Northwest Whitfield's Alyssa Ward prepares to slide into third base during a Region 7-AAAA softball game at Northwest Whitfield High School in Tunnel Hill, Ga., on Thursday.GHSA state first round playoffs(best-of-3 series with doubleheaders)TODAYClass AAACallaway (15-16) at Calhoun (26-7), 4Sonoraville (16-18) at Cedartown (23-9), 4:30Murray County (17-15) at Central, Carroll (29-1), 5Class AARabun County (13-15) at Gordon Lee (26-6), 4Dade County (12-20) at Social Circle (20-11), 4THURSDAYClass AAAANorthwest Whitfield (16-16) at Madison County (26-6), 4:30North Oconee (19-16) at Heritage (28-7), 5:30Class AAARockmart (23-8) at Ringgold (26-6), 2:30
TUNNEL HILL, Ga. -- As the two-time defending state softball champions in Class AAAA, Northwest Whitfield has instant name credibility within the Georgia prep circle. No other .500 team heading into today's first round of the state playoffs will be given nearly as much respect as the Lady Bruins, something coach Jason Brooker hopes will work in his team's favor.
"I think, even though most of the girls are new and we didn't have a great regular season, that the last two years will help us," said Brooker, whose team opens a best-of-three series Thursday at state power Madison County. "Our regular-season record (16-16) no longer matters, and if they've learned anything it's that everything is up for grabs once the playoffs begin."
Only two starters returned from last season's 36-7 champions -- senior pitcher BriLeigh Baggett and sophomore outfielder Alyssa Ward -- but two other seniors, Bailey Marquardt and Gabbi Helton, were parts of the two title teams. All four were integral in a Region 7-AAAA win over Heritage last week that Brooker hopes will remind the Lady Bruins of what they can accomplish.
"Beating Heritage was a big step, and it proves on any given day we can play with anybody," he said. "We gained some confidence, even though we didn't follow that up like we should have. Madison County is a great team and even though the girls want to play the underdog role, that team won't overlook us because of what we've done the last two years."
Calhoun and Gordon Lee also are back in the playoffs after winning state titles last year, but they have moved up in classification. Calhoun's Lady Yellow Jackets (26-7) won the Class AA championship a year ago and now take aim on the AAA crown, which was won by now-AAAA top-ranked Buford. Calhoun, which wrestled away the top seed from Ringgold at last week's region tournament, will open with Callaway today.
"Winning that title was a case of the girls playing up to their capabilities," said coach Diane Smith, whose team has seven returning starters from last year's state champs. "Being a defending state champion always puts a target on your back, but I think that makes the girls more enthusiastic and ready to get after it."
On the subject of targets, Gordon Lee is the team to beat in Class AA after winning multiple titles in Class A. The Lady Trojans (26-6) open their first double-A series today against Rabun County, and coach Dana Mull said the playoffs are a welcome sight after going through the Region 7-AA regular season undefeated.
"I'm glad we're getting to play this week," said Mull, whose team in Class A had a week off before the playoffs started. "I think we're ready to go. With all the bad weather lately we've been working indoors on our hitting, and I think it's helped."
Contact Lindsey Young at lyoung@timesfreepress.com or at 423-757-6296.