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GHSA Playoff Round-Up: Friday April 23rd

April 25, 2026
Prep Baseball Georgia
Staff

It is playoff time in the state of Georgia, the best time of the year. As we nearly hit the 300 game mark in the regular season, we have 400 games in site with a full slate of playoffs the next month.

We will be recapping each day of games, so be sure to check back daily to see how the games went. 

Friday

Cherokee @ McEachern

Scores: GM1: Cherokee win, 8-3. GM2: Cherokee win, 6-2

Standouts:

Daniel Head, 3B/RHP, 2026, Cherokee

Huddy Will, OF, 2027, Cherokee

Malachi Butler, SS, 2027, McEachern

Andre Sweet, OF, 2026, Cherokee

Jordan Stokes, C, 2026, McEachern

Adan Cifuentes, INF/RHP, 2026, Cherokee

Chubb Jones Jr., RHP/3B, 2027, McEachern

Brody Smith, 1B, 2026, Cherokee

Key Moments:

GM1: Cherokee jumped out to a GM1 1-0 lead in the top of the 3rd after Andre Sweet doubled and came around to score on an RBI single from Daniel Head. The Indians would answer back as Kyrun Walker-Smith led off the bottom of the 3rd with a single and ended up scoring on a sac fly to even things at 1-1. The Warriors rallied in the 6th with 2-outs as they loaded the bases with three straight walks and Andre Sweet came through with a 2 RBI single to retake the lead to make it 3-1. The Warriors offense kept the foot on the gas and pushed across 5 more runs in the top half of the 7th as Caden McGhee laid down a squeeze as two runners scored. Followed by a Huddy Will double and a 2 RBI single from Brody Smith to make it 1-0. McEachern got a pair on via a bloop single and a walk as Makai Johnson drove them in with a 2 RBI double as it resulted in an 8-3 game one win for the Warriors.

GM2: The Indians opened game two with a bang as Malachi Butler sent a no-doubt home-run way out to the pull-side for a 1-0 lead. Cherokee answered back in the bottom of the first as a BB and a HBP came around to score as it was now 2-1. Huddy Will was HBP in the 3rd and the Warriors moved him over into scoring position where he came around to score as the Warriors extended their lead to 3-1. An error, sac bunt, BB, HBP, and then an Andre Sweet 2 RBI 2B pushed across to more for the Warriors to make it 5-1 in the 4th. McEachern would get back on the board via an RBI single from Jaxston Brown as it was now 5-2. A lead-off HBP allowed Cherokee to tack on another in the bottom of the 6th as the game resulted in a 6-2 final.

Avery’s Takeaway: The scrapiness and depth 1-9 in the lineup has stood out all spring with more of the same showing as they upset the 1-seed in a series sweep. Daniel Head and Andre Sweet had multi-hit performances that paced the Warriors offense with other strong showings in the box from Brody Smith and Huddy Will. Strike throwers litter the Cherokee pitching staff as Adam Cifuentes, Daniel Head, and Brennan Roth churned out massive innings with only 1-walk given up across the series. The Warriors are a well coached group that plays for one another and is not your typical 4-seed as they very well could make a run and end up in Gwinnett.

Walton @ Hillgrove (DH)

Scores:

GM1: 5-3, Walton W

GM2: 13-2, Hillgrove W

Key Moments:

G1: Game 1 was off to an electric start as both ends quickly got the opposing bats out, but inning 2 is when Walton started to slug. A dead center HR by Todd Haley got the offense rolling as he stayed back on a hanger and banged it well over the fence. Walton then turned a pivotal DP B2 to kill a possible answer. Inning 3 was more production by the Raider’s bats as Ian Robertson reached on a 1B and Logan Wideman on an IBB, both coming around to score on a BS 2B by Devon Krohn. Back to back 2Bs by Chase Hicks and Max Weimann put Hillgrove on the board, making it 3-1. Again Krohn came up and did backside damage in the 5th, this time hitting a frozen rope over the fence for a solo shot. An active B6 got the Hawks within 1 as they scored 2 on BBs and a timely Alan Aguilar RBI 2B, making it 4-3. T7 was time for much needed insurance as an SF9 by Walker Killimett gave them another tally, making it 5-3. A quick 1-2-3 B7 was all it took for Walton to take G1.

G2: Game 2 started as a pitchers duel as Walton’s Nolan Fahrner dominated early, striking out the side in the 1st and 2nd, and opened the game with 4.1 perfect innings of work. Walton threatened with a leadoff 3B by Todd Haley B4, but could not cash it in. Later in the game Walton was able to strike first as Logan Wideman inevitably ran into one and smacked a 2B off the wall for an RBI. Though, in the T6, Hillgrove broke it open with a 1B by Ryan Burgess, BBs by Dylan Honore and Jordan Walker, and then a 2RBI 1B by Chase Hicks for the lead. The inning continued to unravel after an E, WP, and another RBI knock by Burgess as they batted around. The high energy and momentum carried into the 7th as Max Weimann ripped a 2RBI 2B as Hillgrove once again sent more than 9 to the plate, blowing the game wide open en route to a late 13-2 win, forcing Game 3 tomorrow.

Standouts:

Devon Krohn, OF, 2026, Walton

Todd Haley, 1B, 2026, Walton

Jacob Saboura, RHP, 2026, Walton

Chase Hicks, 1B, 2026, Hillgrove

Nolan Fahrner, RHP, 2026, Walton

Logan Wideman, 3B, 2026, Walton

Alan Aguilar, 2B, 2026, Hillgrove

Max Weimann, C/1B, 2027, Hillgrove

Aiden Moore, RHP, 2026, Hillgrove

Ryan Burgess, OF, 2028, Hillgrove

Jordan Walker, OF, 2026, Hillgrove

Takeaway:

This heavyweight 1 v 4 matchup features two highly talented squads with plenty of committed upperclassmen and impressive young pieces. Walton showed in G1 why their offense has been so dangerous all season with a mature plate approach by consistently working deep counts, punishing mistakes, and keeping the pressure on opposing staffs. Hillgrove answered in G2 with a much more collective offensive effort, focusing on quality team ABs and passing the baton until the lineup broke it open late. With both offenses capable of producing and quality arms on each side, G3 sets up to be a very intriguing win or go home matchup. Both teams play a similar brand of baseball: hit it hard and keep it sound in the field, and when each team was able to one up the other, they took home the W.

Harrison @ Etowah (DH)

Score: Etowah sweep, 7-1 & 14-4

Standouts:

Caden Borcherding, C, 2027, Etowah

Matthew Sharman, RHP/1B, 2026, Etowah

Trevor Condon, OF, 2026, Etowah

Aiden Watson, SS, 2028, Harrison

Nate Curcio, RHP/SS, 2027, Etowah

Colin Anderson, 3B, 2028, Etowah

Cameron Spicer, OF, 2027, Harrison

Key Moments:

GM1: The offense for the Eagles would come out firing early and plate 5 runs in the first inning as the first 4 would reach base before a 2-out blast from Caden Borcherding would put the finishing touches on the inning, scoring three. Hoyas would push across a run in the third with an RBI knock from Jack Johnson after Marcus Labouchere and Cameron Spicer picked up back-to-back singles. Matthew Sharman would show the pitchability throughout the night with key strikeouts and didn’t allow another run outside of the 3rd with 6 K over 6.1 IP. RBI knocks late from Colin Anderson and Sharman would add some insurance runs late as the Eagles would pick up the big game one win.

GM2: In game two we saw this high-octane offense for Etowah rolling on all cylinders. It started early with a leadoff Trevor Condon HR that got things rolling for the Eagles. Harrison would bounce right back as the away team in GM2 and score 3 in the bottom half with a pair of singles from Breck and Jude Hemphill as well as a throwing error that would plate two. Once again, Trevor Condon would come through in the 2nd with another huge HR, this time scoring 3 and then the Eagles would score 4 more in the 3rd that was highlighted by a Nate Curcio pull-side HR. Bats stayed hot in the later innings as Etowah would add HR in each of 5th, 6th, 7th innings with solo shots from Caden Borcherding and Colin Anderson punctuated by a 3-run shot by Carson Moore.

Ian’s Takeaways: With a heavyweight matchup in the first-round, the Eagles showed the type of performance they can have when everything is clicking. It starts on the mound where it’s hard to beat getting 6 innings from both Matthew Sharman and Nate Curcio while only allowing 3 earned runs combined. Then we get to the offense, which looked as potent as we’ve seen with 7 total HR across the double-header including 2 a piece from Caden Borcherding and Trevor Condon. This win over Harrison moves the Eagles to the Sweet 16 where another high-profile matchup with Denmark is on tap.

McIntosh @ Kennesaw Mountain

Score:
GM 1: McIntosh 9 Kennesaw Mountain 6
GM 2: McIntosh 4 Kennesaw Mountain 4
Standouts:

Caleb Pearson, OF, 2029, McIntosh

Cannon Fralick, 1B, 2029, McIntosh


Jackson Heeb, C, 2027, McIntosh

Sky Sakuma, 2B, 2029, McIntosh

Isander Poventud, SS, 2026, Kennesaw Mountain

Austin Carter, 1B, 2026, Kennesaw Mountain

Nate McLaughlin, OF, 2029, Kennesaw Mountain


Key Moments:
GM 1:
It was all Kennesaw Mountain for most of game 1. They got out to an early 2-0 lead in the first with a Samik Raina 2 RBI single. The Chiefs would get 1 across in the 3rd on a hard ground ball with the short stop back from Cannon Fralick. Carter Jeske managed some Chief base runners and worked out of some key situations. The Mustangs tacked on a few more after singles by Kaliq Smith and Anthony Higgins. Isander Poventud paced the offense all day and drove in 2 to make it 5-1. It was 6-1 headed into the 7th and McIntosh got back to back walks with 1 out, then Elijah Caldwell got them back on the board with a single that sparked a rally. They would scratch a couple more across with a single by Kyle Marhefka and HBP it is 6-4. JD Raney then shot one into the 6 hole to bring them within one and get back to the top of the order. Caleb Pearson comes up big with a barrel to CF that brings in 2 for the lead, 7-6. Jackson Heeb then drove one to deep RC for some insurance runs and made it 9-6.

GM 2:
Kennesaw Mountain jumped out to the early lead once again with barrels from Isander Poventud and Austin Carter. It was 3-0 with the Mustangs leading until the 3rd where Eiljah Caldwell came through with a clutch backside hit to make it 3-2. Gavin Dykees got the start on the mound for McIntosh and looked really good, running the fastball up to 85. The score stayed at bay until the 6th where Caleb Pearson delivered a 1 out double. Jackson Heeb then got one through the 6 hole to load the bases. Freshman Cannon Fralick was all over the barrel all day and found a clutch single up the middle for the 4-3 lead and would go on to get the sweep.

Huddy’s Takeaway:
This was a match up I was really looking forward to between 2 teams that I did not have a chance to see in the regular season. Both teams are littered with underclassmen in the line, especially McIntosh who had up to 5 freshmen on the field at one time. Needless to say the Chief’s freshman looked the part in their first playoff series of their career. Caleb Pearson impressed out of the leadoff spot with 3 hits across the double header, including 2 crucial hits. One was in game 1 to take the lead in the 7th and the other was a leadoff double where he would come around to score the tying run. Sky Sakuma and Elijah Caldwell were 2 lefties that each had multiple hits on the night as well. Cannon Fralick is their huge freshman bat that found the barrel on 4 different occasions in pivotal spots, including the go ahead hit in game 2. Jackson Heeb, an uncommitted junior, was really good behind the plate with 3 hits on the night. For the Mustangs I was excited to see Carter Jeske on the mound and despite the loss he flashed some good stuff, running the fastball up to 89. Nate McLaughlin was a freshman that had a couple hits for Kennesaw Mountain and finished the year hitting .370 in his first varsity season. Both of these teams have a lot to look forward to in the years to come with some really good underclass talent.

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