Big week ahead for spring sports as regular seasons come to end

Over the coming days, we will experience our final week of the regular season for spring sports, as baseball and soccer wrap an exciting 2013.

Elsewhere, tennis, track and golf are all in playoff mode this week, as region golf tournaments get underway and state tennis and track competition does the same.

After a busy week last week, a number of northeast Georgia tennis teams face key first round state matches this week, including a number of programs such as Buford, Chestatee and North Hall that are ending long postseason droughts.

Meanwhile, track area boys and girls athletes will look to book their places at their respective state meets this weekend in sectional meets. The top eight performers in each sectional event advance to state -- with the boys aiming for a spot in Jefferson, May 2-4, and the girls gunning for Albany, May 9-11.

Golf programs are also shooting for state this week, as region tournaments get underway. Region 7-AAA will take to the course at Mossy Creek on Wednesday, while Region 8-AAAAA's meet will take place at Chattahoochee Golf Club on Thursday. The Gainesville boys are looking to keep their season-long winning streak intact and will want to be at their best, as they begin the postseason march to defend last year's state title -- even if it is in a different classification (the Red Elephants moved from Class AAA to AAAAA in the offseason).

And that's just part of a packed week. On the diamond, Gainesville and North Hall will look to wrap up their respective region titles and are very close to doing so. The Red Elephants open the week with a home match-up with Apalachee, while the Trojans travel to take on White County, knowing a victory in Cleveland would seal the 7-AAA crown.

Also this week, the muddle that is the Region 7-AAA boys race will play itself into shape. North Hall, West Hall and Dawson County are all tied for first place with one league loss, while East Hall is just behind with two defeats. Dawson County faces the toughest road to the top, taking on North Hall and Buford during the week. East Hall is done with region play, while West Hall faces a 4-11-1 Banks County.

The girls' half of 7-AAA is not as complicated but contains plenty of intrigue. Dawson County and Buford will face off for essentially the region title on Monday, while North Hall and West Hall are in a race for the final playoff spot. White County is already in but can finish no better than third.

It will be, yet another, season-defining week. And we can't wait to get it started.

AREA PREP SPORTS SCHEDULE, April 22-27

Monday, April 22
BASEBALL:
Buford at West Hall
Chestatee at Lanier
East Hall at Banks County
Gainesville at Apalachee
Hart County at Jackson County
Heritage at Flowery Branch
Johnson at Chestatee
Lumpkin County at Eastside
North Hall at White County
Rabun County at Hayesville, N.C.
Riverside at Lakeview
Stephens County at Monroe Area
Towns County at Prince Avenue

SOCCER:
Buford at Dawson County


Tuesday, April 23
BASEBALL:
Commerce at Providence
Lakeview at George Walton
Towns County at Prince Avenue

SOCCER:
Clarke Central at Chestatee
Flowery Branch at Cedar Shoals
Johnson at Riverside
Mountain View at East Hall
White County at Gainesville


Wednesday, April 24
BASEBALL:
Apalachee at Gainesville
Banks County at North Hall
Chestatee at Eastside
Commerce at Jefferson
Dawson County at East Hall
Fannin County at West Hall
Flowery Branch at Heritage
Jackson County at Hart County
Madison County at Stephens County
Monroe Area at Lumpkin County
Smokey Mountain, N.C. at Rabun County
White County at Buford

GOLF:
Region 7-AAA tournament at Mossy Creek

SOCCER:
Dawson County at North Hall


Thursday, April 25
BASEBALL:
Commerce at George Walton
Union County at Murphy, N.C.

GOLF:
Region 8-AAAAA tournament at Chattahoochee Golf Club

TENNIS:
First round of state complete


Friday, April 26
BASEBALL:
Banks County at Fannin County
Buford at Dawson County
Eastside at Chestatee
Gainesville at Berkmar
Lumpkin County at Monroe Area
North Hall at East Hall
Peachtree Ridge at Habersham Central
Rabun County at Johnson
Stephens County at Madison County
Towns County at Lakeview
West Hall at White County


Saturday, April 27
TRACK:
Class AA sectionals at Greater Atlanta Christian
Class AAA sectionals at Southeast Bulloch
Class AAAA sectionals at Carrollton
Class AAAAA sectionals at Greenbrier