Thrilling finishes and stunning upsets highlighted a busy night Thursday around northeast Georgia in second round baseball and soccer playoff action.
Three big thrillers capped the soccer action as the Gainesville boys scored late and then held on to knock off two-time defending Class 6A state champion Chattahoochee 2-1 at City Park Stadium. The Union County boys got a goal in the final minute to beat Gordon Central 3-2 on the road in Class 2A. The Jefferson boys beat East Hall 1-0 in Class 3A winning the PK phase 1-0 after neither team could net anything through regulation and two overtime periods.
The biggest upset of the night came in Gainesville where Class A Private No. 4-seed Lakeview Academy was swept out of the playoffs by Hebron Christian at home. The Lions were making their first playoff appearance in a decade but could not shake off the rust from a two-week layoff after receiving a first-round bye.
In other baseball action, Buford swept Kell in Class 5A to advance while Flowery Branch was swept by Cartersville in a pair of tight games. North Hall in Class 3A and Commerce in Class A Public both rallied with Game 2 wins to send their series' into deciding Game 3s on Friday.
In other soccer action, the defending Class 5A Johnson boys continued to roll routing Villa Rica 7-0. The Knights have outscored their first two playoff opponents 13-0. The Habersham Central boys in Class 6A and Chestatee boys in Class 4A both fell in 2-1 contests as their seasons came to an end.
GHSA Baseball playoffs, second round
THURSDAY'S SCORES
(All series are best-of-3; doubleheaders opening day)
Class 5A
Buford 3-5, Kell 1-4 (Wolves win series 2-0)
Class 4A
Cartersville 2-3, Flowery Branch 0-2 (Hurricanes win series 2-0)
Class 3A
Westminster 4-5, North Hall 2-13 (series tied 1-1)
Class A Private (uses Power Rankings to seed)
Hebron Christian 8-7, Lakeview Academy 6-5 (Hebron wins series 2-0)
Class A Public (uses Power Rankings to seed)
Commerce 1-11, Pelham 3-1 (series tied 1-1)
THURSDAY'S SOCCER SCORES
Class 6A
Gainesville boys 2, Chattahoochee 1
Pope boys 2, Habersham Central 1
Class 5A
Johnson boys 7, Villa Rica 0
Class 4A
Oconee County boys 2, Chestatee 1
Class 3A
Jefferson boys 1, East Hall 0 (1-0 PKs)
Class 2A
Union County boys 3, Gordon Central 2
FRIDAY'S BASEBALL SCHEDULE (May 3)
(Game 3s)
Class 3A
Westminster (R5, S4) at North Hall (R7, S2), 6 p.m.
Class A Public (uses Power Rankings to seed)
Commerce (No. 9) at Pelham (No. 8), 4:30 p.m.
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