Harlem beat Calvary Day 13-5 and 7-0 in last year’s Class 3A championship game at Rome’s AdventHealth Stadium to finish off a 38-1 season and win the program’s second-straight state championship.
Since that victory, the Bulldogs have not lost a single game and carry a 31-0 record into the second round, a home double-header against Whitewater Thursday.
The team won its first-ever state title in 1974 and followed it with championships in 1978, 1979, 1981, 1982, 1983 and 1986. Then, the Bulldogs went on a 37-year break before winning the team’s eighth title in 2023 and earning its ninth last season.
In the opening round of the top-left quadrant of the bracket, Harlem had little issues with Calvary Day and against a 22-10 Whitewater team, the Bulldogs could be eyeing an advance to the quarterfinals and a possible matchup against No. 8 LaGrange or No. 3 Pickens.
The Grangers (22-11) will have to advance past and upset higher-ranked Pickens (27-5) on the road to earn a quarterfinals berth. LaGrange has one title in 2004, Pickens wants its first.
Whitewater will be the last unranked team Harlem will face in the playoffs, barring an upset-born Cinderella run on the right-side of the bracket. The teams remaining on the left side are No. 3 Pickens, No. 8 LaGrange and No. 7 Oconee County, No. 9 Jefferson, No. 10 Dawson County and No. 5 Troup.
Follow the link to the full GHSA baseball brackets or check out the Prep Scoreboard to keep up with the action.
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