The high school baseball season has only about 10 days left. Region champions don’t get pennants, but if they did, here would be five of the best pennant races. Hillgrove, Walnut Grove and Lovett won big games Wednesday to make them a little more interesting. Here’s a closer look:
Region 3-AAAAAAA: Second-ranked Hillgrove (21-5, 9-2), fourth-ranked North Paulding (19-5, 8-3) and seventh-ranked North Cobb (18-4, 7-3) are battling it out. Hillgrove and North Paulding have split games this week and play a third game on Thursday. In their first meeting this week, North Paulding won 3-1 as Georgia Tech commit Zachary Maxwell allowed just two hits and struck out nine over six innings. Then on Wednesday, Hillgrove's Deion Walker and Alex McKay combined on a three-hitter in a 3-2 victory. Hillgrove has a three-game series next week with North Cobb.
Region 7-AAAAAAA: Parkview (22-4, 8-0) and Brookwood (20-6, 9-0) are unbeaten in region play. Parkview is the defending state champion. Brookwood made the semifinals last season. They'll square off Wednesday and Friday of next week to settle it. They haven't played since last season, when they split their two games.
Region 8-AAAAA: Loganville (15-6, 3-1 this season) defeated Buford (14-9, 4-2) in the 2018 state finals and have been ranked No. 1 and No. 2 most of this season. But unranked Walnut Grove (15-7, 5-1) is in first place. Walnut Grove avenged Tuesday's 2-1 loss to Buford with a 2-1 victory Wednesday, when Austin Little pitched a three-hitter and Chandler Head hit two solo homers. Buford's Ramsey David, an Auburn signee, pitched a two-hitter in the Tuesday game. Buford and Loganville split one-run games last month. Walnut Grove plays Loganville on Wednesday and Friday of next week. The big three aren't likely to lose to another region opponent, so follow the loss column and the games between the leaders.
Region 7-AAAA: No. 1 Blessed Trinity (21-5, 8-0) and No. 3 Marist (19-5, 7-1) are going down to the wire. They have games Wednesday (at Blessed Trinity) and Thursday (at Marist) of next week. Blessed Trinity won their March 3 meeting 3-0 behind sophomore pitcher D.J. Radtke, who allowed three hits in six innings.
Region 5-AAA: Lovett (13-8, 7-0) scored a 7-5 victory over Westminster (15-7, 6-1) on Wednesday – coming from 5-0 down with a seven-run sixth inning – to pin the first region loss on any of the Buckhead three that also includes Pace Academy (13-6, 7-0). Will Seiler and Schaefer Jackson had two hits apiece for Lovett on Wednesday. Lovett and Westminster play again on Thursday. Westminster plays Pace on Friday and Monday. Lovett plays Pace on Wednesday and Thursday of next week.
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