We recently named our Spring Sports Teams of the Year for 2024. Of those, several with additional soccer teams were added to the BLITZ Hall of Fame (Teams). HALL OF FAME TEAMS

BASEBALL

2024 TALLULAH FALLS INDIANS

Coach: Justin Pollock
Record: 27-12
Accomplishments: 1A DI State Runner-Up, Region 8-A DI Runner-Up, #2 State Ranking

The team of destiny…Tallulah Falls honored former player Jeremy Medina, who died tragically. They wore ‘4 Jeremy’ shirts under their jerseys every game, and passed the #4 jersey from player to player throughout. Fueled by honoring him and his family, the Indians knew they were going to have the best year in school history. But no one could have predicted this run. The offense was lethal, averaging nearly 8 runs per game (294 total), and the pitching allowed just 168 runs (just a tad over 4 per game). Region POY and JR OF Danny Grant (.424-2-32) anchored an offense that included SO IF Ashton Roache (.274-7-23), star SR catcher Caden Walker (.327-2-32), clutch-hitting JR OF BJ Carver (.352-1-15), and several others. Cole Bonitatibus (8-2, 1.26 ERA, 105 K, 3 Saves), Chase Pollock (7-3, 1.95 ERA, 74 K, 2 Saves), and Andrew Skvarka (5-2, 3.28 ERA, 41 K, 2 Saves) were a 3-speared rotation that dominated. Handfuls of team and individual records were set, including the team gathering 9 wins over top-10 ranked teams. Overall, TFS went 27-12 with a pair of 6-game win streaks, earned a #2 state ranking, Region Runner-Up finish, and State Runner-Up finish. The Indians made quick work of Oglethorpe County in the first round of state, then hit the road and used a walkoff hit by Carver in game two at #4-ranked Pepperell to force and win game three. A sweep of #8-ranked Swainsboro at home in the Elite 8 included a 4-run comeback in game two. Beating #2-ranked King’s Ridge on the road in two straight, including a 6-run comeback in game one and a 7-run first to open game two got TFS into the title series against Prince Avenue Christian. After leading by 2 heading into the final inning of game one, the Indians saw Prince Ave storm back to win in extras, then clinch in game 2. Regardless, this team is one of the best we’ve ever seen.

GIRLS SOCCER

2024 JEFFERSON LADY DRAGONS

Coach: Molly McCarty
Record: 18-1-1
Accomplishments: 5A State Final 4, Region 8-AAAAA Champions, #1 State Ranking, #7 National Ranking

The Lady Dragons were absolutely dominating, outscoring opponents 95-5, going 18-1-1, losing only once in the Final 4 in PKs to GAC, the eventual state champions. Jefferson won the region title and held a #1 ranking in Class 5A all season, and even peaked at #7 in national polls. Several key playmakers got it done for coach Molly McCarty, including SO Gabby Garnett (23 G, 28 A), the Offensive POY for the region. Overall Region POY and freshman Samme Suppes (30 G, 4 A), Region GK of the Year JR Ella Sellers (16 Shutouts), SO Khloe Robertson, SR Kate James (3 G, 8 A), SO Ava Rodriguez, and many others were critical to the success. 16 shutouts for this group, who gave up hardly any goals. The playoff run included wins over Tri-Cities, Chattahoochee, and Northgate leading up to the Final 4. This goes down as one of the most dominant girls soccer teams our area has seen.

2024 DAWSON COUNTY LADY TIGERS

Coach: Chess Hamby
Record: 14-5
Accomplishments: 3A State Final 4, #2 State Ranking

The Lady Tigers resided in the ever-tough Region 7-AAA, and went 4-2 against that field. After winning the first 7 games of the season, Dawson took a loss to eventual Region Champs Wesleyan. A PK loss to rivals Lumpkin came a few games later. A pair of wins came after, but then back-to-back non-region losses against nationally-ranked Jefferson and then Creekview helped get the team ready for a massive run in the state tournament. It started with a 4-2 win over Adairsville on the road despite being the 3-seed. Then a home win of 6-1 over Stephens County, followed by an Elite 8 victory of 3-2 over Pike County to advance to the team’s first-ever Final 4. Oconee County, ranked #1 in the state, won 1-0 in the Final 4, and went on to win the State Championship. The young Dawson team was led by SO Harper Dussouy (27 G, 12 A), FR McKinley Adamson (22 G, 7 A), and SO Hayden Hand (9 G, 2 A). Every single goal (all 76 of them) came by underclassmen, with all but one of the 49 assists coming by underclassmen as well. Freshman keeper Lucy Purdum was sensational, and was surrounded by a great wall of defense.

2024 TOWNS COUNTY LADY INDIANS

COACH: Clay Livingston
RECORD: 11-3
ACCOMPLISHMENTS: Class 1A Final 4; #1 State Ranking

The Lady Indians had one of their best seasons in school history, rolling up an 11-3 overall record. Despite finishing 3rd in the region, Towns County, ranked during the season at #1 for a couple of weeks, rolled through the playoffs all the way to the Final 4. In a rematch with Aquinas, the eventual state champs who beat Towns in 2023 in the title game as well, it was a tough 1-0 loss to end the season. Towns had 8 wins in a row prior to that, and had a total goal count of 49-10 with 8 shutouts. Of the many playmakers, Elizabeth Edwards (D), Abby Gardella (23 G, 4 A), Emma Lallement (6 G, 10 A), Drew Livingston (0.6 GAA), and Laura Mauldin (0.6 GAA) stood out among the rest. It marked a fourth straight Final 4 or deeper run for Towns County!

GIRLS TENNIS

WHITE COUNTY LADY WARRIORS

Coach: Chris Dotson
Record: 8-6
Accomplishments: 3A State Final 4; Region 7-AAA 3rd; #4 State Ranking

Talk about a team peaking at the right time. The Lady Warriors were just 8-6 on the season, but won when it counted the most. Navigating a tough Region 7-AAA to get a 3rd seed was the first step. Once there, White County rolled to the Final 4. It took a gritty 3-2 win over Ringgold in the first round, a 3-1 win over Monroe Area in the Sweet 16, and a 3-0 win over Thomasville in the Elite 8. Eventual State Runner-Up Oconee County won 3-0 in the Final 4. JR Aubrey Bolton (10-3 at 2-singles) was 3-0 in the state tourney, and JR Maggie Anglin (6-8 at 1-singles) as well as JRs Maddie Bunch & Mattie Browning (4-8 at 1-doubles) were key to the success. The unlikely Final 4 run netted a #4 state ranking. The Cinderella run by White County is what makes them the Team of the Year.

BOYS TENNIS

LUMPKIN COUNTY INDIANS

Coach: Paul Hoch
Record: 20-5
Accomplishments: Class 3A State Runner-Up; Region 7-AAA Runner-Up; #2 State Ranking

The Indians were just about unbeatable in 2024. Going 20-5 and earning a Region Runner-Up finish meant having a pretty good draw in the State Tournament. The SR/JR brother 1-doubles combo of Will & Jack McKinney went 20-4 on the season, while JR singles standouts Axel Tillery (19-6 at 2-singles) and Bricen Popko (17-5 at 3-singles) did their thing. The result was a run to the Class 3A State Championship match, where Lumpkin fell to Columbus 3-0. The Indians beat Ringgold 3-0, Oconee County 3-2 in the Sweet 16, Savannah Country Day 3-2 in the Elite 8, and rivals Dawson County 4-1 in the Final 4. It was nothing short of the best season in school history and will live on in legend.

GIRLS GOLF

WHITE COUNTY LADY WARRIORS

Coach: Esta Johnson
Accomplishments: 3A State 3rd Place; Area Champions; #3 State Ranking

The Lady Warriors dynasty continues with a state 3rd-place finish as well as an Area Championship, complete with a #3 state ranking. The team is still relatively young, as JR Layne Graham (State 9th), SO Maddie Kate Hall (State 15th), and JR Cameron Kimsey (State 22nd) were among the leaders. BillliKayl Allison (State 16th) and Aubrey Free (State 20th) rounded out the team.