THOMASTON — In an email to baseball coaches on Tuesday, the Georgia High School Association announced that the quarterfinal round for ALL classifications will not begin until Monday.
That's good news for teams in Class 4A and Class 5A, who originally were scheduled to begin their quarterfinal rounds on Saturday. But for the past two days of having their second round series' pushed back, Jefferson and Flowery Branch, both in Class 4A, were facing the potential of having less than two days rest before having to possibly begin the quarterfinal round.
"Due to the weather issues [Monday and Tuesday], the GHSA has adjusted the playoff schedule for 4A and 5A as listed below. This will give 4 days between DH dates. Any additional rain will give us fewer days between rounds. We don't have much wiggle room. Good luck to all!"
Email from the Georgia High School Association
The Dragons and Falcons second round series' against Marist and Cedartown, respectively, were initially set for Monday. Both will begin those series' on Wednesday, with a possible Game 3 on Thursday. Now, if they can advance, they could have a typical four-day rest between rounds.
"I think everybody is relieved that they moved it," Jefferson coach Tommy Knight said. "It would have been very difficult to go into a tough playoff series and possibly not be able to use your horses on the mound (in the next round because of a short turnaround). It was the right thing to do for the kids."
Flowery Branch coach Joey Ray agreed.
"Had the GHSA not backed it up, it would have made it very difficult on the north Georgia teams to compete next round as all of the south Georgia teams have played and advanced," Ray said. "But thankfully they moved it back so let's hope the weather doesn't affect anyone again next week."
The Falcons and Dragons are part of a six-team contingent from the AccessWDUN coverage area that advanced to the second round.
(Check below for the second round schedule involving northeast Georgia area teams.)
SECOND ROUND BASEBALL SCHEDULE
(Games listed by date and classification, highest to smallest)
(Games listed by visiting team in alphabetical order)
(Area teams highlighted in bold)
Wednesday, May 4
CLASS 6A
Pope (R6, S2) at Buford (R8, S1) -- (DH), 4 p.m.
CLASS 4A
Flowery Branch (R8, S3) at Cedartown (R7, S1) -- (DH), 4 p.m. -- (moved from Monday)
Jefferson (R8, S2) at Marist (R6, S1) -- (DH), 4:30 p.m. -- (moved from Monday)
CLASS 3A
Cherokee Bluff (R7, S2) at Greater Atlanta Christian (R5, S1) -- (DH), 4 p.m. -- (moved from Tuesday)
Hart County at North Hall (R7, S1) -- (DH), 5 p.m. -- (moved from Tuesday)
CLASS A PUBLIC
Bowden (R6, S2) at Commerce (R8, S1) -- (DH), 1 p.m. -- (moved from Tuesday)
Thursday, May 5
CLASS 6A
Pope (R6, S2) at Buford (R8, S1) -- Game 3, if necessary, 5:55 p.m.
CLASS 4A
Flowery Branch (R8, S3) at Cedartown (R7, S1) -- Game 3, if necessary, 6 p.m. -- (moved from Wednesday)
Jefferson (R8, S2) at Marist (R6, S1) -- Game 3, if necessary, 5:30 p.m. -- (moved from Wednesday)
CLASS 3A
Cherokee Bluff (R7, S2) at Greater Atlanta Christian (R5, S1) -- Game 3, if necessary, 5:30 p.m. -- (moved from Wednesday)
Hart County at North Hall (R7, S1) -- Game 3, if necessary, 4 p.m. -- (moved from Wednesday)
CLASS A PUBLIC
Bowden (R6, S2) at Commerce (R8, S1) -- Game 3, if necessary, 1 p.m. -- (moved from Wednesday)
http://accesswdun.com/article/2021/5/1002886/baseball-playoffs-ghsa-pushes-back-quarterfinal-round-due-to-rain