Here are our top 10 performers from Round 2 of the 2026 Georgia high school baseball playoffs.
Morgan County pitcher Davis Strickland, a senior, came through at the plate and on the mound against Stephens County in Round 2 of the playoffs. Strickland pitched a complete-game shutout in Game 2 of the series, striking out nine batters while walking none. He then hit a walk-off grand slam against Stephens County to snap a 3-3 tie and give Morgan County a 7-3 win in Game 3 of the series, sending the Bulldogs to the Elite Eight round of the GHSA baseball playoffs.
Cartersville catcher and first baseman Cole Crawford, a junior, helped his team defeat Ware County in the second round of the playoffs with three home runs in the series, including the series-clinching walk-off homer in the eighth inning, to send Cartersville to the Elite Eight for the eighth straight season.
Worth County pitcher Avery Kilcrease, a senior, came up big for the Rams in their sweep of Banks County in the second round of the playoffs. Kilcrease pitched seven innings, allowing just one earned run while striking out seven batters. At the plate, Kilcrease hit two three-run home runs, driving in a total of six RBIs in the series.
Trion senior Sam Mobbs went 9-for-12 at the plate with 10 RBIs and had five stolen bases in the series against Miller County. Mobbs helped lead the Bulldogs to a come-from-behind win and defeat Miller County in the second round of the GHSA Class 1A-Division II state playoffs.
Trion senior Christian Henderson batted 8-for-11 with two doubles and three triples in the series against Miller County, helping the Bulldogs defeat Miller County and move on to the Elite Eight round of the GHSA Class 1A-Division II state playoffs.
Buford pitcher Ryland Perry, a senior, threw a complete-game, no-hit shutout to clinch the Wolves’ second-round playoff series against Brookwood with a 1-0 win and send Buford to the Elite Eight round of the GHSA Class 6A state playoffs.
Thomas County Central senior Reid Gainous hit a walk-off home run in the bottom of the 10th inning in Game 2 of their second-round playoff series against Villa Rica, lifting the Yellow Jackets to a win and forcing a Game 3 in the series.
Peach County pitcher Evan Rush, a junior, pitched a complete-game shutout on just 41 pitches, allowing no runs and three hits while walking no batters as he led the Trojans to a win over Southeast Bulloch in the second round of the playoffs.
Cook outfielder MJ Tippins, a senior, led a comeback for the Hornets in Game 2 of their second-round playoff series against Columbus. With the Hornets down 1-0 in the series and facing elimination after trailing 8-3 in the sixth inning, they battled back to tie the game and send it to extra innings. Tippins then got the walk-off base hit to drive in the winning run and tie the series at 1-1. That led to a 9-3 Game 3 win by the Hornets, sending Cook to the Elite Eight round of the playoffs.
Pope senior Ben Hill went 5-for-5 at the plate with a home run, a double, and three base hits with four RBIs to help the Greyhounds to a sweep of McIntosh in Round 2 of the Class 6A baseball playoffs.
