Nearly two-dozen area teams will be in action as key series across the area will either continue or get started on Friday .
Chestatee and North Hall will close out their three-game Region 8-4A North series with the rubbermatch at Cottrell Field. Both teams have won at home in the first two games.
With both teams still left to face No. 1-ranked and unbeaten Cherokee Bluff over the coming weeks, Friday's game could be a huge factor in deciding the final playoff spot. The top three in each subregion move on to the region playoffs. Chestatee (11-10, 4-4 Region 8-4A North) sits in third just one-half game ahead of the Trojans (12-7, 2-3 Region 8-4A North). The winner of the third game will own the head-to-head tiebreaker.
Region 8-6A is tightening up. However, North Forsyth (15-6, 10-0 Region 8-6A) now has a 2 1/2-game lead over second place Lanier (15-5, 8-3 Region 8-6A). Third to sixth is separated by just 2 1/2 games with Jackson County (9-13, 6-4 Region 8-6A) and Habersham Central (11-9, 5-5 Region 8-6A) occupying the third and fourth spots, respectively. Habersham Central leads fifth-place Apalachee (8-12, 4-6 Region 8-6A) by a game and is 1 1/2-games games up on sixth-place Gainesville (10-11, 4-7 Region 8-6A).
And the standings could get even more jumbled on Friday. The top six teams all play each other with Jackson County heading to North Forsyth, Habersham Central traveling to Lanier, and Apalachee playing host to Gainesville.
In Region 8-2A, Banks County (10-8, 5-2 Region 8-2A) has won five straight and climbed into a tie for second place with Providence Christian (7-11, 5-2 Region 8-6A). The Leopards play host to a struggling East Jackson squad (9-11, 0-7 Region 8-6A) that has lost seven straight in a doubleheader. Meanwhile, Providence plays host to No. 2-ranked Fellowship Christian (17-2, 7-0 Region 8-6A) which is on a 10-game win streak, in a doubleheader as well.
(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 31
Athens Academy at Union County (DH), 5 p.m.*
Central Gwinnett at Buford*
Cherokee Bluff at East Forsyth*
Chestatee at North Hall*
Clarke Central at Flowery Branch*
Commerce at Rabun County (DH), 5 p.m.*
East Jackson at Banks County (DH), 5 p.m.*
Gainesville at Apalachee*
Habersham Central at Lanier*
Jackson County at North Forsyth*
Lumpkin County at Dawson County*
Towns County at Lake Oconee Academy (DH), 4 p.m.*
White County at Wesleyan*
(* -- denotes region contest)
