Walton Baseball Advances in State

After being forced to wait out the rain last weekend, the Walton baseball team is making the best of the situation.

The Raiders trailed twice in Thursday's Georgia High School Association Class AAAAAA second round doubleheader at Norcross before rallying in both games to earn sweeps, by scores of 6-5 in eight innings and 7-6.

As the MDJ reports this morning, this will be the first quarterfinal trip for Walton since it reached the championship series in 2008. On Tuesday, the Raiders will play either Tift County or Newnan.

Walton didn't complete its first round series with South Gwinnett until Tuesday because of last weekend's rain.

Pope's bid for a second round sweep in the Class AAAAA playoffs were spoiled Thursday when Winder-Barrow won the nightcap of Thursday's doubleheader by a 10-6 score.

The Greyhounds, who play host to today's series finale at 6 p.m., won the opener by a 10-9 score.

Also in Class 5A, the Kell Longhorns were eliminated by East Paulding, which won Game 3 of the series by a 9-0 score on Thursday. The game was the last for Kell coach Donnie English, who earlier announced his retirement.

East Paulding plays Greenbrier on Tuesday in the quarterfinals.

Also in Class 6A, Marietta's season came to an end in a 3-2 loss in East Coweta in the rubber match of that second round series.

In Class 1A private schools, Mt. Paran Christian defeated Kings Ridge to advance to next Monday's quarterfinal series with George Walton Academy.