Nearly a dozen Northeast Georgia area softball teams are within two wins of advancing to the Elite 8 tournament at the Olympic Softball Complex in Columbus next week.
In all, 11 area teams managed their way into the second round of the 2021 fastpitch softball state playoffs last week. Regions 8-5A, 8-4A and 7-3A all swept into the second round. It will get considerably tougher as only three of the 11 overall teams will be playing at home in the Sweet 16.
The most intriguing first-round wins were three area No. 4 seeds -- Jackson County in 8-5A, Flowery Branch in 8-4A, Dawson County in 7-3A -- all took down region champions in the opening round. All three will be on the road in the second round.
Buford, the state's overall No. 1-ranked team, however, will be on the road in the second round due to the Lady Wolves' finishing as the No. 2 seed in Region 8-6A. Buford will travel just outside of Savannah to take on Effingham County.
East Forsyth in Class 3A and Banks County and Union County in Class 2A are the only three area teams to play host in the second round.
(Check below for the full second-round schedule involving Northeast Georgia-area teams.)
2ND ROUND SOFTBALL PLAYOFF SCHEDULE
(Games listed by date and classification, highest to smallest)
(Games listed by visiting team in alphabetical order)
(Best-of-three series at higher seed)
(Area teams highlighted in bold)
Tuesday, Oct. 19
CLASS 6A
Buford (Region 8, Seed 2) at Effingham County (Region 2,, Seed 1) -- (DH), TBD
CLASS 5A
Jackson County (R8, S4) at Starr's Mill (R2, S3) -- (DH), TBD
CLASS 4A
Flowery Branch (R8, S4) at Perry (R4, S2) -- (DH), TBD
Jefferson (R8, S3) at West Laurens (R4, S1) -- (DH), TBD
CLASS 3A
Cherokee Bluff (R7, S2) at Appling County (R1, S1) -- (DH), TBD
Dawson County (R7, S4) at Tattnall County (R1, S3) -- (DH), TBD
Pierce County (R1, S2) at East Forsyth (R7, S1) -- (DH), TBD
White County (R7, S3) at Southeast Bulloch (R3, S1) -- (DH), TBD
CLASS 2A
Jeff Davis (R2, S2) at Banks County (R8, S1) -- (DH), TBD
Toombs County (R2, S4) at Union County (R, S3) -- (DH), TBD
CLASS A PUBLIC
Commerce (R8, S2) at Lanier County (R2, S1) -- (DH), TBD
Wednesday, Oct. 20
CLASS 6A
Buford (Region 8, Seed 2) at Effingham County (Region 2, Seed 1) -- Game 3, if necessary, TBD
CLASS 5A
Jackson County (R8, S4) at Starr's Mill (R2, S3) -- Game 3, if necessary, TBD
CLASS 4A
Flowery Branch (R8, S4) at Perry (R4, S2) -- Game 3, if necessary, TBD
Jefferson (R8, S3) at West Laurens (R4, S1) -- Game 3, if necessary, TBD
CLASS 3A
Cherokee Bluff (R7, S2) at Appling County (R1, S1) -- Game 3, if necessary, TBD
Dawson County (R7, S4) at Tattnall County (R1, S3) -- Game 3, if necessary, TBD
Pierce County (R1, S2) at East Forsyth (R7, S1) -- Game 3, if necessary, TBD
White County (R7, S3) at Southeast Bulloch (R3, S1) -- Game 3, if necessary, TBD
CLASS 2A
Jeff Davis (R2, S2) at Banks County (R8, S1) -- Game 3, if necessary, TBD
Toombs County (R2, S4) at Union County (R, S3) -- Game 3, if necessary, TBD
CLASS A PUBLIC
Commerce (R8, S2) at Lanier County (R2, S1) -- Game 3, if necessary, TBD
http://accesswdun.com/article/2021/10/1047625/softball-playoffs-2nd-round