Locust Grove, Walton start season on top

Posted 2/12/17

Defending Class AAAA state champion Locust Grove will start the season ranked No. 1 in Class AAAAA

By Tim Morse

Georgia Dugout Preview

Two teams who captured state baseball titles in 2016 will begin the 2017 season in the same spot where they finished -- at No. 1.

Nationally-ranked Walton, who rolled to the Class AAAAAA championship, is the top-ranked team in Class AAAAAAA, now the state's largest classification.

And Locust Grove, who won the school's first state title in Class AAAA last season, is the preseason No. 1 in Class AAAAA.

The Georgia High School Association expanded to seven classifications in 2016-17. For the first time, there will be eight state champions crowned later this spring (Class A splits its champions into public and private).

Pope, who finished as the state runner-up to Walton last season, is the preseason No. 1 in Class AAAAAA.

Blessed Trinity, who finished as the 2016 state runner-up in Class AAA, is the top-ranked team in Class AAAA.

North Hall will begin the season ranked first in Class AAA, while Benedictine will start the season on top in Class AA.

A pair of former Class AA schools will begin the season on top in Class A. Bowdon is the No. 1 team in Class A public, while Holy Innocents' will start on top in the Class A private classification.