GAINESVILLE — Buford will begin defense of its Class AAAA state title while Gainesville and Jefferson will try to equal or better last year’s state runner-up finishes in Class AAAAA and Class AAA, respectively, as the 2016 baseball playoffs get under way Friday around the area and state.
All three teams will headline a solid field of area teams that advanced to the playoffs. The Wolves are coming off a second straight Region 8-AAAA title. Gainesville, the Region 8-AAAAA champ, won its seventh straight region title overall, while Jefferson won its third straight Region 8-AAA crown.
The first round in all classifications begins Friday with doubleheaders in a best-of-three format with the higher seed playing host.
For Region 8-AAAA in the Class AAAA playoffs, Buford has an intriguing matchup playing host to Whitewater in a rematch of last year’s state title series at Gerald McQuiag Field. No. 2 seed North Hall, which has advanced to the Elite 8 two of the last three years, including a trip to the Class AAA championship series in 2013, will play host to Carrollton at Jody Davis Field.
North Hall coach Trent Mongero said it will be a big challenge for his group.
“Carrollton was a game away from a No. 2 seed and they are very well-coached,” he said. “We will have to play well but that is expected in the playoffs. We love playing at at home and we have outstanding community support. We’re looking forward to the series.”
The Trojans, however, will send two pitchers to the mound that have never started a state playoff game in Reese Olson and Corbin Meeler. But, Mongero said a tough non-region schedule should have them prepared.
“Not worried about that at all,” Monegro said. “We play a tough schedule on purpose to grow our guys up and get ready for the playoffs. We feel very confident in them.”
For Region 8-AAAAA teams, which had three teams ranked in the top 8 in the final regular season rankings, Gainesville will play host to Alexander at Ivey-Watson Field.
The second-ranked Red Elephants dominated down the stretch winning their final seven games, including a 7-5, 9-inning victory over Class AAAAAA playoff team Mountain View in the season finale. They outscored the opposition 88-7 over that span.
No. 8-ranked Winder-Barrow won its final three games, including a key 5-4 victory over Loganville that eventually determined the No. 2 seed.
In Class AAA, five area teams advanced, highlighted by No. 10 and Region 8-AAA champ Jefferson, which will attempt to get back to the championship series. The Dragons have been hot down the stretch winning four straight and six of their last seven, including a three-game sweep of Elbert County to clinch to top seed.
Jefferson coach Tommy Knight said they are playing some of the best ball of the season.
“We have been playing well and this is the time you want to do that,” Knight said. “The guys really got things done when they needed too. But you have to keep it going in the playoffs.”
Region 8-AAA, which also features No. 3 seed Jackson County, is also trying to duplicate last year’s run when all four teams, including the Dragons and Panthers, advanced to the Elite 8.
“That’s hard to do one time, much less back-to-back seasons,” Knight said. “I don’t know if 8-AAA is as strong as it was last year but anything is possible in high school baseball.”
Dawson County is the No. 2 seed from Region 7-AAA with West Hall and Banks County taking the third and fourth seeds, respectively. Tigers coach Dwayne Sapp, who is no stranger to the playoffs, said after Friday’s No. 2 seed clinching win over Lumpkin County the key for them will be trying to stay within the moment.
“None of these guys have been here before so that can be tough for the first game,” Sapp said. “But we feel like we’re peaking at the end so we’re going to see if we can keep it going.”
The Tigers won seven straight down the stretch.
In Class AA, Union County finished second in Region 8-AA and will play host to Manchester in Blairsville. Rabun County, which advanced to the Final Four last year, made a late-season push to finish third in 8-AA.
In Class AAAAAA, Region 6-AAAAAA No. 2 seed North Forsyth will play host to North Gwinnett in the first round.
Here is a look at all of Friday’s first round playoff matchups involving area teams:
FIRST ROUND STATE BASEBALL PLAYOFF SCHEDULE FOR AREA TEAMS
(All series are a best-of-three format. Game times provided as made available)
Class AAAAAA
North Gwinnett at North Forsyth, 5 p.m. (Game 3, if necessary, Sat., 12 p.m.)
Class AAAAA
Alexander at Gainesville, 4 p.m. (Game 3, if necessary, TBA)
South Paulding at Winder-Barrow, 4 p.m. (Game 3, if necessary, TBA)
Class AAAA
Whitewater at Buford, 4:30 p.m. (Game 3, if necessary, Sat., 2 p.m.)
Carrollton at North Hall, 4 p.m. (Game 3, if necessary, Sat., 1 p.m.)
Class AAA
Adairsville at Dawson County, 4 p.m. (Game 3, if necessary, Sat., 1 p.m.)
West Hall at Calhoun, 4:30 p.m. (Game 3, if necessary, Sat., 12 p.m.)
Banks County at Ringgold, 5 p.m. (Game 3, if necessary, TBA)
Central-Carroll at Jefferson, 5 p.m. (Game 3, if necessary, Sat., 1 p.m.)
Jackson County at Rockmart, 4:30 p.m. (Game 3, if necessary, Sat., 3 p.m.)
Class AA
Manchester at Union County, 4:30 p.m. (Game 3, if necessary, Sat., TBA)
Rabun County at Bremen, 3 p.m. (Game 3, if necessary, Sat., 5 p.m.)
Class A
Commerce at Taylor County
