Houston County outlasts Pope in third-straight postseason clash

In what seems like an annual Georgia high school baseball postseason tradition, the Houston County Bears faced off against the Pope Greyhounds for the third-consecutive season, only this time a new outcome prevailed in favor of the Bears in the Class 5A quarterfinals of the GHSA Baseball state championships. .

Houston County ended Pope’s streak of making it to nine-straight baseball Final Fours, as the Bears swept the Greyhounds in two games on Wednesday night, winning 6-4 in game one and 4-2 in game two advancing the Bears to the semifinals.

The Bears’ victory handed Pope its first loss since the end of February, snapping a 25-game win-streak for the Greyhounds.

Houston County relied on heroics from Logan Eble’s, who had a two-run home run in each victory, along with multiple hits from players. Senior outfielder Kendall Jackson tallied three hits along and senior first basemen Will Allen adding two hits. Seniors Noah Odom and Ethan Buffone each had an RBI in the series.

While Houston County is mainly an upperclassmen-led team, but sophomore Isaiah Galason had a two-run homer in the first game of the series, gaining key playoff experience in a big moment.

Allen also pitched for the Bears in the second game of the series and pitched a complete game for Houston County with three strikeouts.

Senior Max Wilhide pitched for 5 ⅔ innings and allowed just one hit with four strikeouts in game two.

Houston County improved to 31-5 after the victories against Pope (31-5).

For the last two seasons it was Houston County who had their seasons end against Pope, but in 2025 the Bears put a stop to it as they were able to advance to their second final four in three seasons.

After the series victory against Pope, Houston County is two series away from the program’s fifth GHSA Baseball state championship after ending one of the longest Final Four streaks in GHSA baseball postseason history for the Greyhounds.

Houston County will now face Loganville in the semifinals Tuesday at 4:30 p.m. on the road, with a possible game three of the series slotted for 5 p.m. first pitch on the following day.