The 2018 baseball season begins to heat up this week with games scheduled every day (weather permitting), including a slew of interesting doubleheader scenarios on Saturday across the area and state.
Gainesville opens its final season under Jeremy Kemp this week with a doubleheader on Thursday in Dublin and then three games in two days in the Battle at the Beach in Brunswick.
There are no region games as yet as most regions will not start the quest for the playoffs until March. But there are some outstanding non-region battles on tap this week.
Perhaps the most intriguing matchup of the week sees Forsyth Central travel to North Hall for a 5:30 p.m. first pitch on Thursday. The Trojans are expected to pitch senior Georgia Tech-signee Reese Olson while the Bulldogs are expected to throw Ethan Hankins, the No. 1 pitching prospect in the nation, according to several baseball publications.
Check below for the schedue of this week's baseball games involving northeast Georgia area teams.
BASEBALL SCHEDULE FOR WEEK OF FEB. 19-24
(First pitch times are 5:55 p.m. unless otherwise noted.)
(Games listed by time and in alphabetical order by visiting team.)
Monday, Feb. 19
Lamar County at Riverside Military, 5 p.m.
Rabun County at Athens Academy, 5:30 p.m.
Apalachee at Johnson
Athens Christian at Jackson County
Banks County at East Jackson
West Hall at Berkmar
Tuesday, Feb. 20
Riverside Military at Lakeview Academy, 4:30 p.m.
George Walton at North Hall, 5:30 p.m.
East Hall at West Hall
Jackson County at Habersham Central
Lumpkin County at Chestatee
Riverwood at Dawson County
Wednesday, Feb. 21
White County at Lakeview Academy, 4:30 p.m.
Commerce vs. Claxton%, 5:30 p.m.
Elbert County at Stephens County, 5:30 p.m.
Berkmar at West Hall
Brookwood at Buford
Clarke Central at Banks County
East Jackson at Johnson
Lanier at Flowery Branch
Thursday, Feb. 22
Commerce vs. Groves%, 3:45 p.m.
Gainesville at West Laurens (DH), 4 p.m.
Forsyth Central at North Hall, 5:30 p.m.
Gilmer at Fannin County
Jefferson vs North Oconee*
North Forsyth at Dawson County
Friday, Feb. 23
Jefferson vs Tattnall Square*, 4 p.m.
Clarke Central at Lakeview Academy, 4:30 p.m.
East Hall at Calhoun (DH), 5 p.m.
Gainesville vs. Lassiter&, 5 p.m.
Riverside Military at Chestatee, 5 p.m.
Stephens County at Elbert County, 5:30 p.m.
Alpharetta at Dawson County
Saturday, Feb. 24
(Listed by start time)
Banks County at Habersham Central, 11 a.m.
Collins Hill at Buford, noon
Commerce vs. Bryan County at Richmond Hill (DH), noon
Fannin County at Flowery Branch (DH), noon
Jackson County vs. Mountain View#, noon
North Hall at South Forsyth (DH), 12:30 p.m.
Alcovy at Chestatee (DH), 1 p.m.
East Jackson at Discovery, 1 p.m.
Gainesville vs. Locust Grove&, 1 p.m.
Lumpkin County vs. White County at Gilmer, 1 p.m.
Banks County vs. Stephens County (at Habersham), 2 p.m.
White County at Gilmer, 2 p.m.
Jackson County vs. Archer#, 3 p.m.
East Jackson vs. Berkmar (at Discovery), 3:30 p.m.
Lumpkin County at Gilmer, 3:30 p.m.
Gainesville vs. Brunswick&, 4 p.m.
Jefferson vs Athens Christian*, 4 p.m.
Rabun County vs. Thomasville (at Rockmart), 4 p.m.
Stephens County at Habersham Central, 5 p.m.
White County vs. Lumpkin County (at Gilmer), 5 p.m.
Parkview at Buford, 6 p.m.
Rabun County at Rockmart, 7 p.m.
# -- Cure for Cancer Invitational at Mountain View HS
* -- Athens Christian Tournament at Athens Christian
& -- Battle at the Beach, Glynn Academy HS
% -- Hilton Head. S.C.
