With region schedules getting under way in earnest last week, some crucial early season battles will take place this week around the area in every region.
Perhaps the biggest matchup will occur in Region 8-AAA where region unbeatens Hart County and Jackson County will do battle, with one game in Jefferson on Tuesday and then a doubleheader in Hartwell on Friday. Jefferson, which is also unbeaten in 8-AAA play, and Oconee County also have a big three-game series during week.
In Region 8-AAAA, defending Class AAAA state champion Buford will finally open its region schedule on Wednesday on the road against region unbeaten Monroe Area. Meanwhile, North Hall, which handed Madison County its first loss of the season on Friday in Danielsville, will play host to the Red Raiders on Monday and then open a series against rival White County on Wednesday. Chestatee looks for its first region game at home against North Oconee on Monday.
In Region 7-AAA, Franklin County and Dawson County are unbeaten and tied atop the standings. The Tigers have just one game this week, against White County on Saturday at Coolray Field, while the Lions open what should be a huge three-game series at home against West Hall on Tuesday. The Spartans will host a doubleheader against Franklin County on Friday. East Hall and Fannin County also have a three-game series and Lumpkin County and Banks County, both winless after being swept last week, play a huge three-game series with just trying to stay alive in a very balanced region. The Indians were a 2015 playoff team.
In Region 8-AA, Union County is second in the standings but does not have an region games scheduled during the week. Riverside Military Academy will play host to Rabun County on Tuesday as both try to climb up the region standings. Both teams then have huge road doubleheaders on Friday with Riverside Military traveling to Social Circle and Rabun County going to Greene County.
In Region 8-A, Lakeview Academy has a pair of home games against Athens Christian and Athens Academy as the Lions look for their first region win of the season and also try to snap a three-game losing streak.
Area prep baseball standings as of March 14...
Region 8-AAAAA
TEAM........................Region...................Overall
Gainesville...................4-0..........................7-2
Winder-Barrow.............3-0..........................6-2
Loganville....................2-0..........................5-1
Lanier.........................3-2..........................3-8
Discovery....................2-2..........................5-5
Salem.........................1-1..........................2-4
Heritage, Conyers........2-3..........................6-5
Clarke Central..............2-3..........................6-5
Flowery Branch............1-2.......................3-5-1
Apalachee...................1-3..........................1-8
Cedar Shoals...............0-5..........................0-9
Region 8-AAAA
TEAM........................Region...................Overall
North Hall....................1-0...........................6-4
Monroe Area................1-0...........................6-5
North Oconee..............1-0...........................4-5
Buford.........................0-0...........................6-2
Stephens County.........0-0...........................4-6
White County..............0-0...........................2-4
Madison County..........0-1...........................9-1
Chestatee...................0-1...........................3-7
Johnson......................0-1.........................1-10
Region 7-AAA
TEAM........................Region...................Overall
Franklin County.............3-0........................10-0
Dawson County.............3-0..........................9-1
West Hall......................2-1.........................8-3
East Hall.......................1-2.........................6-4
Fannin County...............0-3.........................4-3
Lumpkin County.............0-3.........................5-5
Banks County................0-3.........................3-6
Region 8-AAA
TEAM........................Region...................Overall
Jefferson.......................3-0........................7-2
Jackson County.............3-0.....................6-3-1
Hart County...................3-0........................6-4
Elbert County................0-0........................7-2
Morgan County..............0-3........................4-5
East Jackson................0-3........................3-7
Oconee County..............0-3.......................3-7
Region 8-AA
TEAM........................Region...................Overall
Social Circle..................1-0.........................5-3
Union County.................3-1.........................5-3
Washington-Wilkes........4-2.........................4-9
Rabun County................1-1.........................2-7
Oglethorpe County..........1-2.........................3-6
Riverside Military............1-3.........................3-4
Greene County...............0-2.........................0-2
Region 8-A
TEAM........................Region...................Overall
George Walton..............2-0........................6-2
Hebron Christian............1-0........................9-2
Athens Christian............1-0........................4-4
Providence Christian......1-0........................4-6
Prince Avenue...............0-0........................6-4
Commerce....................0-1........................6-2
Athens Academy...........0-1........................3-2
Lakeview Academy........0-1........................3-6
Towns County...............0-2........................2-7
Schedule for Week of March 14-19, by regions:
Region 8-AAAAA
Monday, March 14
Winder-Barrow at Cedar Shoals
Loganville at Apalachee
Flowery Branch at Clarke Central
Heritage at Lanier
Discovery at Salem
Wednesday, March 16
Gainesville at Clarke Central
Discovery at Apalachee
Loganville at Flowery Branch
Salem at Heritage
Lanier at Winder-Barrow
Friday, March 18
Clarke Central at Gainesville
Apalachee at Discovery
Flowery Branch at Loganville
Heritage at Salem
Winder-Barrow at Lanier
Region 8-AAAA
Monday, March 14
North Oconee at Chestatee
Madison County at North Hall
Monroe Area at Johnson
Stephens County at White County
Wednesday, March 16
Chestatee at Johnson
Buford at Monroe Area
Stephens County at Madison County
White County at North Hall
Friday, March 18
Johnson at Chestatee
North Hall at White County
Monroe Area at Buford
Madison County at Stephens County
Saturday, March 19
White County vs. Dawson County (at Coolray Field)
Region 7-AAA
Tuesday, March 15
Fannin County at East Hall
West Hall at Franklin County
Lumpkin County at Banks County
Friday, March 18
East Hall at Fannin County (DH)
Franklin County at West Hall (DH)
Banks County at Lumpkin County (DH)
Saturday, March 19
White County vs. Dawson County (at Coolray Field)
Region 8-AAA
Tuesday, March 15
Jefferson at Oconee County
Hart County at Jackson County
East Jackson at Elbert County
Friday, March 18
Oconee County at Jefferson (DH)
Elbert County at East Jackson (DH)
Jackson County at Hart County (DH)
Saturday, March 19
Jackson vs. Morgan County (at Coolray Field)
Region 8-AA
Monday, March 14
Union County at Gilmer (DH)
Tuesday, March 15
Rabun County at Riverside Military
Washington-Wilkes at Social Circle
Wednesday, March 16
Pickens at Union County
Thursday, March 17
Rabun Gap-Nacoochee at Rabun County
Glascock County at Washington-Wilkes
Friday, March 18
Riverside Military at Social Circle (DH)
Rabun County at Greene County (DH)
Saturday, March 19
Union County at Oglethorpe County (DH)
Region 8-A
Monday, March 14
Towns County at Pickens
Tuesday, March 15
Athens Christian at Lakeview Academy
Thursday, March 17
Athens Academy at Lakeview Academy
Friday, March 18
Lakeview Academy at Athens Academy
Hebron Christian at Towns County (DH)
