Daily Dive: Allatoona's Keith Hansen becomes third Cobb coach to reach 500-win milestone this season

Allatoona head baseball coach Keith Hansen became the third Cobb County coach this season to reach the 500-win milestonejoining his brother George Hansen of Kennesaw Mountain and Shane Amos of Walton. In an interview with the Marietta Daily Journal, Keith Hansen credited former Wheeler head coach Dave McDonald, former Osborne and Kell coach Donnie English and the late Harvey Cochranwho coached both of the Hansen brothers while they were playing at North Cobb.

They set the table for every other coach, said Keith Hansen, who has a record of 500-189, including 386 wins at Allatoona, which he has guided since the programs inaugural 2009 season. We are just carrying on the tradition.

At Allatoona, coach Hansen saw his team finish 9-16 during the first season. That roster was made up almost entirely of freshman. In the years since and over the course of his tenure at both Allatoona and Alexander, Hansens teams have won nine region championships and reached the playoffs in 18 of 22 years. His teams have made five state semifinals and two runner-up finishes in 2018 and 2022.

Milestones are great, but the kids make memories they will keep for the rest of their lives, said Hansen. I dont remember the wins and losses as much as the players who come back. I love coaching. I love teaching the kids baseball and life skills they can use once they go on to do bigger and better things. As long as Im wanted. Ill be here.

Waltons Shane Amos reached his 500-win milestone in his 25th season with the Raiders. Walton is currently ranked No. 2 in the Class 6A state rankings. The Raiders are 12-3 overall this season and 6-1 in Region 5. After sweeping North Cobb and North Paulding to start the region with a 6-0 record, Cherokee served Walton a 4-3 victory on Tuesday to snap their six-game win-streak. Now, Walton will take on Cherokee at home Friday night in a double-header.

Allatoona has improved to 10-3 this season with a 3-1 record in Region 7 Class 4A. The Bucs climbed in the poll last week in to the top 5 and picked up a 5-2 road win over Cedartown on Tuesday. Now, the Bucs will host Cedartown for a region double-header on Friday.

As talented as Walton and Allatoona have been this season, Kennesaw Mountain is continuing to stack up wins this season under George Hansen. The Mustangs are 11-3 overall and 2-0 in Region 5-5A. Kennesaw Mountain will travel to Rome on Friday before hosting the Wolves on Monday.