Region champions Buford, Flowey Branch, and Banks County all opened the 2020 state softball playoffs in impressive style Monday.
The Lady Wolves, the Region 8-6A champins, held off East Paulding 8-0 and 21-10 in a first round sweep at the Buford Softball Complex. The wins moved Buford to 28-4 overall and into the second round of the Class 6A tournament. They will take on River Ridge, which swept Kennesaw Mountain, on Thursday in a best-of-three series. However, Habersham Central was knocked out of the 6A tournament by Region 5-6A champion Alexander, 1-0 and 10-4.
In Class 4A, Flowery Branch and Jefferson both took sweeps to advance. The Lady Falcons, the top seed from Region 8-4A, got a perfect game effort from Alyssa Wagner in the circle in whipping Fayette County 16-0 and 15-0. The Lady Falcons (20-3) will play host to Cedartown, which hammered Druid Hills 20-0 and 17-0, in the second round on Thursday. Also in Class 4A, Jefferson, the No. 3 seed from 8-4A, held off Luella in a 10-1 and 9-7 on the road. The Lady Dragons next will travel to Heritage-Catoosa, the No. 1 seed from Region 7-4A.
In Class AA, Banks County, the defending state champion, rolled past Callaway 5-0 and 12-0 to open defense of its title. The Lady Leopards next will play host to Pepperell, the No. 3 seed from Region 7-2A, which upset Pace Academy 4-2 and 8-1 in their first round matchup.
The Class 3A and Class A Public tournaments will get under way on Tuesday, with Game 3s, if necessary, and Wednesday.
STATE PLAYOFFS 1st ROUND SCORES FOR Oct. 19
(Best-of-3 format at higher seeded team)
CLASS 6A
Buford 8-21, East Paulding 0-10 (Buford wins series 2-0)
Alexander 1-10, Habersham Central 0-4 (Alexander wins series 2-0)
CLASS 4A
Flowery Branch 16-15, Fayette County 0-0 (Branch wins series 2-0)
Jefferson 10-9, Luella 1-7 (Jefferson wins series 2-0)
CLASS 2A
Banks County 5-12, Callaway 0-0 (Banks County wins series 2-0)
Bremen 8-13, Rabun County 0-2 (Bremen wins series 2-0)
Heard County 8-7, Union County 0-2 (Heard County wins series 2-0)
STATE PLAYOFFS 1st ROUND SCHEDULE FOR Oct. 20
(Best-of-3 format at higher seeded team)
(Games 1 & 2 on Tuesday; Game 3, if necessary, on Wednesday)
CLASS 3A
North Hall (R7, S4) at Coahulla Crekk (R6, S1)
Rockmart (R6, S3) at Lumpkin County (R7, S2)
White County (R7, S3) at Sonoraville R6, S2)
CLASS A PUBLIC
Chattahoochee County (R5, S4) at Commerce (R8, S1)
http://accesswdun.com/article/2020/10/948418/softball-playoffs-mondays-1st-round