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Loganville won its third-straight baseball championship last season, outlasting Cartersville in a three-game series. With Cartersville now reclassified down to 4A this season, Class 5A seems at the Red Devils’ mercy.
Loganville has eight state championships and will be gunning for its fourth consecutive in 2025. The Red Devils have won seven state championships since 2008 and have won six of the last seven dominating the 5A classification. Loganville will have to replace one of the best pitchers in its storied history in Tucker Segars, who graduated last year.
Segars was named Region 8-5A Pitcher of the Year and 5A State Baseball Player of the Year by the Georgia Dugout Club Convention. The Red Devils will also replace Jaylen Jones (Western Carolina) Trenton Burnett (Winthrop) and JP Myers (Georgia Tech). Head coach Bran Mills is also one of the best coaches and continues to have Loganville playing at a high level. Pitching will be an area to watch for the Red Devils in 2025 after so many of their veteran pitchers have departed. Players to watch for Loganville this year include Jordan Johnson and Jake Boland who both have a ton of upside.
Here are some other contenders that could make a run and challenge the Red Devils this season.
Pope
Pope is a team that is enamored by winning and has enjoyed a lot of success in the past 15 years. The Greyhounds have won five state championships during that span. Pope was the state runner-up after falling short of Etowah in 2024. They’ve also made it to the semifinals in each of the past five seasons. Senior RHP Matt Levinson is one of the most talented pitchers, and he possesses good velocity and speed on the ball. The Young Harris-commit could be one of the catalysts for another strong season for the Greyhounds. A young player to watch for Pope will be Luke Winbush. He made great strides as a freshman and got better as the season went on. He turned some heads this past fall and looks poised for a major breakout this season. The Greyhounds have some notable opponents they will play early in the season including Marietta, Marist, Grayson, and Creekview early in the season. Pope makes the 5A classification even more interesting with their presence and ability to win big games.
Key Returning Players
2025 OF Tanner Morneau (North Georgia-commit)
2025 RHP Ethan Garrett (Georgia Southern-commit)
2025 RHP/1B Matt Levinson (Young Harris-commit)
2027 INF/RHP Luke Winbush
2027 C/2B Jensen Morneau
Lassiter
Lassiter made it to the quarterfinals before losing to in-state power Houston County. The Trojans won four of their final five games before a two-game sweep by the Bears. Pitching will be an area of strength for the Trojans in 2024. Tennessee RHP commit DJ McDowell will return as a starting pitcher for the Trojans and is considered one of the better pitchers in 5A. McDowell had another strong summer and will be on to watch for Lassiter. Joining him in the bullpen is LHP William Whitlock who came in and saved the day for the Trojans throughout their run last year. He had eight saves last year on the mound. To go along with McDowell and Whitlock, RHP Parker Wilson will be a big part of the rotation and is one to watch. Two young players to watch are Chase Campbell and Kyle Montgomery who are good at the plate but will face formidable teams in 2025 in Pope, River Ridge, Sequoyah, and Appling County.
Key Returning Players
2025 RHP Parker Wilson, Auburn-Montgomery-commit
2025 LHP/1B William Whitlock
2025 OF Preston Dean, Berry College-commit
2025 OF Quinn Hughes
2027 C/3B Kyle Montgomery
2027 IF/C Chase Campbell
Lee County
Lee County finished 17-15 and lost in the first round in 2024. The Trojans will return eight starters on their team heading into the season. Lee County will have their work cut out for them going against Houston County, Coffee, and Thomas County Central, all-region opponents. One thing is for sure they will have a strong defensive group. Key players offensively will be Durrah Butler and Weston Bryan. Bryan was named second-team all-region a season ago and is a great two-way player for the Trojans. Josh Barnes will be another strong defensive player for the Trojans heading into the season. Barnes was named Defensive Player of the Year in 2024. 2025 will be a year to see if the Trojans can take the next step. It certainly won’t be easy but they have the talent and experience to make some noise.
Key Returning Players
2025 1B Weston Bryan
2025 C Josh Barnes
2026 SS/P Graysen Spears
2026 3B Matt Bounds
Glynn Academy
Glynn Academy is coming off a Sweet 16 finish and will only return four starters from last year’s team. LSU-commit Wessley Roberson is one of the top players in the country and returns after a great season. The Red Terrors will be known for their pitching this season and return one of the best in 5A. Seniors Jeb Carson, Jimmy Young, and Carson Ritola will be the main cogs in the pitching lineup for Glynn Academy. Carson was named second-team all-region after a great season on the mound. Young players to watch for Glynn Academy are Kai Orr and Luke Parrish; they are both very impressive when they are at bat and could have major sophomore seasons. Their growth will be huge to the success of Glynn Academy this season.
Key Returning Players
2025 LHP Jim Young
2025 OF Wyatt Kolkmeyer
2026 C Jackson Donovan
2026 SS/OF Wessley Roberson, LSU-commit
2026 RHP/3B Nico Muñoz
2027 OF/LHP Kai Orr
2027 2B Luke Parrish
Houston County
Houston County is another in-state power that is led by head coach Matt Hopkins and it is a program you always have to keep an eye on. The Bears are always brewing with talent. Houston County last won a state championship in 2023 and made it to the semifinals before losing to Pope last season, finishing the year 29-9. Houston County has won four state championships since 2014. This year some key players returning are Vick Gann and Will Allen. Gann committed to Georgia Gwinnett College back in October, a program known for being one of the better programs in NAIA. Gann finished his season with 41 hits and 21 RBIs while batting a .363 average. He was named a 2025 preseason all-state selection. Gann torches his opponents with his speed and very rarely lets a ball get past him in the outfield. Offensively, he is an underrated batter that can outrun you once he makes contact with the ball. Allen was previously committed to the University of Georgia before decommitting and choosing South Florida as the next step in his journey. Allen had a great year for the Bears pitching 64.2 innings with a 0.75 ERA with 74 strikeouts, per Houston Home Journal. His ERA was top three all-time in program history for a season. Allen is a special talent and one of the best pitchers in the peach state. One thing is for sure Houston County will be a tough out and a program that will be there in contention at the end.
Key Returning Players
2025 OF Vick Gann
2025 SS Ethan Buffone
2025 RHP/1B Will Allen
2026 OF Noah Odom
Habersham Central
Habersham went 21-11 and made a Sweet 16 playoff appearance. Habersham Central brings back two-time all-region player Maverick Chitwood. Chitwood has a versatile skill set and affects the game in a multitude of ways. He is great at defending center field on defense and is a tough out when he is batting at the plate. Junior Tyler Rothell will be a new contributor to the team this year for the Raiders. Rothell had a great showing at the Perfect Game showcase back in December pitching for 40-Gray and striking out three batters. He is also great on the offensive end and a good hitter who can bring something on both sides of the ball for Habersham Central this season. A thing to note for this Raiders team is that they have a good deal of experience which should help as they get some of their younger players more acclimated. Habersham Central is still in search of its first state title in program history.
Key Returning Players
2025 C Spencer Frady, Truett-McConnell-commit
2026 OF/LHP Maverick Chitwood
2026 INF/RHP Tyler Rothel
2027 3B Micah Huff
2027 C Mason Whitt
Around the class boys - Wheeler is set to host a Nike Elite Showcase that will feature some great boys and girls action. On the boys side, No. 1 Milton will face No. 3 Wheeler (6A) in a primetime matchup between two state champion hopefuls. Woodward Academy will face top Tri-Cities in a top five matchup between two contenders.
Around the class girls - Hughes continues to show how real of a contender they are in 5A after upending 1A-3A Private powerhouse St. Francis 66-60 Monday. Woodward Academy and Tri-Cities face off in a top 10 matchup on Friday. Unranked Milton will face top ranked McEachern in the Georgia Nike Elite Showcase on Saturday.
Boys Basketball Top 10 Schedule
1. Milton – Friday vs. Chattahoochee, 7:30 p.m. Saturday at Wheeler, 6:30 p.m.; Tuesday at Lanier, 7:30 p.m.
2. Woodward Academy – Thursday vs. Tri-Cities, 7:30 p.m.; Friday vs. Shiloh, 7:30 p.m.; Saturday at Lakeside-Dekalb, 2:30 p.m.
3. Tri-Cities – Thursday at Woodward Academy, 7:30 p.m.; Friday vs. Chamblee, 6:00 p.m.; Saturday at Shiloh, 4:30 p.m.
4. Habersham Central – Friday at Jackson County, 7:30 p.m.; Tuesday at Loganville, 7:30 p.m.; Jan. 31 vs. Apalachee, 7:30 p.m.
5. Winder-Barrow – Friday at Alcovy 7:30 p.m.; Tuesday vs Jackson County, 7:30 p.m.; Jan. 31 at Loganville, 7:30 p.m.
6. Dutchtown – Wednesday vs. Lovejoy, 7 p.m.; Friday at McIntosh, 7:30 p.m.; Tuesday vs. Newnan, 7:30 p.m.
7. Gainesville – Friday vs Lanier 7:30 p.m.; Tuesday at Roswell, 7:30 p.m.; Feb. 4 vs. No. 1 Milton, 7:30 p.m.
8. Lee County – Saturday at Thomas County Central, 7:30 p.m.; Tuesday at Houston County, 7:30 p.m.; Feb. 1 vs. Jonesboro, 3 p.m.
9. New Manchester – Friday at East Paulding, 7:30 p.m.; Saturday vs Douglas County, 4:30 p.m.; Tuesday vs. Rome, 7:30 p.m.
10. Alexander – Saturday at Rome, 7:30 p.m.; Tuesday vs. East Paulding, 7:30 p.m.; Jan. 31 at Kennesaw Mountain, 7:30 p.m.
Girls Basketball Top 10 Schedule
1. Hughes – Friday at Northgate, 6 p.m.; Saturday at Carrollton, 3 p.m.; Tuesday at Banneker, 6 p.m.
2. River Ridge – Wednesday at Sequoyah, 6 p.m.; Friday at Lassiter 6 p.m.; Tuesday vs. Riverwood, 6 p.m.
3. Woodward Academy – Thursday vs. Tri-Cities, 6 p.m.; Friday vs. Shiloh, 6 p.m.; Saturday at Lakeside-Dekalb, 3 p.m.
4. Morrow – Friday at Newnan, 6 p.m.; Saturday at Jonesboro, 5:30 p.m.; Tuesday at McIntosh, 6 p.m.
5. Milton – Friday vs. Chattahoochee, 6 p.m.; Saturday vs McEachern 5 p.m.; Tuesday at Lanier, 6 p.m.
6. Tri-Cities – Thursday at Woodward Academy, 6 p.m.; Friday vs Chamblee, 6 p.m.; Saturday at Shiloh, 3 p.m.
7. Bradwell Institute – Friday vs. South Effingham, 6:30 p.m.; Saturday vs. Brunswick, 5 p.m.; Tuesday vs. Glynn Academy, 6 p.m.
8. Creekview – Friday vs. Riverwood 6 p.m.; Tuesday at Sequoyah, 5:30 p.m.; Jan. 31 vs. Sprayberry, 6 p.m.
9. Arabia Mountain – Thursday at Lakeside-Dekalb, 6 p.m.; Friday at Dunwoody, 6 p.m.; Tuesday vs. Decatur, 6 p.m.
10. Pope – Wednesday at Sprayberry, 6 p.m.; Friday vs. Sequoyah, 6 p.m.; Tuesday at Woodstock, 6 p.m.