Lakeside’s Malachi Cloud tracks a fly ball in baseball action earlier this season. Cloud and his Vikings teammates face off with Lee County on Thursday in the first round of the Class 6A state playoffs. (Photo by Mark Brock)
The 2021 GHSA State Baseball Playoffs begin on Wednesday with eight DeKalb programs competing and four with home best-of-three series.
Druid Hills (16-7) opens Class 4A hosting Northwest Whitefield (20-9) in a doubleheader on Wednesday at 3:30 pm at Druid Hills Middle School. The Red Devils have not won a playoff series since 2003. A third game, if necessary, would be at the same site at 4:30 pm on Thursday.
In other Class 4A action, the Stephenson Jaguars (9-7) hit the road to Ringgold to face Heritage-Catoosa (22-7) in a 3:00 pm doubleheader. A third game, if necessary, would be at the same site at 3:00 pm on Thursday. The Jaguars have not won a first round playoff series since back-to-back in 2014 and 2015.
The Chamblee Bulldogs (20-8-1) goes on the road at the No. 3 seed from Region 5-5A to face Loganville (22-7) in a 4:30 pm doubleheader to open the Class 5A state playoffs. A third game, if necessary, would be at the same site at 6:00 pm on Thursday. Chamblee last won a first round series in 2017.
Class 6A state playoffs get underway for the Tucker Tigers (15-11) with a trip to Houston County (23-6) for a 2:00 pm doubleheader on Wednesday. A third game, if necessary, would be at the same site at 4:00 pm on Thursday. Tucker won its last first round playoff series in 2017.
Chamblee’s Sydyk Ross looks to score more runs as the Bulldogs go on the road in the Class 5A playoffs against Loganville on Wednesday. (Photo by Mark Brock)
Three DeKalb teams open the playoffs in host roles on Thursday. Lakeside (24-4) will be the first to hit the field with a 1:00 pm doubleheader against Lee County (10-20) in a Class 6A best-of-three series. A third game, if necessary, would be at the same site at 2:00 pm on Friday. The Vikings look to break a three-year string of first round losses as they look to add to their record season win total.
The Redan Raiders (15-8) are next up on Thursday as they host Hart County (20-8) in a 3:00 pm doubleheader. A third game, if necessary, would be at the same site at 5:30 pm on Friday. The Raiders want to extend their three-year string of first round victories.
Class 7A play has the Dunwoody Wildcats (18-10) hosting South Forsyth (19-11) in a 4:00 pm doubleheader. A third game, if necessary, would be at the same site at 5:55 pm on Friday. The Wildcats want to break a string of six consecutive first round series losses.
The Columbia Eagles (5-7) return to the state playoffs for the first time since 2017 as they go on the road in the Class 2A playoffs to Model (22-6) for a 1:30 pm doubleheader. A third game, if necessary, would be at the same site at 3:30 pm on Friday. The Eagles reached the Elite in 2015.
DCSD BASEBALL STATE PLAYOFFS SCHEDULE
Wednesday, April 28
Class 6A
Tucker (15-11) at Houston Co. (23-6), 2:00 pm (DH)
Class 5A
Chamblee (20-8-1) at Loganville (22-7), 4:30 pm (DH)
Class 4A
Northwest Whitfield (20-9) at Druid Hills (16-7), 3:30 pm (DH)
Stephenson (9-7) at Heritage-Catoosa (22-7), 3:00 pm (DH)
Thursday, April 29
Class 7A
South Forsyth (19-11) at Dunwoody (18-10), 4:00 pm (DH)
Class 6A
Lee County (10-20) at Lakeside (24-4), 1:00 pm (DH)
Tucker (15-11) at Houston Co. (23-6), 4:00 pm (If necessary)
Class 3A
Hart Co. (20-8) at Redan (15-8), 3:00 pm (DH)
Class 2A
Columbia (5-7) at Model (22-6), 1:30 pm (DH)
Class 5A
Chamblee (20-8-1) at Loganville (22-7), 6:00 pm (if necessary)
Class 4A
Northwest Whitfield (20-9) at Druid Hills (16-7), 4:30 pm (if necessary)
Stephenson (9-7) at Heritage-Catoosa (22-7), 3:00 pm (if necessary)
Friday, April 30
Class 7A
South Forsyth (19-11) at Dunwoody (18-10), 5:55 pm (if necessary)
Class 6A
Lee County (10-20) at Lakeside (24-4), 2:00 pm (if necessary)
Class 3A
Hart Co. (20-8) at Redan (15-8), 5:30 pm (if necessary)
Class 2A
Columbia (5-7) at Model (22-6), 3:30 pm (if necessary)