Just five northeast Georgia softball teams managed to make it out of the first round. However, the quality of those remaining trumps the quantity as the second round is set to begin Thursday and Friday around the state.
Classes 6A, 4A, and 2A will begin their best-of-three series on Thursday while Classes 7A, 5A, 3A, and Class A Public and Private start on Friday.
Four of the remaining area teams are region champs, including defending Class 2A state champion Banks County (Region 8-2A). Perennial powers Buford (Region 8-6A champ with 10 state titles but none since 2016) and Region 8-A Public champ Commerce (third in 2019) and Region 8-4A champ Flowery Branch also look to continue their runs and all will be at home.
Jefferson in Class 4A also is still alive and will have to hit the road against Region 7-4A champion Heritage-Catoosa.
All five teams swept their way into the second round but are expected to face tougher competition in the second round.
(Below is the 2nd round schedule for northeast Georgia area teams:)
STATE PLAYOFFS 2nd ROUND SCHEDULE FOR Oct. 22
Best-of-3 format at higher seeded team)
(Games 1 & 2 on Thursday; Game 3, if necessary, on Friday)
CLASS 6A
River Ridge (Region 7, Seed 3) at Buford (Region 8, Seed 1)
CLASS 4A
Cedartown (R7, S3) at Flowery Branch (R8, S1)
Jefferson (R8, S3) at Heritage-Catoosa (R7, S1)
CLASS 2A
Pepperell (R7, S3) at Banks County (R8, S1)
STATE PLAYOFFS 2nd ROUND SCHEDULE FOR Oct. 23
(Best-of-3 format at higher seeded team)
(Games 1 & 2 on Friday; Game 3, if necessary, on Saturday)
CLASS A PUBLIC
Trion (R6, S2) at Commerce (R8, S1)
http://accesswdun.com/article/2020/10/949133/softball-playoffs-2nd-round-thursday