CALHOUN, Ga. - The Calhoun High School softball express kept rolling Wednesday as it heads for a possible fourth consecutive GHSA championship, sweeping a Class AAA doubleheader over Brantley County, 8-0 and 11-1.
Calhoun (35-1) advances to the state tournament as one of the final eight teams in Columbus and will face Cook County in the first round next Thursday. Cook defeated East Hall by scores of 13-1 and 5-2 Wednesday to win its best-of-three series.
"The girls played great," Calhoun coach Diane Smith said. "The pitchers and the defense did a fantastic job, and our bats woke up. We've been looking forward to Columbus for a while, and we are ready to go."
The hit parade was a bit slow in coming for the Lady Jackets in the first game. Calhoun scored single runs in the first, second and fourth innings - a Cassie Henderson solo homer - before erupting in the fifth against Brantley starter Taylor Prescott.
Ashlyn Barnes' third hit of the game scored Carlie Henderson with run number four, with Ryan Brzozoski making it 5-0 on an RBI double and slugger Jana Johns adding two more with her 16th home run of the season. The game ended when, after Maddie Bumgardner singled and made it to third with one out, Cassie Henderson lofted a sacrifice fly to center.
"We were a little nervous in that first game only up 3-0 going into the fifth, but we broke out and ended it early," said Smith, who earned her 650th career win in the second game. "Gaddis was great, just a great all-around performance."
The second game showcased the other side of the Calhoun attack as the Lady Jackets scored 11 runs on only eight hits. The only extra-base hit was Johns' two-run homer in the third inning to dead center. The other runs were a myriad of walks (nine) and Calhoun's ability to take extra bases with its elite speed.
The Lady Jackets had nine stolen bases in the game, including five in the first inning as they took a 3-0 lead. Barnes, Brzozoski and Allie Jones each had a steal and scored a run in the inning. Tori Roper stole a pair of bases in a three-run second inning that also featured four walks and Johns' RBI single.
"We talked about taking advantage of opportunities early and we did," Smith said. "We've got speed up and down the lineup, the most I've ever had, and it's just fun to coach that kind of speed."
Barnes had four hits and scored six runs in the two games, while Brzozoski added four hits and five runs scored and Johns knocked in five runs.
- All seven northwest Georgia area teams are still alive. In addition to sweeps from Calhoun and Class A Gordon Lee, Class AAAAAA Dalton and Class A private school Christian Heritage also swept their way to Columbus, while Class A public school Trion, Class AA Dade County and Class AAA Ringgold split series.
Dalton defeated Richmond Hill, 9-0 and 9-4 and will face the winner of the Northgate vs. Heritage-Rockdale series next week. Christian Heritage swept past Savannah's Calvary Day, 3-0 and 6-1, and will play either George Walton or Athens Christian in Columbus.
Ringgold had a pair of one-run games at Pike County, losing the first game 4-3 before winning a wild second game 10-9. Dade County lost its opener at Berrien County 7-2 before winning the second game 8-3, while Trion rallied at Lanier County after falling 14-1 in the first game to force a third game with an 8-0 win.
Each of those three series will be decided today.
Contact Lindsey Young at lyoung@timesfreepress.com or 423-757-6296. Follow him on Twitter @youngsports22.