College baseball is right around the corner, and when the first pitches of the 2026 season are thrown, Mary Persons will once again have its fingerprints across college diamonds.

From freshmen just getting their first taste of college ball to veterans settling into familiar roles, the Bulldogs’ pipeline to the next level remains strong — and spread across the state and beyond.

Gavin Barr is beginning that journey as a freshman at Emmanuel University in Franklin Springs. Barr and the Lions will open their season Friday on the road at Lee University in Tennessee, marking the first official step of his collegiate career after his time in Forsyth.

Another freshman set to debut this weekend is Tristan Hunt, who has landed at Thomas University in Thomasville. Hunt and the Night Hawks will open their season Friday on the road in Florida against Webber International, giving the former Bulldog an early test away from home. 

Ryan Causey enters year two at Oglethorpe University, already carrying some experience with him. Causey hit .269 as a freshman for the Stormy Petrels, carving out a steady role in the lineup. Oglethorpe opens its season at home on Friday, February 20, against the College of Wooster, as Causey looks to build on a solid debut season.

Ian Lewis and Brycen Horne will feel right at home together again. The former Bulldogs are now teammates at Gordon State College in Barnesville, continuing a connection that began at Mary Persons. The Highlanders open their season today at home against Cleveland State before hosting Fayetteville Technical College in a Friday doubleheader.

Jake Grant has already set the tone for his season. Pitching for the Andrew College Fighting Tigers, Grant opened against a strong Tallahassee State lineup and delivered four impressive innings, allowing just one earned run while striking out five.

Cole Carr is starting his freshman season on the mound at East Georgia State in Swainsboro. The Bobcats open at home Friday against USC Lancaster, giving Carr his first opportunity to compete at the college level.

Another familiar name, Brady Christman, a 2025 Mary Persons graduate, will begin his collegiate career at Georgia Southern. The Eagles open the season February 13 at home against West Virginia.

And while his roots are just down the road, Forsyth native Lawson Cole — a Stratford graduate — enters his junior season at Mercer. The Bears open February 13 at home against Troy University, continuing a college journey that still carries local pride.

Different campuses, same foundation — and plenty of Mary Persons ties as another season begins.