The state playoffs get underway for one spring sport, while the regular season wraps for every other endeavor this week in northeast Georgia.
Tennis named its region champs last week and will commence its state tournament this week, starting on Tuesday -- and baseball, golf, soccer and track and field aren't far behind and will, in fact, wrap the 2015 regular season this week.
That means one busy week in area prep sports.
Champions have already been decided in a number of northeast Georgia-based soccer regions, including the Gainesville girls and boys in 8-AAAAA, the Johnson boys and Buford girls in 8-AAAA and the West Hall boys and Lumpkin County girls in 7-AAA taking honors -- amongst others. Yet this week brings the close of the regular season, including several battles that will determine seeding and final playoff spots.
That is most certainly the case for area baseball. Regions 8-AAAAA and 7-AAA in particulatr feature plenty of intrigue over the final days of the regular season. Gainesville is still battling for a region crown in 8-AAAAA, while Flowery Branch is looking to stay alive in the postseason race -- and the two foes face off on Monday in theri second contest of the season. Meanwhile, Region 7-AAA features some huge showdowns this week, including a faceoff beteween East Hall and Lumpkin County for sole possession of second place on Tuesday in Rabbittown.
This week will also see the conclusion of regular season track and field, with region meets taking place throughout the state -- including in northeast Georgia.
Of course all of this is subject to the moods of Mother Nature, which have been decidedly gray and wet over the past week. Lets hope the rain holds off and we can get things finished in sensible fashion.
AREA SPORTS SCHEDULE, APRIL 20-25
Monday, April 20
BASEBALL:
Fannin County at Banks County
Flowery Branch at Gainesville
Habersham Central at Centennial
Monroe Area at Chestatee
North Forsyth at South Forsyth
North Hall at North Oconee
Providence Christian at Lakeview Academy
Riverside Military at Oglethorpe County (doubleheader)
Stephens County at Buford
Union County at Lumpkin County
West Hall at Dawson County
White County at Johnson
GOLF:
Region 8-AAAAA tournaments at Chateau Elan
Region 8-AAAA girls tournament at Lane Creek Golf Course
SOCCER:
Franklin County at Banks County
Union County boys at Riverside Military
West Hall at Buford
Tuesday, April 21
BASEBALL:
Jefferson at Elbert County
Johns Creek at Habersham Central
Lumpkin County at East Hall
Morgan County at Jackson County
Rabun County at Riverside Military
Stephens County at Hart County
Towns County at Lakeview Academy
SOCCER:
Apalachee at Gainesville
Athens Academy at Chestatee
Coahulla Creek at Buford
Dacula at Johnson
East Hall at Dawson County
Gilmer at Fannin County
Hart County boys at Riverside Military
Lakeview Academy at Hebron Christian
North Hall at Habersham Central
Lumpkin County at Union County
Towns County at Rabun County
TENNIS:
First round state playoff matches
TRACK and FIELD:
Region 8-AAAAA Championships at Loganville
Region 8-AAAA Championships at Monroe Area
Wednesday, April 22
BASEBALL:
Buford at Stephens County
Chestatee at Monroe Area
Dawson County at Fannin County
East Hall at Franklin County
Gainesville at Apalachee
Habersham Central at North Forsyth
Heritage at Flowery Branch
Johnson at White County
Lumpkin County at West Hall
North Oconee at North Hall
Rabun County at Union County
GOLF:
Region 8-AAAA boys tournament at Highland Walk, Royston
SOCCER:
Athens Academy at East Jackson
Chestatee at Franklin County
Jefferson at Monsignor Donovan
Oglethorpe County at Union County
White County at North Hall
TRACK and FIELD:
Region 8-AAA Championships at Jefferson
Region 7-AAA Championships at Dawson County
Region 8-AA Championships at Rabun County
Thursday, April 23
BASEBALL:
Oglethorpe County at Commerce
TRACK and FIELD:
Region 8-AAAAA Championships at Loganville
Region 8-AAAA Championships at Monroe Area
Region 7-AAA Championships at Dawson County
Friday, April 24
BASEBALL:
Apalachee at Gainesville
Banks County at West Hall
Dawson County at Lumpkin County
Elbert County at Flowery Branch
Flowery Branch at Heritage
Franklin County at Fannin County
Lakeview Academy at Towns County
Lambert at Habersham Central
North Forsyth at Johns Creek
TRACK and FIELD:
Region 8-AAA Championships at Jefferson
Region 8-AA Championships at Rabun County
Saturday, April 25
BASEBALL:
Jackson County at Morgan County
