NCAA Baseball Preview: Athens Regional

The 2024 NCAA Baseball Tournament is set and with that comes the Regional matchups. Georgia grinded their way through SEC play and will host the Regional in Athens as the seventh seed overall. They welcome in UNCW, Georgia Tech, and Army. Here’s a brief overview of each team along with a prediction for who will advance to the Super Regionals. 

#1 Georgia Bulldogs

Georgia not only may have the number one pick in the draft this year, but now get to host their first Regional since 2019. Charlie Condon has led this team a 39-15 overall record with a 17-13 record in conference play. They arguably have one of the easier routes to the Supers and will need the home-field advantage to continue a potential route to Omaha.

Players to Watch | Season Stats

Charlie Condon – .443 BA, 1.601 OPS, 93 H, 19 2B, 35 HR, 75 RBI, 50/39 BB/SO, 1.043 SLG

#2 North Carolina Wilmington Seahawks

The CAA champions earned a second seed in the Athens Regional and will look to take down Georgia Tech and most likely Georgia and their star draft prospect. The Seahawks are 39-19 with a 20-7 conference record. They’re hot on a four game win streak and are looking to keep that going into the Regional. They’ve played tough non-conference opponents like Wake Forest, Coastal Carolina, UNC, and ECU and look to use that experience for better results now.

Players to Watch | Season Stats

Tanner Thach – .330 BA, 1.138 OPS, 77 H, 27 HR, 72 RBI, .725 SLG

#3 Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets

The Yellow Jackets have had a good enough year to earn them a bid into the Regional, with their 31-23 overall record. With a 15-15 conference record, they’ll look to make up for some of those losses in the Regional. They’re familiar with Georgia and if they can get past UNCW, they have a chance to make some noise this weekend.

Players to Watch | Season Stats

Drew Burress – .379 BA, 78 H, 23 HR, 65 RBI, .801 SLG, .506 OBP, 52/34 BB/SO, 8 SB

Cam Jones – .325 BA, 68 H, 34 RBI, 28 SB

#4 Army Black Knights

Army comes into the Regional with a 31-21 record and 16-8 record in conference play. They’re on a four game win streak, taking the Patriot League championship to secure their spot to Athens. They’ll have a very tough task with the Bulldogs but have nothing to lose at all, and can leave it all on the field. 

Players to Watch | Season Stats

Derek Berg – .301 BA, 1.036 OPS, 58 H, 16 2B, 15 HR 37 RBI, 11 SB

Predicted Winner – #1 Georgia Bulldogs

The threat of Charlie Condon and the Bulldogs offense is going to be too much for any of these teams to keep up. If Georgia Techs’ offense can’t show up, it should be a rather easier Regional for a team like Georgia to win.