One thing is for sure, any northeast Georgia area team in Class 4A and above that can advance in the second round of the Georgia High School Association playoffs this week will almost certainly be thrown into any state title conversations.
Buford in Class 6A, Habersham Cemtral in Class 5A, and Flowery Branch and East Forsyth in Class 4A all face top four ranked opponents beginning on Tuesday in best of-three series. Only Buford will have the advantage of being at home.
The Wolves (25-7) ranked seventh in Class 6A in the final Coaches Box poll, take on third-ranked North Paulding (25-8). The Wolfpack are coming a semifinal run in Class 7A last season.
Habersham Central heads to South Paulding, which is ranked sixth in Class 5A, in a rematch of their Class 6A first round series from 2024. The Raiders (20-12) knocked off the Spartans (26-5) in three games in that series last year in Douglasville so South Paulding will be looking for a measure of revenge.
In Class 4A, both Flowery Branch and East Forsyth will face stiff competition on the road as well. The Broncos take on second-ranked St. Pius while the Falcons have fourth-ranked Wayne County. East Forsyth (21-10) hits the road against the Golden Lions (31-2), who have won eight straight and have lost just once (Marist) to a team in Class 4A this season. The Falcons (18-11) take a long road trip to take on the Yellow Jackets (28-4) who advanced to the Elite 8 in Class 4A in 2024.
(See below for the full schedule for Tuesday.)
BASEBALL 2nd ROUND PLAYOFF SCHEDULE, Tuesday, April 29
(All series are best-of-3 games at site of higher-seeded team)
(Doubleheaders)
Class 6A
North Paulding (Region 5, Seed 3) at Buford (R8, S1), 4 p.m.
Class 5A
Habersham Central (R7, S3) at South Paulding (R5, S1), 4 p.m.
Class 4A
East Forsyth (R8, S3) at St. Pius (R5, S1), 4:30 p.m.
Flowery Branch (R8, S2) at Wayne County (R1, S1), 4:30 p.m.
