VALDOSTA –– The Valdosta Wildcats baseball team was well-represented on the GHSA’s All-Region 1-6A teams announced this week.

‘Cats outfielder and Mercer commit Colby Thomas was named Region 1-6A Player of the Year. Thomas led the ‘Cats in home runs (13), RBIs (45) and batting average (.416) while drawing 28 walks and stealing 17 bases in 31 games.

Thomas, as well as ‘Cats third baseman Jude Ard, short stop Cory McCann, outfielder Justin Rome and utility player Avery Stephens each were named to the All-Region First Team.

Ard finished third on the team in batting average (.406), but led the ‘Cats with 41 hits while collecting 30 RBIs. McCann scored a team-best 43 runs this season and finished second on the team with 40 hits while leading the team with 31 singles. McCann also led the team in stolen bases with 22 while hitting .385 on the season. Stephens hit .277 with 22 RBIs and drew 18 walks with three home runs this season.

Houston County’s Corbit Luna, Coffee’s Logan Dale, Lee County’s Logan Goff, Houston County’s Cameron Jones, Lee County’s Seth Nelson, Houston’s County’s Jacob Profit, Lee County’s Chase Somers and Houston County’s Coleman Willis round out the All-Region 1-6A First Team.

Stephens also garnered a First Team selection as a pitcher, followed by Lee County’s Matt Cooper, Coffee’s Wes Lott and Houston County’s Jaden Woods. Lott was also named the Region 1-6A Pitcher of the Year.

The ace of the ‘Cats staff, Stephens went 7-3 in 13 starts with a 1.53 ERA to go along with 86 strikeouts and just 21 walks issued.

Designated hitter Elijah Guilliams headlines the All-Region Second Team, followed by first baseman Lamonte Lindon and outfielder Jackson McMillan. Coffee’s Lake Ables, Brady Courson, Marshall Harper and Brady Skipper all made the All-Region Second Team along with Houston County’s Chandler Dawson and Northside’s Javier Rodriguez.

Guilliams hit .338 this season with 27 hits, three home runs. and 23 RBIs in 29 games. Lindon batted .320 with 32 hits and 15 RBIs and scored 22 runs while McMillan hit .297 with 10 RBIs and 13 runs scored.

As pitchers, Ard, Guilliams and Scarborough also made the list of Region 1-6A Honorable Mention players. Lee County’s Jacob Barwick, Hill Corley, Logan Goff, Spencer Hanson along with Houston County’s Dylan Tabor and Jaden Woods round out the list.

Ard went 6-3 with 69 strikeouts with 38 walks in 51 innings pitched. Guilliams went 3-1 with a 2.73 ERA with 24 strikeouts this season while Scarborough finished with a 4-0 record with a team-best 1.46 ERA to go along with 24 strikeouts and 12 hits.