Several key series to decide region champions and playoff berths will continue on Wednesday for area baseball teams.
In Region 8-6A, No. 1 Buford took the opening game of its series with No. 3 Winder-Barrow on Monday, 8-4, on the road. The Bulldoggs (19-3, 12-1 Region 8-6A) will try to even the series at Gerald McQuaig Field against the Wolves (26-0, 16-0 Region 8-6A) on Wednesday and stay alive for a region title. Buford, playing its final series of the season, can clinch the title outright with a win on Wednesday.
Also in Region 8-6A, Habersham Central (8-17, 6-7 Region 8-6A) snapped an eight-game losing streak on Monday with a 16-1 rout of Shiloh (9-13, 3-10 Region 8-6A) to remain in fourth place, a game behind Lanier (9-15, 7-6 Region 8-6A). The Raiders travel to Shiloh on Wednesday looking to keep pace.
Region 8-4A continues to get interesting. Madison County (11-15, 8-5 Region 8-4A) stunned No. 5 Flowery Branch (17-8, 8-5 Region 8-4A) on Monday, 5-3, to jump into a tie for third place and the two teams will continue their series on Wednesday in Danielsville. Meanwhile, Chestatee (15-11, 7-7 Region 8-4A) is now just 1 1/2-games behind both after sweeping a doubleheader from Cedar Shoals on Monday. The War Eagles play host to the Jaguars (2-23, 0-16 Region 8-4A) on Wednesday.
Region 7-3A is starting to take some shape. North Hall, White County, and West Hall all have clinched playoff spots, though the final order is still very much up-for-grabs. Tenth-ranked Cherokee Bluff and Dawson County are battling for the final spot. The Bears (15-9, 7-6 Region 7-3A) will play host to White County (17-7, 12-4 Region 7-3A) looking to even their series and stay alive for the No. 2 slot. A Warriors win would give them the series and clinch a home playoff series and no worse than second place in the region.
No. 2-ranked North Hall (18-4, 12-1 Region 7-3A) travels to Dawson County (10-12, 4-9 Region 7-3A) with a chance to solidify its spot atop the region. West Hall (16-7, 11-4 Region 7-3A) sits in third and is idle this week before closing out its region schedule against the Trojans next week with a chance to win the region title with a sweep.
(Check below for Wednesday's and Thursday's schedules.)
(Rankings taken from April 10 Georgia Dugout polls)
AREA BASEBALL SCHEDULE FOR Wednesday, April 14
(Games listed by visiting team in alphabetical order)
(Area teams highlighted in bold)
(Games begin at 5:55 p.m., unless otherwise noted)
Cedar Shoals at Chestatee*
East Hall at North Oconee*
Flowery Branch at Madison County*
Habersham Central at Shiloh*
Lumpkin County at Gilmer*
North Hall at Dawson County*
White County at Cherokee Bluff*
Winder-Barrow at Buford*
AREA BASEBALL SCHEDULE FOR Thursday, April 15
Jackson County at Eastside*
Jefferson at Woodward Academy*
Tellico Plains (TN) at Towns County, 5:30 p.m.
(* -- denotes region contest)
