High School News: Georgia State Playoffs Wrap-Up Over the Weekend… & There Was One Very Big Travel Ball Winner Too!

The Georgia State High School Championships were played over the weekend in Columbus, Ga., and there were two very excited coaches watching the action over the two-day event.

East Cobb Bullets travel ball coaches Greg Schnute, the head of the organization and head coach of the 18U premier team, and assistant coach Mike Bagarose were like proud parents watching their club team members advance to the Finals on Saturday.

And here’s the amazing thing: they had a dozen players who in the post-season and six ended up being state champions (from four different schools), five were state runners-up (from three schools) and one finished on a third-place team.

“It really is awesome to see our players competing at the highest level,” Coach Bagarose told Extra Inning Softball, “and being great teammates among some of their best high school friends while leading their teams through the brackets for the final three teams in their classification.”

Some of the Bullets players even played against each other for their state titles, but, overall, it was a great experience for everyone, according to the Bullets coaches.

“Not all of our players will be able to win a State Title,” added Bagarose, “but wow! How about the way we have been fortunate to select each of these players to join our roster in August and see the results they all are having this high school season!”

Here’s a list of the “Dandy Dozen,” which classification and team they’re on and how they finished up:

State Champions (6 players):

• 7A: Buford – Tavye Borders (2024, OF, uncommitted)
• 6A: Pope – Emily Ricci (2023, C, Flager), Kendall Frost (2024, P, uncommitted) and Kailey Martin (2024, 3B, uncommitted)
• 3A: Wesleyan – Ryley Kutter(2023, P, Charleston)
• 2A: Jeff Davis – Jaci Underwood (2024, IF, uncommitted)

State Runner Up (5 players)

• 7A: East Coweta – Emma Elrod (2023, OF, Jacksonville State), Kip Heggood (2023, 3B, uncommitted) and Mallory Lumpkins (2024, OF, uncommitted)
• 4A: Whitewater – Jillian Williams (2023, MIF, uncommitted)
• 3A: Jackson – Katelyn Flanders(2023, P/1B, Army)

Third Place (1 player)

• 5A: Lassiter – Bronwyn Conroy (2025, OF, uncommitted)

All in all, the EC Bullets saw their players win it all on four state championship teams, three that finished second and one in third.

*** Click HERE to see the individual Georgia state brackets ***

Some on the Bullets 18U team did not make the playoffs, which, of course, doesn’t lessen their individual abilities but—from the colleges they’ll attend—you get a sense of just how talented they are:

• Lottie Landmesser (2023, SS, Ohio State)
• Erin Parker (2023, 1B, North Carolina)
• Taylor Anderson (2023, OF, Marist)
• Devon Kokoszka (2024, C, Landers)
• Abby Henderson (2023-P, Coastal Carolina… lives in Alabama)
• Reagan Wheatley (2024-C, uncommitted… lives in South Carolina)

However, for those who did make it to the final high school playoff weekend, there’s “no rest for the weary” as they jump right into a busy month of club ball that starts this weekend kicking off the 18U EC Bullet team’s Fall schedule:

• November 5^th: Scenic City Top 25 (Dalton, Ga.)
• November 12^th: Clearwater Invitational (Clearwater, Fla.
• November 19^th: PGF Show Me Money (Cumming, Ga.
• December 4^th: Alliance Qualifier (Clearwater, Fla.)

The Bullets can only hope that the success of their players in the high school playoffs rolls over into club play over the next month.

“It was one heck of a week to experience having all these players from all across the state compete at the State Finals,” Bagarose concluded. “We’re proud of their effort, competitiveness, and teamwork as we look forward to bringing them all together next weekend on the field at Scenic City.”

— Brentt Eads, Extra Inning Softball