The Tigers came out swinging Friday evening, blowing past East Hall 16-7 in Dawsonville. Dawson County (11-14; 7-8 in 7-AAA) salvaged the three-game set with the Vikings after East Hall took game one 2-1 and game two 5-2.

Both teams are now 7-8 in region play, which is tied for fourth in the region, with one three-game region set left on their schedules. With both the Tigers and Vikings dead-locked for the final playoff spot up for grabs, East Hall still has the inside track.

Here’s why: East Hall holds a two games to one lead in the head-to-head series with Dawson County, and finishes off its season with a series against last place Union County (8-18; 1-14). Dawson County, meanwhile, has its work cut out with three games against the defending 3A State Champions, North Hall, who is 18-5 overall and 10-2 in region play, sitting atop the standings. The Trojans also have Reese Olson, a Georgia Tech-signee.

Dawson County needs to not only take care of business against North Hall, but is relying on Union County to help by taking at least one from East Hall. If the Panthers can somehow take two – or three – it sets the Tigers up to perhaps grab that #4 seed out of region 7-AAA.