Greenbrier heading to tournament

For the second consecutive year, the Greenbrier Wolfpack baseball team will be the squad to beat in the region tournament.

//

After a full regular season, the Wolfpack claimed the Region 3N-AAAA regular season title with an undefeated subregion record.

An 8-3 win at Evans on Thursday was the final step in a two-year unbeaten stretch against subregion opponents.

"We accomplished our first goal of getting through the region," Greenbrier senior catcher Russ Winter said. "We feel like we're pretty confident we can play with anybody as long as we bring our best."

That's exactly what Greenbrier will have to do this weekend with the start of the Region 3-AAAA Tournament. The Wolfpack will enter the first round as a No. 1 seed facing fourth-seeded Ware County.

The region tournament's first-round is a must-win situation to earn a spot in the Class AAAA state tournament. A best-of-three-game series will be played this weekend to determine who is in the state playoffs and who will go home. Teams will face each other in a double-header on Friday and a third game, if necessary, will be played on Saturday.

"That's why we liked the idea of having that double header at Harlem last weekend," Greenbrier baseball coach Rodney Holder said. "That's exactly what we're facing now. You've got to win two."

Lakeside's baseball team, like Greenbrier, earned a home series in the first round of the region tournament. The Panthers grabbed the No. 2 seed in the north subregion and will face the south subregion's No. 3 seed Effingham County.

Lakeside has fond memories of last season's region tournament first-round when they swept top-seeded Statesboro at Statesboro. This year, the Panthers will play at home for a chance at the state playoffs.

"Anytime you're at home you're hoping to get an edge," Lakeside baseball coach Jay Matthews said. "At this point when we go out and throw strikes and play defense we feel like we can play with anyone."

Matthews said there is one obstacle the team will have to deal with this weekend. While the first-round double-headers are scheduled for Friday, Lakeside High School's prom is also that night

With Ware County's agreement, Matthews said the Lakeside/Ware County double-header will take place on Thursday at 4 p.m. and the third game, if necessary, will be played on Saturday.

While Lakeside and Greenbrier prepare for home games in the first round of the region tournament, Evans will hit the road. The Knights finished the regular season with a 3-5 subregion record good enough for fourth place. Evans baseball coach Ricky Beale said the beginning of the Region 3-AAAA Tournament brings on a second chance.

"It all starts over on Friday," Beale said. "We've got to be road warriors for a few games. We told the kids we've just got to make sure we're prepared for it."

Evans will make the long bus trip down to Jesup, Ga., to face the south subregion's top seed Wayne County. The Knights haven't missed out on the state playoffs since Beale took over in 2002.

Region 3-AAAA Tournament First Round

Home: Greenbrier (North No. 1)

Visitor: Ware Co. (South No. 4)

When: Friday double-header, 4 p.m.

Third game: Saturday

Home: Lakeside (North No. 2)

Visitor: Effingham Co. (South No. 3)

When: Thursday double-header, 4 p.m.

Third game: Saturday

Home: Wayne Co. (South No. 1)

Visitor: Evans (North No. 4)

When: Friday, double-header 4 p.m.

Third game: Saturday