GAINESVILLE - The Chestatee High girls softball team wanted another crack at No. 3-ranked North Hall after suffering its worst loss of the season last month to the Lady Trojans.
It'll get that chance Thursday when the two teams' will meet in the quarterfinal round of the region 7-AAA Tournament at the Lanier Point Softball Complex.
No. 4 Pickens County beat Johnson 4-0 to advance to the quarterfinal round and Flowery Branch whipped White County 14-0.
The Lady Falcons and the Lady Dragons will play in the other quarterfinal game. At stake in both games are automatic bids to the state tournament next week. The losers would have to win once in the loser's bracket to advance to state.
North hall came in as the No. 1 seed with Pickens second, Flowery Branch third and the defending Region 7-AAA champ Chestatee fourth.
North Hall was ranked No. 3 and Chestatee No. 6 in the final Class AAA poll of the season.
North Hall hammered Chestatee 9-0 on Sept. 24th.
Both teams cruised into the showdown with easy wins over county rivals on Tuesday. Chestatee beat West Hall 6-1 while North Hall overcame an early deficit to beat East Hall 14-4.
"We've been looking forward to playing them again and now we get that chance. The girls are ready," Chestatee coach Devin Thomas said.
North Hall coach Roger Fannon said they know the bullseye is on their back.
"Everyone's been saying they want us. But that comes with being the No. 1 team. It should be another great game," Fannon said.
In opening round action, East Hall beat Gilmer County 14-6; Fannin County beat Johnson 11-8 and White County beat Gainesville 15-5.
On tap for Thursday in the 4:30 p.m. games in the loser's bracket, Johnson will take on arch-rival West Hall; Gainesville will play East Hall and Gilmer and Fannin County will fight to stay alive. The losers of those game will be eliminated.
Monday
June 30th, 2025
5:39PM
