Possible rain on Friday is turning what was a light schedule on Thursday into a potential huge day for some Northeast Georgia-area teams.
Perhaps the biggest may be a doubleheader in Commerce as the Tigers try and get back atop the Region 8-A Division 1 standings against No. 8 Athens Christian. Commerce (10-11, 7-3 Region 8-A D1) dropped a tough 6-4 decision to the Eagles (15-5, 8-2 Region 8-A D1) on Tuesday as they rallied for four runs in the final two innings. The top four teams are all separated by one game with the Tigers tied with Tallulah Falls (10-10, 7-3 Region 8-A D1) for third.
North Hall and Cherokee Bluff close out their Region 8-4A North series in Flowery Branch. The No. 1-ranked Bears (21-1, 7-1 Region 8-4A North) rallied for a big win on Wednesday and can win the series and clinch the subregion title with a win. The Trojans (14-8, 4-4 Region 8-4A North) are locked in a three-way duel with East Forsyth (15-9, 8-4 Region 8-4A North) and Chestatee (11-11, 4-5 Region 8-4A North) for the second and third spots to get into the region play-in series'.
North Forsyth, despite its first region loss of the season on Wednesday against Lanier, can clinch the Region 8-6A title on Thursday with a win at home over Apalachee. The Raiders (17-7, 12-1 Region 8-6A) lead Lanier and Jackson County, who are tied for second, by 3 1/2 games with four to play and have won every series.
Dawson County and Class No. 2 Pickens will close out their three-game series on Tuesday, with the Tigers heading to Jasper. Dawson County (12-10, 8-6 Region 7-3A) has dropped three straight while the Dragons (21-3, 13-1 Region 7-3A) are on a 14-game winning streak.
(Check below for the full schedule of baseball games on Thursday involving area teams.)
HIGH SCHOOL BASEBALL SCHEDULE
(All games start at 5:55 p.m. unless otherwise noted)
Thursday, April 6
Apalachee at North Forsyth* (moved from Friday)
Athens Christian at Commerce (DH), 5 p.m.* (moved from Friday)
Banks County at Clarke Central (DH), 4 p.m.
Buford vs North Paulding (at Lakepoint), 4 p.m.
Buford vs. East Coweta (at Lakepoint), 7 p.m.
Chestatee at Stephens County, 5:30 p.m.
Dawson County at Pickens*
Hillgrove at Flowery Branch, noon
Lumpkin County vs. Vanguard (in Ocala, Fla.), 4 p.m.
Lumpkin County vs. Lake Weir (in Ocala, Fla.), 7 p.m.
North Hall at Cherokee Bluff* (moved from Friday)
Oconee County at Jefferson, noon
West Hall at White County*
(* -- denotes region contest)
