With Spring Break now over, several regions enter the final week of the regular season, which figures to offer several tension-filled games as teams make their final playoff push.
But several more regions will still have a week to go as their playoff pushes also start to heat up.
As for this week, Region 8-7A may have the most drama as the top four teams are separated by just one-half game. Buford (12-12, 7-4 Region 8-7A) and Dacula (16-8, 7-4 Region 8-7A) lead the way over Collins Hill (14-11, 6-4 Region 8-7A) and Mill Creek (12-11, 6-4 Region 8-7A).
The Wolves open a three-game series with Collins Hill on the road on Monday, and they will play two more times (Thursday and Friday) this week. But Buford also has one left with Dacula on the road next Monday. Mill Creek and Mountain View (9-11, 4-5 Region 8-7A) will open a series at Mill Creek on Monday. The Bears still have Central Gwinnett (4-14, 0-9 Region 8-7A) and are still alive, having won a pair of series over both Buford and Collins Hill during the regular season. Dacula may be in the driver's seat playing Central Gwinnett this week and has the one left with Buford.
In Region 8-6A, no one is hotter than Apalachee (12-12, 8-6 Region 8-6A). After an 0-5 start in region play, the Wildcats have won 8 of 9, including knocking off first place North Forsyth (17-8, 12-2 Region 8-6A), which has lost two of its last three. The region will play a series of one-game matchups over the final week.
The Raiders' magic number to clinch the title is one, and they have won every series in region play. However, they could still finish second if they lose out and either Apalachee, Jackson County (11-14, 8-5 Region 8-6A) or Lanier (16-7, 9-5 Region 8-6A) win out. Apalachee, Lanier, and Jackson County are separated by just one game for second through fourth. Habersham Central (12-12, 6-8 Region 8-6A) is in fifth, and Gainesville (11-12, 5-8 Region 8-6A) sits in sixth, within striking distance of the final spot.
Region 8-4A North is nearly set. No. 1-ranked Cherokee Bluff (22-1, 8-1 Region 8-4A North) has locked up the top spot in the North, and No. 2-ranked North Oconee (20-2, 9-0 Region 8-4A South) has locked up the top spot in the South. East Forsyth (15-9, 8-4 Region 8-4A North) has sealed a second-place finish in the North, and Seckinger (13-12, 8-4 Region 8-4A South) is the second seed in the South.
Bluff and North Oconee will meet in a three-game series next week for the top two seeds in the playoffs. The Nos. 2 and 3 seeds from each subregion will crossover to play for the third and fourth spots, so only the top three teams in each subregion will advance to the play-in series.
North Hall (14-9, 4-5 Region 8-4A North) and Chestatee (11-11, 4-5 Region 8-4A North) are battling for the third spot in the North. The Trojans won their series 2-1 over Chestatee, so they would win the tiebreaker in the event of a tie. The War Eagles have to finish one game or more ahead of the Trojans to make the play-in series.
Sixth-ranked Walnut Grove (14-9, 4-5 Region 8-4A South) and Madison County (5-16, 3-6 Region 8-4A South) are battling for the third spot in the South. Walnut Grove swept Madison County in its series, so the Raiders would have to finish one game or more ahead of the Warriors.
(Check below for the full schedule of baseball games on Monday involving area teams.)
HIGH SCHOOL BASEBALL SCHEDULE
(All games start at 5:55 p.m. unless otherwise noted)
Monday, April 10
Buford at Collins Hill*
Cherokee Bluff at Chestatee*
Dawson County at East Forsyth
Eastside at Jefferson*
Habersham Central at Shiloh*
Harrison at North Forsyth, 5:30 p.m.
Jackson County at Gainesville*
Lakeview Academy at Bethlehem Christian Academy*
North Hall at East Hall*
Towns County at Robbinsville (NC), 4:30 p.m.
(* -- denotes region contest)
