RINGGOLD, Ga. — There's a definite sense of confidence surrounding the Heritage High School softball team, and it starts in the circle.
Junior pitcher Addie Edwards did what she has done all year Thursday in a GHSA Class AAAA super regional as the hosts completed a sweep of their four-team event to advance to next week's eight-team state tournament in Columbus. Top-ranked Heritage (24-2-1) won two games against powerful Region 8 runner-up East Forsyth, 7-0 and 5-0, as Edwards pitched three-hit shutouts in each game.
Edwards has now allowed one earned run in 122 innings this season. She also struck out 13 batters in both games Thursday, giving her more than 200 this season.
Needless to say, early runs in each game were more than enough for the ace.
"We always have faith that Addie is going to give her all in the circle and keep us in games to give us a chance," Heritage coach Megan Crawford said. "Our girls want to provide run support for Addie, and they did that well today. It took every single player in our program the last two days to win this super regional."
Heritage, which is chasing the fourth state title in program history, wasn't the only area team advancing Thursday. Dade County and Trion, Region 7-A Division I rivals, both swept their way to Columbus. Dade downed Jasper County 7-2 in Trenton, while Trion pulled the upset at Elbert County, eliminating the hosts 10-7.
Northwest Whitfield's upset bid in the Class AAAA super regional at Atlanta's Westminster fell short with an 11-3 loss to Seckinger. Two other Region 7-AAAA teams will join Heritage in Columbus, with No. 2 seed Central-Carroll and No. 3 seed Sonoraville also advancing.
Heritage got all the runs it would need in game one versus East Forsyth with a five-run third inning. After Bree Wilson scored on an error, Harper Carstens singled to drive in a run, Bailee Hollis scored on a passed ball, and Jenna Ryans delivered a two-run single.
In game two, Landry White's RBI triple and Brylee Pritchett's run-scoring single made it 2-0 in the second inning. Heritage added three runs in the sixth on RBIs from Abby Young and White. Hollis was 3-for-4, with Ryans, Wilson and Young each getting two hits.
"I love where we are right now as a team," Crawford said. "The girls are having fun! I like the experience we are taking with us, and these girls know what Columbus is like. It's going to be a lot of fun."
In Class A, Dade County's strong pitching also continued as senior Kayleigh Warnock threw a complete game in the win over Jasper County, racking up 12 strikeouts.
Lexi Lawson had a pair of doubles and knocked in two runs, with Adilynn Gross also driving in two and Falyn Baggett adding two hits for the Lady Wolverines (21-6).
Trion (15-6-1) scored 24 runs in winning two games over host Elbert on Wednesday and Thursday. The Lady Bulldogs took advantage of five errors Thursday, three coming in a seven-run sixth inning that turned around what was a 5-3 Elbert lead. Abbi Wheat, I'Ziah McCutchins and Aubree Weaver had RBIs in the big inning.
McCutchins and Mollie Edge had two hits each, with Edge and Wheat driving in two runs apiece for Trion.
In Class AAAA, Northwest Whitfield's season ended at 12-20 as Seckinger rallied from an early 3-0 deficit to advance. Jolie Albertson had two hits, including a homer, and two RBIs, with Lindsey Harris adding two hits for the Lady Bruins.
In addition to the area teams advancing Thursday, 11-time state champion Gordon Lee won its AAA super regional earlier this week to secure a spot at state.
FOOTBALL
LaFayette 34, LFO 21: Khalas Finley rushed for 200 yards and three touchdowns as the Ramblers went on the road and improved to 2-6 overall and 1-4 in GHSA Region 6-AAA.
Lakeview-Fort Oglethorpe (2-6, 1-4) took a 9-0 lead after a safety and the first of Tray Lewis' three touchdown runs late in the first quarter. LaFayette scored the next 34 points, though, beginning with Finley's 80-yard score and concluding with a 60-yarder by Dawson Pendergrass.
Lewis had 126 yards for LFO, with Brayden Jones adding 87 yards and a touchdown run.
Adairsville 40, Gordon Lee 7: The Tigers (6-2, 4-0 Region 6-AAA) ran out to a 40-0 lead at halftime and rolled in Chickamauga to remain tied with Bremen atop the region standings.
Jamarian Pullum had three touchdown runs and Ethan Blome added two for Adairsville, which hosts Bremen next week.
Gordon Lee falls to 5-3 overall and 3-2 in 6-AAA.
Contact Lindsey Young at lyoung@timesfreepress.com.