The final battles for berths into the state playoffs is under way for area softball teams.
Several teams already have advanced based on region finishes or first round region tournament action over the past weekend.
Class AAAAA No. 1 Buford already has advanced after winning the Region 8-AAAAA regular season title. Jefferson in Region 8-AAAA and North Hall and Union County in Region 7-AAA also have clinched playoff spots
However, all of those teams, as well as more than a half dozen other area teams, will be playing for final seeding into next week’s state tournaments.
The first round of the state tournament for all seven classifications is scheduled to begin on Oct. 12.
Below is a look at the region tournaments in northeast Georgia that still have area teams vying for playoff spots or seeding:
Region 8-AAAAA
The four state playoff teams from Region 8-AAAAA have been determined after last week’s best 2-of-3 play-in series. The tournament resumes Tuesday at Buford and will run through Thursday.
Buford and Walnut Grove are the top two seeds and received byes. Loganville and Flowery Branch advanced after the play-in series. Loganville swept Johnson and the Falcons swept Clarke Central.
The four teams will now face a double-elimination format. Buford will take on Flowery Branch at 4 p.m. with Loganville and Walnut Grove facing off at 6 p.m. The two winners will play at 8 p.m. to close out the first day’s action. The winner of that game will advance to Thursday’s finals.
The losers will play at 4 p.m. Wednesday with the winner advancing and the loser of that game taking the No. 4 seed. The winner of the 4 p.m. game advances to the 6 p.m. semifinal elimination game. The winner of the elimination game will move into Thursday’s finals.
The finals on Thursday will begin at 5:30 p.m. A second elimination game, if necessary, will be at 7:30 p.m.
Region 8-AAAA
The top two seeds, Jefferson and Stephens County, received automatic bids into the state tournament.
Oconee County beat North Oconee and Madison County knocked off St. Pius in the play-in games to advance to the state tournament.
The tournament will resume at Jefferson on Tuesday with the Lady Dragons taking on Oconee County and Stephens County taking on Madison County.
Region 7-AAA
North Hall and Union County, the top two seeds, received automatic bids into the state tournament. East Hall and Lumpkin County advanced with wins Saturday in the first round.
The tournament will resume Wednesday at North Hall.
The Lady Trojans will take on Lumpkin County at 11 a.m. and Union County and East Hall will play at 1 p.m. The losers of those two games will then play at 3 p.m. for the No. 3 seed and the two winners will play at 5 p.m. for the region championship.
Region 7-AAAA
All five teams in the region advanced to the region tournament, which is being held at various locations.
The play-in game last week had No. 4 seed White County beating No. 5 West Hall to advance to Monday’s first round action, which will hosted by Marist.
In the first round, the Lady Warriors will take on No. 1 seed Marist at 5 p.m. with No. 3 seed Chestatee taking on No. 2 Blessed Trinity at 7 p.m.
The winners would then advance to the championship round and the losers would play in the consolation round. Both will be a best 2-of-3 series hosted by the higher seeded team.
The championship and consolation rounds will begin on Wednesday at 5 p.m., with game two to follow. Game three, if necessary, will be on Thursday at 5 p.m.
Region 8-AAA
Morgan County and Franklin County received the two automatic bids into the state tournament.
East Jackson, the No. 3 seed, split a doubleheader with No. 6 seed Monroe Area on Saturday and will play a deciding game three Monday at 5:30 p.m. at East Jackson. The winner will advance to the state tournament and will play Franklin County in the second round.
Jackson County, the No. 4 seed, swept No. 5 seed Hart County and advanced to the state tournament and will take on No. 1 seed Morgan County.
No information beyond the first round has been made available.
Region 8-AA
Social Circle and Monticello received the two automatic bids into the state tournament.
In the best 2-of-3 play-in series, Rabun County split its first two games with Oglethorpe County. The two teams will play at 5 p.m. Monday with the winner advancing to the state tournament.
Banks County was taking on Elbert County in the other play-in series but no information was made available.
Region 8-AAAAAA
Dacula is the regular season region champion and will play host to No. 2 Apalachee in a region championship game Thursday.
The other four teams will play an elimination tournament for the other two spots beginning on Tuesday.
Winder-Barrow will play host to Habersham Central and Lanier will play host to Gainesville in doubleheaders on Tuesday. Game 3s, if necessary, will be on Wednesday.
http://accesswdun.com/article/2016/10/452778/softball-quest-for-state-playoffs-under-way-in-region-tournaments