Every region involving Northeast Georgia-area teams is under way after last week's baseball schedule, which managed to get in every game despite a deluge of rain over most of the backend of the week.
Several expected teams lead their respective regions while some surprises sit atop their regions through games on March 18. Several fun playoff races already are starting to develop.
In Region 8-7A, Mill Creek (8-7, 3-0 Region 8-7A) leads the region after the first two weeks. The Hawks allowed just 1 run in a sweep of Central Gwinnett. Buford (4-9, 2-3 Region 8-7A) lost two of three to Mountain View and sits in fourth place. Buford will play host to Mill Creek on Monday to open a crucial three-game series for the Wolves.
In Region 8-6A, the top three teams are within one-half game of each other after the first two weeks. North Forsyth (9-6, 4-0 Region 8-6A) leads the region with Habersham Central (10-5, 4-1 Region 8-6A) and Jackson County (7-10, 4-1 Region 8-6A) tied for second place. Lanier (13-4, 6-2 Region 8-6A) is in fourth.
North Forsyth takes on Shiloh (4-10, 0-8 Region 8-6A) while Jackson County plays host to Habersham Central in the first of a two-game series. Gainesville (7-8, 1-4 Region 8-6A), which sits in sixth place, plays host to Lanier looking to end a four-game losing streak and get back in the playoff race.
Region 8-5A is a logjam after the first week-plus. Six of the seven teams are within two games of the lead with Loganville (9-6, 2-0 Region 8-5A) leading the way. Jefferson (11-4, 3-1 Region 8-5A) and Winder-Barrow (9-7, 3-1 Region 8-5A) are tied for second. Flowery Branch (9-7, 2-2 Region 8-5A) is in fourth after a pair of series splits with Jefferson and Winder-Barrow.
Loganville opens a two-game series with winless Clarke Central (0-11, 0-3 Region 8-5A) so the pressure will be on for the rest of the region to keep pace this week. Branch travels to Eastside (10-6, 1-2 Region 8-5A) with Jefferson is playing host to Heritage-Conyers (4-10, 0-2 Region 8-5A) to open series’ on Monday.
And after the first week of subregion play in Region 8-4A, a pair of surprise teams lead both the North and South subregions. However, No. 1-ranked Cherokee Bluff and No. 2 North Oconee were the odd-man-out teams that did not open subregion play last week.
Cherokee Bluff (14-0, 0-0 Region 8-4A North) and North Oconee (11-1, 0-0 Region 8-4A South) both open region play this week. The Bears will entertain East Hall while the Titans will play host to Cedar Shoals on Monday.
Chestatee (10-6, 3-0 Region 8-4A North) leads the North after sweeping East Hall (4-11, 0-3 Region 8-4A North). The War Eagles lead East Forsyth (9-6, 2-1 Region 8-4A North) by a game. The Broncos took two-of-three from sixth-ranked North Hall (10-6, 1-2 Region 8-4A North).
Chestatee and East Forsyth open a series on Monday at the Lynn Cottrell Complex. North Hall will play non-region this week.
In the South, Madison County (10-6, 3-0 Region 8-4A South) leads the way on the heels of a sweep of Cedar Shoals (3-13, 0-3 Region 8-4A South) last week. Meanwhile, newcomer Seckinger (7-8, 2-1 Region 8-4A South) took two-of-three from No. 4 Walnut Grove (10-5, 1-2 Region 8-4A South).
Seckinger and Madison County open a series on Monday in Danielsville. Walnut Grove will play non-region this week.
(Check below for the full schedule of baseball games on Monday involving area teams.)
HIGH SCHOOL BASEBALL SCHEDULE
(All games start at 5:55 p.m. unless otherwise noted)
Monday, March 20
East Forsyth at Chestatee*
East Hall at Cherokee Bluff*
Flowery Branch at Eastside*
Habersham Central at Jackson County*
Heritage-Conyers at Jefferson*
Mill Creek at Buford*
Lanier at Gainesville*
North Forsyth at Shiloh*
(* -- denotes region contest)
