Trion's Kerrigan Ramsey charges to second base during a best-of-three GHSA Class A series game between Taylor County and and Trion High at Trion High School in Trion, Ga., on Wednesday, October 22, 2014.
GHSA Championships in Columbus
(winners play again today)Class AAAAADalton (23-11) vs. Heritage-Conyers (28-6), 4:15Class AAAAHeritage (31-4) vs. Walnut Grove (27-5), 4:15Class AAACalhoun (31-3) vs. East Jackson (25-10), 2:30Ringgold (26-5) vs. Central-Carroll (23-9), 2:30Sonoraville (20-14) vs. Morgan County (27-6), 2:30Class AAGordon Lee (31-1) vs. Union County (25-7), 2:30Class A PublicTrion (27-2) vs. ECI (23-5), 10:30 a.m.Class A PrivateChristian Heritage (27-4) vs. ELCA (20-9), 10:30 a.m.
Trion's head coach Jason LanhamThe term "Nothing beats experience" wasn't coined by a fastpitch softball coach preparing to play in the Georgia high school state final eight, but it could have been.
Ultimate success at the GHSA championships in Columbus, which begin today for eight northwest Georgia teams, requires more than having talent and coaching. Managing the Columbus experience is the intangible factor that often separates teams that end up playing on Saturday from those that come home early.
"Experience is a big part of it, because you can be a little more mentally prepared from the start," said multi-championship winning coach Dana Mull of Gordon Lee. "I know my first year going, there were a lot of unknowns. When you're worried about that stuff as well, it can affect you."
Trion coach Jason Lanham can attest to that. His Lady Bulldogs made the Class A public school field a year ago for the first time in several years, and though Lanham's team was playing at a high level, the moment may have been a bit too much. Trion lost its first game after making several uncharacteristic mistakes, landing quickly in the dreaded losers bracket.
"They looked more content than hungry when we first got there," Lanham said. "We were happy to be there, but then once we settled in we wanted more. We left Columbus on a mission to get back and do more.
"The thing that's different is that they got to do something for the first time and they didn't know what to expect. This year we know what's waiting for us."
Trion not only made it back, but the 2015 Lady Bulldogs have won 27 games and the first region title in program history. With six seniors - and Columbus experience - Lanham's team has high title hopes.
"I think they really feel they've got a chance, and they're very focused," he said. "I believe they will be more relaxed this time. We first had to get back to this point, and all that weight on us showed last week. With that hurdle clear we're going to be looser. Anything is possible at this point."
Three of the area eight teams in Columbus will be making their first trips: Dalton in Class AAAAA, Sonoraville in Class AAA and Christian Heritage in Class A private. The inexperience doesn't necessarily mean it will be a quick trip, but there's only one way to feel as comfortable as Columbus veterans Gordon Lee, Heritage, Calhoun and Ringgold.
"It's tough if you haven't done it," Calhoun back-to-back title-winning coach Diane Smith said. "It can be intimidating, but once you get used to it it's a great experience."
Experience - there's that word again.
Contact Lindsey Young at lyoung@timesfreepress.com or at 423-757-6296; follow on Twitter @youngsports22.