DALTON, Ga. — The opening day of a region softball tournament is full of perils for the top seeds. After working all season to position themselves for the playoffs, a first-day tournament loss means having to fight back.
In competitive Region 7-AAA it happens nearly every season and it did again — almost twice — Saturday at Dalton’s Heritage Point Park. The four top seeds played winners from the morning session, and only third-seeded Heritage escaped without any drama.
While the Generals were dispatching Cartersville 12-1 in five innings, second-seeded Ringgold was escaping Dalton’s upset bid, 5-4, and top-seeded Allatoona edged Gilmer County 4-2. Fourth-seeded LaFayette, however, was not as fortunate. The Lady Ramblers fell 3-2 in eight innings to Pickens County.
“This is traditionally a round where you get an upset or two,” Heritage coach Steve Chattin said following the Generals’ easy win. “As you go on you have to play better. Even though we can’t complain about the way we hit it today, we have to be even more consistent starting Monday.”
Heritage will take on Ringgold and Allatoona will play Pickens in Monday’s 7 p.m. winners-bracket semifinals, after Saturday’s losers face off at 5.