Georgia high school baseball playoffs: Previewing some must-see quarterfinal matchups

We're a week away from the final four in Georgia high school baseball, and every team left is capable of winning it all.

Here are some of the marquee quarterfinal matchups.

Class A Private (May 10-11)

Whitefield Academy (22-8) @ Wesleyan (29-4); North Cobb Christian (26-8) @ Prince Avenue Christian (26-6)

Whitefield Academy has breezed through the playoffs, scoring 38 runs in four games while allowing only eight. Whitefield swept both its opponents, Heritage and Athens Academy. Wesleyan has won 14 straight games leading up to this matchup, including back-to-back sweeps of Christian Heritage and Calvary Day. In those two sweeps, Wesleyan scored 57 runs and allowed only eight. This will be a very entertaining matchup between two squads that have been playing lights-out.

Prince Avenue Christian will look to advance past the third round after falling short last season. The Wolverines have been rolling to end the regular season and start the playoffs, winning their last nine games. North Cobb Christian has lost a game in each playoff series thus far but no team should the Eagles, who played one of the toughest regular-season schedules in A Private, facing multiple 7A schools.

Class A Public (May 10-11)

Gordon Lee (22-10) @ Metter (25-5); Schley County (21-10) @ Charlton County (28-6)

This is a rematch of last year’s state championships in which Metter took down Gordon Lee. Gordon Lee is playing some of its best baseball all season, winning 13 of its last 14 games. If the Trojans want revenge, they are primed and ready for it, but that won’t be easy with the way Metter has been playing. The reigning champs have won 15 straight games including two playoff sweeps in which it dominated its opponents. 

Schley County will look to get back to the semifinals like it did last year, but Charlton County stands in the way. Schley has won four straight playoff games and has allowed only three runs in one game with the other three being shutouts. Charlton will have to face a tough defense and pitching rotation. Charlton doesn’t freeze in the face of tough pitching, though — in its last four wins, the Indians drove in 48 runs.

Class 2A (May 10-11)

Jeff Davis (22-10) @ Thomasville (25-4); Lovett (25-7) @ Model (27-4)

Thomasville may be the hottest team in the state regardless of classification. The Bulldogs have won 18 straight games and haven’t lost since early March. This is looking like one of the best Thomasville teams in years, but don’t let that overshadow how good of a team Jeff Davis is. Jeff Davis just swept Elbert County, which had a record of 27-4. So while Thomasville has been on fire for almost two months, Jeff Davis is not a team to be toyed with.

Lovett and Model is the only 2A matchup between teams with 25 wins or more. These two teams have been killing it all season, playoffs included. Both teams are on win streaks and have swept their playoff opponents. One team must fall, and this will be a must-watch matchup to see who comes out on top.

Class 3A (May 10-11)

Harlem (27-6) @ North Hall (30-5); Greater Atlanta Christian (27-6) @ Pike County (30-4)

Harlem will travel to face the reigning 3A champs in North Hall. In the last round, Harlem got its revenge for its loss to Ringgold last year in the playoffs. Harlem definitely seems like a better team than last year and will need to be to get past North Hall, which looks primed to repeat as state champions. The Trojans have won 24 of their last 25 games, and the only loss came in extra innings.

Greater Atlanta Christian and Pike County is a series you can’t miss as a baseball fan. In 34 games played this season, Pike County has lost only four and only one game to a 3A opponent. This is the second straight season in which GAC has had a regular season with 24 or more wins.

Class 4A (May 9-10)

Thomas County Central (26-7) @ North Oconee (33-1); Troup County (25-10) @ Benedictine (28-5)

Thomas County Central has a tall task ahead as it prepares for North Oconee. North Oconee ended the regular season as the No. 1 team in our Top 25. North Oconee has won 30 straight games, not losing since February. Thomas County Central will have to be on its A game in order to have a chance to knock off North Oconee. The Yellow Jackets have played extremely well in the playoffs, sweeping through the first two rounds.

Benedictine spent numerous weeks on our Top 25 throughout the year. Troup County didn’t ever crack the Top 25 but just took down Marist in Round 2, and Marist ended the season in the Top 10. So while Benedictine has been one of the top teams all season, Troup County has proven it can take down teams of that caliber.

Class 5A (May 9-10)

Greenbrier (22-9) @ Cartersville (27-5); Starr’s Mill (19-12) @ Decatur (24-10)

Both Greenbrier and Cartersville spent time in the Top 25, with Cartersville ending the season at No. 16. Greenbrier had some struggles in the middle of the season but has found its way. The Wolfpack are on a seven-game win streak and playing their best baseball of the season at the right time. Cartersville is on an 11-game win streak and has played eye-opening ball all season. Both teams have swept their counterparts in the first two rounds.

Decatur will host the reigning 5A state champions in Starr’s Mill. Decatur boasts a seven-game win streak, which included sweeps of Calhoun and Veterans. Starr’s Mill’s win streak sits at 10 games, which includes sweeps against Locust Grove and North Springs. Both teams are hot right not and have taken down noteworthy opponents.

Class 6A (May 9-10)

Buford (26-7) @ Houston County (27-4); Lassiter (26-9) @ South Paulding (27-6)

To start the season Buford looked like world-beaters, simply unstoppable, until ending the season losing seven of its last nine games. The Wolves then went on to sweep Kennesaw Mountain and Glynn Academy in the first and second round. Houston County is the reigning 6A state champ after going 10-1 in last year’s playoffs. The Bears have won 14 straight games including wins over Cambridge, Lee County, Valdosta and Jones County. Buford will try to kill the narrative of it being a regular-season team, while Houston County looks to add to its trophy case.

South Paulding will look to get to the semifinals for the first time ever, while Lassiter is looking to get back to the state championship in back-to-back seasons. This may South Paulding's best team and best chance in school history to win a state championship.

Class 7A (May 9-10)

Newnan (23-10) @ Woodstock (27-7); Mill Creek (23-11) @ Lowndes (26-7)

Newnan has yet to lose a series all season and is coming off three straight series sweeps over Mountain View, Newton and East Coweta. Woodstock also has three straight season sweeps, against Milton, Duluth and North Cobb. Both squads are red-hot.

Apart from the great regular season that Lowndes had, it just took down two really good teams in the first two rounds. Lowndes swept North Paulding and Cherokee to advance to the quarterfinals. Mill Creek seemed to stay under the radar all season, but the Hawks have been consistent in winning and never pilled on too many losses. They also have some big wins over Newnan, Winder-Barrow, East Coweta and Lambert.