The South Effingham Mustangs baseball team’s climb into the Class AAA semifinals has led them to top-5 ranking.

In the final Georgia Dugout Club coaches poll, coaches from across the state have ranked the Mustangs fifth in Class AAA. State champ Dunwoody was No. 1, followed by runner-up Columbus, which knocked the Mustangs off in the semis.

“We would have liked to have been ranked number one,” Mustangs coach Tony Kirkland said. “I’m pretty pleased with that, there’s no doubt about it.”

Carrollton was ranked No. 3 and Troup County was fourth. South Effingham beat Carrollton 5-0 early in the season. Dunwoody beat Carrollton in the semis and beat Troup County in the quarterfinals.

South Effingham lost to Dunwoody in the regular season. The Mustangs were ranked as high as fifth in the regular season before they fell out of the poll after a 5-6 start.

Henry County, ranked among the top three much of the season and led by Atlanta Braves first-round draft pick Jason Heyward, finished ninth in the final poll.

Class AAA, Top 10
1. Dunwoody, 34-4
2. Columbus, 24-7
3. Carrollton, 24-12
4. Troup County, 24-11
5. South Effingham, 21-12
6. Peach County, 16-4
7. Blessed Trinity, 21-10
8. Riverwood, 26-8
9. Henry County, 22-4
10. Cartersville, 26-4