A classification-by-classification look at some region champs heading hot into the GHSA baseball tournament

Highlighting some of the top seeds as the playoffs start this week.

Photo by Jamie Spaar

Region champions have been crowned in Georgia high school baseball, and the state tournament is on deck.

Here's a classification-by-classification look at some of the teams that finished especially strong heading into the playoffs.

Class A Private

Wesleyan (25-4), Fellowship Christian (22-2), Mount Paran (25-2)

Hebron Christian had won 13 of its last 14 games before matching up with SBLive No. 7 Wesleyan. Hebron had a chance to become region champions but Wesleyan denied any opportunity with a three-game sweep (12-0, 13-1, 10-5). Fellowship Christian defeated King’s Ridge Christian 9-1 for its 22nd win of the season. King’s Ridge had won five of its last six games but lost this matchup, the season series and the region title to red-hot Fellowship Christian. North Cobb Christian and Mount Paran faced off in a single game to decide the Region 7 champion. The first two-game series was a split, and both teams came into the game on big win streaks. Mount Paran eked out a 2-1 win to become region champs.

Class A Public

Metter (21-5), Commerce (20-10)

Metter swept Emanuel County Institute (10-1, 6-0) to improve its region record to 14-0. Metter now has back-to-back region titles. Commerce and Social Circle squared off in a matchup to decide the winner of Region 8. Social Circle defeated Commerce 10-3 in Game 2, but Commerce showed why it belonged in first place with two wins (7-5, 11-8) to get the series win and a region title.

Class 2A

Pace Academy (23-4), Elbert County (26-4)

Pace Academy and Lovett capped off their seasons with a three-game series to decide the Region 6-West winner. Lovett struck first with a 7-2 victory, but Pace bounced back with two straight wins (16-9, 11-5) to take home back-to-back region titles. Although Elbert County’s overall record far surpasses Banks County’s, both teams were tied for first in the region standings. Banks County got one win in the three-game series, a thriller that ended 8-7, but Elbert County wrapped up the rest of the series with ease (11-5, 14-2). Elbert County has won its region every year since 2016.

Class 3A

Pike County (26-3), Greater Atlanta Christian (23-5)

Pike County and Mary Persons faced off to determine the Region 2 winner. Both teams were 12-0 in the region entering the series, but Pike County swept Mary Persons with ease (7-0, 14-0). Redan came into the matchup against Greater Atlanta Christian in second place in Region 5 and had a chance at first. Greater Atlanta Christian didn’t even give Redan a chance, as the Spartans swept the Raiders (15-0, 7-0) to capture their second straight region title.

Class 4A

North Oconee (29-1), Thomas County Central (22-7), Marist (23-7)

North Oconee swept Madison County (16-3, 10-2, 11-0) to improve its region record to 18-0 and complete a phenomenal regular season, but don't count out Thomas County Central, another team with an undefeated region record. Thomas County Central swept Cairo (8-0, 10-0, 6-3) to push its region record to 15-0 and earn a region title. North Oconee has held the top spot in the all-classification SBLive Top 25 for the past two weeks. Defending 4A champ Marist cruised to a region title with a 12-0 record and heads into the playoffs coming off an 8-5 non-region win over Buford.

Class 5A

Whitewater (22-7-1), Ware County (17-7)

Whitewater ended its season with a 15-3 region record, while Harris County’s ended at 14-4. Both teams were neck and neck throughout the season. Harris County made it interesting at the end of the season, beating Whitewater twice (4-0, 8-6), but Whitewater shut down any idea of giving up first place by taking down Harris County 6-1 in the finale. The winner of Region 1 came down to the season series finale between Coffee and Ware County. Both teams had won five straight before coming into the matchup, and Ware County took the 2-1 series win (4-9, 5-4, 7-4).

Class 6A

Richmond Hill (21-7), River Ridge (21-7), Houston County (23-4)

Richmond Hill’s sweep over South Effingham (7-3, 6-0, 7-6) gave the Wildcats the region championship. Richmond Hill finished with the same region record as Glynn Academy but maintained possession of first place because of a series win earlier in the season. River Ridge took home its second consecutive region title after sweeping a tough region opponent in Sequoyah (4-2, 7-3, 4-2). Sequoyah was 15-3 in region games before running into River Ridge. Houston County enters the playoffs on a 10-game win streak. The Bears had a phenomenal season and swept every series they played.

Class 7A

Newnan (19-10), Mill Creek (19-10), Parkview (24-6)

Region 2 has gone back and forth between East Coweta and Newnan for the past 10 years. East Coweta looked to be on track for its seventh region title in the last 10 years, but Newnan had other thoughts, taking two games in the three-game series (0-8, 4-1, 7-4). Mill Creek swept region rival North Gwinnett (3-0, 11-0, 5-4) to give the Hawks sole possession of first place. Mill Creek has won its region in three consecutive seasons, all with North Gwinnett coming in second place. Parkview is looking like the No. 1 contender in 7A. The Panthers ended their season with a big win over Buford and are winners of 18 of their last 19 games.