Preseason Power 25 Countdown: No. 16 Starr's Mill

February 3, 2020
Phil Kerber
Georgia Scouting Director

The Georgia High School Association has announced that opening day of the 2020 season will commence on Feb. 10. Programs were allowed to begin practicing in an official capacity on Jan. 13, meaning it's time for the PBR Georgia staff to break down the high school baseball scene in the state in the countdown to the first pitch thrown in 2019.Over the next several weeks, leading up to opening day, we will be publishing our team previews ahead of the 2019 spring season, touching on programs spanning multiple state classifications, counting down the official PBR Georgia Preseason Power 25 Rankings.

Our Preseason Power 25 rankings coverage starts today.

Team: Starr's Mill

Preseason Rank: 16
2019 Record: 29-6
Region: 3-5A
2019 Region Finish: 1st
GHSA Classification: 5A
Head Coach: Brent Moseley
Playoff Run: 2nd Round
Returning Starters: 8
Returning Pitchers: 6

KEy Players Lost

Name	State	School	Class	Pos	Commitment
Brian Port	GA	Starr's Mill	2019	SS	Coastal Carolina

TOP Players

Name	State	School	Class	Pos	Commitment
Eli Jones	GA	Starr's Mill	2021	RHP/INF	South Carolina
Daniel Courtney	GA	Starr's Mill	2021	LHP/OF
Sean White	GA	Starr's Mill	2021	C	Georgia Southern
Chay Yeager	GA	Starr's Mill	2021	INF	Wofford
Declan Dun	GA	Starr's Mill	2021	LHP
Thad Ector	GA	Starr's Mill	2021	OF	South Carolina
Beau Gardner	GA	Starr's Mill	2020	OF
Hunter Lawson	GA	Starr's Mill	2020	OF/C
Ryder Wagenknecht	GA	Starr's Mill	2021	INF

Top Newcomers

Name	State	School	Class	Pos	Commitment
Bryson Daniel	GA	Starr's Mill	2021	LHP
Ben Moseley	GA	Starr's Mill	2022	RHP/INF
Alex Ukleja	GA	Starr's Mill	2022	INF/RHP
Devin Embry	GA	Starr's Mill	2022	C
Cole Sanders	GA	Starr's Mill	2021	INF
Wes Haney	GA	Starr's Mill	2021	OF
Nate Kearns	GA	Starr's Mill	2021	OF
Noah Preuer	GA	Starr's Mill	2020	OF

X-Factor
Underclass experience. The Panthers return nearly their entire roster, the majority still underclassmen, after a 2019 campaign that saw them win 29 games. 2019 was supposed to be a rebuilding year for Starr's Mill, but the 2021 class had other thoughts. The work horses of the staff are back, having gained valuable experience in 2019. RHP/INF Eli Jones (2021; South Carolina) will headline the group. Jones is an advanced pitcher who currently operates in the upper-80s. Joining him in the rotation will be LHP Daniel Courtney (2021) and LHP Declan Dun (2021). Both pitcher work in the mid-80s and provide a more finesse look than what Jones can offer.

Back to help the offense are C Sean White (2021; Georgia Southern), SS Chay Yeager (2021; Wofford), and Thad Ector (2021; South Carolina). These three will help form the core of the Panther offense. Starr's Mill will lean heavily on these juniors to help propel them to another big year. Plus, the development of INF Ryder Wagenknecht (2021) will be a nice addition to the overall roster.

Ryder Wagenknecht

Outlook
As we detailed in the X-Factor, the Panthers are bringing back some big name juniors to help lead the way. If their junior class can perform anywhere close to how they did last season, look for Starr's Mill to be playing late into May.

Coach Brent Moseley will benefit this year from senior leadership and offensive production. Two of the offensive leaders from last year, OF Beau Gardner (2020) and OF/C Hunter Lawson (2020), will reprise their roles and be counted on even more. Both hit over .300, with Lawson adding five doubles.

Starr's Mill has all the pieces to be the team to beat in 5A, not only in 2020 but also 2021. If the likes of Ector, Yeager, White plus the seniors can perform at the plate, and Jones, Courtney, Dun can lead the way on the mound, Starr's Mill will enter the postseason as the team to beat.

Make sure to follow @PBRGeorgia on Twitter for the most-up-to-date coverage throughout the 2020 season.

Find more information on the 2020 Panthers below:

+ Full Schedule
+ Team Website
+ Team Twitter

Preseason Power 25 Countdown