We knew Region 8-5A would be a dogfight. It has not disappointed so far.
The top four teams are separated by just one game after the first two weeks of region play and all four will open series' against each on Friday.
Flowery Branch (11-7, 4-2 Region 8-5A) has won three straight and will play host to No. 5 Loganville (11-7, 4-0 Region 8-5A) at the Hog Mountain Sports Complex to open a two-game series. The Falcons are in fourth place but a win could put them just percentage points behind the two-time defending region champ Red Devils, who are the only undefeated team left.
Branch has a favorable schedule down the stretch. The Falcons already split series' with Jefferson and Winder-Barrow and have the bottom two teams in the region -- Heritage-Conyers and Clarke Central -- left so a split or even a sweep of Loganville could put them in the hunt for a region title.
Jefferson, meanwhile, opens a two-game series with Winder-Barrow on the road. The 10th-ranked Dragons (13-4, 5-1 Region 8-5A) sit in second with the Bulldoggs (10-7, 3-1 Region 8-5A) in third. Jefferson is also in the region title mix but has the toughest finish. The Dragons still have Eastside to play and closes out the season against Loganville.
After a brutal non-region schedule and a rough start to Region 8-7A play, Buford may be ready to turn the corner and make a playoff push.The Wolves (5-10, 3-4 Region 8-7A) knocked off Mill Creek on Wednesday handing the Hawks (9-8, 4-1 Region 8-7A) their first region loss. The two teams' close out their series at Gerald McQuaig Stadium on Friday. Buford sits in fourth just two games out of first place and can still be a factor with series' left against Collins Hill (9-8, 3-2 Region 8-7A) and Central Gwinnett (5-9, 0-5 Region 8-7A) , as well as one game with Dacula (13-6, 5-2 Region 8-7A) to end the regular season.
The key game in Region 8-6A has Habersham Central (11-6, 5-2 Region 8-6A) heading to North Forsyth (12-6, 7-0 Region 8-7A) looking to split the season series with the Raiders and get back within one game of first place. Jackson County (8-11, 5-2 Region 8-7A) travels to Apalachee (6-11, 2-5 Region 8-7A) to open a two-game series trying to keep pace. The Panthers cannot afford a letdown with a huge series against North Forsyth looming next week that could be for first place.
(Check below for the full schedule of baseball games on Friday involving area teams.)
HIGH SCHOOL BASEBALL SCHEDULE
(All games start at 5:55 p.m. unless otherwise noted)
Friday, March 24
Banks County at Athens Academy (DH), 5 p.m.*
East Hall at Cherokee Bluff*
Gainesville at Shiloh*
Gilmer at Lumpkin County*
Habersham Central at North Forsyth*
Jackson County at Apalachee*
Jefferson at Winder-Barrow*
Lincoln County at Towns County (DH), 5 p.m.*
Loganville at Flowery Branch*
Mill Creek at Buford*
Union County at Providence Christian (DH), 5 p.m.*
Wesleyan at Dawson County*
West Hall at Pickens*
(* -- denotes region contest)
