Fans of how the NCAA conducts its women’s softball playoffs are sure to like the new changes the Georgia High School Association has enacted beginning this season.
No longer will there be best-of-three series involving individual teams. The GHSA adopted the Regional format where four teams will play a double-elimination bracket with the winner moving on to the finals in Columbus. Each of the eight GHSA classifications will conduct eight Regionals with the winners advancing.
In all, 15 Northeast Georgia-area teams advanced to the state playoffs across all eight classifications.
Buford in Class 7A and Union County in Class 2A both won their respective regions and will play host to regionals. The GHSA fastpitch playoffs begin on Tuesday around the state.
Union County will open the Class 2A playoffs against Murray County on Tuesday. Banks County and East Jackson join the Lady Panthers in the regionals.The Lady Leopards will be at Eagles Landing Christian while the Lady Eagles will head to Rockmart.
Buford opens its playoff on Thursday at the Buford Softball Complex against Norcross.
In Class 6A, North Forsyth, Jackson County, and Habersham Central will open their regionals on the road on Tuesday.
In Class 5A, Flowery Branch will head to Cambridge on Thursday.
In Class 4A, Cherokee Bluff and East Forsyth will open on Tuesday.
Class 3A will not get going until Thursday, with White County and Lumpkin County both hitting the road.
In Class A Division 1, Commerce and Rabun County will both be on the road beginning on Tuesday.
And, In Class A Division 2, Towns County starts on Thursday in Bowdon.
2022 GEORGIA HIGH SCHOOL SOFTBALL PLAYOFFS
(Four double-elimination regionals at sites of No. 1 seed in each classification)
CLASS 7A (Begins Thursday)
Buford vs. Norcross (at Buford)
(Click here for entire 7A bracket)
CLASS 6A (Begins Tuesday)
Jackson Co. vs. Pope
North Forsyth vs. Blessed Trinity
Habersham Central vs. Lassiter
(Click here for entire 6A bracket)
CLASS 5A (Begins Thursday)
Flowery Branch vs. Cambridge
(Click here for entire 5A bracket)
CLASS 4A (Begins Tuesday)
Cherokee Bluff vs. Centrai-Carroll
East Forsyth vs. NW Whitfield
(Click here for entire 4A bracket)
CLASS 3A (Begins Thursday)
White Co. vs. Oconee Co.
Lumpkin Co. vs. Monroe Area
(Click here for entire 3A bracket)
CLASS 2A (Begins Tuesday)
Union Co. vs. Murray Co. (in Blairsville)
Banks Co. vs. Eagles Landing Christian
East Jackson vs. Rockmart
(Click here for entire 2A bracket)
CLASS A D1 (Begins Tuesday)
Commerce vs. Trion
Rabun Co. vs. Dade Co.
(Click here for entire Class A D1 bracket)
CLASS A D2 (Begins Thursday)
Towns vs. Bowdon
(Click here for entire Class A D2 bracket)
