Thursday March 28th, 2024 6:27PM
5:31PM ( 56 minutes ago ) News Alert

UPDATE: Softball: Jackson County lone bright spot on tough day for area teams in Columbus

By Jeff Hart Sports Reporter

COLUMBUS — Jackson County was the only one of four northeast Georgia teams to get a win on the opening day of the 2017 softball championships at the Olympic Softball Complex.

The tournament runs through Saturday at the Olympic Complex.

The Lady Panthers knocked off Pike County 4-2 in Class AAA to advance in the winner's bracket. However, they fell to Worth County, 4-2, in the second round to fall into the consolation round. They will play the Cook County-Rutland winner at 4 p.m. on Friday trying to stay alive.

However, Jackson County's win wasn't the biggest news of the first day.

Class AAAAA No. 1 and defending state champion Buford saw its 23-game winning streak at Columbus come to a stunning end in a 6-5 loss to Locust Grove. The Lady Wolves, who have won 10 consecutive state titles over four classifications, had not lost a game in the championship round in Columbus since 2011.

It was a very uncharacteristic outing for Buford, which blew a 3-1 lead, committed three errors, and gave up four home runs to the Lady Wildcats. The Lady Wolves also stranded seven baserunners in scoring position, including a pair in the seventh inning with the winning runs on base.

"We certainly had our opportunities but we just couldn't get that big hit when we needed it," Buford coach Tony Wolfe said. "Our backs are against the wall and we'll see how the girls respond to this challenge. We'll have to play much better in all three phases of the game if we want to keep going. But we're looking forward to the challenge of doing something no other Buford has had to do."

Buford now will have to come out of the consolation bracket. The Lady Wolves will take on Union Grove at noon on Friday facing elimination. They will have to win three games on Friday to stay alive for a record 11th straight title.

Meanwhile, in Class AAAA, Stephens County fell 5-1 to No. 1 Northside-Columbus in the opening round. The Lady Indians will play Eastside at noon Friday in an elimination game. In a battle between two of the state's top pitcher's, junior Emma Whitfield fanned 12 and allowed just three earned runs as the defense made two big errors. Northside's Hannah George allowed just one run on four hits and struck out 11 to get the win.

Banks County did not fare any better in Class AA. The Lady Leopards dropped a tough 3-2 decision to defending state champion Harlem in the first round. They will face Bleckley County at noon on Friday also trying to stave off elimination.

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