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.