By Kevin Eckleberry

kevin.eckleberry@lagrangenews.com

LAGRANGE – They’ll be at home again.

After the LaGrange Grangers beat the Northside Patriots on Wednesday, they knew they would be participating in the quarterfinals of the Class AAAA state baseball playoffs.

What the Grangers didn’t know was who they’d be playing, and where the series would be?

Those questions were answered on Saturday when Stephens County beat Luella 3-0 to win Game 3 of that playoff series.

Since LaGrange is a higher-seeded team, it will serve as the host school for the quarterfinal series.

They’ll play a doubleheader on Wednesday at 4:30 p.m., and if they split those two games, a third and deciding game would be on Thursday at 4:30 p.m.

The winner of the LaGrange and Stephens County series will play either Marist or Madison County in the final four on May 17.

In the other quarterfinal matchups, it’ll be Heritage vs. Hardaway, and West Laurens vs. Blessed Trinity.

After finishing second in Region 5-AAAA, the Grangers were only guaranteed one home playoff series, but things have worked out in their favor.

Northside, a number four seed, knocked off a region champion, so LaGrange was at home for the second round after sweeping Chestatee.

Now, with third-seeded Stephens advancing, LaGrange will be at Granger Park once again.

Stephens County (21-15) has been pushed to the full three games in both of its playoff series.

In the opening round, Stephens County beat Northwest Whitfield 10-9 in a dramatic Game 3, and it blanked Luella 3-0 on Saturday in a rain-delayed series.

LaGrange, meanwhile, has yet to lose in the playoffs.

LaGrange beat Chestatee 10-0 in both playoff games, and it got past Northside 5-2 and 5-3 on Wednesday.

LAGRANGE VS.

STEPHENS COUNTY

WHEN: Wednesday, 4:30 p.m. (doubleheader); Thursday, 4:30 p.m. (if necessary)

WHERE: Granger Park

WHAT: Quarterfinals of Class AAAA state playoffs