The inclement weather many feared was coming to the GHSA softball state championships hit Columbus earlier than expected, causing Thursday’s evening session for opening day at the eight-classification event to be postponed.
Before that, however, northwest Georgia teams were nearly perfect, going 6-for-7, with their only loss a 2-1 nailbiter in Class AAA as 2017 state champion Calhoun fell to Brantley County. Two of the games for area teams went down to the final batter.
In Class AAAAAA, Dalton rallied to defeat Evans 5-4 on Keen Johnson’s walk-off single in the seventh. Brooke Belflower had two hits, including a two-run homer, with Lauren Parker also getting a pair of hits and scoring a run.
In Class AAAA, Heritage withstood a rally from 2017 state champion Northside-Columbus to win 6-5. Mallory Lowe put the Lady Generals on top early with a three-run homer, and Reagan Armour added what proved to be the winning runs with a two-run shot in the seventh.
Northside scored a pair of runs in the bottom of the seventh and had the bases loaded with two outs before Heritage ace Rachel Gibson got a strikeout to end the game.
“Rachel didn’t have her best stuff tonight, but she just battled,” Heritage coach Tanner Moore said. “They could swing it, but she did what she had to do to win it. Anything and everything that could have been thrown against us happened, and the girls fought their tails off tonight, and I am so proud of them. It was a crazy-tough draw, the defending champs right in their backyard.”
Also in Class AAAA, LaFayette had an easier time against Perry, using a pair of home runs from Sam Adkins to win 12-3. Shelby Adkins was 3-for-4, and Megan Wilson added a pair of hits for the Lady Ramblers.
In Class AAA, Calhoun managed just four hits against Brantley County’s Linde Lowther, with three coming from Carlie Henderson. Calhoun rival Sonoraville rode the one-hit, nine-strikeout pitching from senior ace Kristen Davis – who also hit a two-run homer in the third inning – to get past Worth County 3-0.
In Class A public, Region 6 rivals Gordon Lee and Trion won early games. Gordon Lee, the reigning champion, led only 5-4 before erupting for three runs in the seventh to get past pesky Schley County 8-4. Addison Sturdivant and Maddie Clark had three hits each for the winners.
Trion used home runs from Bailey Coker and Janie Emery to back the four-hit pitching of Whitney Shepherd and top Telfair County 8-1.
Weather permitting, Dalton will take on Region 6 rival Allatoona at 9 this morning, the same time Class A public winners-bracket competition continues with Gordon Lee versus Marion County and Trion versus Lanier County.
Heritage will face Madison County, and LaFayette will go against Hampton at 10:45 a.m. in Class AAA, while Sonoraville will face Franklin County at 10:45 a.m. and Calhoun goes against Cook County at 2:15 p.m. in AAA.
Contact Lindsey Young at lyoung@timesfreepress.com or 423-757-6296. Follow him on Twitter @youngsports22.