Houston County Prepares for Return to State Championship

The 33-5 Houston County Bears will advance to the GHSA AAAAA Baseball State Championship after the Bears swept Loganville Tuesday night in the Final Four

WARNER ROBINS, Georgia – (41NBC/WMGT) – The Houston County Bears are headed back to the GHSA AAAAA state championship series, boasting an impressive 33-5 record and riding the momentum of a 15-game winning streak.

The Bears are aiming to secure their fifth state title in program history and need just two more wins to complete the job. This year’s squad has showcased a different style of play, shifting from a traditionally power-heavy offense to a more balanced approach built on speed, small ball, and timely execution.

“We’ve had our ups and downs in the past, but this group has really adapted,” Bears head coach Matt Hopkins said. “They’ve embraced what it takes to win.”

That’s not to say the Bears have lacked power this season. In fact, Houston County has matched its home run totals from both 2021 and 2023, with over 20 long balls launched this year. But it’s been the speed that has truly separated them.

Senior Kendall Jackson is closing in on the program’s single-season stolen base record, having already swiped more than 60 bags. Defensively and on the mound, the Bears are equally strong, with senior leadership anchoring the infield and a pitching staff consistently racking up strikeouts.

Ranked No. 1 in Class 5-A, Houston County enters the championship series as the favorite. Their opponent, however, is just as formidable.

The Newnan Cougars, ranked third in the AAAAA, bring a 30-5 record into the finals and are currently on a scorching 24-game win streak, having won 27 of their last 28 games. They haven’t lost since February.

While the Cougars are red-hot, there’s a key difference in experience between the two programs. Newnan hasn’t appeared in a state championship series since 1991. Houston County, by contrast, is familiar with the big stage.

Coach Hopkins believes belief has been the difference-maker this season.

“That’s the common denominator we’ve seen from all of our state championship teams — when those guys get confident, not arrogant, but truly confident and trusting each other,” he said. “They’ve grown over the season, and this group just has that ‘it’ factor. I saw it early in the year, and it’s been growing ever since.”

Hopkins also emphasized team chemistry and preparation as keys to their success.

“We don’t ask any one guy to do it all. We’ve told them all year: we play a tough schedule so we’re ready for these moments,” he said. “Now it’s about trusting each other and doing your job. If we do that, we’ll be fine.”

Senior outfielder Vick Gann echoed that sentiment, reflecting on his journey through the program.

“I remember watching these guys when I was in eighth grade — it’s always been competitive,” Gann said. “It means a lot that it’s my senior year. We’ve worked hard to get here, and we’ve got the confidence and the chemistry to win it all.”

Gann added that the team’s experience could be a decisive edge.

“They’ve never been here before. We have,” he said. “We’re focused, we’re confident, and we’ve got what it takes to finish this thing.”

The state championship series is set to begin Monday at CoolRay Field in Lawrencevile, as Houston County looks to add their fifth trophy all-time, and in the last 11 seasons, to its growing legacy.