A 35-year draught ended this week as the Towers Titans join eight other DeKalb baseball programs in the state playoffs for the first time since 1987.

Coach Crystalyn Savage’s Titans finished off the season 11-8 overall including a two-game sweep of Therrell to secure the No.3 seed out of Region 6-2A. Towers winning season is the first since a 13-12-1 season in 2010 and also the most wins since that time.

Towers is 3-6 in nine playoff games winning one game in each of its three best-of-three series in 1979, 1982 and 1987. The Titans are vying for their first playoff series victory as they begin their Class 2A best-of-three series at Banks County (14-10), the No. 2 seed from Region 8-2A with a doubleheader on Friday at 5:00 pm. A third game, if necessary, is set for Saturday at 11:00 am.

First round doubleheader action in Classes 7A, 6A, 5A and 4A are set to begin on Thursday with seven DeKalb teams opening postseason play.

Dunwoody (7A) and Druid Hills (4A) both host their first round games on Wednesday. Coach Chan English’s Dunwoody Wildcats (16-11) went 13-1 in Region 7-7A to claim the region title and a home playoff series against Region 5-7A No. 4 seed Alpharetta (13-15). The two teams square off in a doubleheader beginning at 4:00 pm at Dunwoody.

Coach Eric Love’s Druid Hills Red Devils (15-6) finished as the Region 6-4A runners-up for the second consecutive season to earn a host role against Jefferson (16-13), the Region 8-4A No. 3 seed. The doubleheader is set for a 2:00 pm start at Druid Hills Middle School.

Five DeKalb teams go on the road on Thursday including Class 6A entries Tucker (18-9) and Lakeside (18-11). Coach Robert Link’s Tucker Tigers (No. 3 seed, Region 4-6A) go on the road to Glynn Academy (22-7), the Region 2 No. 2 seed, for a 3:00 pm doubleheader on Thursday. Tucker’s 18 wins on the season is the most since going 26-8 in 2017.

Coach Brian Granger’s Lakeside Vikings finished as the No. 4 seed in 4-6A and climb aboard the bus headed to Region 2 No. 1 seed Richmond Hill (21-7) for a 4:00 pm doubleheader. It is the Vikings sixth consecutive playoff appearance.

DeKalb is also sending two Class 5A playoff participants on the road on Thursday as Southwest DeKalb (17-9) and Chamblee (15-12) travel in first round action. Coach Tyrus Taylor’s Panthers (Region 5-5A No. 3 seed) travel to Blessed Trinity (20-9), the Region 7-5A No. 2 seed, for a 4:30 pm doubleheader. Southwest DeKalb is returning to the playoffs for the first time since a Sweet 16 appearance in 2019.

Coach Brian Ely’s Chamblee Bulldogs (Region 5-5A No. 4 seed) head up I-75 to take on Region 7-5A No. 1 seed Cartersville (23-5) in a 4:30 pm doubleheader. The Bulldogs swept two games from Northview to end the regular season to clinch their seventh consecutive playoff berth.

Arabia Mountain (11-10-1) hits the road in Class 4A as the 6-4A No. 3 seed with a date at Region 8-4A No. 3 seed Flowery Branch (18-10) in a doubleheader set for 4:30 pm on Wednesday. Coach Eric Hoxie’s Rams return to the state playoffs for the first time since 2019. The Rams gave Hoxie his 200th career victory on April 23 with a 9-5 victory over Mays to seal the No. 3 seed. Hoxie is 200-194-2 in 17 years as a head coach in DeKalb County including stops at Stephenson (2006-09, 43-53) and starting the Arabia Mountain program (2007-2022, 157-141-2).

Coach Alexander Wyche is in his final season at Redan and has the Raiders (20-4, Region 5-3A No. 2 seed) hosting Region 7-3A No. 3 seed Dawson County (19-11). Wyche is 106-51 in seven seasons at Redan.

DEKALB BASEBALL STATE PLAYOFF SCHEDULE
Wednesday, April 27
CLASS 7A FIRST ROUND (Best of Three Series)
Alpharetta (13-15) at Dunwoody (16-11), DH, 4:00 pm

CLASS 6A FIRST ROUND (Best of Three Series)
Tucker (18-9) at Glynn Academy (22-7), DH, 3:00 pm
Lakeside (18-11) at Richmond Hill (21-7), DH, 4:00 pm

CLASS 5A FIRST ROUND (Best of Three Series)
SW DeKalb (17-9) at Blessed Trinity (20-9), DH, 4:30 pm
Chamblee (15-12) at Cartersville (23-5), DH, 4:30 p.m.

CLASS 4A FIRST ROUND (Best of Three Series)
Jefferson (16-13) at Druid Hills (15-6), DH, 2:00 pm
Arabia Mountain (11-10-1) at Flowery Branch (18-10), DH, 4:30 pm

Thursday, April 28
CLASS 7A FIRST ROUND (Best of Three Series)
Alpharetta (13-15) at Dunwoody (16-11), 6:00 pm, if necessary

CLASS 6A FIRST ROUND (Best of Three Series)
Tucker (18-9) at Glynn Academy (22-7), 1:00 pm, if necessary
Lakeside (18-11) at Richmond Hill (21-7), 3:00 pm, if necessary

CLASS 5A FIRST ROUND (Best of Three Series)
SW DeKalb (17-9) at Blessed Trinity (20-9), 5:55 pm, if necessary
Chamblee (15-12) at Cartersville (23-5), 5:30 p.m., if necessary

CLASS 4A FIRST ROUND (Best of Three Series)
Jefferson (16-13) at Druid Hills (15-6), 5:00 pm, if necessary
Arabia Mountain (11-10-1) at Flowery Branch (18-10), 5:00 p.m., if necessary

Friday, April 29
CLASS 3A FIRST ROUND (Best of Three Series)
Dawson County (19-11) at Redan (20-4), DH, 3:00 p.m.

CLASS 2A FIRST ROUND (Best of Three Series)
Towers (11-8) at Banks County (14-10), DH, 5:00 p.m.

Saturday, April 30
CLASS 3A FIRST ROUND (Best of Three Series)
Dawson County (19-11) at Redan (20-4), 2:00 p.m., if necessary

CLASS 2A FIRST ROUND (Best of Three Series)
Towers (11-8) at Banks County (14-10), 11:00 am, if necessary

Admission Cost: Adults/Students $10.00 Doubleheader
Adults/Students $7.00 Single Game If Necessary