By By Todd Thompson, Hartselle Enquirer
With just two weeks remaining in the regular season, the Alabama High School Athletic Association’s baseball playoff situation has become clearer and four area schools are poised to advance to the post-season.
Hartselle, Danville, Falkville and Priceville are in line to earn spots in the playoffs that start April 17.
All playoff rounds this year will be best-of-three series.
Hartselle should be ready to wrap up the Class 5A, Area 15 championship next week with a home-and-home series against Athens.
The No. 2-ranked Tigers entered Wednesday’s postponed game with Russellville with a 3-0 record in area play.
Winning the area championship would be beneficial to the Tigers, who would be able to host first-, second- and fourth-round series. Additionally, Hartselle wouldn’t match up with Cullman until the semifinals - a series that would be played in Hartselle.
Falkville has been a dominant force in the Class 2A, Area 13 race this season. The Blue Devils are currently 4-0 with sweeps of Addison and Cold Springs.
Falkville faces a battle with Cleveland, also undefeated in area play, next week.
Danville has gotten off to a 17-6 start this season, but the Hawks suffered a split with Carbon Hill in the first Class 3A, Area 11 series of the year.
The Hawks still have two area games remaining against Winfield and two with Hamilton.
Hamilton, making its first appearance in Class 3A baseball after dropping down from 4A this year, currently leads the area with a 2-0 record after wins over Winfield.
Priceville finds itself in a logjam atop the Class 4A, Area 13 standings with Fairview and Douglas. All three teams are currently 2-1, while Columbia is on the outside of the area race without a win.
The Bulldogs split a series with Fairview earlier in the season and added a 10-5 win over Douglas Saturday to keep in the hunt for the area championship. Still ahead for Priceville is a second game with Douglas and a two-game home-and-home series with Columbia.
Sports editor Todd Thompson can be reached at 773-6566 or at todd.thompson@hartselleenquirer.com