Parkview is one series victory from its 10th state baseball title, but the Panthers must get through Lowndes at Truist Park in what might be called state championship week.
The Parkview-Lowndes series, which starts Tuesday with a doubleheader, is the first of eight state finals scheduled at four sites. The prize venue is Truist, the Braves’ home field, where the GHSA’s highest classification has decided its champions since 2019.
Parkview is 9-0 in state finals, and one of those championships came against Lowndes in 2001, when both had a future major league star – Jeff Francoeur for Parkview and Stephen Drew for Lowndes.
This year’s Parkview team is paced by Colin Houck, a shortstop and potential first-round major league draft pick, and he’s well-supported. Landon Stripling, a pitcher/first baseman, is another potential high pick, and Cade Brown, a junior committed to Georgia, hit three home runs in the semifinal series sweep of Mill Creek.
Lowndes also has a star shortstop, Carson Page, a junior committed to Georgia Tech. The Vikings are two-time former champions (1981, 200).
In Class 6A, defending champion Pope plays No. 1-ranked Houston County beginning Thursday at Coolray Field, home of the minor league Gwinnett Stripers. Pope has won five state titles. Houston County has won three.
Loganville is playing the winner of the Centennial-McIntosh semifinal (to be completed Monday) in the 5A final that starts Saturday at Coolray. Loganville has won six state titles overall and is playing in its sixth straight final. Centennial and McIntosh have never played in a state final.
In 4A, defending champion North Oconee is playing LaGrange in a rematch of the 2022 final that North Oconee won. Both are 8-0 in playoff games this year. North Oconee has won 18 straight state-playoff games.
No. 1 Harlem of 3A plays Ringgold at Adventhealth Stadium, home of the Rome Braves, starting Friday. This is Ringgold’s sixth state final, but the northwest Georgia team has never won one. Harlem swept Ringgold in the second round last year. Harlem is a seven-time former champion but hasn’t won since 1986.
Two Cobb County private schools seven miles apart are playing for the 2A title in Rome when Mount Paran Christian, which won Class A Private in 2021, goes against North Cobb Christian, making its first finals appearance. North Cobb Christian beat Mount Paran in two close games during the regular season.
The Class A playoffs are in the semifinals to be played Tuesday and Wednesday. Their finals are Monday-Wednesday of next week at Georgia Southern.
Schedule:
Class 7A at Truist Park, Atlanta
Parkview vs. Lowndes
Tuesday, 5 p.m. (doubleheader)
Wednesday, 7 p.m. (if necessary)
Class 6A at Coolray Field, Lawrenceville
Pope vs. Houston County
Thursday, 5 p.m. (doubleheader)
Friday, noon (if necessary)
Class 5A at Coolray Field, Lawrenceville
Loganville vs. Centennial/McIntosh
Saturday, 5 p.m. (doubleheader)
Monday, 5 p.m. (if necessary)
Class 4A at Coolray Field, Lawrenceville
North Oconee vs. LaGrange
Friday, 5 p.m. (doubleheader)
Saturday, noon (if necessary)
Class 3A at Adventhealth Stadium, Rome
Harlem vs. Ringgold
Friday, 5 p.m. (doubleheader)
Saturday, noon (if necessary)
Class 2A at Adventhealth Stadium, Rome
Mount Paran Christian vs. North Cobb Christian
Saturday, 5 p.m. (doubleheader)
Monday, 7 p.m. (if necessary)
Class A Division I at Georgia Southern, Statesboro
Irwin County/Bleckley County vs. Prince Avenue Christian/Darlington
Monday, 5 p.m. (doubleheader)
Tuesday, May 23, noon (if necessary)
Class A Division II at Georgia Southern, Statesboro
McIntosh County Academy/Charlton County vs. ECI/Schley County
Tuesday, May 23, 5 p.m. (doubleheader)
Wednesday, May 24, 7 p.m. (if necessary)
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