This could be the defining week for several Northeast Georgia-area baseball teams who are looking to either solidify their playoff positioning or find themselves on the brink of elimination.
Nearly every region features huge series this week and no one is safe at this point.
At the midway point of their region schedules, both perennial playoff powers North Hall and Buford are fighting for their playoff lives heading into key series' for both teams on Monday. Both teams sport young rosters and both can either remain in the playoff hunt this week or find themselves teetering on the brink of elimination.
Buford (6-10, 4-4 Region 8-7A) took two of three from then-Region 8-7A leader Mill Creek (9-9, 4-2 Region 8-7A) last week and have last place Central Gwinnett (5-10, 0-6 Region 8-7A) this week in a three-game series. After winning back-to-back games for the first time this season, the Wolves now sit in fourth place, just one game behind both Mill Creek and Collins Hill (10-8, 4-2 Region 8-7A) with Dacula (14-6, 6-2 Region 8-7A) now in first place.
For North Hall, the situation may be even more precarious. The Trojans (11-6, 1-2 Region 8-4A North) dropped two-of-three from East Forsyth (12-6, 5-1 Region 8-4A North) two weeks ago and sit in fourth place in the subregion standings. They face a must-win series this week with Chestatee (10-9, 3-3 Region 8-4A North) beginning on Monday at Cottrell Field to stay in the race with No. 1 and unbeaten Cherokee Bluff (17-0, 3-0 Region 8-4A North) still looming. The War Eagles, meanwhile, were swept by East Forsyth last week but can solidy their third-place spot with a series win or drop out of the top three.
Speaking of Cherokee Bluff and East Forsyth, the two subregion leaders open a series with first place on the line on Monday at East Forsyth. The Broncos (12-6, 5-1 Region 8-4A North) have won five straight, own series wins over both North Hall and Chestatee, and can take control of the region with a series win. But the Bears have been as dominating as any team in the state so far. They are averaging 11.2 runs/game on the season and have allowed just 48 ttal runs (2.82 rpg) with 9 run-rule victories on the season.
Over on the South subregion in 8-4A, No. 2 North Oconee (14-2, 3-0 Region 8-4A South) opens a series on the road against second-place Seckinger (10-8, 5-1 Region 8-4A South) with a chance for both teams to take control in the subregion.
The key game in Region 8-6A has Habersham Central (11-7, 5-3 Region 8-6A) plays host to North Forsyth (13-6, 8-0 Region 8-7A) looking to even their series. Jackson County (8-12, 5-3 Region 8-7A) plays host to Apalachee (7-11, 3-5 Region 8-7A) also looking to even their series. The Panthers need a win to keep pace with a huge series against North Forsyth starting on Wednesday. Ganesville (9-10, 3-6 Region 8-6A) plays host to Shiloh (4-13, 0-11 Region 8-6A) trying to stay within striking distance of fourth place.
In Region 8-5A, the top four teams will conclude a pair of two-game series on Monday with both Jefferson and Flowery Branch looking to remain in the battle for a top two spot. The 10th-ranked Dragons (13-5, 5-2 Region 8-5A) play host to Winder-Barrow (11-7, 4-1 Region 8-5A) looking to split their series and move into second place. Flowery Branch (13-5, 5-2 Region 8-5A) travels to defending state champion and fifth-ranked Loganville (12-7, 5-0 Region 8-5A) looking to salvage a win and keep pace.
Region 7-3A is finally getting some separation with seventh-ranked Lumpkin County (15-2, 8-1 Region 7-3A) and No. 2 Pickens (16-3, 8-1 Region 7-3A) tied for first and leading third-place Dawson County (10-7, 6-3 Region 7-3A) by two games. The Indians and their arch-rival Tigers open a huge series at the University of North Georgia with the Indians working on a seven-game win streak and looking to keep pace with Pickens, who plays rival Gilmer (6-10, 0-6 Region 7-3A) 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 27
Apalachee at Jackson County*
Banks County at West Hall
Central Gwinnett at Buford*
Cherokee Bluff at East Forsyth*
Chestatee at North Hall*
Dawson County vs. Lumpkin County (at UNG), 5:30 p.m.*
Flowery Branch at Loganville*
North Forsyth at Habersham Central*
Shiloh at Gainesville*
Winder-Barrow at Jefferson*
(* -- denotes region contest)
