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Posted 5/5/19
Irwin County and pitcher Brodie Chestnutt, a Florida State commit, will play host to Johnson County
in the GHSA quarterfinal round starting on May 8.
GHSA baseball moves into quarterfinals
The quarterfinal round of the Georgia High School Association state baseball playoffs is scheduled for May 8-9. All series are best-of-three formats. Here is a brief preview on each series:
Class 7A
Newnan (23-9) at Grayson (26-10)
When: Wednesday (DH), 4 p.m.; Thursday (if needed), 5 p.m.
Coaches: Newnan -- Marc Gilmore; Grayson -- Jed Hixson
How they got here: Newnan defeated North Cobb in three games in the first round, then swept Lassiter in the second round. Grayson defeated Lambert in three games in the first round, then defeated Brookwood in three games in the second round.
Winner of this series: Will meet the winner of the Hillgrove-Mill Creek series.
Outlook: Region 2 champion Newnan made it look easy last week in a sweep of Lassiter. When the Cougars' Michael Maginnis stroked a three-run homer in the bottom of the seventh inning of Game 1, it gave Newnan a 4-3 walk-off victory. The Cougars carried that momentum into Game 2 where pitcher Jake Martin's complete-game shutout on the mound paced Newnan to a 4-0 victory. Grayson survived a hard-fought three-game set with Gwinnett County power Brookwood to win the best-of-three series. Sophomore Brodie Eilertson, after giving up five runs in the second inning of Game 3, held Brookwood scoreless the rest of the way in an 11-6 victory that allowed the Rams to advance. Grayson is playing in the quarterfinals for the second straight year.
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Mill Creek (23-13) at Hillgrove (28-8)
When: Wednesday (DH), 4:30 p.m.; Thursday (if needed), 6 p.m.
Coaches: Mill Creek -- Doug Jones; Hillgrove -- David Richardson
How they got here: Mill Creek defeated Norcross in three games in the first round, then defeated Milton in three games in the second round. Hillgrove defeated Wheeler in three games in the first round, then defeated Woodstock in three games in the second round.
Winner of this series: Will meet the winner of the Newnan-Grayson series.
Outlook: After falling to Milton 8-7 in Game 1 of its second-round series, Mill Creek broke out the offense in Games 2 and 3 to advance to the quarterfinals for the third straight season. The Hawks combined to outscore Milton 16-1 in the final two games of the series. It didn't hurt that pitchers Zach Green (1 runs, 4 hits) threw a complete-game in Game 2, and Kyle Sterwerf allowed Milton just one hit in a five-inning 11-0 victory in Game 3. One of the more entertaining series in the second round was Woodstock and Hillgrove. After Hillgrove got hammered in Game 1, 14-2, they rallied for a 13-9 victory in the second game of the series. It took 11 innings in the third and decisive game for Hillgrove to pull out a 4-3 victory. Ethan Wright's RBI single in the top of the 11th broke a 3-all tie, then Woodstock loaded the bases with two outs but failed to score when reliever Brennan Richardson induced a ground ball for the third out, giving Hillgrove the series. Since finishing as the state runner-up in 2011, Hillgrove is in the quarterfinals for the third time. Both teams' mascot is the Hawks.
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Walton (25-9-1) at Parkview (30-4)
When: Wednesday (DH), 4:30 p.m.; Thursday (if needed), 5 p.m.
Coaches: Walton -- Shane Amos; Parkview -- Chan Brown
How they got here: Walton swept Collins Hill in the first round, then swept North Paulding in the second round. Parkview swept Peachtree Ridge in the first round, then swept North Forsyth in the second round.
Winner of this series: Will meet the winner of the Etowah-North Gwinnett series.
Outlook: Walton needed 10 innings to defeat North Paulding 6-5 in Game 1 of its second-round series. The Raiders used a two-out walkoff single from Jared Jones in the bottom of the 10th to secure the win. Then pitchers Bobby Spencer and AJ Montijo combined to allow North Paulding two runs on six hits as the Raiders swept the series with an 11-2 victory. Walton is in the quarterfinal round for the first time since they won the state championship in 2016. After getting outhit by North Forsyth in Game 1 of its second-round series but winning 8-6, Parkview pitchers Xander Stephens and Graham Yntema combined to allow just two hits in a five-inning 13-0 victory to sweep the series. These two schools met for the Class 6A state championship series in 2015. These two programs have combined to win three of the last four state titles in the state's largest classification.
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Etowah (23-12) at North Gwinnett (29-5)
When: Wednesday (DH), 4:30 p.m.; Thursday (if needed), 6 p.m.
Coaches: Etowah -- Greg Robinson; North Gwinnett -- Ryan Moity
How they got here: Etowah swept Lowndes in the first round, then defeated Kennesaw Mountain in three games in the second round. North Gwinnett swept Lakeside-DeKalb, then swept Forsyth Central in the second round.
Winner of this series: Will meet the winner of the Parkview-Walton series.
Outlook: Etowah continues to march through the state playoff brackets. After dropping the first game of its series to Kennesaw Mountain, Etowah scored four runs in the bottom of the seventh inning of Game 2 to force extra innings. Then after Kennesaw scored a run in the top of the 11th, the Eagles scored two in the bottom of the 11th, including a game-winning walk-off single by Michael Sharman to force a decisive Game 3. The Eagles then took an 8-5 victory in the final game to take the series. Etowah is in the quarterfinal round for the fifth straight year. North Gwinnett is in the quarterfinals for the second time in the past three seasons. The Bulldogs combined to score 18 runs on 23 hits in a sweep of Forsyth Central in Round 2. In postseason play, the Bulldogs have combined to score 46 runs in four games.
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Class 6A
Effingham County (28-5) at Winder-Barrow (28-3)
When: Wednesday (DH), 4:30 p.m.; Thursday (if needed), 5 p.m.
Coaches: Effingham County -- Chris Johnson; Winder-Barrow -- Brian Smith
How they got here: Effingham County swept Lakeside-Evans in the first round, then swept Valdosta in the second round. Winder-Barrow swept Creekside in the first round, then swept River Ridge in the second round.
Winner of this series: Will meet the winner of the Heritage-Conyers-Allatoona series.
Outlook: Ryan Harley's squeeze bunt in the bottom of the seventh inning scored the game-winning run in a 3-2 victory over Valdosta in the first game of the second-round series. The Rebels then rode that momentum to a 9-1 victory in Game 2 to sweep the Wildcats. Effingham County is in the quarterfinals under first-year coach Chris Johnson. The Rebels lost in the second round in three games to Grovetown in the state playoffs last year. Winder-Barrow has been largely unchallenged this season. The top-ranked Bulldoggs used a walk-off single from Trevor Maddox in the bottom of the eighth inning of Game 1 against River Ridge to win 3-2, then Austin Lockridge shut out the Knights in a 10-0 victory in Game 2. It was the second no-hitter of the postseason for Lockridge. Winder-Barrow has won 20 straight games.
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Allatoona (23-10) at Heritage-Conyers (25-6)
When: Wednesday (DH), 5 p.m.; Thursday (if needed), 6 p.m.
Coaches: Allatoona -- Keith Hansen; Heritage-Conyers -- Shane Ramsey
How they got here: Allatoona swept Alpharetta in the first round, then swept Alexander in the second round. Heritage-Conyers swept Glynn Academy in the first round, then defeated Coffee in three games in the second round.
Winner of this series: Will meet the winner of the Effingham County-Winder-Barrow series.
Outlook: Allatoona is on a six-game winning streak and has outscored its opponents by a combined 39-5 in four postseason games. The Buccaneers are in the quarterfinals for the third straight season. They finished as the Class 6A state runner-up last season. Heritage is having its best season under coach Shane Ramsey. The Patriots, after splitting the first two games of their second-round series with Coffee, took the third and deciding game as pitchers Nolan Woodward and Darryl Buggs combined to allow Coffee three runs on six hits in a 10-3 victory.
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Lee County (19-17) at Pope (27-7)
When: Wednesday (DH), 4:30 p.m.; Thursday (if needed), 6 p.m.
Coaches: Lee County -- Brian Trivette; Pope -- Jeff Rowland
How they got here: Lee County defeated Stephenson in three games in the first round, then defeated Greenbrier in three games in the second round. Pope defeated Creekview in three games in the first round, then defeated Dacula in three games in the second round.
Winner of this series: Will meet the winner of the Houston County-Harrison series
Outlook: Lee County is only No. 4 seed left playing in the Class 6A playoffs. After ousting Stephenson in Round 1, the Trojans took a decisive 6-5 victory in Game 3 to upend Greenbrier in the second round. Three pitchers shut down the Wolfpack, while Spencer Hanson went 3-for-3 at the plate. This series is a rematch of the 2017 Class 6A state championship series that Pope swept at Rome's State Mutual Stadium. Pope, the Region 7 champions, have needed three games to win both of its state playoff series in the first two rounds this year. After splitting with Dacula, Caden Smith's RBI double scored Will Lantis for the game's only run. Reid Robertson and Andrew Herlitz combined on a two-hit shutout.
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Houston County (23-10) at Harrison (26-6)
When: Wednesday (DH), 5 p.m.; Thursday (if needed), 5 p.m.
Coaches: Houston County -- Matt Hopkins; Harrison -- Mark Elkins
How they got here: Houston County swept Mount Zion-Jonesboro in the first round, then swept Grovetown in the second round. Harrison swept Dunwoody in the first round, then swept South Paulding in the second round.
Winner of this series: Will meet the winner of the Lee County-Pope series.
Outlook: Both teams enter this series riding 10-game winning streaks. Houston County has run-ruled its opponent in three of its four postseason games. The only game that went seven innings was the Bears' 7-3 Game 1 victory against Grovetown the second round. Jaden Woods had three hits to lead the offense. Harrison smoked South Paulding in Game 1 of its second round series, then cut down a furious South Paulding rally in Game 2 to post a 9-7 victory and advance. The Hoyas have combined to score 39 runs in their four playoff games.
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Class 5A
Thomas County Central (28-5) at Loganville (25-6)
When: Wednesday (DH), 4 p.m.; Thursday (if needed), 5 p.m.
Coaches: Thomas County Central -- Ryan Strickland; Loganville -- Jeff Segars
How they got here: Thomas County Central swept Jones County in the first round, then defeated Wayne County in three games in the second round. Loganville swept Lithonia in the first round, then swept Carrollton in the second round.
Winner of this series: Will meet the winner of the Locust grove-Riverwood series.
Outlook: Thomas County Central is in the quarterfinals for the first time in recent memory. The Jackets split with Wayne County in the first two games of the second round series, then pitchers Luke Benton and Nick Herndon combined on a three-hit shutout in a 1-0 Game 3 victory. Jarrod Johnson scored the game's only run on a groundout. Perhaps no team in Class 5A is hotter than Loganville, who has won 13 straight and they combined to outscore Carrollton 20-6 in a second-round sweep. The Red Devils got a complete-game performance in Game 1 from ace pitcher Connor Bruce, who allowed two runs on seven hits. Then Ian King's 4-for-5 performance at the plate sent Loganville to a 15-4 victory in Game 2. King finished with a double and a triple. The two-time defending state champs are looking to become the first team since Columbus High (2010-12) to win three straight state baseball titles.
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Locust Grove (22-9) at Riverwood (25-4)
When: Wednesday (DH), 4 p.m.; Thursday (if needed), 5:30 p.m.
Coaches: Locust Grove -- Stephen Phillips; Riverwood -- Trey Henson
How they got here: Locust Grove swept Bainbridge in the first round, then defeated Starr's Mill in three games in the second round. Riverwood defeated East Paulding in three games in the first round, then swept Southwest DeKalb in the second round.
Winner of this series: Will meet the winner of the Thomas County Central-Loganville series.
Outlook: Locust Grove's Game 2 loss to Starr's Mill in the second round snapped a nine-game winning streak. This will be the fifth straight year the Wildcats have been in the quarterfinal round. After splitting the first two games of the second round series against Starr's Mill, Luke Welborn and Dalton Laney had three hits apiece, while pitcher Joe Roden allowed three runs on seven hits in a 13-3 five-inning victory in Game 3 to win the series. Riverwood's offense has been on fire since the third game against East Paulding in the first round of the state playoffs. In the last three postseason games, the Raiders have combined to score 38 runs and allowed just six. Riverwood has won seven of its past eight games.
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Buford (22-10) at Ola (26-9)
When: Wednesday (DH), 4 p.m.; Thursday (if needed), 6 p.m.
Coaches: Buford -- Stuart Chester; Ola -- Beau Edwards
How they got here: Buford swept Arabia Mountain in the first round, then swept Kell in the second round. Ola swept Veterans in the first round, then swept McIntosh in the second round.
Winner of this series: Will meet the winner of the Harris County-Decatur series.
Outlook: After defeating Kell 5-3 in Game 1 of their second round series, the Wolves scored four runs in the sixth inning of Game 2, then held on to post a 5-4 victory and sweep the series. These two teams met in the quarterfinals last year with Buford sweeping the series on its way to finishing as the Class 5A state runner-up. Ola has combined to score 32 runs in its four postseason games so far, and the Mustangs aren't planning to slow down. They will have their work cut out as they face a lethal Buford pitching rotation that has been tough on opponents so far this postseason.
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Harris County (25-8) at Decatur (28-6)
When: Wednesday (DH), 4:30 p.m.; Thursday (if needed), 5:30 p.m.
Coaches: Harris County -- Steve Westmoreland; Decatur -- Robby Gilbert
How they got here: Harris County defeated Union Grove in three games in the first round, then swept Whitewater in the second round. Decatur swept Rome in the first round, then swept Walnut Grove in the second round.
Winner of this series: Will meet the winner of the Ola-Buford series.
Outlook: Harris County took the first game of its second round series with Whitewater 5-3, then they grabbed a one-run lead in top of the sixth inning in Game 2 before giving the ball to pitcher Daniel Miller. He worked two scoreless innings of relief to preserve a 4-3 victory for the Tigers who are in the quarterfinals for the first time since 2012. The Region 1 champions will face a red-hot Decatur squad playing well in Class 5A. Jackson Hills' walk-off RBI double in the bottom of the ninth inning of Game 1 against Walnut Grove gave the Bulldogs a 4-3 victory. Then behind pitcher Jaylen Paden's two-hit shutout (11 strikeouts) in Game 2, the Bulldogs won 4-0 to advance. After missing out last year, Decatur is in the quarterfinals for the second time in three years.
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Class 4A
Columbus (24-7) at North Oconee (22-7)
When: Wednesday (DH), 4 p.m.; Thursday (if needed), 5 p.m.
Coaches: Columbus -- Chad Mathis; North Oconee -- Jay Lasley
How they got here: Columbus swept Hampton in the first round, then swept Mary Persons in the second round. North Oconee swept Cedartown in the first round, then defeated Marist in three games.
Winner of this series: Will meet the winner of the Northside-Columbus-Cartersville series.
Outlook: No team in Class 4A is playing better than Columbus High right now. The Blue Devils have won 18 in a row after sweeping a pair of games from Region 2 champion Mary Persons in the second round. Pitcher Austin Hicks hurled a three-hit shutout in a 1-0 victory in Game 1 against Mary Persons, then Robbie Tillman and Devin Cail had three hits apiece to pace the Blue Devils to a 9-5 victory in Game 2. North Oconee continues to play well under second-year coach Jay Lasley They have a lot of positive momentum, especially after eliminating state power Marist in the second round. After splitting the first two games of the second round series, pitchers Troy Harris and Will Pearson combined to allow Marist just one run on nine hits in a 7-1 victory in Game 3 last Friday. The Titans got three hits from Woody Barks in the decisive Game 3 victory.
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Northside-Columbus (26-7) at Cartersville (28-4)
When: Wednesday (DH), 4:30 p.m.; Thursday (if needed), 5:30 p.m.
Coaches: Northside-- Dee Miller; Cartersville -- Kyle Tucker
How they got here: Northside swept Eastside in the first round, then swept Perry in the second round. Cartersville swept Oconee County in the first round, then swept Flowery Branch in the second round.
Winner of this series: Will meet the winner of the Columbus-North Oconee series.
Outlook: Northside's pitching staff has been stingy in the postseason. In four playoff games, the Patriots have allowed a combined five runs. Meanwhile, the Northside offense has been explosive, combing to score 38 runs. Pitcher Connor Sizemore hurled a complete game in a 9-1 victory over Perry in Game 1 of the second round, then pitcher Colton Joyner stifled Perry's offense in an 11-3 victory in Game 2. Northside's offense will be tested as Cartersville pitchers Mason Barnett, Logan Martin and Gage Morris have been tough on opponents in the playoffs. Three of Cartersville's four playoff victories have been shutouts.
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Woodward Academy (24-8) at Blessed Trinity (28-6)
When: Wednesday (DH), 4:30 p.m.; Thursday (if needed), 5 p.m.
Coaches: Woodward Academy -- Jose Fernandez; Blessed Trinity -- Andy Harlin
How they got here: Woodward Academy swept Hardaway in the first round, then defeated Upson-Lee in three games in the second round. Blessed Trinity swept Ridgeland in the first round, then swept LaGrange in the second round.
Winner of this series: Will meet the winner of the West Laurens-Denmark series.
Outlook: Woodward Academy's loss to Upson-Lee in Game 2 of its second round series snapped the War Eagles' 10-game winning streak. After splitting the first two games of the second round, Woodward pitchers Mason Carnes and Will Sanders combined to allow two runs on six hits as the War Eagles took the series with a 5-2 victory. Blessed Trinity has rolled in the postseason, combining to outscore its playoff opponents 40-4. Blessed Trinity pitcher Eric Moore no-hit LaGrange in a 4-0 victory in Game 1 of the second round series. Then Steele Chambers, Jake Smith and Trey Baker had three hits each in a 9-3 victory in Game 2.
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Denmark (15-15) at West Laurens (27-6)
When: Wednesday (DH), 5 p.m.; Thursday (if needed), 4:30 p.m.
Coaches: Denmark -- David Smart; West Laurens -- Brian Brown
How they got here: Denmark swept Northwest Whitfield in the first round, then swept Saint Pius X in the second round. West Laurens swept Cross Creek in the first round, then swept Cairo in the second round.
Winner of this series: Will meet the winner of the Woodward Academy-Blessed Trinity series.
Outlook: Denmark is the only No. 4 seed playing in the Class 4A playoffs. The Danes have been the "feel-good story" of the postseason. The first-year school, however, has made things looks easy in sweeps of Northwest Whitfield and St. Pius X. Dalton Hansard allowed St. Pius X just one run on seven hits in a complete-game 7-1 victory in Game 1 of the second round series. Then pitchers Jack Whitlock and Jack Kream combined to allow three runs on six hits in an 8-3 victory in Game 2 to take the series. But West Laurens has been equally impressive in the playoffs. After the Raiders swept Cross Creek in the first round, pitcher AJ Mathis set the tone in the second round series in an 11-1, five-inning victory over Region 1 champion Cairo. Mathis allowed just a homer in the game. Then the Raiders finished off the sweep with a 4-3 victory in Game 2. West Laurens has won 11 straight games.
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Class 3A
North Hall (19-14) at Appling County (25-6)
When: Thursday (DH), 5 p.m.; Friday (if needed), 4 p.m.
Coaches: North Hall -- Trevor Flow; Appling County -- Jeremy Smith
How they got here: North Hall defeated Coahulla Creek in three games, then defeated Westminster in three games. Appling County swept Jenkins-Savannah in first round, then swept Rutland in second round.
Winner of this series: Will meet the winner of the Crisp County-Pace Academy series.
Outlook: Appling County has gotten the job done in sweeps over Jenkins and Rutland. The Pirates are playing in the quarterfinal round for the third straight season. Shawn Brown's walk-off single in the bottom of the ninth inning gave Appling a 5-4 victory in Game 1 of the second round series over Rutland. Then Appling County pitcher Ben Griffis allowed just two runs on three hits to help Appling to a 5-2 victory in Game 2 to take the series. North Hall may be young and rebuilding, but they have been exciting to watch in the postseason. After losing the first game of the second round series to Westminster, the Trojans fought back to win Game 2 and force a decisive Game 3. Behind a complete-game pitching performance from Kelton Kieschnick and 3-for-4 offensive performances from Caleb Clark and Tyler Brooks, North Hall took Game 3 with an 8-1 victory.
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Crisp County (17-16) at Pace Academy (21-6)
When: Wednesday (DH), 4:30 p.m.; Thursday (if needed), 5 p.m.
Coaches: Crisp County -- David Lamberth; Pace Academy -- Seth LaFera
How they got here: Crisp County swept Jackson in the first round, then defeated Benedictine in three games in the second round. Pace Academy swept East Jackson in the first round, then swept Calhoun in the second round.
Winner of this series: Will meet the winner of the Appling County-North Hall series.
Outlook: After getting run-ruled by defending Class 2A state champion Benedictine in Game 1 of its second round series, the Cougars rallied to take Games 2 and 3 and stun the Region 3 champion Cadets. Crisp County pitchers Conner Richmond and Jordan Grinnell combined to shut down Benedictine in a 6-2 victory in Game 2, then Grinnell and Walters pitched the Cougars to a 7-4 victory in the decisive third game. Pace Academy has won 16 in a row and has mauled its opponents in the state playoffs, combining to score 48 runs in postseason play, while allowing just three. They combined to outscore Calhoun 23-1 in a second-round sweep last week. Pace senior Andrew Jenkins is doing a little of everything for the Knights and is batting better than .500 on the season.
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Pike County (28-3) at Fannin County (25-7)
When: Wednesday (DH), 5 p.m.; Thursday (if needed), 5 p.m.
Coaches: Pike County -- Don Hanson; Fannin County -- Travis Stone
How they got here: Pike County swept Long County in the first round, then swept Islands in the second round. Fannin County swept Haralson County in the first round, then defeated Redan in three games.
Winner of this series: Will meet the winner of the Cook-Hart County series.
Outlook: Pike County pitchers have been tough on opponents in the playoffs. The rotation has allowed a combined two runs in four playoff games. In Game 1 of the Pirates' second round series against Islands, Coleman Crow and Coleman Boynton combined on a three-hit shutout in a 7-0 victory. Then in a 1-0 Game 2 victory, Noah Windhorst hurled a two-hit shutout. Fannin County outlasted Redan in three games in perhaps the most-entertaining second-round series in the state. The two teams split the first two games of the series with Redan winning a 7-6, 11-inning victory that ended close to midnight last Wednesday. But pitchers Matthew Shirah and Chandler Kendall combined to help Fannin take a 4-3 victory in Game 3 and the series. Carson Beavers went 3-for-4 on offense.
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Hart County (18-16) at Cook (22-11)
When: Wednesday (DH), 4:30 p.m.; Thursday (if needed), 4 p.m.
Coaches: Hart County -- Josh Osborne; Cook -- Greg Williams
How they got here: Hart County defeated Lovett in three games in the first round, then defeated Ringgold in three games in the second round. Cook swept Peach County in the first round, then swept Southeast Bulloch in the second round.
Winner of this series: Will meet the winner of the Pike County-Fannin County series.
Outlook: Hart County is the 2019 playoff "Cinderella" after knocking off defending Class 3A state champion Lovett in the first round, then defeating Region 6 champion Ringgold in the second round. The Bulldogs lost Game 1 to Ringgold, 5-4, on a seventh-inning walk-off single from Andre Tarver. But Will Dean hurled a four-hit shutout as Hart topped Ringgold 1-0 in Game 2, then Chase Dalton's 3-for-3 performance, including a grand slam helped pitcher Ethan Jones earn a complete-game victory in Game 3 as the Bulldogs pulled off another stunner. Cook has destroyed its opponents in the postseason, combining to outscore Peach County and Southeast Bulloch by a combined 58-13. The Hornets have been led by pitcher Brock Revels and shortstop KJ Manning.
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Class 2A
Jeff Davis (26-5) at Social Circle (17-12)
When: Wednesday (DH), 5 p.m.; Thursday (if needed), 5 p.m.
Coaches: Jeff Davis -- Paul Glass; Social Circle -- Danny Blue
How they got here: Jeff Davis swept East Laurens in the first round, then defeated Fitzgerald in three games. Social Circle swept Heard County in the first round, then swept Chattooga in the second round.
Winner of this series: Will meet the winner of the Bleckley County-Bremen series.
Outlook: Jeff Davis is in the quarterfinal round for the third straight season after defeating Fitzgerald in three games in the second round. After splitting the first two games, pitchers Garrison Miles and Britt Metts combined to allow two runs on seven hits as Jeff Davis scored a 3-2 victory to take the series. Social Circle is on a six-game winning streak and has outscored its playoff opponents by a combined 24-7. Pitchers Chandler Ball and Davis Smith have been instrumental in the Redskins' postseason run. Ball threw a no-hitter in Social Circle's 3-0 victory in Game 1 of the second round series with Chattooga.
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Bleckley County (23-11) at Bremen (27-6)
When: Wednesday (DH), 4:30 p.m.; Thursday (if needed), 5:30 p.m.
Coaches: Bleckley County -- Brad Davis; Bremen -- Chris Brown
How they got here: Bleckley County swept Metter in the first round, then defeated Westside-Augusta in three games. Bremen swept Union County in the first round, then defeated Dade County in three games.
Winner of this series: Will meet the winner of the Jeff Davis-Social Circle series.
Outlook: Bleckley County has played well after getting off to a slow start this season. The Royals dropped the first game of their second round series to Westside-Augusta, but they rallied back to win Game 2, 10-3, behind a complete-game pitching performance from Carson Waters and a 3-for-5 offensive performance from Steven Knighton. Dylan Cowart then pitched the Royals to a 7-2 victory in Game 3 with a complete-game performance. Bremen, after falling in Game 1 of its second round series to Dade County, rallied to take the final two games and the series. Brody Parkerson's 3-for-4 performance at the plate in Game 2 helped Bremen to an 8-3 victory, then pitcher Griffin Crook stifled Dade County in Game 3, while Brant Ivey went 3-for-3 to help Bremen win the series.
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Harlem (27-6) at Rockmart (24-7)
When: Wednesday (DH), 4:30 p.m.; Thursday (if needed), 4 p.m.
Coaches: Harlem -- Jimmie Lewis; Rockmart -- Kenny Yanzetich
How they got here: Harlem swept Brooks County in the first round, then defeated Vidalia in three games in the second round. Rockmart swept Washington in the first round, then defeated Elbert County in three games in the second round.
Winner of this series: Will meet the winner of the Bacon County-Callaway series.
Outlook: Harlem was shut out by Vidalia in the first game of its second round series, but the Bulldogs rebounded with a 13-9 victory in Game 2 behind pitchers Mason Spivey and Dylan Smith. Then Smith allowed just a run on four hits in a five-inning, 11-1 victory in Game 3 to clinch the series. This is the first time Harlem has been past the second round in the state playoffs this decade. After dropping the first game 6-4 to Elbert County in its second round series, Rockmart pitcher Ty Floyd no-hit Elbert County and struck out 13 in a 5-0 victory in Game 2. Then Floyd went 3-for-3 on offense in Game 3, while Griffin Pace, Brayden Cole and Logan Shelton pitched Rockmart to a 10-6 victory to take the series.
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Bacon County (26-8) at Callaway (22-13)
When: Wednesday (DH), 5 p.m.; Thursday (if needed), 4 p.m.
Coaches: Bacon County -- Noble Coley; Callaway -- Dusty Hubbard
How they got here: Bacon County swept Dodge County in the first round, then swept Thomasville in the second round. Callaway swept Banks County in the first round, then swept Model in the second round.
Winner of this series: Will meet the winner of the Harlem-Rockmart series.
Outlook: Bacon County is 11-1 in its past 12 games after a sweep of Thomasville in the second round. Pitchers Cooper Brown and Mason Mikell helped the Red Raiders win Game 1, 9-4. Then pitchers Wes Livingston, Bennett Arney and Mikell combined to help Bacon to a 4-3 victory in Game 2 to take the series. Callaway has won five straight games, including a sweep of Model in the second round. Pitcher Dawson Wright hurled a complete-game, while Braelin Mitchell's RBI double provided the only run in a 1-0 victory in Game 1. Then Justin Moore's complete-game performance helped Callaway to a 4-1 win in Game 2. This is Callaway's second straight trip to the quarterfinal round.
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Class 1A Public
Commerce (21-11) at Schley County (24-3)
When: Wednesday (DH), 4 p.m.; Thursday (if needed), 3 p.m.
Coaches: Commerce -- Steve Cotrell; Schley County -- Chuck Cheek
How they got here: Commerce swept Crawford County in the first round, then defeated Pelham in three games in the second round. Schley County received a first round bye, then swept Telfair County in the second round.
Winner of this series: Will meet the winner of the Johnson County-Irwin County series.
Outlook: Commerce's loss to Pelham in the first game of the second round snapped a four-game winning streak. But the Tigers rallied to win Game 2, 11-1, behind pitcher Tucker Maloch and Chandler Martin's 3-for-4 performance at the plate. Commerce took Game 3, 7-1, behind pitcher Colby Rogers' complete-game. Schley County is back in the quarterfinal round for the sixth straight season. The Wildcats defeated Telfair County 4-3 in Game 1 on Dakota Albritton's walk-off single. Then Trent Bivins scored on a passed ball in top of the ninth inning to break a 3-all tie in Game 2. Reliever Lorne Barineau worked a scoreless bottom half of the ninth inning to earn the save and help Schley sweep the series.
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Johnson County (22-5) at Irwin County (18-10)
When: Wednesday (DH), 4:30 p.m.; Thursday (if needed), 5:30 p.m.
Coaches: Johnson County -- Chuck Beale; Irwin County -- Drew Tankersley
How they got here: Johnson County received a first round bye, then swept Hawkinsville in the second round. Irwin County received a first round bye, then defeated ACE Charter in three games.
Winner of this series: Will meet the winner of the Commerce-Schley County series.
Outlook: This series could be the best one in Class 1A Public. Irwin, the Region 2 champions, enter as the fourth seed, while Johnson County is the fifth seed. The Trojans made it look easy in a sweep of Hawkinsville in the second round. In Game 1, pitcher Brett Caneega allowed just one run on one hit as Johnson County took an 8-1 victory. Then in Game 2, Adam Hooks hurled a complete-game, three-hit shutout to pace Johnson to a 1-0 victory and the series. After Irwin County lost the first game of its second round series to ACE Charter, the Indians hammered ACE 13-3 in Game 2 behind Will Hudson's 3-for-4 performance on offense. Then, pitchers Zach Smith and Keegan Folker combined to shut down the Gryphons as Irwin won 9-1 to take the series.
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Seminole County (21-8) at Gordon Lee (26-4)
When: Wednesday (DH), 5 p.m.; Thursday (if needed), 4 p.m.
Coaches: Seminole County -- Truette Johnson; Gordon Lee -- Mike Dunfee
How they got here: Seminole County received a first round bye, then defeated Wilcox County in three games in the second round. Gordon Lee received a first round bye, then swept Jenkins County in the second round.
Winner of this series: Will meet the winner of the Clinch County-Bowdon series.
Outlook: Seminole County will make the 300-plus mile roundtrip to tackle top-ranked Gordon Lee in what will be the longest trip for any team in the postseason so far. The Indians split the first two games of their second round series with Wilcox County, but Seminole County's Payton Price and Aubrey Johnson pitched the Indians to a 7-3 victory in Game 3. Hunter Hodges' 3-for-4 performance at the plate helped Seminole County win the series. Gordon Lee has won 13 straight and outscored Jenkins County by a combined 16-2 in its second round series. The Trojans are in the quarterfinal round for the third straight season.
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Bowdon (17-18) at Clinch County (23-7)
When: Wednesday (DH), 5 p.m.; Thursday (if needed), 3:30 p.m.
Coaches: Bowdon -- Brian Vance; Clinch County -- Lee Douglas
How they got here: Bowdon defeated Charlton County in three games in the first round, then defeated Baconton Charter in three games in the second round. Clinch County received a first round bye, then defeated Trion in three games in the second round.
Winner of this series: Will meet the winner of the Seminole County-Gordon Lee series.
Outlook: Bowdon will make another long trip across the state to play at Clinch County. The Red Devils will trek nearly five hours after playing at Baconton Charter last week in the second round. The Red Devils won a weird series in Baconton that consisted of nearly a one-hour rain delay in Game 1, then darkness suspended Game 2 (Baconton has no lights). Bowdon, after getting a combined no-hitter from Trent Estes, Luke Rainwater and Braden Bowen in a 6-5 Game 1 win, lost the suspended Game 2 on Friday, 13-2. But Bowen and Estes combined to shut down Baconton and take the third game 7-1 to advance. Clinch County lost the first game of its second round series to Trion, but they rallied to take the final two games. Pitchers Jallen Griffis and Gabriel Morris combined to shut down Trion in an 11-3 victory in Game 2. Then a six-run top of the eighth inning helped the Panthers defeat 8-2 in the final game.
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Class 1A Private
Strong Rock Christian (26-9) at Tattnall Square (28-1)
When: Wednesday (DH), 4:30 p.m.; Thursday (if needed), 6 p.m.
Coaches: Strong Rock Christian -- Toby Evans; Tattnall Square -- Joey Hiller
How they got here: Strong Rock Christian swept Holy Innocents' in the first round, then defeated Prince Avenue Christian in three games in the second round. Tattnall Square received a first round bye, then swept Athens Christian in the second round.
Winner of this series: Will meet the winner of the Calvary day-Hebron Christian series.
Outlook: These two teams met in a Diamond Day at Tattnall Square on Feb. 21 as Tattnall won both games. But Strong Rock Christian has won 11 of its last 15, including a sweep of Holy Innocents' in the first round followed by taking two of three from Prince Avenue Christian in Round 2 last week. Tattnall Square, who has won 10 straight, run-ruled Athens Christian in Game 1 of its second round series 11-1, then pitchers Bo Hatcher, Carter Fink and Brooks Gorman combined on a one-hit shutout in a 2-0 victory to sweep the series.
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Hebron Christian (17-13-1) at Calvary Day (21-7)
When: Wednesday (DH), 4 p.m.; Thursday (if needed), 4 p.m.
Coaches: Hebron Christian -- Ben Drust; Calvary Day -- Phillip Lee
How they got here: Hebron Christian swept Brookstone in the first round, then swept Lakeview Academy in the second round. Calvary Day received a first round bye, then defeated First Presbyterian Day in three games in the second round.
Winner of this series: Will meet the winner of the Strong Rock Christian-Tattnall Square series.
Outlook: Hebron Christian, the lowest seeded team in the Class 1A Private bracket, has been on fire since postseason play began. The Lions swept Brookstone in the first round, then swept Region 8 champion Lakeview Academy in the second round. Lakeview defeated Hebron in the Lions' regular-season finale. But Hebron pitchers Mason Ashby and Jackson Boyd combined to help the Lions to an 8-6 victory in Game 1, then the Lions' Nathan Alexander and Boyd pitched Hebron to a 7-5 victory in Game 2 to sweep the series. Calvary Day split the first two games of its second round series with First Presbyterian Day, then they used a five-run sixth inning en route to a 9-7 win in Game 3, helping pitcher Grant Thomas earn the victory and Jay Wetherington the save.
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Savannah Country Day (22-4) at Savannah Christian (24-5)
When: Wednesday (DH), 4 p.m.; Thursday (if needed), 5:30 p.m.
Coaches: Savannah Country Day -- Dan Garofano; Savannah Christian -- Carl Carter
How they got here: Savannah Country Day received a first round bye, then swept Saint Francis in the second round. Savannah Christian received a first round bye, then swept Mount Paran Christian in the second round.
Winner of this series: Will meet the winner of the Fellowship Christian-Wesleyan series
Outlook: Savannah Country Day has lost four games this season. One of those was a 9-5 loss to Savannah Christian on March 5 in the two schools' only meeting this season. Country Day survived a wild 12-11 victory over Saint Francis in Game 1 of its second round series, then the Hornets got a pitching gem from starter Jarrett Karnibad in a 14-4 Game 2 victory, while Matthew Osterman finished with three hits to pace the offense. The Hornets would like nothing more than to dethrone the Region 3 champion Savannah Christian Raiders, who won the 2017 Class 1A Private state championship. Savannah Christian defeated Mount Paran 4-3 in Game 1 of its second round series. Then pitchers James Portzer and Kyle Hilton combined to allow a run on three hits to lead the Raiders to a 6-1 victory in Game 2 to sweep the series.
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Fellowship Christian (23-8) at Wesleyan (24-6)
When: Wednesday (DH), 4 p.m.; Thursday (if needed), 5:30 p.m.
Coaches: Fellowship Christian - Shawn Oliver; Wesleyan -- Brian Krehmeyer
How they got here: Fellowship Christian swept Saint Anne-Pacelli in the first round, then defeated Mount Vernon Presbyterian in three games in the second round. Wesleyan received a first round bye, then defeated North Cobb Christian in three games in the second round.
Winner of this series: Will meet the winner of the Savannah Country Day-Savannah Christian series.
Outlook: Fellowship Christian defeated Wesleyan 5-2 in nine innings on Feb. 26. The Paladins are having their best season under coach Shawn Oliver. Fellowship split the first two games of its second round series with Mount Vernon. But the Paladins erupted for 12 runs on 20 hits in a 12-5 victory in Game 3 to take the series. Isaac Bouton had four hits and Preston Joye three as Fellowship advanced. Wesleyan is back in the quarterfinal round for the second straight year. They took two of three from a tough North Cobb Christian squad to advance. After splitting the first two games of the series, the Wolves run-ruled North Cobb Christian 13-3 in Game 3 as Charlie Taylor went 3-for-3 to pace the offense.
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