Shorter’s baseball team will get a real hot hand after they signed up a new talent to continue their education in the area today.

Jay O’Neal will be heading onward and upward to the collegiate level, set to play in Division II with the Hawks in the Conference Carolinas next spring.

The Class of 2025 Bulldogs grad just wrapped up his final high school season before moving into the next level. He was celebrated alongside family, friends, teammates and coaches during a ceremony this afternoon in Cedartown High’s library.

Cedartown wrapped up the 2025 campaign after making it to the first round of the Class 4A playoffs, but fell to Blessed Trinity in two games on the road.

They went 15-18 overall on the year.

O’Neal has a real shot to grow with Shorter and move his pitching talents to the next level. Prep Baseball he commands a fastball upward of 87 mph, and consistently throws in the mid-70s with the curveball. He spent the season bouncing back after undergoing Tommy Johns surgery.

He played with the East Cobb Astros travel team in the off-season during his time with the Dawgs on the baseball diamond as well.

Photos contributed by Gail Conner and Randell Brazier.