Middle Georgia GHSA Elite Eight Capsules

HOUSTON COUNTY BEARS

2015 record: 29-9, 9-1 in Region 2-AAAA, second in region tournament.

Road to Elite Eight: Beat South Effingham 9-1, 12-3; beat River Ridge 5-2, 2-10, 11-2.

Head coach: Angela Crawford (223-95 at Houston County).

Opponent: Northside-Columbus (26-10).

Winner gets: Jones County or Allatoona.

Scouting Report: Houston County finished third in 2013 and second in 2009 and has the tools and momentum for a similar or better finish as one of three 2-AAAAA teams still alive. That makes the Bears mighty battle-tested and unlikely to tighten up under most any circumstances. Sarah Smith is 23-9 with a 1.69 ERA, and the offense -- which is averaged 8.8 runs in the playoffs -- is led by Amber Coy, Madi Slappey and Grace Hardee.

JONES COUNTY BEARS

2015 record: 23-15, 6-3 in Region 2-AAAAA, third in region tournament.

Road to Elite Eight: Beat Ware County 13-1, 6-10, 6-1; beat Cambridge 2-0, 0-7, 1-0.

Head coach: Blake Lyons (215-115-2 at Jones County).

Opponent: Allatoona (18-10).

Winner gets: Houston County or Northside-Columbus.

Scouting Report: The Greyhounds' last trip to the Elite Eight was pretty good, winning the Class AAAA title in 2010. And they come in with confidence and momentum after knocking off No. 1 and defending runner-up Cambridge in three games on the road. Jones County has a 2.93 ERA and has more walks allowed than strikeouts, so this is clearly a gritty team -- with some speed with 89 steals and some power keyed by Cheyanne Mosteller's six home runs -- that will be tough if it gets any momentum.

CLASS AAAA

VETERANS WARHAWKS

2015 record: 26-10, 10-2 in Region 2-AAAA, first in region tournament.

Road to Elite Eight: Beat Burke County 10-0, 13-3, beat Gilmer County 0-3, 9-3, 2-0.

Head coach: David Coffey (first year).

Opponent: North Oconee (20-16).

Winner gets: Buford or Wayne County.

Scouting Report: The young program is making its second trip to the Elite Eight, and senior Avery Lamb at pitcher is a huge reason. She's one of only two seniors on a team with first-year head coach Coffey, who is also the Warhawks' baseball head coach. Just playing teams in the area this season -- like co-Elite Eight teams Houston County, Jones County, West Laurens, FPD and Tattnall Square -- means the young Warhawks have seen and conquered plenty.

WEST LAURENS RAIDERS

2015 record: 25-11, 11-3 in Region 2-AAAA, second in region tournament.

Road to Elite Eight: Beat Thomson 8-4, 4-2; beat Marist 3-1, 1-3, 5-4.

Head coach: Michael Thompson.

Opponent: Worth County (28-8).

Winner gets: Heritage or Walnut Grove.

Scouting Report: The Raiders have some speed (62 steals in 68 tries) and power (10 home runs). Logan Calhoun is the spark, with a .398 average, three home runs, 29 RBI and only five strikeouts in 123 at-bats. She has yet to be caught stealing. Ariel Edenfield is batting .429 with a team-high four home runs and 30 RBI. Edenfield is the No. 1 pitcher, but Harley Roberts is solid. West Laurens has a 1.98 ERA, but the offense is a little prone to strikeouts.

CLASS AA

VIDALIA INDIANS

2015 record: 31-3, 14-1 in Region 2-AA, first in region tournament.

Road to Elite Eight: Beat Dublin 8-0, 18-0; beat Dade County 15-5, 5-2.

Head coach: Brad Thompson (250-110).

Opponent: Heard County (20-10).

Winner gets: Social Circle or Harlem.

Scouting Report: Senior designated hitter Jasmin Johnson is hitting .415 with four home runs and junior outfielder Destiny McRae is a returning all-state and All-Middle Georgia pick. The Indians can hit, with everybody batting at least .339. Pitchers Jessie Morris and Becca Lawrence have 257 strikeouts in 179-2/3 innings, with only 27 walks. Lawrence also adds a .417 average and .607 on-base percentage. Junior Jolie Bush has an astounding 13 home runs and 51 RBI to go with a .470 average. There are clear reasons for the 31 wins.

CLASS A PRIVATE

TATTNALL SQUARE TROJANS

2015 record: 26-6, 7-1 in Region 7A-A, No. 4 in Class A private power rating.

Road to Elite Eight: Beat Athens Christian 4-3, 13-5.

Head coach: Joey Hiller (326-125).

Opponent: FPD (22-6).

Winner gets: Brookstone or Calvary Day.

Scouting report: Third baseman Allie Gordon is batting .425 with six home runs, seven triples (program record), 36 RBI and 34 runs scored. Jordan Allen is batting .385 with seven RBI and 26 runs scored and holds the Trojans' career stolen base record. Senior pitcher Caroline Gilbert is 18-3 with a 1.56 ERA and 81 strikeouts in 129-2/3 innings pitched. The team hit 25 home runs this season, setting a single-season program record.

FPD VIKINGS

2015 record: 22-6, 6-2 in Region 7A-A, No. 5 in Class A private power rating.

Road to Elite Eight: Beat Excel Christian 10-1, 5-1.

Head coach: Jim Turner (253-103).

Opponent: Tattnall Square (21-10).

Winner gets: Brookstone or Calvary Day.

Scouting report: Seven players in the FPD batting order are batting.300 or better, led by shortstop Jill Rogers at .588 with 30 RBI. Catcher Allie Parkerson has six home runs. Peyton Worsham and Carli Sutton split pitching duties, with both posting 2.38 ERAs and combining for 164 strikeouts. The Vikings posted their third straight 20-win season.

STRATFORD EAGLES

2015 record: 20-6, 5-3 in Region 7A-A, No. 6 in Class A private power rating.

Road to Elite Eight: Beat George Walton 2-0, 10-2.

Head coach: Jeff Treadway (250-129).

Opponent: Prince Avenue Christian (19-7).

Winner gets: Christian Heritage or Eagle's Landing Christian.

Scouting report: Hannah Griffin averages .480 with 34 runs scored and 36 hits, while Alyssa Orona is batting .435 with four home runs and 30 RBI. Mary Wilson Avant, who will sign with Georgia on Nov. 11, is batting .397 with six home runs, 21 RBI and is the team's top pitcher. Sophomore Tori Dover is batting .395 with three home runs, eight doubles, 26 RBI and is the team's No. 2 pitcher.

CLASS A PUBLIC

GMC BULLDOGS

2015 record: 23-6, 9-0 in Region 7A, No. 2 in Class A public power rating.

Road to Elite Eight: Beat Johnson County 5-2, 8-0.

Head coach: Julie Brooker (105-24)

Opponent: Echols County (21-5)

Winner gets: Wilcox County or Telfair County.

Scouting Report: This a veteran team that had expectations to be where it is. And there is talent, with Kaylie and Karlie Harding to sign with Georgia and Sutton Long with Georgia College. GMC is in its fourth Elite Eight, thanks to that experience, power (Karlie Harding has eight home runs), and four starters batting .350 or better. Sarah Margaret Mason is 16-3 with a 1.73 ERA. The staff has pitched shutouts in 13 of the past 17 games. GMC won the title in four straight games last year, outscoring opponents 45-2.

WILCOX COUNTY PATRIOTS

2015 record: 26-3, 15-1 in Region 2-A, No. 3 in Class A public power rating.

Road to Elite Eight: Beat Hawkinsville 8-0, 11-5.

Head coach: Stephen McDuffie (52-12)

Opponent: Telfair County (23-6)

Winner gets: Echols County or GMC.

Scouting Report: The Patriots' return is of little surprise, since they returned all the key players from the 2014 runner-up team. That includes C Haley Howell (.409, three home runs, 28 RBI), SS Montana Ellis (.392, two home runs) and 1B Oakleigh Reeves (.459, three home runs, 32 RBI). Wilcox County is on an eight-game winning streak, and the pitching staff -- led by Laura Lee Keene (11-1, 4 saves) -- has allowed only nine runs in that span, including four shutouts. The ERAs for Keene, Kaylyn Shoemaker and Autumn Tripp are .84, 1.90 and 1.64.

TELFAIR COUNTY TROJANS

2015 record: 23-6, 13-3 in Region 2-A, No. 6 in Class A public power rating.

Road to Elite Eight: Beat Mt. Zion 9-1, 14-0.

Head coach: Chris Ellis (131-50)

Opponent: Wilcox County (26-3).

Winner gets: Echols County or GMC.

Scouting Report: The Trojans know the territory well, reaching the Final Four last year. But they're young, starting two senior position players to go with four sophomores, two juniors and a freshman. They're a small-ball team, led by India Wells' 31 steals (and .476 average), and aggressive (74 strikeouts to 49 walks). Ashley Holland and Abby Clements are also above .400. There is balance in the circle, led by Haley White (11-2). Defense can be an issue: the Trojans have committed 12 errors in their three most recent losses, not a good omen heading to Columbus and with top-notching competition waiting.

-- Michael A. Lough and Ron Seibel

This story was originally published October 28, 2015 at 10:51 PM with the headline "Middle Georgia GHSA Elite Eight Capsules ."