GHSA State Softball Championship

To be updated with Jones County and West Laurens opponents

At Columbus

Thursday

Class 5A

Jones County 11, Blessed Trinity 0

          The defending champs took a big step early with the romp, getting more than enough with five runs in the first inning.

          Destin Howard handled the Blessed Trinity offense with a five-inning complete-game one-hitter, with 13 strikeouts and no walks, one hit from a perfect game.

          Kimber Kent had three hits and, while Maeleigh Price, Shayla Pennington, Taylor Trefeiner, and Kate Cole each had two hits among the 14 by the Greyhounds. A four-run top of the fifth – Kate Cole got it started with a leadoff double, and two runs came in on Howard’s single to center – led to the shortened game, Howard needing 18 pitches to finish off Blessed Trinity in the bottom half.

          Next: Jones County vs. Northside-Columbus (13-8 winner over Chamblee), Friday, 11 a.m.

Class 4A

Central, Carrollton 6, West Laurens 2

          The Raiders gave the top-ranked Lions a battle, Central getting off to a 2-0 lead after one. The Lions led 3-2 until Izzy Ripati’s three-run homer in the top of the seventh.

          Next: West Laurens vs. Cedartown (13-4 loss to Madison County), Friday, 3 p.m.

Class A Public

ACE 5, Telfair County 2, 8 inn.

          Telfair County scored two in the bottom of the seventh – two runs coming in on the play that started with an error and ended with the third out – to force extras. But it was a tease, ACE taking care of things with three in the top of the eighth.

          ACE scored single runs in the fourth and fifth innings, and outhit Telfair County 9-2 through seven innings, Telfair getting the seventh-inning runners on a walk and single.

          The undefeated Gryphons (28-0) opened the eight with singles from Dixiana Sims and Lizzy Mitchell, Sims stealing second and coming around on the bunt single. One out later, Mitchell came in on Destiny Lucas’ double, and Gracie McDade followed with a single to load the bases. Lucas scored on Karsyn Yates’ groundout to short.

          Sims, Lucas, and McDade each had three hits for ACE, which had a 13-hit game. Seven Gryphons got a hit,

          Sims needed 14 pitches in the bottom of the eighth to finish it, retiring Telfair County in order. She sat down a whopping 20 Telfair County batters, with three walks and two hits.

          Next: ACE vs. Lanier County (7-0 win over Crawford County), Friday, 9 a.m.

Lanier County 8, Crawford County 0, 6 inn.

          The Eagles dug an early hole, trailing 5-0 after two innings, and couldn’t get out, with six errors and being no-hit.

          Crawford County opened the game with a walk, and then went 0 for 6. A walk opened the third, and a batter reached on a dropped third strike in the fourth, and that was it.

          The 15-7 Eagles hadn’t been shut out since falling to undefeated ACE on Sept. 27, a 10-game span.

          Next: Crawford County vs. Telfair County (5-2 loss to ACE), Friday, 11 a.m.

Class A Private

Tattnall 10, Brookstone 5

          The teams were tied at 3 through three innings, before Tattnall started easing away with two in the fourth and one in the fifth. The Trojans sealed it with four in the sixth.

          Kaitlyn Hallman had a hand – and bat – in seven runs, scoring twice and driving in five runs from the No. 2 spot in the lineup. Gradie Appling had three hits and three runs at leadoff, and Carolina Patterson had two hits and two RBI from the three spot for the 22-5 Trojans.

          Hailey Daughtry went the distance, battling through 107 pitches, giving up nine hits with two strikeouts and two walks, giving up three homers.

          Liza Hollingsworth and Molly Gayles had two hits each for Brookstone, Macayla Stubbs driving in three runs.

          Next: Tattnall vs. Wesleyan (2-1 win over ELCA), Friday, 9 a.m.