Southern Poly: Best Kept Secret in College Baseball in Georgia

Marietta, GA is a huge Baseball town. The renowned East Cobb Baseball Program is located there. A few years ago, USA Baseball considered moving its national headquarters there, but opted for Durham, NC instead. High schools such as Lassiter, Walton and Sprayberry compete year in and year out for State Titles. For those of you that remember, Marietta is home to the 1983 E. Marietta Little Leaguers who won the 1983 Little League World Series.

But while Georgia and Georgia Tech get all the ink and talk about Atlanta area College Baseball, one smaller school has been doing just as well, and is getting the attention of Major League Baseball scouts. That school is Southern Polytechnic State University in Marietta.

This past Spring, the Hornets made it to the NAIA World Series, winning 2 of 3 games before being eliminated in their fourth game by Oklahoma City. I have seen this team in person two years ago. Actually, I filmed two of their games against my Alma Matre's Baseball Program, Bryan College (the Hornets won both games).

About a week ago, two hornet Pitchers were drafted by Major League clubs. Sr. Right handed Pitcher Sean Teague, out of riverside, CA, was drafted in the 25th Round by the Florida Marlins, and Mark Doll, another Sr. Right handed Pitcher from Forsyth, GA, was drafted in the 29th Round by the Philadelphia Phillies.

Teague ended his career at Southern Poly with a 13-4 record with 5 saves, and was named the 2009 Southern States Athletic Conference (SSAC) Pitcher of the Year. Mark Doll finished his career as won of the best pitchers in the history of Southern Poly Baseball. He went 21-3 in 158 innings of work. One other player on the Southern Poly team, Sr. Pitcher Dustin Carder from Blue Ridge, GA, signed a Free Agent contract with the Baltimore Orioles.

This school has had several players drafted by MLB clubs in the past two decades, including current Head Coach Matt Griffin. Griffin was a Shortstop for the Hornets and was drafted by the Chicago Cubs in 1998.

The Hornets are poised to win an NAIA National Championship sooner than later, if they haven't won one already. They may be the third best College Baseball Program in Georgia.