COLUMBUS — Buford, East Hall, Banks County, and Commerce all moved into the winner's bracket of their respective classifications Thursday on the opening day of the state softball championships at the Olympic Softball Complex.
Each team used tremendous efforts in the circle and got some timely hitting to advance.
For East Hall in the Class 3A tournament, it was the program's first-ever win in Columbus getting an impressive 4-0 win over fellow northeast Georgia area team Jefferson, which was the 2018 state runner-up. The Lady Vikings (26-6) got a solo home run from Macy Banks. In a key three-run fifth inning Abbi Brown had an RBI single and Callie Hardison also had a two-run single to break the game open.
East Hall next will take on Lovett, a 3-0 winner over Calhoun, in the second round at 10 a.m. on Friday. Jefferson (25-10) falls into the elimination bracket and will play Calhoun at 2 p.m. with the loser being eliminated.
Meanwhile, the Lady Wolves (23-9) used a tremendous pitching performance by Ansleigh Hollifield to nip Harris County 1-0 in 8 innings in the Class 5A tournament. Hollifield tossed a no-hitter and fanned 11 while walking just 2 to lead Buford.
Hollifield now has three no-hitters on the season. Senior Kara Taylor drove in the game's only run with a two-out single in the fourth scoring junior Emi Hall. Harris County's only real threat came in the second inning with back-to-back walks. But they could get no closer as Hollifield got a strikeout to end the inning.
The Lady Wolves will take on Jones County, a 5-2 inner over Whitewater, at 10 a.m. on Friday in the second round of the double-elimination tournament.
In Class 2A, Banks County (29-3) blanked Bremen 6-0 to move into the winner's bracket. It was their 12th straight win. The top-ranked Lady Leopards next will face Lamar County, which beat Jeff Davis 4-1, at 10 a.m. Friday in the second round.
In Class A Public, Commerce (22-7) advanced to the second round with a 5-4 win over Emanuel County Institute. The Lady Tigers then knocked off Georgia Military 9-1 in the second round to advance to the semifinals. Commerce next will take on three-time defending state champion Gordon Lee at 8 p.m. on Friday. A win for the Lady Tigers would put them in the championship series on Saturday.
Also in Class 3A, Lumpkin County (20-13) fell 10-2 in five innings to defending state champion Franklin County in the opening round. Lumpkin County led 2-0 before Franklin County scored 10 unanswered runs, including six in the fifth, highlighted by a pair of home runs. Natalie Robinson had two hits and an RBI for the Lady Indians.
Lumpkin County will take on Ringgold, a 5-2 loser to Southeast Bulloch, at 2 p.m. on Friday in the elimination round.
