There is a little over a week left in baseball’s regular season. Here is the low down on the region races in Class AAAAAA.
Region 1 – Lee County (19-4, 8-1) is the only AAAAAA team that has clinched a No. 1 seed. The other Region 1 playoff teams will be Valdosta, Colquitt County and Tift County. Lee County has deep pitching. Five pitchers have thrown at least 20 innings. They are Josh Hatcher (6-0, 0.80), Tyler Goff (5-1, 2.60), Andrew Wingate (2-1, 0.78, four saves), Tyler Simon (2-0, 1.18) and football-team quarterback Garet Morrell (2-1, 2.39). Region 1 swept Region 2 in the first round of the playoffs last year, then went 0-4 in the second round.
Region 2 – Rockdale County (15-6, 8-3) has beaten first-place Lakeside (16-6, 9-2) twice this week (7-1 and 4-3), and they play again Friday at Rockdale. Jeff Sweat threw a complete-game two-hitter in the 7-1 victory. Clean-up hitter Cedric Clarke was 3-for-4 with a double in the 4-3 win. Lakeside also faces second-place Tucker (13-9, 8-3) three times next week.
Region 3 – No. 9 East Coweta (17-6, 10-1) and Westlake (15-7, 10-1) share the lead with Newnan (14-8, 9-2) on their tails. Newnan defeated Westlake 3-1 on Tuesday as Bennett Rowan was 2-for-2 with a double. The two meet again Friday. Westlake and East Coweta face off twice next week.
Region 4 – No. 10 Harrison (17-5, 9-2) has the lead over North Paulding (18-4, 8-3) and Hillgrove (12-10, 8-3). Harrison and North Paulding play on Monday and Wednesday, likely to decide the championship.
Region 5 –Pope (17-5, 12-2) has taken the lead over No. 1-ranked Walton (18-4, 9-4) in a tough region that also includes Etowah (16-6, 9-4), Lassiter (13-9, 8-5) and Woodstock (14-8, 7-5). Pope, ranked No. 3, swept Lassiter this week 10-0 and 3-2, allowing no earned runs in 14 innings. Walton appeared to have the insight track after a 10-5 win over Pope last week, then lost the next night to Etowah 2-1 as Etowah's Bryce O'Brien pitched a six-hitter. O'Brien also was 1-for-2 and drove in a run on a sacrifice fly. Region 5 sent three teams to the quarterfinals in 2015.
Region 6 – Sixth-ranked Lambert (17-5, 13-1) has a two-game lead over West Forsyth (13-9, 11-3) and Northview (17-5, 11-3), with North Forsyth and Johns Creek (both 10-4 in region play) in playoff contention. Lambert swept Johns Creek 3-1 and 7-2 this week. Cole Varner pitched a three-hitter in one, while Zach Fraveno pitched six strong innings (allowing four hits) in the other. Parker Scruggs had five hits in the two games. Lambert has won eight straight against Georgia opponents.
Region 7 – Fourth-ranked Norcross (19-4, 9-2) has won six straight and moved into a tie for first with second-ranked Collins Hill (18-4, 9-2) after a 1-0 victory over Collins Hill on Monday. Norcross pitcher Graeme Stinson pitched a complete-game two-hitter. Fifth-ranked Mountain View (16-6, 8-3) stands third with North Gwinnett and Mill Creek next in line
Region 8 – Brookwood, Parkview, Archer and Grayson are within one game of each other in the standings. Unranked Brookwood (15-8, 11-2) has won eight straight and beat Grayson 11-8 in a big one this week as Will Banfield had three hits and three RBI and got the save. Parkview (15-7, 10-2), the defending state champion, has key matchups Friday at Archer (15-8, 15-8, 10-3) and Monday at home against Grayson (16-6, 9-3).
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