Baseball: Buford, Jackson Co. face key series to stay in region title running

Another light schedule for Monday on the diamond, but the series that could decide the Region 8-6A champion will get underway.

Buford opens a three-game series on the road against Mill Creek, with the winner taking the upper hand in the region standings. The Class 6A fourth-ranked Wolves (12-4, 8-1 Region 8-6A) head to Hoschton one game back of the unranked Hawks (10-6, 9-0 Region 8-6A), who have won six straight overall. Buford can take over first place with two wins in the series.

In Region 6-6A, North Forsyth (11-7, 4-5 Region 6-6A) is fighting for its playoff life and currently sits tied for fifth with Lambert, one game back of fourth place South Forsyth and North Atlanta, who are tied for fourth. In all, five teams are within two games of second place,e and six are within three games of first place Denmark (12-5, 7-2 Region 6-6A). The Raiders open a three-game series against Forsyth Central (6-11, 3-6 Region 6-6A). But the Bulldogs have won two straight.

In Region 7-5A, Gainesville (6-12, 4-5 Region 7-5A) is tied for fourth place with Chattahoochee (8-7, 4-5 Region 7-5A) and is just two games out of second place. But the Red Elephants face a difficult task this week, opening a three-game series with first place and Class 5A sixth-ranked Seckinger (13-5, 8-1 Region 7-5A) on Monday in Buford.

In Region 8-5A, Jackson County (10-7, 3-2 Region 8-5A) is clinging to second place by just a half-game over both Winder-Barrow (10-5, 4-3 Region 8-5A) and Apalachee (7-10, 4-3 Region 8-5A). The Panthers and Bulldoggs will conclude their two-game series on Monday in Winder. A Panthers win would give them a full one-game lead over the Bulldoggs and a series split with first place and third-ranked Loganville (12-3, 5-0 Region 8-5A) up next, beginning on Wednesday.

(See below for the full schedule of Monday's games.)