What's the playoff picture for GHSA baseball and soccer and power rankings look like? Plus postseason schedules for GHSA and GIAA
By Michael A. Lough
The Sports Report
centralgasports@gmail.com
The high school spring sports regular season is in the late innings, or final minutes, or, well, you know.
Dear coaches, teams, and stat folks:
Please post/share playoff information (opponent, location, day, time(s)) as soon as theyâre determine, or email The Sports Report.
And:
So the postseason picture becomes ever so slowly in better focus.
The official berths are in Class 5A, 4A, and A/Division II, which retained the longstanding top-four-in-each-region format. Theyâll know their seed and opponent earlier.
The others are part of a new playoff power ratings system, because of changes regarding private schools leaving the equation for their own playoff with Class 3A, 2A, and A/Division I.
The GHSA will seed the 32 playoff teams in those three classifications after the private schools are pulled from the rankings. Seeding priority goes to region champs and runners-up, with the top four teams â after private schools are eliminated â still making the playoffs.
Class A feels the biggest impact of the removal of private schools.
The top 16 teams host in the first round.
A look at things entering this weekâs action:
Whoâs in for Class AAA baseball? No. 2 Peach County, No. 17 West Laurens, No. 20 Upson-Lee.
On the bubble? No. 29 Mary Persons.
Whoâs in for Class AA? No Central Georgia team. Westside is again not fielding a team and doesnât appear on the GHSA list.
On the bubble: No. 36 Rutland.
Whoâs in for Class A/Division I? No. 13 Washington County, No. 19 Bleckley County, No. 23 Dublin, No. 26 ACE Charter, No. 29 Lamar County.
On the bubble: No. 37 Jasper County.
Whoâs in for Class A/Division II? No. 13 Crawford County, No. 22 Taylor County, No. 25 Hawkinsville.
On the bubble: No. 37 GMC Prep.
The longtime ânormalâ process remains for 5A and 4A, where Houston County (2-5A) is a lock, with Veterans (2-5A), Warner Robins (1-4A) and Jones County (2-4A) are likely/probable.
The GHSA lists power rankings for the classes in which the power rankings donât matter, but Houston County is No. 3 and Veterans No. 33, with Jones County No. 20, Warner Robins No. 25, and Perry No. 33.
The first round of the playoffs start April 22-25. The state championships are currently set for May 19-22 at Georgia Southern, Rome, and Lawrenceville, with specifics to be determined closer to those dates.
The GHSA doesnât have soccer region standings on its website. As per MaxPreps information (submitted by teams), the girls from Houston County, Veterans, Perry, Warner Robins, and Jones County are in very good shape in 5A and 4A.
On the boys side, itâs pretty similar: Veterans, Houston County, and Perry will play in the postseason.
Whoâs in for Class AAA girls soccer? No. 17 Peach County, No. 23 West Laurens, No. 26 Upson-Lee, No. 29 Mary Persons.
On the bubble: No. 35 Baldwin.
For Class AAA boys? No. 5 West Laurens, No. 9 Mary Persons No. 20 Peach County.
On the bubble: None.
Whoâs in for Class AA girls? No. 25 Westside.
On the bubble: No. 28 Rutland.
For AA boys? None.
On the bubble? No. 36 Westside.
Whoâs in for Class A/Division I girls? No. 7 ACE Charter, No. 12 East Laurens, No. 18 Lamar County, No. 22 Dodge County, No. 30 Bleckley County.
On the bubble? No. 37 Jasper County.
Whoâs in for Class A/Division I boys? No. 11 ACE Charter, No. 14 Jasper County, No. 16 Lamar County, No. 27 Putnam County, No. 31. Dodge County.
On the bubble? No. 32 East Laurens, No. 40 Dublin, No. 41 Bleckley County.
Whoâs in for Class A/Division II girls? No. 7 GMC Prep, No. 10 Hawkinsville, No. 12 Crawford County.
On the bubble: No. 32 Macon County
Whoâs in for Class A/Division II boys? No. 2 GMC Prep, No. 15 Macon County, No. 22 Crawford County, No. 30 Hawkinsville.
Only 32 teams are listed in the rankings for A/II, so everybodyâs in.
GHSA postseason info
First-round/section dates:
Baseball; April 22-25
Golf: May 4-5
Lacrosse: April 28-29
Soccer: April 21-24
Tennis: April 23
Track & Field: May 2
State championships/finals:
Baseball: May 22-25, in Statesboro, Rome, Lawrenceville
Golf: May 18-19, sites throughout the state, including Twin City Country Club in Tennille (hosted by Aquinas)
Lacrosse: May 15-16, at Denmark High
Soccer: May 12-15, at McEachern (A/1, 3A, 6A), Mercer (A/2, AA), Duluth (4A, 5A, private)
Tennis: May 9, at Berry College in Rome
Track & Field: May 8-9, at Rome (A/1, 5A), Albany (A/2, AAA), East Jackson (AA, 4A), and Carrollton (private, 6A, adapted)
GIAA championship/finals info
Baseball: May 29-June 2, Synovus Park in Columbus
Golf: April 28
Lacrosse: May 8
Soccer: May 27-28, at Stratford
Tennis: Individual tournament, April 21-22; Team tournament, April 29-30
Track: May 1-3, Strong Rock Christian