STATE SOFTBALL CHAMPIONSHIPS
When: Wednesday through Saturday
Where: Columbus Softball Complex
Online: Brackets, pairings and scores at ajc.com
The GHSA state softball tournament moves into the semifinals Wednesday, as the eight teams left in each classification will play what essentially is a double-elimination tournament through Saturday in Columbus. The brackets are divided into a winners and losers bracket, with the championship games scheduled for Saturday.
Only three defending champions advanced to the semifinals, led by Buford in Class AAA. The Wolves have won state championships each year since 2007 and have been ranked No. 1 all season. Coach Tony Wolfe’s team enters the state tournament at 33-1 and have won 21 consecutive games.
Northwest Whitfield in AAAA and Gordon Lee in Class A-Public are the only other defending state champions to make the semifinals.
In AAA, Pike County’s Marley Stowers brings a .592 batting average with her to the four-team playoff. Stowers also has 13 wins and a 1.37 ERA for the Pirates, which started the season 6-11 only to win eight consecutive games entering Thursday.
Creekview used two complete-game performances by pitcher Gracie Dorr in the quarterfinals series against Apalachee. This is the third time the Grizzlies have been to Columbus. Also in AAAAA, Pope returns for the second consecutive year and second time in Columbus overall.
In AAAAAA, Gwinnett County has three teams (Brookwood, Collins Hill, North Gwinnett) in the semifinals while Cobb brings four (Harrison, Hillgrove, Kennesaw Mountain, Lassiter). Gwinnett County teams, including Archer last season, Collins Hill from 2009-11 and Mill Creek in 2008, have won the past five state championships in the state’s largest classification. In 2007, Lassiter won the previous state championship of any Cobb team.
Collins Hill is the current No. 1 in AAAAAA and is the lone team in the state to have beaten Buford.
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