Just when it looked like things might be taking total shape in the area baseball standings, a wild week, especially in Regions 8-AAAAA and 8-AAA, has set the stage for what could be an exciting finish to the regular season.
In Region 8-AAAAA, Gainesville and Winder-Barrow split and appeared to open the door for Loganville to grab the region title. But the Red Devils were stunned by Heritage, Conyers leaving the Red Elephants, Bulldoggs, and Loganville all tied atop the region standings with five games left. To make things more interesting, Loganville and Winder-Barrow will begin a crucial home-and-home series on Wednesday in Loganville.
Gainesville is hoping for those teams to split, which would open the door for the Red Elephants to win out for the region title. And, Lanier, courtesy of a seven-game region winning streak, has climbed into fourth place but will take on Gainesville in a two-game series beginning Wednesday in Sugar Hill.
In Region 8-AAA, Elbert County was poised to run away with the region but a four-game losing streak, coupled with Jefferson winning five of its last six games, has put the Dragons atop the region standings by 1 1/2 games. Those two teams will meet next week in a three-game series to close out the regular season. Meanwhile, Hart County leapfrogged Jackson County into third place and the Panthers and Morgan County are now tied for fourth. Hart County and Morgan County begin a three-game series this week.
In Region 7-AAA, Franklin County already has wrapped up the region crown but West Hall, Dawson County, and Lumpkin County are all separated by just one game for second place. West Hall and Lumpkin County open a three-game series in Oakwood on Tuesday while the Tigers take on Fannin County. The Rebels are three games back of second place Dawson County but could get back in the playoff race with a sweep of the Tgers.
Buford retook control of Region 8-AAAA but North Oconee, North Hall, and Madison County are separated by just one game for second place. North Oconee and Madison County complete a two-game series on Monday in Bogart while North Hall goes for the sweep over Chestatee on Monday.
The Trojans have the most intriguing matrchup of the week taking on Cartersville at Turner Field on Friday.
Check below for the complete standings and schedule for this week.
Area prep baseball standings as of April 11...
Region 8-AAAAA
TEAM........................Region...................Overall
Gainesville.................13-2........................16-4
Winder-Barrow........... 13-2........................16-4
Loganville...................13-2........................15-4
Lanier........................11-4....................... 11-10
Heritage, Conyers.......12-5........................15-7
Salem.........................6-9.........................8-12
Flowery Branch..........5-10......................7-13-1
Clarke Central............5-10.........................9-12
Apalachee.................4-13........................4-18
Discovery..................3-13.........................6-16
Cedar Shoals.............0-15........................0-19
Region 8-AAAA
TEAM........................Region...................Overall
Buford........................10-1.........................17-3
North Oconee............. .9-2.........................12-7
North Hall.................. 10-3.........................15-7
Madison County...........9-4..........................18-4
Stephens County..........5-7..........................9-13
Chestatee....................4-7..........................8-13
White County..............3-8...........................8-12
Monroe Area...............2-9...........................7-14
Johnson.....................0-11..........................1-20
Region 7-AAA
TEAM........................Region...................Overall
Franklin County............15-0........................22-0
Dawson County.............7-5.........................13-7
West Hall.....................6-6.........................12-8
Lumpkin County............6-6.........................11-8
Fannin County...............4-8.........................8-11
East Hall.....................4-10.........................9-12
Banks County................3-9.........................6-13
Region 8-AAA
TEAM........................Region...................Overall
Jefferson.....................11-4.......................15-6
Elbert County................8-4.......................15-6
Hart County..................9-6......................12-10
Jackson County............6-6 .................10-10-1
Morgan County..............6-6.....................10-10
Oconee County.............4-8.......................7-12
East Jackson...............1-11.......................4-15
Region 8-AA
TEAM........................Region...................Overall
Union County.................8-1........................12-5
Social Circle..................7-2........................12-6
Rabun County................5-4........................7-13
Riverside Military............5-5........................10-7
Washington-Wilkes........4-5........................4-15
Oglethorpe County..........3-5.......................6-10
Greene County..............0-10.......................1-11
Region 8-A
TEAM........................Region...................Overall
Hebron Christian..........13-0......................21-2
George Walton.............11-0......................17-3
Prince Avenue...............7-5......................13-9
Providence Christian......5-6......................8-13
Commerce....................4-7......................11-8
Athens Christian............4-7......................7-12
Athens Academy...........4-7.......................8-9
Towns County................2-8......................4-16
Lakeview Academy.......1-11......................4-16
Schedule for Week of April 11-16, by regions:
Region 8-AAAAA
Monday, April 11
Lanier at Flowery Branch
Cedar Shoals at Gainesville
Clarke Central at Winder-Barrow
Loganville at Heritage, Conyers
Salem at Apalachee
Wednesday, April 13
Gainesville at Lanier
Winder-Barrow at Loganville
Flowery Branch at Salem
Cedar Shoals at Clarke Central
Heritage, Conyers at Discovery
Friday, April 15
Lanier at Gainesville
Salem at Flowery Branch
Loganville at Winder-Barrow
Clarke Central at Cedar Shoals
Discovery at Heritage, Conyers
Region 8-AAAA
Monday, April 11
Madison County at North Oconee
North Hall at Chestatee
Johnson at Buford
White County at Monroe Area
Wednesday, April 13
Chestatee at Madison County
Buford at White County
North Oconee at Johnson
Monroe Area at Stephens County
Friday, April 15
North Hall vs. Cartersville at Turner Field, 4 p.m.
Madison County at Chestatee
White County at Buford
Johnson at North Oconee
Stephens County at Monroe Area
Region 7-AAA
Tuesday, April 12
Banks County at East Hall
Lumpkin County at West Hall
Dawson County at Fannin County
Friday, April 15
East Hall at Banks County (DH)
West Hall at Lumpkin County (DH)
Fannin County at Dawson County (DH)
Region 8-AAA
Tuesday, April 12
Riverside Military at Jefferson
Oconee County at Elbert County
Jackson County at East Jackson
Morgan County at Hart County
Friday, April 15
Elbert County at Oconee County (DH)
East Jackson at Jackson County (DH)
Hart County at Morgan County (DH)
Region 8-AA
Monday, April 11
Johnson County at Washington-Wilkes
Tuesday, April 12
Union County at Rabun County
Riverside Military at Jefferson
Washington-Wilkes at Oglethorpe County
Greene County at Social Circle
Friday, April 15
Union County at Social Circle (DH)
Oglethorpe County at Riverside Military (DH)
Saturday, April 16
Rabun County at Washington-Wilkes (DH)
Region 8-A
Tuesday, April 12
Commerce at Providence Christian
Athens Academy at Hebron Christian
George Walton at Athens Christian
Wednesday, April 13
Commerce at Lakeview Academy
Prince Avenue at Providence Christian
Thursday, April 14
Lakeview Academy at Commerce
George Walton at Athens Academy
Providence Christian at Prince Avenue
Friday, April 15
Athens Academy at George Walton
