GHSA softball championship tournament, Friday
12:15 a.m. update
Ah, FPD and Tattnall get to try and end the other one’s season after doing that to other local rivals.
The Trojans and Vikings will play Saturday morning after beating Mount de Sales and Stratford.
Those two and Monticello in AA are the only Central Georgia teams left, all in the loser’s bracket.
The weather has run roughshod over the GHSA softball championships, postponing games Thursday night, and then pushing them back again Friday.
Game times are Friday unless noted, and very approximate (and hopeful). This will be updated as soon as Stratford’s late-afternoon game is done, with details of earlier games.
FRIDAY
SECOND GAMES
Greenbrier 9, Houston County 3
The Bears led 1-0 after an inning, but Greenbrier took control with four in the third and two in the fourth. Greenbrier outhit Houston County 11-7. Both teams stranded seven runners. Madi Campbell had two hits for the Bears, who were the victims of a grand slam.
Class 4A
Oconee County 13, Perry 5
Oconee County trailed 2-1 after one, but that didn’t last long, thanks to a five-run second and four-run third to end Perry’s season. OC had 14 hits, and Perry matched hits with errors with six, leading to eight unearned runs. Abby Ussery led the Panthers with two hits and two RBI.
Northside-Columbus 7, West Laurens 3
The Raiders were eliminated.
Class AA
Monticello 10, Heard County 6
The Hurricanes did most of the damage in the first three innings, and won despite being outhit by three. Madison Abbott went 3-for-3 with two RBI, while Lacy Rutledge had two hits, two runs, and three RBI, Mia Jenkins driving in two runs on two hits.
Next: Monticello vs. Jeff Davis, Saturday, 10:45 a.m.
Jeff Davis 8, Dodge County 7
The Indians were eliminated.
Class A Private
Tattnall 14, Mount de Sales 0
The Trojans exploded for 12 runs in the third inning to put away the county rival in 3.5 innings and end the Cavs’ season. Kenna Epps hurled a two-hitter, letting the defense do the work, with no strikeouts or walks. Epps and Kaitlyn Hallman each belted homers, Epps with three hits and three RBI. Courtney Ball had two hits and four RBI, and Logan Childs had two hits, two runs, and two RBI.
Next: FPD vs. Tattnall, Saturday, 10:45 a.m.
FPD 5, Stratford 0
FPD eliminated the Eagles with a four-run sixth.
Cardin Weaver led the Vikes with a 3-for-4 game, while Abbey Surles had two hits and two RBI and winning pitcher Karsen Ochs two hits and two runs. She was on point in the circle with a seven-strikeout, one-walk seven-hitter. Mary Mitchell and Ashlin Jackson had two hits each for Stratford.
Next: FPD vs. Tattnall, Saturday, 10:45 a.m.
FRIDAY’S FIRST GAMES
Class 6A
Houston County 3, Evans 1
The Bears stayed alive with two in the third, aided overall by four Evans errors that led to all unearned runs. Rylee Lamb survived 10 walks and a homer in a two-hitter. Houston County scored the two on a walk, single, walk, bunt and error. Kenly Sullivan had two of Houston County’s five hits.
Next: Houston County vs. Greenbrier, 6 p.m., elimination game.
Class 4A
Perry vs. Oconee County, 5:30 p.m. (elimination game)
Next: Winner vs. Madison County, 7:45 p.m., loser eliminated.
West Laurens vs. Northside-Columbus, 4:15 p.m. (elimination game)
Next: Winner vs. LaFayette, 7:45 p.m., loser eliminated.
Class AA
Social Circle 8, Monticello 5
Monticello worked it to a 5-5 tie with two in the top of the seventh, but Social Circle got a one-out walk-off three-run homer in the bottom of the seventh, the inning aided by an error on the leadoff batter. Three of Social Circle’s runs were unearned, thanks to three Monticello errors in the first-round game. McKenzie Tripp had three hits, two runs and two RBI for Monticello, Allie Jones adding two hits.
Next: Monticello vs. Harlem/Heard County winner, 7:45 p.m., elimination game.
Banks County 10, Dodge County 5
Dodge County is pushed to the loser’s bracket.
Next: TBA.
Class A Private
Wesleyan 3, Mount de Sales 0
Wesleyan scored two in the first and that was enough in the one-hitter, Wolves pitching striking out 15 and allowing only one walk. Jordyn Partain struck out six and walked two for Mount de Sales.
Next: Mount de Sales vs. Tattnall, 6 p.m., elimination game.
Tattnall 1, George Walton 0 (elimination game)
Tattnall scored on in the first, and sweated it out in the pitchers duel. Kenna Epps was tough, allowing two hits and a walk with three strikeouts. Jaelyn Darley singled, was sacrificed to second by Kaitlyn Hallman, and scored on an error by Courtney Ball’s grounder. The Trojans went down in order only once the rest of the way.
Next: Tattnall vs. Mount de Sales, 6 p.m., elimination game.
Prince Avenue 5, FPD 4
Prince Avenue went from 3-1 deficit to a 5-3 lead with four runs in the sixth, the Vikings getting one back in the top of the seventh on Moe Register’s two-out single, but the rally ended there. Register went 3-for-3 with three RBI, and Karsen Ochs added two hits and two runs. Ochs struck out six with three walks and four hits, the Vikings sabotaging themselves with six errors, leading to three unearned runs.
Next: FPD vs. Stratford, 7 p.m., elimination game.
Stratford 6, Mt. Paran 2
Hailey Mosely’s bases-loaded double keys a four-run seventh that put the Eagles in control.
Next: FPD vs. Stratford, 7 p.m., elimination game.