UPDATED Region Week: 7A playoff implications

For all intents and purposes, playoff baseball in Georgia has arrived. Sure, technically, a week from today is when the first round of the GHSA postseason commences, but there’s still so much left to decide until then.

We’re outlining what’s on the line throughout the rest of this week in this post below.

7A MATCH-UPS

+ Region 1 is mostly settled, as Lowndes needs just one win in their next two games over Camden County to clinch the No. 1 seed. Colquitt County is lurking two games back of the top spot with two regional games left to play, both on Friday, against Tift County, which is the current No. 4 seed from this group.

+ In Region 2, Wheeler and Campbell both hold a 7-7 regional record, and they have a huge contest against one another this evening to determine which team is snagging the No. 3 seed and which is the No. 4. At the top of the region, East Coweta and Newnan are both neck and neck at 12-2 and the Indians and Cougars will meet Thursday to play for the top seed from this group. Region 2 is paired with Region 3 for the first round of the playoffs.

+ Anything but a sweep would assure Kennesaw Mountain the No. 4 seed in Region 3, but Marietta is looking to pull it off after taking game one of the three-game series on Monday, 11-8. The two teams play again this evening and again on Friday, and if the Blue Devils complete the sweep, the tiebreaker for the No. 4 seed would be in their favor. North Cobb, like the Mustangs, is also 7-6 currently, and have two more tough games against Hillgrove to finish out regional play. If the Hawks win one more game, they clinch the No. 1 spot. North Paulding clinches the No. 2 with a win against McEachern tonight or on Friday.

+ Walton’s 6-0 win over Cherokee on Tuesday ensured them the top seed in Region 4, since they own the tiebreaker over Woodstock anyway. The Wolverines have two games left against Roswell, winning one guarantees them the No. 2 seed, losing both opens the door for Etowah to swoop in if the Eagles sweep Lassiter this week. Both Roswell and Lassiter are 5-8, so they’re both striving to sneak out a win against their opponents for a better shot at a No. 3 seed. The 4-9 Cherokee Warriors can make things complicated by winning its next two games over Walton.

+ Milton (11-2) and Forsyth Central (10-3) each have two regional games left. The Eagles have Lambert tonight while the Bulldogs play West Forsyth. If the two teams stay within a game of each other it’ll make Friday’s contest against each other a must-see. Though, keep in mind, Central owns two wins over Milton this spring, giving them the tiebreaker. Even though they’re 3-10 in Region 5, South Forsyth could sneak into the postseason with a Lambert loss tonight. Lambert and the War Eagles play each other on Friday, in a game that could have the No. 4 seed on the line. North Forsyth will have earned a No. 3 seed with a win over South or West Forsyth over the next three days.

+ Things are a little clearer in Region 6, where North Gwinnett has already claimed the No. 1 seed with a 14-2 record. However, seeds Nos. 2, 3, and 4 are all still up for grabs, technically. At 11-5, Mountain View has the edge on the second slot, but they just dropped the opening game of a three-game set with Collins Hill. A sweep would allow Mill Creek to usurp the No. 2 if it’s able to defeat Peachtree Ridge tonight and on Friday. Ridge is 9-7 this spring, seeing as the Hawks do own the tiebreaker over the Bears in head-to-head contests. And since the Lions swept Collins Hill earlier in the spring, they’re at least guaranteed the No. 4 seed, but they’re in control of their own destiny with two more games against Mill Creek on the calendar.

+ One of the state’s most heated rivalries comes to a head this week: Parkview and Brookwood. The Panthers and Broncos both share the top spot in Region 7, at 10-0, but their two games against one another this week will determine the No. 1 seed and regional champ – and bragging rights. PBR Georgia’s own Kyle Colletta will be at tonight’s game, too, so follow along on Twitter for updates. Either of the aforementioned teams will be seeded No. 1 or 2, and similarly, either Lakeside or Norcross will be the No. 3 or 4 seed. The two will also play each other tonight and again on Thursday.

+ Finally, in Region 8, Grayson is sitting at a perfect 13-0 in regional play but the No. 1 seed won’t be locked down until the earn a win in their next two games against 11-2 Archer. If Archer is able to earn the two-game sweep, they’ll steal the No. 1 spot away from the Rams on tiebreaker. Elsewhere in the region, South Gwinnett is locked into the No. 3 seed, while Shiloh and Rockdale County have a series against each other to determine which team will earn the last spot in the region.

Stay tuned throughout the rest of the day for primers on playoff implications regarding the rest of the state’s classes, too.

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