Inclement weather heading into the north Georgia area on Tuesday is already forcing the movement of some second round girls softball series to Wednesday and Thursday.
Nine northeast Georgia area teams -- Buford, Flowery Branch, East Hall, Jefferson, Lumpkin County, Banks County, Union County, Rabun County, Commerce -- will look for berths in the Elite 8 and a trip to Columbus for a chance at a state title. The second round was scheduled to begin Tuesday for some area teams (check schedule below) with best-of-three series. Game 3s, if necessary, are slated for Wednesday and Thursday, depending on the classification.
Perennial playoff powerhouse Buford was supposed to open its Class 5A series against Ola on Tuesday. That has been pushed back to Wednesday and Thursday. A series win will put the Lady Wolves into the Elite 8 for the 15th consecutive season. However, after winning 10 consecutive state titles from 2007-16 they have not hoisted the title trophy since 2016.
In Class 4A, Flowery Branch will travel to Northside-Columbus and its second round series also got pushed back to Wednesday and Thursday.
In Class 3A, Region 7-3A champ East Hall rolled into the second round and will play host to Cook with a chance to advance to Columbus for the first time ever.
Also in Class 3A, Jefferson, the 2018 state runner-up, held off Sonoraville in three games in the first round to move on. The Lady Dragons will travel to Region 2-3A champion Brantley County in the second round. Lumpkin County also survived a Game 3 in the first round and will travel to Region 1-3A champion Crisp County in the second round. The Lady Indians are looking for their first trip to Columbus since 2012 when they were in Class 4A.
In Class 2A, Region 8-2A swept into the second round with northeast Georgia area teams leading the charge. No. 1-ranked Banks County and Union County routed their first round opponents while Rabun County advanced when South Atlanta was forced to forfeit their first round series after being involved in a late-season fight. All four series were scheduled to begin on Tuesday but no word was given as to any changes.
The Lady Leopards will play host to Bacon County, Union County will travel to Vidalia, and Rabun County also will hit the road against Harlem. Banks County finished third in the state in 2017 and as state runner-up in 2018.
In Class A Public, Commerce, which had a first round bye due to its No. 6 seeding, will play host to Wilcox County in the second round. The Lady Tigers are looking for their first trip to Columbus since 2013.
GHSA Softball playoffs, second round
TUESDAY'S SCHEDULE (Oct. 15)
(All series are best-of-three; doubleheaders opening day)
Class 2A
Rabun County (R8, S3) at Harlem (R4, S1), DH 4 p.m.
Bacon County (R2, S2) at Banks County (R8, S1), DH 5 p.m.
Union County (R8, S2) at Vidalia (R2, S1),DH 4:30 p.m.
WEDNESDAY'S SCHEDULE (Oct. 16)
Class 5A
Ola (Region 4, Seed 3) at Buford (Region 8, Seed 1), DH 4 p.m.
Class 4A
Flowery Branch (R7, S2) at Northside-Columbus (R1, S1), DH 5 p.m.
Class 3A
Lumpkin County (R7, S2) at Crisp County (R1, S1), DH 4 p.m.
Jefferson (R8, S2) at Brantley County (R2, S1), DH TBD
Cook (R1, S2) at East Hall (R7, S1), DH 4 p.m.
Class 2A
Rabun County (R8, S3) at Harlem (R4, S1), TBD (Game 3, if necessary)
Bacon County (R2, S2) at Banks County (R8, S1) TBD, (Game 3, if necessary)
Union County (R8, S2) at Vidalia (R2, S1) TBD, (Game 3, if necessary)
Class A Public (uses Power Rankings to seed)
Wilcox County (No. 11) at Commerce (No. 6), DH TBD
THURSDAY'S SCHEDULE (Oct. 17)
(Game 3, if necessary)
Class 5A
Ola (Region 4, Seed 3) at Buford (Region 8, Seed 1), 5 p.m. (Game 3, if necessary)
Class 4A
Flowery Branch (R7, S2) at Northside-Columbus (R1, S1) TBD, (Game 3, if necessary
Class 3A
Lumpkin County (R7, S2) at Crisp County (R1, S1) TBD
Jefferson (R8, S2) at Brantley County (R2, S1) TBD
Cook (R1, S2) at East Hall (R7, S1) TBD
Class A Public (uses Power Rankings to seed)
Wilcox County (No. 11) at Commerce (No. 6) TBD
