The first round of the Georgia High School Association girls softball playoffs get under Tuesday around the area and the state.
A dozen area teams ranging from Class 6A to Class A Public advanced out of their region tournaments to begin their quest for state titles.
Two area teams come into the playoffs as perhaps the teams to beat for state championships in their respective classifications.
Buford, ranked No. 2 in Class 5A at the end of the regular season, is a perennial playoff stalwart and finished as the No. 1 seed out of Region 8-5A. The Lady Wolves outlasted 2018 state runner-up Loganville and preseason favorite Walnut Grove to win Region 8-5A last week.
Banks County was ranked No. 1 in Class 2A at the end of the regular season and was the state runner-up in 2018. The Lady Leopards had the second-most wins in Class 2A this season and also finished third in the state in 2017.
East Hall is among a crowded group in Class 3A that opens the playoffs with thoughts of having a title shot. The Lady Vikings swept through Region 7-3A and was ranked fourth in Class 3A at the end of the season. Jefferson, the 2018 state runner-up, comes in ranked fifth in Class 3A and Jackson County is ranked eighth.
Rabun County in Class 2A opened the playoffs on Monday with a sweep of South Atlanta, 7-0 and 7-0, on the road. The Lady Wildcats will await their second round opponent next week.
(Check below for the full schedule of first round series for northeast Georgia area teams.)
GHSA Softball playoffs, first round
TUESDAY'S SCHEDULE (Oct. 8)
(All series are best-of-3; doubleheaders opening day)
Class 6A
Habersham Central (Region 8, Seed 4) at Creekview (Region 6, Seed 1), DH TBD
Class 5A
Riverwood (R6, S4) at Buford (R8, S1), DH 4 p.m..
Class 4A
Cedartown (R5, S3) at Flowery Branch (R7, S2), DH TBD
Class 3A
Westminster (R5, S3) at Lumpkin County (R7, S2), DH TBD
Jackson County (R8, S3) at Calhoun (R6, S2), DH TBD
Sonoraville (R6, S3) at Jefferson (R8, S2), DH TBD
Cedar Grove (R5, S4) at East Hall (R7, S1), DH TBD
Cherokee Bluff (R7, S3) at Pace Academy (R5, S2), DH TBD
Class 2A
KIPP (R6, S4) at Banks County (R8, S1), DH TBD
Therrell (R6, S3) at Union County (R8, S2), DH TBD
Class A Public (uses Power Rankings to seed)
Commerce (No. 6) first round bye
WEDNESDAY'S SCHEDULE (Oct. 9)
(Game 3, if necessary)
Class 6A
Habersham Central (R8, S4) at Creekview (R6, S1), DH TBD
Class 5A
Riverswood (Region 6, Seed 4) at Buford (Region 8, Seed 1), 5:30 p.m..
Class 4A
Cedartown (R5, S3) at Flowery Branch (R7, S2), TBD
Class 3A
Westminster (R5, S3) at Lumpkin County (R7, S2), TBD
Jackson County (R8, S3) at Calhoun (R6, S2), TBD
Sonoraville (R6, S3) at Jefferson (R8, S2), TBD
Cedar Grove (R5, S4) at East Hall (R7, S1), TBD
Cherokee Bluff (R7, S3) at Pace Academy (R5, S2), TBD
Class 2A
KIPP (R6, S4) at Banks County (R8, S1), TBD
Therrell (R6, S3) at Union County (R8, S2), TBD
Class A Public (uses Power Rankings to seed)
Commerce (No. 6) first round bye
MONDAY'S SCORES (Oct. 7)
Class 2A
Rabun County 7-7, South Atlanta 0-0 (Rabun County wins series 2-0)
