The 2021 Georgia High School Association baseball season has gotten off to a slow start as Mother Nature has wreaked havoc on the first two days of the season.
Most of our 22 area teams were scheduled to open on Monday or Tuesday with several games moved to Wednesday. And, the forecast looks promising for Wednesday as there are still some big games on tap around the northeast Georgia area.
(Check below for Wednesday and Thursday's schedule around the area.)
Several teams come into the season highly-ranked. In the Georgia Dugout Club preseason rankings, Buford is ranked No. 1 in Class 6A and the Wolves are ranked fourth nationally by Perfect Game.
The Wolves have a monster opener set for Wednesday against Class 7A No. 2-ranked Parkview at Gerald McQuaig Field. First pitch is set for 5:30 p.m. The game was originally scheduled for Tuesday but fortunately the two powerhouses were able to keep this one in tact.
Gainesville and Habersham Central were set to open the season on Tuesday at Ivey-Watson but that game was postponed until next week. Instead, the Red Elephants will open the season on Wednesday on the road against Apalachee. The Raiders will open on Wednesday on the road against Chestatee.
In Class 4A, Region 8-4A dominates the top 10 in the Georgia Dugout Club. Flowery Branch is ranked No. 2 right behind fellow 8-4A foe North Oconee, who tops the rankings. Jefferson sits fourth and Madison County, also in 8-4A, is 10th. Jefferson moved its opener with rival Commerce to Wednesday.
The Falcons were scheduled to open with perennial power Whitewater on Monday but rain forced the two teams to cancel the game with no make-up date.
In Class 3A, North Hall is ranked second behind Hart County while Cherokee Bluff is ranked fourth. In Class 2A, Banks County sits eighth. The Trojans' opener with Cherokee was postponed Tuesday morning and a make-up date has yet to be determined. North Hall will now open the season on Wednesday at home against Mt. Paran.
Commerce is ranked eighth in Class A Public.
AREA BASEBALL SCHEDULE FOR Wednesday, Feb. 17
(Games listed by highest classification)
(Area teams highlighted in bold)
(Games begin at 5:55 p.m. unless otherwise noted
REGION 6-7A
Gainesville at Apalachee, 5:30 p.m.
REGION 8-6A
Parkview at Buford, 5:30 p.m. -- moved from Tues. Feb. 16
REGION 8-5A
West Hall at Jackson County, (DH) 4:30 p.m.
REGION 8-4A
Habersham Central at Chestatee
Hebron Christian at Flowery Branch, 5:30 p.m.
Jefferson at Commerce -- moved from Mon. Feb. 15
Lakeview Academy at East Hall, 5:30 p.m.
REGION 7-3A
Mt. Paran at North Hall, 5:30 p.m.
Pickens at Dawson County, 5:30 p.m.
REGION 8-2A
Fannin County at Union County, 5:30 p.m.
Tallulah Falls at Rabun County, 5:30 p.m.
AREA BASEBALL SCHEDULE FOR Thursday, Feb. 18
REGION 8-5A
Cherokee Bluff at Johnson
REGION 8-4A
Rabun County at East Hall, 5:30 p.m.
REGION 7-3A
Dawson County at Pickens, 5:30 p.m.
Rabun Gap at White County, 5:30 p.m.
REGION 8-2A
Union County at Gilmer, 5:30 p.m.
http://accesswdun.com/article/2021/2/980068/baseball-nega-area-teams-ready-to-open-2021-season