The GHSA Fast Pitch Softball season came to an end on Saturday as eight state champions were crowned in Columbus. In each of the eight classifications, the champion emerged from the winner’s bracket in one-game final series.
In the state’s highest classification, East Coweta defended its title in dominant fashion with a 9-0 victory over Mill Creek in the championship game. East Coweta earned the championship berth following a 9-0 romp of Lassiter in the first game of the day in the semifinals of the winner’s bracket. Mill Creek is second in the final poll with Lassiter, North Gwinnett and Lowndes rounding out the top-5.
Harrison won its first softball title since the 2000’s championship when the Hoyas were in Class AAAAA, then the state’s highest classification at the time. Harrison moved past Pope 6-3 to earn the championship. Pope is second after its runner-up season. No. 3 Allatoona, No. 4 Greenbrier and No. 5 Dalton fill out the top-5.
Locust Grove defeated Loganville (8-2) to successfully defend its title after winning the school’s first-ever championship last year. Locust Grove went flawlessly through the bracket with victories over Buford (2-1), Thomas County Central (11-2) and Bainbridge (6-1) before earning the championship berth. Loganville finished second in the polls with Bainbridge ranked third. Buford and South Effingham are ranked fourth and fifth, respectively.
In Class AAAA, Heritage-Catoosa survived to three one-run victories and in the process denied Northside-Columbus its title defense as it took the championship in flawless fashion. The title was sealed with a 5-4 victory in the championship game. Northside finished second in the polls with Hampton, Madison County and Oconee County making the top-5.
In Class AAA, No. 1 Franklin County scored eight runs in the bottom of the fifth inning to cruise to its first-ever state championship with a 9-5 victory over Jefferson in the title game. Calhoun, which was ranked No. 1 entering the playoffs, lost its first two games in Columbus and fell to seventh. Sonoraville, Brantley County and Appling County make up the top-5.
Top-ranked Social Circle defeated Banks County twice on Saturday to earn the title. In the championship game, the Redskins won 9-1 which marked the first-ever softball title in school history. Banks finishes at No. 2. Third-ranked Monticello, fourth-ranked Jeff Davis and fifth-ranked Dodge County fill out the top-5.
Gordon Lee’s 8-0 victory over Bowdon in the championship game marked the ninth title in program history, fourth in a row and six of the last seven. Gordon Lee won titles in 2004, 2010-13 and 2015-18. Bowdon finished at No. 2. Third-ranked Trion, fourth-ranked Lanier County and fifth-ranked Marion County round out the top-5.
Wesleyan’s flawless run through the postseason allowed the Wolves the title defense after winning 7-0 over Prince Avenue in the championship game. The Wolves won their first-ever softball title in program history last season. Prince Avenue finished second in the final poll with three Macon schools rounding out the top-5 – third-ranked First Presbyterian, fourth-ranked Tattnall Square and fifth-ranked Mount de Sales.
Class AAAAAAA
1. East Coweta
2. Mill Creek
3. Lassiter
4. North Gwinnett
5. Lowndes
6. Grayson
7. Archer
8. Collins Hill
9. Brookwood
10. Woodstock
Class AAAAAA
1. Harrison
2. Pope
3. Allatoona
4. Greenbrier
5. Dalton
6. Houston County
7. Evans
8. Heritage-Conyers
9. Lee County
10. Coffee
Class AAAAA
1. Locust Grove
2. Loganville
3. Bainbridge
4. Buford
5. South Effingham
6. Thomas County Central
7. Walnut Grove
8. Villa Rica
9. Carrollton
10. Statesboro
Class AAAA
1. Heritage-Catoosa
2. Northside-Columbus
3. Hampton
4. Madison County
5. Oconee County
6. LaFayette
7. West Laurens
8. Perry
9. Central-Carroll
10. Marist
Class AAA
1. Franklin County
2. Jefferson
3. Sonoraville
4. Brantley County
5. Appling County
6. Cook County
7. Calhoun
8. Worth County
9. Jackson County
10. Pierce County
Class AA
1. Social Circle
2. Banks County
3. Monticello
4. Jeff Davis
5. Dodge County
6. Heard County
7. Vidalia
8. Harlem
9. Bleckley County
10. Chattooga
Class A-Public
1. Gordon Lee
2. Bowdon
3. Trion
4. Lanier County
5. Marion County
6. Schley County
7. Seminole County
8. Telfair County
9. Echols County
10. Mount Zion
Class A-Private
1. Wesleyan
2. Prince Avenue Christian
3. First Presbyterian Day
4. Tattnall Square
5. Mount de Sales
6. Stratford
7. Mount Paran Christian
8. George Walton Academy
9. Holy Innocents'
10. Strong Rock Christian
About the Author
