COLUMBUS — For the second consecutive season Banks County will play for the Class 2A state title.
The Lady Leopards whipped Rockmart 8-0 in the semifinals Friday at the Olympic Softball Complex.
It was the third straight shutout win for Banks County in the Elite 8 double-elimination tournament bracket. The will await the Bremen-Lamar County-Rockmart winner in the 2 p.m. finals.
Buford moved into the semifinals of the Class 5A tournament after a 2-0 win over Carrollton Friday in the elimination round.
The Lady Wolves will take on Harris County, a 7-4 winner over Walnut Grove, at 10 a.m. Saturday.
A win over Harris County, which Buford beat 1-0 in the tournament opener, will put the Lady Wolves into the championship series. Buford will have to win three games on Saturday to capture their 11th state title but first since 2016.
Commerce fell into the elimination bracket after an 8-0 loss to three-time defending state champion Gordon Lee in Class A Public. The Lady Tigers will take on the Trion-Bowdon winner at noon Saturday for a chance to advance to the championship series.
Meanwhile, East Hall’s first-ever trip to Columbus came to an abrupt end. The Lady Vikings fell 3-2 to Ringgold on the final play of the game.
Ringgold got a walk-off single in the bottom of the seventh after tying the game at 2 in the sixth.
Macy Banks had another solid outing in the circle for East Hall lasting six innings allowing three runs on nine hits and striking out two.
The Lady Vikings pounded out nine hits in the game but it wasn’t enough.
Ansley Ivey and Callie Dale each had two hits to lead East Hall.
