Baseball playoffs are set to begin in Georgia next week, and while a handful of teams can at least rest easy knowing they will have a postseason spot, several more head into play Tuesday needing a big week to move on.
The area’s two largest regions, 7-AAAA and 6-AAA, just happen to be the most volatile. In 7-AAAA, while Cedartown (13-2) has clinched the championship, the next four teams – Northwest Whitfield, Heritage, Pickens and Central-Carroll – have identical 9-6 league records.
The region’s teams play three-game series, which gives them the chance to improve their standing quickly – or go the opposite direction. Only two of the teams, Northwest and Central-Carroll, play each other this week. The winner of that three-game set, which begins Tuesday with a single game in Carrollton and concludes with a Friday doubleheader in Tunnel Hill, is in. The loser, however, isn’t necessarily out.
Pickens, by virtue of winning two of three games against Northwest, Heritage and Central-Carroll, has the clear edge and just needs to avoid being swept by Ridgeland to earn a spot. The Dragons win any tiebreaker against the other three teams.
Heritage is in the toughest spot, having lost two of three games against each of the other three teams. To make it even harder, the Generals face top-seeded Cedartown this week.