ATHENS, Ga. — Georgia baseball couldn’t repeat history.
The last time the Bulldogs made the World Series was after defeating N.C. State in 2008. This year, the Wolfpack took down Georgia two games to one. The Bulldogs must wait a little longer before breaking the 16-year streak.
It’s no doubt disappointing for the Bulldog faithful that packed Foley Field and Kudzu Hill this past weekend. Georgia still had its best season since 2008 and arguably its best player — Charlie Condon — since ever.
And yet, following an 8-5 loss on Monday, the Bulldogs’ season ends far sooner than many fans and players had hoped.
There were signs that this team may not last forever in post-season tournaments.
Whether it was tight wins over teams like Army or Georgia Tech, the first-round loss to LSU in the SEC tournament or, most recently, the 18-1 loss against N.C. State in the first round of the regionals, the team showed some weak spots during the course of the season.
Still, the Bulldogs offense was incredible all year and had no problem dropping double-digit runs in a game. Their 11-2 win over the Wolfpack on Sunday perfectly demonstrated this.
“You’ve just got a bunch of guys who go together and started believing in themselves and believing in each other,” head coach Wes Johnson said after the game three loss. “...If you can get the right group together and get them to believe in themselves, play with confidence, and go out there and take the training we put them through daily, you have a chance. What this group of men did was something I’ll never forget.”
Condon, who’s up for several awards, including the Golden Spikes and Dick Hauser trophy — given to the best players in college baseball — was spectacular this season. He led all of college baseball with his .433 batting average and 37 home runs, the latter setting an NCAA record. His hits and on-base percentage placed him firmly in third place in all of college baseball.
His teammate, Corey Collins, led all of college baseball in on-base percentage with a .574. He added his .354 batting average and 20 extra home runs, as both were second on the team.
Other players, including Slate Alford and Kolby Branch each hit 17 home runs, while graduate Dylan Goldstein and freshman Tre Phelps hit 12.
This team effort placed the Bulldogs second in all of college baseball in home runs, as they led all of college baseball for the early part of the 2024 season.
“It’s a melting pot of emotions right now,” Condon said after the 8-5 loss. “I’m proud of this group and proud of what we were able to accomplish. I’m really thankful to have been a part of it.”
Johnson brought in transfers like Alford, Branch and Goldstein and retained so many others that could’ve left to greener pastures, like current UNC infielder Parks Harber did. The players he did retain, like Condon, Collins and catcher Fernando Gonzalez, had career highs, while the transfers made major impacts and improvements to a subpar 2023 team.
He also maneuvered around several injuries in the pitching rotation. Season-opening starter Charlie Goldstein went down early in the year and never fully recovered. Despite losing his best pitcher, he pivoted to sophomores Leighton Finley, Kolten Smith and Zach Harris and found in-season success.
He utilized Penn graduate transfer Brian Zeldin as a key reliever and closer in key situations. He rotated so many pitchers during the season, but it kept the Bulldogs afloat when the team’s bullpen was never a team strength.
Previous head coach Scott Stricklin never even made the Super Regional, let alone was a game away from the World Series in the 10 years he was Georgia’s head coach. Johnson did that in his first season.
Johnson had help, no doubt. He had the potential No. 1 pick in the 2024 draft and a college baseball record holder batting third. He even admitted there will not be another Condon
“You’re constantly trying to… I’ve said this, you won’t ever find another Charlie Condon, at least in my time, in my coaching career,” Johnson said. “There will be another one (who’ll) come along probably after I’m dead and gone. You’re lucky if you coach a Charlie Condon once every 10 years. You’re extremely lucky.”
His lineup was tremendous, in big part to Collins’ senior season jump — who Johnson didn’t even start until a few weeks into the season.
Yet, the work the first-year head coach did in the portal deserves recognition. Still landing a top freshman in Phelps deserves recognition. His pivoting around young or injured pitchers, deserves recognition.
The season itself was a bit of a Cinderella story for the Bulldogs. Players stood silent on Foley Field after the game on Monday, but many won’t forget the celebration they had together after sweeping the Athens regional. None more sentimental than the Bulldogs’ best player.
“It’s been a long ride since I got here,” Condon said. “I’m just incredibly thankful for this University and this program, my coaches and teammates, everyone who put their time and resources into my development and promoting me the best they could. I wouldn’t be close to who I am without that.”
Johnson and Georgia have work to do to rebuild a largely departing roster. Collins, Gonzalez, Alford and Branch are all eligible for the 2024 seasons and may hear their names called.
Graduates Dylan Goldstein, Charlie Goldstein, Clayton Chadwick, Paul Toetz, Logan Jordan, Christian Mracna, Josh Roberge, Daniel Padysak and Zeldin have all run out of eligibility. Unlike those mentioned earlier, this group can’t even return to college if they wanted to.
The pitching rotation of Finley, Smith and Harris, among several others, return for another season. However, freshmen James Hays, Blake Gillespie and Ethan Sutton have already entered the transfer portal.
Phelps will be the key piece returning in 2025, as the freshman has a chance to take a bigger jump his sophomore year. Other players like Trey King and Lukas Farris could be key players in a year.
“The knowledge of guys like Charlie, Coach Wes, Corey Collins, I tried to take little things from each and every one of them to bring that back to next year’s team and go farther,” Phelps said.
In any case, Georgia’s 2024 season was a spectacular one to watch. While Johnson will have an uphill battle replacing his team next season, it seems he’s up to the challenge to be even better next year.
“I can’t tell these guys to believe in themselves if I can’t believe in myself,” he said. “I’m going to work sun up to sun down to do that. As far as looking at the program’s next step, this game is really hard. We’ve moved in the right direction, but we have to continue to go out and recruit.”