Pickens lone 7-AAA team to advance to Columbus

CARTERSVILLE - Of all the scenarios possible at the Class AAA North Sectionals of the girls softball tournament this past weekend, the one that had just one Region 7-AAA team making to Columbus was one of the least likely.

That it also would not include third-ranked West Hall would make it even tougher to believe.

But after a grueling two days of action, Pickens County (22-15) was the only 7-AAA team left standing with a date this week in the Elite Eight in Class AAA. It's the first-ever trip to Columbus for the Dragonettes.

Joining the Dragonettes from the North is No. 1-ranked Oconee County, Central Carrolton and Blessed Trinity. Those four will face off with the South Sectional winners of Columbus, LaGrange, South Effingham and Spalding County.

Pickens will play Spalding County at 2 p.m. Thursday in the first round of the State Elite Eight.

Pickens began its weekend against Elbert County, who had defeated the Dragonettes earlier this year in the Cass Invitational.

The Dragonettes struck first in the second inning where a bloop single by Jenna Padgett followed by a single from Sadie Walker put runners on first and second. With Jenna Jarret running for Padgett and 1 out Mary Alice Jasperse knocked both runners in. Jessica Buchanan followed that up with an RBI ground ball to the right side giving them a 3-0 advantage. They would never trail in the tournament.

Jenna Padgett finished off a fine performance by striking out the side in the seventh, giving her 11 strikeouts and only one walk in a 3-1 victory.

The Dragonettes next took on second-ranked Westminster, which also had defeated them earlier in the season. But Pickens played perhaps its best game of the season in a defensive and pitching duel that saw Pickens take a 2-0 win. Padgett threw a three-hitter with seven strikeouts.

In the third round game for a spot in Columbus, Pickens jumped on Monroe Area, which had knocked off North Hall the day before, for an 8-0 lead before winning 8-1 and Mary Alice Jasperse continuing her strong showing at the plate with two doubles and a single, scoring four runs while getting two RBI and a stolen base. Meagan Stephens set the tone in game three offensively going 3-for-4 with four RBI

The Finals are a double elimination tournament with the State Championship game being played Saturday morning. The Elite Eight Finals run Thursday through Saturday at the Olympic Complex, which hosted the 1996 Olympic Softball Tournament.