Several northeast Georgia area regions have hit the halfway point in the girls softball season as play gets back under way after the Labor Day holiday.
As expected, several high-profile programs are at the top while some newcomers are trying to push their way into the upper-tier of their respective regions.
The most challenging region is Region 8-3A, which houses defending 2018 state champion Franklin County and 2018 state runner-up Jefferson, as well as 2016 state champion East Jackson. At the midway point in 8-3A, Franklin County and Jackson County are tied atop the standings with 5-1 records. Jefferson sits in third at 4-2 with East Jackson and Morgan County tied for fourth at 2-3. Monroe Area and Hart County are 1-5 in region play.
In Region 7-3A, East Hall currently holds the top spot with a perfect 6-0 mark. Second place Lumpkin County trails by a game at 5-1 with Dawson County in third at 4-3. Cherokee Bluff sits fourth at 3-3 while Greater Atlanta Christian is 3-4, North Hall is 1-5, and Fannin County is 0-6.
In Region 8-2A, Banks County and Union County are tied for first with 3-0 records. Social Circle is third at 2-1 with Rabun County, Elbert County, Monticello, and Oglethorpe County all tied for fourth with 1-2 marks. Putnam County is eighth at 0-3 so far.
Region 7-4A has four teams within a game of each other at the midway point. Marist and Flowery Branch are tied for the top spot with 5-1 records. Blessed Trinity is third at 4-1 and Denmark is fourth with a 3-1 mark. White County is fifth at 2-4 while Chestatee (0-4) and West Hall (0-7) have yet to snag a region win.
Dacula has opened a 1 1/2-game lead on Apalachee at the halfway point in Region 8-6A. The Lady Falcons are a perfect 6-0 while the Lady Wildcats are 5-2. Habersham Central sits third at 3-3 with Winder-Barrow and Lanier tied for fourth with 2-4 records. Gainesville is 1-6.
Only a handful of teams in Region 8-A play softball with George Walton currently 4-0 and atop the standings. Commerce and Hebron Christian are tied for second with 3-1 records and Prince Avenue Christian is fourth at 3-3. Towns County (2-4) is just a game back in fifth while Providence Christian is still winless in region play.
Region 8-5A with Buford and Johnson has yet to start region play. However, it will get going with a bang when Buford takes on 2018 state runner-up Loganville on Sept. 10 to open things up.
http://accesswdun.com/article/2019/9/828754/softball-region-play-heating-up-for-second-half-stretch