All four area teams that advanced to the second round of the GHSA softball state playoffs in Classes A Division I and AAA were still alive after Thursday’s doubleheader starts to best-of-three series.
Two of the teams, Gordon Lee in Class A Division I and LaFayette in AAA, swept to earn berths in the Elite Eight in Columbus, where state tournament competition begins next Wednesday.
The big news is that Class AAA No. 1 seed Heritage will have to win a deciding game Friday after splitting with Jefferson. Dade County in Class A Division I will also play Friday after earning a nine-inning win in the second game of its series against East Laurens.
Gordon Lee 10-17, Brantley County 2-6: The No. 2-seeded Lady Trojans (29-3) answered challenges in each game from the visitors in the sweep.
Brantley’s Jayden Lewis’ two-run single tied game one at 2 in the fourth inning, but Gordon Lee responded with five runs in the bottom half, ignited by Gracie Helton’s leadoff home run. Kyliee Fryar added a two-run single and Tenslee Wilson a two-run triple in the inning.