CALHOUN, Ga. - The defending GHSA Class AAA softball champions will be back in Columbus to defend their title after securing 15-0 and 9-0 wins over Jackson County on Wednesday.
Calhoun's Lady Yellow Jackets (31-3) received dual no-hitters from Kinsey Liscio and Emily Mitchell in the eight innings of work. In game one, Maddie Bumgardner was 3-for-3 with five RBIs, with Jana Johns adding two hits and three RBIs and Mitchell a two-run homer.
Johns was the hitting star in game two with a homer, double and three RBIs, with Allie Jones and Ashlyn Barnes adding two hits each. Liscio fanned seven of the nine hitters she faced in game one, while Mitchell struck out 11 in five innings in game two.
* Also in Class AAA, Region 6 runner-up Ringgold had almost as little trouble getting through the second round of the state bracket as it did the first, sweeping Rutland 13-1 and 10-2 in Macon.
The Lady Tigers (25-8), who beat Fannin County 6-0 and 13-0 in last week's opening round, had a combined 27 hits against Rutland, most of them singles, although Dare Schley homered in the best-of-three series opener. Abby McKinney was 2-for-4 with a double four RBIs in that victory, for which she was also the winning pitcher in an 11-strikeout performance. It was her 14th win in 15 decisions this season.
In the second game, Kiana Dale was 3-for-3 with a triple and four RBIs and Katie Cain (9-2) picked up the win to send Ringgold back to Columbus and the eight-team, double-elimination state tournament.
Sonoraville made it three Region 6 teams in Columbus with 18-0 and 13-0 wins over Westside of Augusta.
* Dalton split its two games with Richmond Hill in the Class AAAAA second round. The Lady Catamounts won the first game 5-2 before falling 4-1 in the nightcap. Ali Swinford pitched both games and accumulated 17 strikeouts in her 14 innings. Dalton (24-11) and the Lady Wildcats will play again today to see who advances to Columbus next week.
* Ridgeland will play one more game to see determine if the Lady Panthers advance to the Class AAAA state tournament. Ridgeland split its two games at Wayne County, losing 3-1 in the first game then rebounding to win 2-0. In the victory, Ridgeland (21-13) scored two in the bottom of the first inning. Allison Wallin earned the win with a complete-game shutout. She allowed four hits and struck out three.
* Trion powered its way to a sweep of Marion County in the first round of the Class A playoffs. The Lady Bulldogs won 6-4 in game one and 8-3 in the nightcap. Peyton Henderson and Lindsey Shepherd earned the victories. Jaden Morrison went 4-for-7 with three stolen bases and a triple in the two games.