERS: Sr. P/INF Ricky Brown, Sr. P/INF/OF Brock Graham, Sr. P/OF Collin Waldrop, Sr. C/P Jaden Walton, So. OF/P Case Beverly, So. INF/P Joey Galen, So. C/P/INF Anthony Kauker, So. OF Boris Korop, So. OF Jarrett McGuire, Fr. INF/P Mahki Burch
-- SEASON OUTLOOK: The Lions have a roster influx to go with the bulk of a young group last year. They should be much improved in 2025. How far they get in the playoffs will rest on finding the right combinations at the plate, in the field, and on the mound.
LUMPKIN COUNTY
-- COACH/YEARS AT SCHOOL: Ryan Zaideman, 3rd season
-- REGION: 6-3A
-- 2024 RECORD/ACCOMPLISHMENTS: 14-15
-- KEY RETURNING PLAYERS: Sr. C/P Tyler Boggs, Sr. 3B/P Adian Rogers, Jr. OF/P Mason Hester, Sr. DH/1B Matthew Mitchell, Sr. OF/P Kendal Lee, Sr. OF/P Aidyn Flanagan, Sr. 1B Chase Smith, Jr. 2B/P
Carson Horton, So. INF/P Jayzen Johnson
-- SEASON OUTLOOK: The Indians missed out on the playoffs in 2024 by just one game in a very tough Region 7-3A. In 2025, they bring several key players from a year ago with another year of experience. Region 6-3A will be difficult, but look for the Indians to be in the playoff mix by the end of the year.
NORTH FORSYTH
-- COACH/YEARS AT SCHOOL: Jim Cahill, 23rd season
-- REGION: 6-6A
-- 2024 RECORD/ACCOMPLISHMENTS: 23-11, Region 8-6A runner up, Class 6A 2nd round
-- KEY RETURNING PLAYERS: Sr. OF/P Brady Holbrook, Sr. OF Jordan Cox, Sr. C Ozzie Patterson, Sr. P Brayden Seabold, Sr. P Brayden Weems, Sr. 1B Ty Womack, Jr. OF Ellis Alldredge, Jr. INF Jace Cahill, Jr. IF/P Seth Dixon, Jr. P/OF Trey Windham, Jr. C Bryson Germanenko, Jr. P Sam Moore
-- SEASON OUTLOOK: The Raiders are back home in familiar territory with the rest of the Forsyth County schools and return the bulk of their starting lineup from a team that won 23 games. You can never have enough pitching at the highest level, but Holbrook, Seabold, and Weems should give them a solid rotation to build off of. Finding enough offense may hold the key to a playoff run.
NORTH HALL
-- COACH/YEARS AT SCHOOL: Trevor Flow, 8th season (161-60)
-- REGION: 6-3A
-- 2024 RECORD/ACCOMPLISHMENTS: 20-8
-- KEY RETURNING PLAYERS: Sr. SS/P Mills Lothridge (Wallace Dothan commit), Sr. P/OF Campbell Payton (Piedmont commit), Sr. IF/P Micah Jimerson, Sr. IF/C Owen Stowers (Emmanuel commit), Sr. P/IF Kian Allen, Jr. IF/OF/P/C Branson Crawford (Indiana commit), Jr. OF/P Smith McGarvey, Jr. IF/P Kaleb Sexton (Virginia Military commit), Jr. IF/P Jake Beard, Jr. OF/C Kenny Foudy
-- SEASON OUTLOOK: After missing out on the playoffs by a game last season for the first time in more than a decade, the Trojans will have a chip on their shoulder. They also may have the deepest and most talented pitching staff in the region, including Lothride, Crawford, McGarvey, and Sexton. Offense will be the issue for a team that struggled at times to score runs last season. If they can improve in that area, they should be the team to beat. But it will be a challenging region with three teams that advanced to the quarterfinals or better last year.
RABUN COUNTY
-- COACH/YEARS AT SCHOOL: Wesley Satterfield, 6th season
-- REGION: 8-A D1
-- 2024 RECORD/ACCOMPLISHMENTS: 8-19
-- KEY RETURNING PLAYERS: Sr. 1B Elvis Hunt (.338 avg, .479 OBP, .925 OPS, 1st team All Region), Sr. SS/P Parker Smith (.349 avg, .434 OBP, .876 OPS), Jr. OF/P Reid Giles (.359 avg, .433 OBP, .867 OPS, 1st team All Region), Sr. OF Carvery Jarrard, Jr. 2B Ty Truelove, Jr. C Noah English, So. P Lleyton Phillips
-- SEASON OUTLOOK: The Wildcats were a relatively young team in 2024 and bring a wealth of experience into this season. It will be a very challenging region with five teams that made the playoffs last season and are now on the field. The Wildcats should be able to score runs. Finding enough pitching will be the key to having a shot at the playoffs in 2025.
WEST HALL
-- COACH/YEARS AT SCHOOL: Zach English; 1st season
-- REGION: 8-3A
-- 2024 RECORD/ACCOMPLISHMENTS: 7-22
-- KEY RETURNING PLAYERS: Sr. OF/P Marcus Pugh, Sr. C/OF/P Santiago Lopez, Sr. IF Drew Svetz, Sr. P/1B John Kendrick, Jr. P/IF/C Brett Sturm, Jr. UT/P Luis Rosales, Jr. IF/OF Ozie Lopez, So. UT/P Eliecer Cordoba, So. UT/P Eros Martinez
-- SEASON OUTLOOK: The Spartans brought in former player Zach English to take over the program, and he inherited a roster that could be ready to make a playoff run. They left a tough Region 7-3A and are now in one of the toughest regions in Class 3A, which has Cherokee Bluff (4A state runner-up), Jefferson, and Oconee County. If they can get quality innings on the mound, they could be ready to make a playoff run in 2025.
WHITE COUNTY
-- COACH/YEARS AT SCHOOL: James Waits, 8th season
-- REGION: 6-3A
-- 2024 RECORD/ACCOMPLISHMENTS: 14-16
-- KEY RETURNING PLAYERS: Sr. SS John Bannon, Sr. RHP/1B Caleb Campbell, Jr. 3B/C/RHP Alex Freeman (2024 1st team All-Region, 2025 preseason 2nd team All-State), Sr. C Brady Gaddis, Jr. OF Cooper Garrett, So. OF/RHP Sawyer Gailey, Sr. LHP/1B Grant Gooch, Jr. INF/C Carter Nguyen, Sr. RHP/UTL Shelton Ramey, Sr. INF/OF Brayden Roach, Sr. C Cole Shelton, Jr. P Josh Adams, Sr. Trevor Butler
-- SEASON OUTLOOK: The Warriors were in the playoff race down to the final day in 2024 and return a lot of that group that understands being in a playoff race. They will need that experience with three teams that advanced to the quarterfinals or better last season and a loaded North Hall team that did not make the playoffs and could be the team to beat in a very tough region. But the Warriors have balance at the plate and some solid arms that could form a formidable pitching staff. Winning those close games could be the key to a playoff run in 2025.
