For most northeast Georgia area baseball teams, the regular season will not come to a close for another two weeks. But for Region 8-4A, the playoffs will essentially begin for several teams on Monday.
That's because 8-4A, which is subdivided for its 10 region-playing schools, will hold region play-in series next week (April 15) with the top team from each subregion squaring off for the region title and second- and third-place teams playing crossover series, with the winners taking the No. 3 and 4 spots.
Here's what we do know: Seckinger (15-9, 11-1 Region 8-4A South) already has clinched the top spot and has finished its region schedule. We also know that Class 4A fifth-ranked East Forsyth (17-6, 8-4 Region 8-4A North) has clinched a playoff spot. After that, the other four spots, and the final positioning, are still up for grabs.
Sixth-ranked Cherokee Bluff (19-4, 7-2 Region 8-4A North) leads seventh-ranked North Hall (10-13, 5-4 Region 8-4A North) by two games after sweeping the Trojans last week. Chestate (11-12, 4-5 Region 8-4A North) is three games back in fourth place.
On the South side of the subregion, ninth-ranked and defending state champion North Oconee (16-7, 7-2 Region 8-4A South) is in second and leads Madison County (7-14, 4-5 Region 8-4A South) by three games. The Red Raiders lead Walnut Grove (12-11, 2-7 Region 8-4A South) by two games for third place.
On the North side, Bluff will take on Chestatee in a three-game series needing two wins win to clinch the top spot, Chestatee, however, is still alive for the No. 3 seed if the War Eagles can take two of three from the Bears and have East Hall (2-19, 0-9 Region 8-4A North) sweep North Hall in their series. North Hall needs two wins over the Vikings to secure a spot in the play-in series and needs a sweep to take the No. 2 spot.
On the South side, North Oconee and Madison County open a three-game series with the Titans needing just one win to secure the No. 2 spot. The Red Raiders can clinch the No. 3 seed if they can take two of the three games. Walnut Grove, however, is still alive and can take the No. 3 seed with a sweep of Cedar Shoals (2-19, 0-9 Region 8-4A South) and Madison County losing two of three to North Oconee OR by winning two against Cedar Shoals and getting a North Oconee sweep of the Red Raiders.
In Region 8-6A, Apalachee (15-10, 11-2 Region 8-6A) took a one-game lead over North Forsyth (16-8, 10-3 Region 8-6A) after Friday's win over the Raiders, and third place Habersham Central (15-7, 7-6 Region 8-6A) now leads Gainesville (9-11, 6-7 Region 8-6A) by just half a game after falling to the Red Elephants on Friday. And with the win, Gainesville now leads Jackson County (9-14, 5-7 Region 8-6A) by a half game for the final playoff spot and the two teams will meet in Hoschton on Monday with the winner moving into fourth place.
(See the entire schedule for Monday below:)
HIGH SCHOOL BASEBALL SCHEDULE Monday, April 8
(All games start at 5:55 p.m. unless otherwise noted)
Chestatee at Cherokee Bluff*
Collins Hill at Buford*
Gainesville at Jackson County*
Jefferson at Eastside, noon*
North Forsyth at Harrison
North Hall at East Hall*
Shiloh at Habersham Central*
(* -- denotes region contest)
