COLUMBUS, Ga. - For the second consecutive season, the northwest Georgia area came away from the GHSA State Softball Championships with three titles and a runner-up trophy.
Northwest Whitfield defeated Region 7 rival Heritage 12-6 on Saturday after losing the first Class AAAA championship-round game to the Generals, 6-4. Calhoun completed a sweep through the Class AA field with a 7-0 win over Harlem, and Gordon Lee won its fourth consecutive Class A title with a pair of wins over Georgia Military College, 3-1 and 2-1.
"We already knew the northwest Georgia area is the best in the state when it comes to softball, and this just reaffirms it," said Northwest coach Jason Brooker, whose team also won last year's title. "Heritage is a great team and I can't say enough about their girls, but this was our day."
Gordon Lee, after losing to GMC late Friday, had to win three games Saturday, but the experienced Lady Trojans (33-6) rode the hot pitching of Emily Armour and timely hitting to earn the school's sixth overall title under coach Dana Mull.
"It never gets old," Mull said. "This may have been the biggest challenge yet, because we got in at 1 o'clock and had to get up early to get out of the hotel. The girls got very little sleep, but they responded today. I can't say enough about them."
Ringgold's title hopes ended earlier Saturday with a 2-0 loss to Central-Carrollton.
Contact Lindsey Young at lyoung@timesfreepress.com or at 423-757-6296.