Jeff Hart

Region 8-4A will go full throttle on Friday night as the rest of the region joins East Forsyth and Cedar Shoals for some key matchups right out of the gate.

Ronald Acuña Jr. hit two of Atlanta's five home runs, Matt Olson increased his major league-leading total to 47 and the Braves beat slumping Adam Wainwright and the St. Louis Cardinals 8-5 on Thursday night.

North Forsyth ran its win streak to four straight and stayed unbeaten in Region 8-6A with a big road win over Jackson County on Thursday.

Lakeview Academy took a region win over George Walton Thursday night at home.

The opening stages of reclassification for the Georgia High School Association began in earnest on Thursday.

Class 5A No. 2 Jefferson scored four runs in the top of the seventh to escape with a 7-3 road win over Flowery Branch in a big Region 8-5A matchup on Wednesday.

Paul Goldschmidt, Masyn Winn, Willson Contreras and Nolan Gorman went deep as the St. Louis Cardinals hit four home runs for the second straight game and beat the MLB-leading Atlanta Braves 11-6 Wednesday night to take the first two games of the three-game series.

Rams backup quarterback Stetson Bennett and receiver Cooper Kupp will miss Los Angeles' season opener in Seattle on Sunday because of injuries.

Prevailing thoughts coming into the season had North Oconee as an overwhelming favorite to repeat as Region 8-4A champions. From there, it seems to be a wide-open field.

Caroline Stanton was perfect and No. 1 Buford stayed perfect on Tuesday.