Regions 6-3A and 8-A Division 1will highlight the key action around northeast Georgia on Tuesday as the final week of the regular season continues. But both Flowery Branch and East Forsyth in Region 8-4A also will look to improve their playoff positioning as they open crucial series' as well.
In Region 6-3A, three teams -- North Hall, Pickens, GAC -- have clinched playoff berths and all three can still claim the region title. The Trojans (19-6, 15-3 Region 6-3A) and Dragons (23-4, 15-3 Region 6-3A) are tied for first with North Hall owning the head-to-head tiebreaker over both Pickens and GAC.
North Hall takes on arch-rival Chestatee (6-21, 5-13 Region 6-3A) with the War Eagles probably wanting nothing better than to knock the Trojans out of a title shot. Pickens takes on GAC (16-8, 13-5 Region 6-3A). The Spartans can win the region with a sweep of the Dragons and a Chestatee sweep of North Hall. Pickens can win the title with a sweep and two losses by North Hall while the Trojans can clinch with two wins over Chestatee and a loss by Pickens.
Meanwhile, Dawson County (14-13, 9-9 Region 6-3A) and Lumpkin County (16-11, 9-9 Region 6-3A) will duke it out for the final guaranteed playoff spot in 6-3A. The Indians have won 6 of their last 7 to get back in the playoff race.
In Region 8-A D1, Banks County (22-5, 16-2 Region 8-A D1) led the region the entire season until last week and now sits 1-game back of Providence Christian (21-5, 17-1 Region 8-A D1) as the two teams open a three-game series on Tuesday in Lilburn. They will close out the season with a doubleheader on Friday in Homer. The winner of the series will take the title.
In 8-4A, Flowery Branch (14-9, 8-4 Region 8-4A) sits in second place behind North Oconee (21-6, 10-2 Region 8-4A) and is just one game ahead of third place Walnut Grove (17-9, 7-5 Region 8-4A). The Falcons have a chance to claim the title but would need to sweep the Warriors and have Eastside (8-16, 4-8 Region 8-4A) sweep the Titans. The winner of the Branch-Walnut Grove series will be no worse than second place.
East Forsyth (16-10, 6-6 Region 8-4A) needs one more win to clinch a playoff spot and can finish third with a sweep of Madison County (5-22, 1-11 Region 8-4A) and Walnut Grove dropping two games to Branch.
(See below for the full schedule of Tuesday's games.)
HIGH SCHOOL BASEBALL SCHEDULE FOR TUESDAY, April 15
(First pitch at 5:55 unless otherwise noted)
Banks County at Providence Christian, 5:30 p.m.*
Elbert County at Commerce*
Dawson County at Lumpkin County*
Flowery Branch at Walnut Grove*
Johnson at White County*
Loganville at Cherokee Bluff
Madison County at East Forsyth*
North Hall at Chestatee*
Rabun County at Oglethorpe County, 5:30 p.m.*
(* -- denotes region contest)
