Area depth on display in GHSA second round softball playoffs

Coach Dana Mull's Gordon Lee Lady Trojans are one of 10 northwest Georgia prep softball teams playing today for a shot at reaching the Elite Eight competition in Columbus next week.
Coach Dana Mull's Gordon Lee Lady Trojans are one of 10 northwest Georgia prep softball teams playing today for a shot at reaching the Elite Eight competition in Columbus next week.

GHSA second-round state playoffs

(Best-of-three series with DH starts)Class AAAAADalton (21-10) at Richmond Hill (23-6), 6Class AAAAMary Persons (20-11) at Heritage (29-4), 5Ridgeland (20-12) at Wayne County (21-9), 5:30Class AAARinggold (24-5) at Rutland (14-14), 4Jackson (20-10) at Calhoun (29-3), 5Sonoraville (18-14) at Westside, Augusta (14-13), 5Class AADade County (14-16) at Vidalia (29-3), 4Bacon County (21-9) at Gordon Lee (29-1), 4:30Class A publicMarion County (17-8) at Trion (25-5), 2Class A privateMt. Vernon Presbyterian (18-11) at Christian Heritage (23-4), 4

The northwest Georgia area has long been home to strong high school softball programs, but the 2015 season is taking the annual dominance to a new level.

Ten of the 19 GHSA schools in the Times Free Press coverage area are playing today in the second round of the state playoffs, and with a major tweak in the scheduling making its debut with this round, a record number of area teams could make their respective Elite Eight fields next week in Columbus.

"I think this year probably ranks up there with the best we've had in the area, to be sure," Gordon Lee coach Dana Mull said when asked about the depth among area teams. "I expect good results Wednesday from a lot of them. We always have several that place high in Columbus, and this probably won't be any different."

The GHSA, putting into consideration the traditional strength of north Georgia teams, has changed its playoff format for this round of 16. In the past the brackets pitted North teams against North teams and South vs. South in the best-of-three series.

That typically had several top-five ranked teams facing each other in the stronger North brackets. Now, though, with North and South teams matching up in this cutdown round, the field in Columbus should be stronger.

"I'm looking for several of our area teams to make it to Columbus," said Ringgold coach Shane Pendley, whose team is in Macon to face Rutland today in the doubleheader start to a best-of-three series. "There are some good teams in the south part of the state, but there are quite a few more in the northern half. It should create a more balanced field in Columbus."

Area teams will represent five classifications in today's action, from Dalton in Class AAAAA to Trion and Christian Heritage in Class A. There are teams with serious championship aspirations such as Heritage in Class AAAA, Ringgold and Calhoun in AAA and Gordon Lee in AA, and there are teams like 14-16 Dade County trying to make a magical run.

Calhoun coach Diane Smith, the dean of area coaches in her 30th season and owner of back-to-back Class AAA state titles, says the week-to-week competition during the regular season prepares northwest Georgia teams well for the postseason.

"We've always known that northwest Georgia is softball country," she said. "The teams are always competitive. Playing tough competition is how you get better, and it doesn't get any tougher than up here."

Contact Lindsey Young at lyoung@timesfreepress.com or at 423-757-6296; follow on Twitter @youngsports22.

Upcoming Events