By KEVIN ECKLEBERRY

Daily News

It’s crunch time.

The regular season is down to two weeks for the baseball teams from Callaway, LaGrange and Troup, and they all still have plenty to play for.

All three teams are comfortably in position to earn a state-playoff spot, and they each still have a chance to win a region championship.

Callaway and Heard County will play three times this week, and the team that wins two or more games will claim the Region 5-AA championship.

LaGrange and Troup will each play some critical Region 5-AAAA games this week, including Tuesday’s showdown when the two county rivals face off for the second time this season.

The season also continues this week for the LaGrange Academy Warriors and Lafayette Christian School Cougars.

Troup has won back-to-back region championships, and it is in position to go for a three-peat at 7-1 in the region.

Troup has five region games remaining as it looks to chase down Cartersville, which sits in first place at 7-0.

Troup will travel to Cartersville next week for what could be a first-place showdown, but it has some work to do before then.

Troup visits LaGrange on Tuesday before hosting Central-Carroll on Friday.

Last week, Troup played three non-region games, and it went 2-1 with wins over Harris County and Shaw and a loss to Mount Paran.

While the games didn’t impact the Tigers’ position in the region, head coach Craig Garner said the team came into the week fully focused on playing well with the regular season winding down.

“Obviously we want to play good from the beginning of the season, all the way to the end,” Garner said. “But when spring break hits, that is our turning point. That’s where we really want to start dialing in and getting a whole lot better.”

LaGrange has a chance to make a move this week with home games against the region’s top two teams.

LaGrange, which has lost road games to Troup and Cartersville, will host both of those teams this week.

LaGrange plays Troup on Tuesday, and after Thursday’s game at Central-Carroll, it will be back home on Friday against Cartersville.

At 5-2 in the region, if the Grangers could put together a perfect week, they’d be no worse than tied for first place.

Callaway and Heard County figured to be the teams to beat in Region 5-AA coming into the season, and that’s how it has played out.

Both teams are 8-1 in the region, setting up this week’s winner-take-all series.

Callaway will host a single game on Tuesday, and the scene shifts to Heard County on Friday for a doubleheader.

Also this week, the LaGrange Academy and Lafayette Christian School baseball teams return to action after taking some time off for spring break.

LaGrange Academy, which is sitting in first place in GISA Region 1-AA, will host Monsignor Donovan on Thursday before visiting Notre Dame on Friday.

Lafayette Christian School, which still has a chance to make it to the GICAA state playoffs, has three games this week.

Lafayette Christian hosts Holy Ground today and visits Flint River on Saturday.

THIS WEEK’S GAMES

TODAY

Callaway at Handley, 5 p.m.

TUESDAY

Troup at LaGrange, 5:30 p.m.

Heard County at Callaway, 5:30 p.m.

Lafayette Christian vs. Holy Ground, 5:30 p.m.

THURSDAY

LaGrange at Central-Carroll, 5:45 p.m.

Troup at Auburn (Ala.), 5:30 p.m.

Monsignor Donovan at LaGrange Academy, 5 p.m.

FRIDAY

Cartersville at LaGrange, 5:30 p.m.

Central-Carroll at Troup, 5:55 p.m.

Callaway at Heard County, 4:30 p.m.

LaGrange Academy at Notre Dame, 4:30 p.m.

SATURDAY

Lafayette Christian at Flint River, 2 p.m.