We are fast closing in on the nittiest of the gritty. In other words, if you are still playing high school sports at this point of the season, you are very, very good.
Northeast Georgia is lucky enough to have five teams competing this week, as three baseball and two soccer teams take another step toward the ultimate goal of a state title.
The Gainesville, North Hall and Stephens County baseball teams will each compete in their respective state quarterfinals this week, while the East Hall boys and Buford girls do battle in the state semifinals -- and hopefully beyond.
The Vikings have already made history by knocking off Pierce County on Saturday and moving in to the Class AAA "Final Four." East Hall will take on defending Class AAA champ Woodward Academy on Wednesday in its first ever state semifinal berth.
Meanwhile, Buford's girls moved back into the semifinal round for the second straight season. The Lady Wolves suffered an 8-0 defeat in the 2012 Class AA "Final Four," and Buford has worked for much of the season to overcome that setback. On Tuesday, the Lady Wolves will play host to state power St. Pius in the hope that another big win will put Buford on par with the best programs in the state.
This week should also prove big on the diamond, as the state quarterfinals get underway.
The Red Elephants (27-3) will play host to Whitewater (24-7) beginning on Tuesday in the best-of-three series at Ivey Watson Field. Gainesville will be hoping for similar results as it attained in the fall against Whitewater, when the Red Elephants defeated Whitewater on the football field to nab a Class AAAAA championship berth.
In Class AAA, North Hall (28-2) will take on Pierce County (22-6) on Tuesday in Blackshear. The Trojans are already one step further than at any other time in state history and will look to take out last year's Class AA runner-up.
And, in Class AAAA, Stephens County (20-5) will look to keep its road success going after sweeping Northwest Whitfield this week. The Indians will take on Crisp County (26-4) on Tuesday in Cordele.
If either soccer team wins, it will play again on Friday for a stat championship, while baseball semifinals begin on Monday , May 20 -- the same day as state golf finals. Good luck to all the area's programs this week and beyond.
AREA SPORTS SCHEDULE, May 13-18
Tuesday
BASEBALL:
State quarterfinal series doubleheaders
-- Class AAAAA
Whitewater at Gainesville
-- Class AAAA
Stephens County at Crisp County
-- Class AAA
North Hall at Pierce County
SOCCER:
Girls state semifinal contests
St. Pius at Buford
Wednesday
BASEBALL:
State quarterfinal series, Game 3 if necessary
-- Class AAAAA
Whitewater at Gainesville
-- Class AAA
North Hall at Pierce County
SOCCER:
Boys state semifinal contests
East Hall at Woodward Academy
Friday
SOCCER:
Class AAA state championship games
Tuesday
May 6th, 2025
4:26AM
