The HoCo Bears’ baseball team is prepping to play in the Elite Eight tomorrow against the Pope Greyhounds in NE Marietta in what will be a marquee matchup. This matchup will feature the top two teams in class AAAAA (which is where these two have been ranked the entire season), the #2 and #3 ranked teams in the state behind Etowah, and the #41 and #43 ranked teams in the nation.
The Black, Silver, and White are coming into this series with a 29-5 record and winners of their last 11 games including a 23-2 record in their last 25 games. HoCo has plated 287 runs in 34 games which is 8.44 rpg and have allowed 74 runs which is 2.18 rapg and their run differential is +213 or +6.26 rpg.
Pope is running with similar numbers to the Bears as they have also played 34 games and have plated 291 runs which is 8.56 rpg and have allowed 85 runs which is 2.5 rapg and their run differential is +206 or +6.06 rpg. The Greyhounds are 31-3 and winners of their last 25 games.
These two teams’ playoff numbers are neck-and-neck as HoCo has plated 37 runs while surrendering five runs in four playoff games. Pope has plated 38 runs while also surrendering five runs in four playoff games. This is the fifth time that these two teams are playing each other in the playoffs and the fourth time it is happening at the Greyhounds’ Diamond.
The Bears do not have a good record against Pope as they are 1-3 in their four previous playoff battles and 0-3 in NE Marietta. In 2017, these two would meet in the Sweet Sixteen and Pope swept the Black, Silver, and White by winning 11-2 and 10-0. In 2018, Pope would host once again but this time in the Elite Eight and won the series in three games after losing game one.
The Bears and Greyhounds would meet in the 2023 State Final in Gwinnett Co with HoCo sweeping Pope by winning 8-3 and 7-4 to claim the AAAAAA crown. Last season, both teams met in the Final Four with Pope sweeping the Black, Silver, and White 7-4 and 1-0, Game Two featuring a controversial call.
The Bears’ last loss was on April 3rd to Stony Brook out of New York 5-2 up at LakePoint and the Greyhounds’ last loss was to Harrison 5-2 on February 28th. On paper, these two are very evenly matched and this series screams three games but that wont be known until the conclusion of Game Two tomorrow night.
Click the video down below to watch head coach Matt Hopkins’ interview with Sportsmic team member Cole Powell.
