MOULTRIE — The last time Colquitt County and Newnan met in the state baseball playoffs came in 1998 when the Cougars visited Moultrie for a first-round series.

The Packers would like a repeat of the result of that series when they travel to Joe Pope Field in Newnan on Friday for another first-round matchup.

A doubleheader is scheduled for 4 p.m. Friday. If a third game is needed to determine the best-of-3 series, it will be played at 1 p.m. Saturday.

The Packers exploded for 35 hits and eliminated the Cougars in a first-day doubleheader in 1998 by scores of 20-6 and 15-0.

Newnan was the No. 3 team in the state that year, but was down 9-0 after two innings of the first game and never recovered. The Packers were trying to successfully defend their 1997 state championship.

If the Packers can duplicate that effort and get away with first-round series win this year, they will have to do it on the road in a venue where Newnan has been tough to beat.

The Cougars are 12-2 at home this year, winning those dozen games in succession.

Newnan and East Coweta finished the Region 4-AAAAA schedule with identical 10-2 records and split their region meetings, with each winning at home: Newnan 2-0 and East Coweta 6-2.

The two were declared co-region champions, but the Indians took the top seed in the playoffs and will play host to Valdosta in the first round.

Newnan was No. 2 and earned the right to play Colquitt County, Region 1’s No. 3 team, at home.

The Cougars started 2007 slowly, dropping their first two games of the season. But Newnan then ripped of wins in 15 of its next 16 games.

The Cougars did not make the postseason last year after qualifying for the playoffs for nine straight years. They have won four of their last five games are are 20-6.

Colquitt County won its Region 1-AAAAA finale 7-2 over Tift County to qualify for the playoffs after a year’s absence. The Packers closed out the regular season with an 8-2 loss to Thomas County Central on Monday and is 12-14 overall.