The HoCo Bears are coming off a Final Four sweep of the Etowah Eagles this past Saturday which sent Coach Hopkins’ team into the State Final for the second time in three years. Their opponent is one that has given the Bears trouble in the past in the Playoffs and that opponent is the Pope Greyhounds from Marietta, Georgia.
The Bears and Greyhounds met in the Sweet Sixteen in 2017 where Pope swept HoCo and they met again the following season in the Elite Eight where the Greyhounds won the series 2-1. This season’s state championship battle will be between the previous two AAAAAA State Champions with Pope being the defending champs and the Bears being the 2021 champs.
The Greyhounds have been a baseball powerhouse for years as they are making their sixth state final appearance in seven seasons (not including 2020) successfully winning the title in 2017, 2018, and 2022. Pope is currently 31-9 overall in 2023 and are 8-2 in the Playoffs. Below are it’s Playoffs results….
Round One: vs Apalachee L 6-4, W 18-2, W 12-2
Round Two: @ Woodstock L 3-1, W 3-2, W 5-2
Round Three: vs Tift Co W 10-2, W 5-1
Round Four: vs River Ridge W 10-4, W 15-3
The Greyhounds have scored 83 runs thus far in the Playoffs… an average of 8.3 rpg and have allowed 27 runs… an average of 2.7 rapg. Run differential: +56 or +5.6 rpg.
Season runs scored: 289 (7.225 rpg)
runs allowed: 125 (3.125 rapg)
run differential: +164 (+4.1 rpg)
HoCo has been a powerhouse itself with three state titles won in 2014, 2016, and 2021. The black and silver are currently 34-6 overall in 2023 and are 8-2 in the Playoffs. Below are it’s Playoffs results….
Round One: vs Brunswick W 13-1, W 11-4
Round Two: vs Marist W 8-3, L 7-3, W 18-7
Round Three: vs Blessed Trinity L 5-3, W 4-2, W 6-1
Round Four: vs Etowah W 6-5, W 4-1
The Bears have scored 76 runs thus far in the Playoffs… an average of 7.6 rpg and have allowed 36 runs… an average of 3.6 rapg. Run differential: +40 or +4.0 rpg
Season runs scored: 333 (8.325 rpg)
runs allowed: 125 (3.125 rapg)
run differential: +208 (+5.2 rpg)
The combination of both teams having similar statistics in 2023 and a stacked roster signals that this series is likely to go three games with all of them possibly being close throughout so runs look to be a premium and the margin of error will be slim to none.
This is for all the marbles and both teams will look to be locked in and ready to battle for the 2023 AAAAAA State Title tomorrow and possibly Friday at Coolray Stadium in Lawrenceville, Georgia. ***weather permitting***
