By Score Atlanta
Mill Creek flew under the radar heading into the state playoffs, but coach Paul Pierce’s Hawks (26-8) got hot at the right time and swept through the Class AAAAAA field to earn their second state championship and first since 2008. The Hawks defeated Brookwood 2-0 to make it to the finals and then met the Broncos (26-12) for a second time, grabbing a 5-2 victory to hoist the trophy. The Hawks lost to Brookwood in the third game of the season back in August, 3-1.
Heavy favorite North Gwinnett (32-5) entered the playoffs ranked No. 1 overall, but after advancing to the championship rounds, it was two and out for the Bulldogs. Harrison (27-8) edged North Gwinnett 2-0 and then the Bulldogs were slated to play South Forsyth (22-5) in an elimination game which they lost 2-0.
In Class AAAAA, Chapel Hill (31-3) dominated the competition with its pitching to capture the Panthers’ first state title. The Panthers tossed three shutouts in the championship rounds before nipping Houston County (30-11) in the championship, 2-1. Chapel Hill finished their season behind pitcher Ashley Morgan’s four-hit, complete-game. The Panthers got on the board when Morgan singled home Shelby Robinson. They scored once more in the inning on a fielder’s choice by Bella CariCari. Houston County scored their lone run in the fourth inning when Emily Simmons crossed the plate on an error.
Cambridge (21-4), who was ranked No. 1 in the final regular season poll, was stunned by Jones County (25-17) in the second round. The Bears gave up the least amount of runs in the entire state all season long, but it was the offense that let them down in three games, losing the series 2-0, 0-7, 1-0. Cambridge finished the season allowing just 18 runs all year, giving up on average 0.72 runs a game with 17 shutouts.
The Buford Wolves (30-6) ended their season on a 15-game winning streak and finished off Walnut Grove 6-4 in AAAA to claim their unprecedented ninth straight softball state title. With the scored tied 1-1 in the third inning, Drew Puckett hit a two-run home to give Buford a 3-1 lead. Walnut Grove’s Kylee Love hit a three run homerun in the fifth inning to cut the lead to 5-4. Puckett added insurance on an RBI single in the sixth inning before Logan Caymol closed it out for the Wolves on the mound in the seventh.
Class AAA saw Calhoun (36-4) capture a third straight title. This came after Morgan County (31-8) forced a decisive Game 2 with a 5-3 win over the Yellow Jackets. Calhoun pitcher Kinsey Liscio threw a complete-game shutout in the championship game which saw Calhoun hold on 1-0. Jana Johns’ solo homerun in the bottom of the third inning proved to be the game-winner. The Bulldogs fell in the winner’s bracket to Calhoun 4-0 but earned another shot at the Jackets after beating Ringgold 7-5.
After a surprise 1-0 loss to Bryan County (29-12) in round two of the winner’s bracket, Gordon Lee (37-2) stormed out of the loser’s bracket in AA to win its sixth state title. The Trojans exploded for nine runs in the top half of the seventh inning to defeat Vidalia 13-1 in the championship game. Bailey Miller batted in a run, Faith Alexander scored on a wild pitch and Gracey Kruse doubled to give Gordon Lee an early 3-0 lead. Miller added another RBI single in the top of the fifth before the nine-run explosion two innings later.
In Class A-Private, Eagle’s Landing Christian (24-9) cruised past Stratford Academy 8-0 for the program’s sixth state championship and third straight. Pitcher Chanel Newcomer threw a complete game, one-hit shutout. Leading 4-0, the Chargers busted out four runs in the fifth inning. Abigail Rogers went 3-fot-3 with three RBI’s and two runs scored, while Brooke Echols and Caris Wright collected two hits each.
Georgia Military (27-6) won its second straight A-Public championship by sweeping through the championship rounds, beating Trion 5-2 then 4-2 in the finals.
AAAAAA
1. Mill Creek
2. Brookwood
3. East Coweta
4. South Forsyth
5. Archer
6. Harrison
7. North Gwinnett
8. Kennesaw Mountain
9. Cherokee
10. Woodstock
AAAAA
1. Chapel Hill
2. Houston County
3. Greenbrier
4. Allatoona
5. Dalton
6. Jones County
7. Heritage-Conyers
8. Northside-Columbus
9. Cambridge
10. Union Grove
AAAA
1. Buford
2. Walnut Grove
3. Heritage-Catoosa
4. West Laurens
5. Veterans
6. Wayne County
7. North Oconee
8. Worth County
9. Thomas County Central
10. Gilmer
AAA
1. Calhoun
2. Morgan County
3. Ringgold
4. Central-Carrollton
5. Blessed Trinity
6. East Jackson
7. Franklin County
8. Sonoraville
9. Pierce County
10. Dodge County
AA
1. Gordon Lee
2. Vidalia
3. Bryan County
4. Social Circle
5. Seminole County
6. Heard County
7. Union County
8. Harlem
9. Wesleyan
10. Armuchee
A-Private
1. Eagle’s Landing Christian Academy
2. Stratford Academy
3. First Presbyterian Day
4. Prince Avenue Christian
5. Brookstone
6. Calvary Day
7. Tattnall Square Academy
8. Christian Heritage
9. Mt. Vernon Presbyterian
10. Strong Rock Christian
A-Public
1. Georgia Military College
2. Trion
3. Echols County
4. Wilcox County
5. Baconton Charter
6. Emanuel County Institute
7. Telfair County
8. Schley County
9. Johnson County
10. Charlton County
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