Coach Todd Middleton will lead Northwest Whitfield into the GHSA Class AAAA baseball playoffs starting today with a doubleheader against Stephens County in Tunnel Hill. If necessary, a third game would be played Saturday.GHSA PLAYOFFS FIRST ROUND
Best-of-3 series begin today with doubleheadersClass AAAAAA› Dalton (20-7) at Gainesville (21-7), 4 p.m.Class AAAA› Stephens County (17-13) at Northwest Whitfield (20-8), 4:30› Jefferson (16-12) at Heritage (24-6), 4:30 p.m.Class AAA› Jackson County (18-12) at Ringgold (25-5), 2:30 p.m.› Franklin County (20-9) at Coahulla Creek (20-8), 4 p.m. ›North Murray (19-8) at Hart County (14-16), 5 p.m. ›Calhoun (17-11) at Morgan County (25-6), 5 p.m.Class AA› Lamar County (13-14) at Dade County (17-8), 5 p.m.› Chattooga (9-16) at Callaway (21-8), 3:30 p.m.Class A public› Terrell County (14-8) at Trion (15-10), 2:30 p.m.
Northwest Whitfield and Coahulla Creek high schools are six miles apart, and while their athletic programs compete in different classifications, their 2017 baseball seasons have been eerily similar.
Each will host a GHSA first-round playoff series beginning today – two of the 10 northwest Georgia programs in action – and both have ridden elite pitching and surprising contributions from youngsters to produce head-turning seasons.
Northwest’s Bruins (20-8), who face Stephens County, are a mystery even to coach Todd Middleton. They went from 8-18 in 2016 to Region 6-AAAA champions despite a .243 team batting average, subpar defense and the preseason loss of two returning starters.
“I can’t really explain it,” Middleton said, laughing, when asked how his team won 20 games. “It’s been a struggle offensively, but I’m proud of the way they’ve battled and figured out ways to win.