COLUMBUS — Despite a gut-wrenching 12-9 loss in 8 innings to four-time defending state champion Gordon Lee on Friday at the Olympic Softball Complex, the Commerce girls softball team is still alive and within one win of advancing to the championship series in Class A Public.
The Lady Tigers opened the Class A Public Final 4 with a 10-5 win over Bryan County. But against the defending champs they could not hold an early 2-1 lead and let a 6-5 lead in the seventh turn into a 9-6 deficit. However, they scored three runs in the bottom of the seventh to tie the game before Gordon Lee plated three in the top of the eight to get the win.
Commerce now will take on Bryan County for a second time on Saturday at 2 p.m. with a berth in the finals on the line. Bryan County beat Emmanuel County 5-3 in the elimination bracket to stay alive. A Lady Tigers win would put them in the championship series against Gordon Lee beginning at 4 p.m.
Meanwhile, Buford's first try for a state title in Class 6A came to an abrupt end on the opening day. The Lady Wolves dropped an 8-4 decision to Lassiter in the opening game of the Class 6A tournament and then fell 4-3 to Creekview in the elimination bracket.
But the future is bright for Buford, which is loaded with a plethora of young talent.
