Georgia high school baseball playoffs: Previewing all 16 semifinal matchups

The final four is stacked in 6A, while Wesleyan-Mount Paran in A Private and North Oconee-Benedictine in 4A should have a championship atmosphere.

Photo by Ed Turlington

We're down to the final four in Georgia high school baseball.

The action starts Saturday in Class 4A through 7A, while the lower classifications' three-game series start Monday.

Class A Private (May 16-17)

North Cobb Christian (28-7) @ Fellowship Christian (28-3); Mount Paran (31-2) @ Wesleyan (31-4)

Fellowship Christian will host North Cobb Christian with a chance to go to its first state championship. This has been Fellowship Christian's best season, with only two losses in the regular season and one in the playoffs. The Paladins took down Savannah Christian last round, rallying back and winning the last two games of the series (6-0, 6-0). North Cobb Christian is also looking to advance to its first state championship series. After sweeping Prince Avenue (2-0, 6-1), the Eagles are one round away from making school history. They will look to ride this hot streak and make it three straight sweeps.

Wesleyan versus Mount Paran is a star-studded matchup featuring two of the best teams in the state regardless of classification. Both teams are on 16-game win streaks and have dominated their competition. Wesleyan, featuring possible No. 1 overall MLB Draft pick Druw Jones, has been atop the state leaders in runs scored all season with 361, while Mount Paran has showcased one of the state's best defenses, allowing only 57 runs. Although this is a semifinal matchup, the atmosphere will have a championship-level vibe.

Class A Public (May 16-17)

Social Circle (27-11) @ Charlton County (30-6); Commerce (26-12) @ Metter (27-5)

This will be Social Circle’s first time in the final four in school history. The Redskins have entered the playoffs losing back-to-back series but have won three series in a row, including a sweep. Charlton County will host this series and introduce Social Circle to its high-powered offense, which has scored a whopping 313 runs this season. Their pitching and defense are exceptional as well, allowing only two runs a game on average.

Commerce will travel to Metter to face off against the defending champs. After scoring 39 runs in three games versus Emanuel County Institute, Commerce will look to duplicate that type of offensive showcase against Metter. This will be a tall task, as Metter only gives up just three runs a game. Metter is looking not only to win back-to-back state titles but also extend its win streak past 18 games.

Class 2A (May 16-17)

Thomasville (27-5) @ Pace Academy (29-4); Lovett (27-8) @ Vidalia (26-9)

Thomasville’s 19-game win streak was snapped last round at the hands of Jeff Davis, but the Bulldogs got the last laugh after winning the series in three games. Thomasville inches closer and closer to bringing home its second state title in school history but faces red-hot Pace Academy in the semis. Pace Academy is on an eight-game win streak and has won 18 of its last 19 games. The playoffs have been reminiscent of the regular season for the Knights, as they have scored 54 runs in six playoff games (all series sweeps) and have allowed only 11 runs. Thomasville has allowed only eight runs in seven games so far in the playoffs.

Vidalia making the final four is a testament to its mental toughness. The Indians started the season losing nine of their first 13 games. Since then they have flipped the switch and have won 22 straight. Lovett will try to cool off the Indians after taking down a really tough Model team that won 28 games on the year. Lovett ended the regular season as the 19th ranked team in the SBLive all-classification Top 25. The Lions have been just as good in the playoffs going 6-1.

Class 3A (May 16-17)

Redan (26-5) @ Pierce County (29-4); North Hall (32-5) @ Pike County (32-5)

Redan has one of the most high-powered offenses in the state, scoring 354 runs this season, an average of almost 12 per game. Redan is looking to add some hardware to its trophy case after winning a state championship in 2013. The Raiders' chances are looking good after sweeping Burke County (19-9, 11-5). Pierce County has taken down back-to-back 25-win teams in Cherokee Bluff and Franklin County. Pierce County has been one of the top teams all season, losing only two games in the regular season and holding the No. 20 spot in our final Top 25.

Pike County versus North Hall is one of three playoff matchups featuring two teams that have eclipsed the 30-win mark. Our last Top 25 had Pike County at No. 21 and North Hall at No. 22. Both squads have the same record, and both went undefeated in their regions. North Hall is trying to win back-to-back state titles, while Pike County is looking to win its second state championship since 2019.

Class 4A (May 14, 16)

Cedartown (26-9) @ LaGrange (29-9); North Oconee (35-1) @ Benedictine (30-6)

LaGrange can put runs on the scoreboard in bunches. The Grangers have scored 330 runs on the season, which is top 10 in the state. Cedartown has scored 255 runs this season and allows only three runs per game. This is the classic matchup of a high-powered offense versus an elite defense.

This is North Oconee’s third trip to the final four in school history and its best chance to make it to its first state championship, while Benedictine is seeking its fourth state title. The one thing you will be guaranteed to see in this series is runs, as both teams have top 10 offenses in the state. Benedictine has scored 369 and North Oconee has scored 357. What makes North Oconee stand out is that it has allowed only 68. The Titans' balance of offense, pitching and defense is the reason they finished the season as SBLive's top-ranked team in Georgia.

Class 5A (May 14, 16)

Apalachee (23-14) @ Cartersville (29-6); Decatur (26-10) @ Loganville (28-8)

Apalachee is making a bit of a surprise appearance in the final four after its dreadful start, losing nine of its first 14 games to start the season. Since then, Apalachee has gone 19-4 and took down two really good teams in the playoffs in Whitewater and Wayne County. Cartersville is looking to continue its great regular season and playoff run as the Hurricanes shoot for their seventh state title. They've won 18 of their last 20 games and are looking like the 5A favorite.

The matchup between Decatur and Loganville is a tale of two totally different teams historically. Loganville is gunning for its sixth state title in school history and has been to eight overall. Decatur has one state championship, which came in 1948. Loganville’s most recent championship came during its three-peat from 2017-19. As far as this season, both teams are rolling as of late, as Decatur is on a nine-game win streak and Loganville 10.

Class 6A (May 14, 16)

Lassiter (28-10) @ Allatoona (33-4); Buford (28-8) @ Pope (29-7)

Lassiter and Allatoona will face off for the third time this season in this semifinal series. Allatoona took the first game with a comeback 4-3 win, and Lassiter got its revenge next time, winning 5-1. In one corner you have Allatoona — one of the few teams in the state to score 300-plus runs and allow fewer than 100— and in the other you have Lassiter, a team that thrives in three-game series and is itching to get back to the title game.

Buford has shown how important it is to have talent across the whole roster. After losing MLB prospect Dylan Lesko, many thought Buford’s state championship chances would take a huge dip. The Wolves did falter to end the regular season, but they just took down the reigning 6A champion Houston County in a hard-fought three-game series. Next up for Buford is another extremely tough opponent in Pope. The Greyhounds have won 21 of their last 22 games including wins over Evans, Lassiter, Walton and Allatoona.

Class 7A (May 14, 16)

Etowah (29-9) @ Mill Creek (26-12); Parkview (30-6) @ Woodstock (29-7)

Mill Creek has had one of the toughest routes to the semifinals. Mill Creek had to beat North Forsyth, East Coweta and Lowndes, and the competition won’t get any easier against Etowah, which had a midseason 14-game win streak and hasn't looked back since. The Eagles just kept stacking wins on top of each other and never lost back-to-back games, which is key for a three-game playoff series.

Parkview is looking to add its 10th state championship, while Woodstock is on the prowl for No. 1. With history aside, both teams this season have what it takes to add some hardware to their trophy case. Parkview is red-hot, winning 24 of its last 25 games, including wins against Buford, Lambert, Loganville, Marist and Hoover (Alabama). Woodstock went 18-1 in its last 19 games and didn't lose a series all season. The Wolverines need to keep that streak alive against the 7A favorite if to advance to their first state championship series.