Georgia college baseball update: Division I conference standings/tournaments, state Division II update; Central Georgia alums
The only regular coverage of Central Georgia and statewise college sports is here, in The Central Georgia Sports Report, www.centralgasports.com. Look around and see for yourself. Beginning of the season to the end, coverage is here. Not just in the postseason.
Updated Sunday, 4 p.m.
State RPIs listed, through May 17 games
Standings are linked for each conference. Updates to come Sunday/Monday
Conference Conf All
Southern
UNCG 15-6 33-19
Samford 14-7 34-20
ETSU 13-8 34-18
Western Carolina 13-8 28-24
Wofford 12-8 35-17
VMI 7-14 27-28
106. Mercer 6-14 26-27
The Citadel 3-18 21-31
Tournament
Greenville S.C.
Wednesday
3 p.m., Wofford vs. The Citadel; 7 p.m., VMI vs. Mercer
Thursday
3 p.m.: G1 winner vs. WCU; G2 winner vs. ETSU
Analysis
It appears wide open among five even teams. Mercer, picked second in the preseason, had its worst season since 2008, and first sub.-500 conference record since 2009, worst conference mark since 2004 (6-13). The Bears failed to win a conference series for the first time in about that long. Coming off a series loss to last-place The Citadel, it’s a stretch to expect Mercer to take any momentum or confidence into the tournament and come up with a surprise run.
Mercer’s Central Georgians: P Micah Takac, So. Stratford; P Lawson Cole, Fr., Stratford
East
Kentucky 22-8 39-12
Tennessee 22-8 46-10
5. Georgia 17-13 39-14
South Carolina 13-17 33-21
Vanderbilt 13-17 35-20
Florida 13-17 28-26
Missouri 9-21 23-32
West
Arkansas 20-10 42-10
Texas A&M 19-11 42-10
Miss. State 17-13 33-18
LSU 13-17 33-20
Alabama 12-17 32-19
Mississippi 11-19 27-24
Auburn 8-21 25-25
Tournament
At Hoover, Ala.
Tuesday, 10:30 a.m., Georgia vs. LSU, single elimination; Winner vs. Kentucky, 10:30 a.m., Analysis
Georgia has the fourth-best RPI in the conference, but there are seven teams in the top 20 in RPI. Losing the series to Florida only dinged UGA’s chances to host, but only a little bit. A win or two in the tournament, let alone a good run, will take care of that. But don’t expect Georgia to gamble or force much.
Georgia’s Central Georgians: P James Hayes, Fr., Westfield; P Coleman Willis, So., Houston County; P Ryker Chavis, Fr., Houston County
Atlantic
Clemson 20-10 40-13
NC State 18-11 32-19
Florida State 17-12 39-14
Louisville 16-14 32-22
Wake Forest 15-15 36-19
Notre Dame 9-21 27-25
Boston College 8-22 22-31
Coastal
North Carolina 22-8 39-11
Virginia 18-12 37-14
Duke 16-14 34-16
50. Georgia Tech 15-15 31-21
Virginia Tech 14-16 32-17
Miami 11-19 23-27
Pitt 10-20 26-26
Tournament
At Charlotte, N.C.
Tuesday, 3 p.m., Georgia Tech vs. Florida State; Wednesday, 11 a.m., Georgia Tech vs. Virginia
Analysis
Georgia Tech is a No. 9 seed, and needs at least a win to strengthen its NCAA Tournament resume. Tech is third in the ACC with six conference series won, and is a tough 9 seed.
Georgia Tech’s Central Georgians: UTIL/P Cam Jones, Sr., Houston County; OF Drew Burress, Fr., Houston County; P Dawson Brown, Sr., Tattnall
4/92. Kennesaw State 19-10 29-23
Tournament
At Stetson
Schedule to be released Sunday
Analysis
The Owls are in fourth place in the league, but are the top team in the RPI. But it’s a one-bid league, and the Owls are certainly a favorite.
KSU Central Georgians: P Hudson Mimbs, Jr., FPD; IF/P Tyler Franks, Jr., West Laurens
5/64. Georgia Southern 17-13 30-25
11/103. Georgia State 13-17 25-31
Tournament
At Troy
Tuesday
4 p.m., No. 7 Coastal Carolina vs. Georgia State, single elimination, winner plays Wednesday
Wednesday
8:30 p.m.: No. 4 James Madison vs. No. 5 Georgia Southern
Analysis
The Sun Belt has seven teams in the top 64 in RPI. The Eagles need to reach the tournament championship for an at-large shot, and with that many teams ahead of team, their RPI is likely to only improve with each win, barring upsets. Southern Miss, Coastal Carolina, and James Madison are all in the top 45.
Georgia Southern’s Central Georgians: P Carson Bryant, Fr., Perry
Georgia State’s Central Georgians: P Brooks Gorman, Sr., Tattnall; P Quin McManmon, So., Jones County; P Hunter Varnadoe, grad, Veterans
Division II
Lander 21-6 38-15
Georgia College 18-9 34-20
Columbus State 17-10 33-21
Georgia SW 16-11 35-18
Flagler 16-11 29-24
North Georgia 14-10 29-19
Augusta 12-15 24-27
USC Aiken 10-17 14-38
USC Beaufort 8-19 13-31
Claflin 0-27 1-43
Georgia College won the automatic berth, winning its half of the tournament and then the three-game championship series over Flagler.
The Bobcats (37-20) then won Southeast Region No. 2, twice beating top-20 Mount Olive. Now 8-0 in the postseason, they advance to the Super Regional at Catawba in a best-of-three series starting on Friday.
Georgia College’s Central Georgians: IF Keagan Baxter, Fr., Jones County; P Trent Ringer, Jr., Houston County; P Bradley Wilson, Jr., West Laurens; IF Matthew Mebane, Jr., West Laurens; OF/IF Brandon Bellflower, Sr., John Milledge; P A.J. Mathis, Sr., West Laurens; OF Aiden Payne, Fr., Jones County
SIAC
(State teams and place in standings)
1. Albany State 30-3 27-12
4. Savannah State 21-12 31-15
7. Morehouse 15-17 21-28
Savannah State won the automatic berth, and lost to Tampa and Auburn-Montgomery in the regional.
Gulf South
(State teams and place in standings)
4. Valdosta State 18-12 28-20
7. Shorter 15-15 30-18
8. West Georgia 14-16 23-27
None made the NCAA Tournament.