The chase for high school softball supremacy in the Peach State begins this week, and again a handful of northwest Georgia programs are expected to compete for spots in Columbus at the eight-team state tournaments that will cap the season in October.
Start with the area's two reigning state champions, Calhoun in Class AAA and Gordon Lee in Class A. With a slew of top players returning, these powerhouses should be in title contention as usual.
Last year, Calhoun overcame the loss of four players who had started most of the season to go from being seeded fourth in the region tournament to sweeping its way to coach Diane Smith's fourth GHSA championship. The Lady Yellow Jackets' late surge was keyed by a pair of freshmen, Lyndi Rae Davis (.494, eight home runs in 2017) and pitcher Maggie McBrayer (15-3).
Also among their seven returning starters are all-state first-team outfielder Carlie Henderson (.504), pitcher Blair Hall and outfielder Erin Barnes, and another talented group of youngsters have been added to the roster.
"Our expectations are high," Smith said. "We have confidence in each other, and we have the same goal in mind that we normally have: Climb back to the top."
In contrast to Smith, Gordon Lee coach Dana Mull will have a few more holes to fill in her lineup - the losses include all-state players Faith Alexander, Canaan Burnett and Gracey Kruse - if the Lady Trojans hope to win the program's ninth state title, but there's plenty to build around.
Standout shortstop Paxton Grimes (.457, 11 homers) will anchor the lineup with returning starters Maddie Clark and Regan Thompson, and pitcher Emma Minghini returns after a breakout freshman year. Allie Farrow and Emma Langston headline the list of new starters.
"We lost some key players, but there are several young players ready to step up," Mull said. "We should have a good chance to do well in the region and state again this year."
The area's tightest region race might be in 6-AAAA, where four talented teams are expected to fight it out.
Ridgeland, the region's regular-season champion a year ago, returns the most potent lineup, led by catcher Katie Davis (.469), sisters Ciera (.515) and Kiera Foster (.355) and infielders Laine Hicks (.386) and Grayson James (.307 with zero errors).
Region tournament champion Heritage has perhaps the area's most dominant pitcher in sophomore Rachel Gibson, who keyed a late-season run and totaled 93 strikeouts in 65 innings a year ago. She'll get help in the circle from senior Cassie Davis and freshman Brinley Homer. Standout first baseman Katie Proctor (.400, 43 RBIs), catcher Mallory Lowe (.490) and infielders Reagan Armour (.340, 34 RBIs) and Ansley Bice (.344, 44 runs) lead a contact-heavy lineup.
Northwest Whitfield will be led by veteran baseball coach Todd Middleton this year and easily has the region's deepest pitching staff. Anna Grace Rann (2.72 ERA), Cara Rann (1.86) and Shaylen Sutton (1.89) shared duties a year ago, and each is back. The lineup is led by junior standout Molly Middleton (.370, 33 runs, 19 stolen bases), Sydney Horne (.342, 17 steals) and Peyton Tuder.
LaFayette has the most experience back, with every starter returning. The Lady Ramblers will be led by infielders Samantha and Shelby Adkins and a trio of stars who rotate at pitcher: Madison Pettigrew (first base when not pitching), Ashton Stalling (first base) and Nicky Yancy (outfield).
In Class AAAAAA, Dalton returns a potent group of hitters as it tries to make a return to Columbus after just missing out last year. Seniors Brooke Bellflower (.563), McCall Maret (.493), Lauren Parker (.561, 34 RBIs) and Olivia Whaley (.567, 30 RBIs) plus junior Keen Johnson (.490) will lead a lineup that averaged nearly eight runs a game last year.
Contact Lindsey Young at lyoung@timesfreepress.com or 423-757-6296. Follow him on Twitter @youngsports22.