A long road to Columbus leaves 64 teams vying for GHSA softball championships

Sixty-four championship-caliber teams survived one of the state's 64 grueling super-regional brackets to earn a berth in the GHSA state fast pitch softball championship at the South Commons Softball Complex. Each program will compete in a double-elimination tournament for one of eight state championships.

There are 33 teams trekking to Columbus in pursuit of a first-ever state championship for their respective programs while 31 programs who have previously won at least one title will look to add to the trophy case.

Games will begin Wednesday Oct. 25 and conclude with the crowning of eight champions Saturday afternoon. Each of the eight championship series begins at 1 p.m. with a 3 p.m. time scheduled for the potential if game.

All eight defending state champions will make the return trip Buford (7A), Pope (6A), Northside-Columbus (5A), West Laurens (4A), Wesleyan (3A), Jeff Davis (2A), Heard County (A-Division I) and Emanuel County Institute (A-Division II).

The tournament begins at 11 a.m. on Wednesday for the lower classes 3A, 2A, A-Division I and A-Division II and continues at 1 p.m. for the higher classes 7A, 6A, 5A and 4A.

The second round of the winners brackets will take the field Thursday as well as the first rounds of the losers brackets. There will be three games in the losers bracket on Thursday as well as the final game of the winners bracket. On championship Saturday, the losers bracket final will determine the championship series contenders.

CHAMPIONSHIP GREATNESS

Buford and Gordon Lee each have 11 state championships to lead the title holders. The Wolves won 10-straight championships from 2007-2016 and defeated East Coweta 9-1 in the 2022 7A championship series for the programs 11th title. Gordon Lee won its first state title in 2004 and won four-straight from 2010-2013 and then six-straight from 2015 to 2020.

A TALENTED FIELD

In Class 7A, four programs North Cobb, Brookwood, North Paulding and Lowndes are searching for their first titles. Joining Buford, East Coweta (3 titles 2017, 2018 and 2020), North Gwinnett (2 titles 2016 and 2021) and Mill Creek (2 titles 2008 and 2015) want another title.

Six of the eight teams in Class 6A South Effingham, Newnan, Grovetown, Alcovy, River Ridge and Effingham County -- have never won a championship. Defending-champion Pope (3 titles 2014, 2019 and 2022) and Lassiter (2 titles 2020 and 2021) want more hardware.

Cartersville has never won a state championship and will face a field of seven former champions in the Class 5A tournament. Defending-champion Northside-Columbus (2 titles 2017 and 2022), Northgate (2 titles 2007 and 2011), Kell (2 titles 2003 and 2004), Eastside (2 titles 1998 and 1999), Harris County (1 title 2000), Ola (1 title 2013) and Cambridge (1 title 2016) will contend.

Five of the Class 4A contenders are trying for a program-first title Sonoraville, Westminster, Wayne County, Seckinger and Perry. Heritage-Catoosa leads with three championships 2018, 2019 and 2020 but defending-champion West Laurens (1 title) and North Oconee (1 title 2006) will challenge.

Gordon Lee last won a title in Class A-Public in 2020 but has reclassed to Class 3A where it will compete for its 12th championship. Challenging the 11-time champions are defending-champion Wesleyan (4 titles -- 2017, 2018, 2021 and 2022), Morgan County (3 titles 2002, 2003 and 2005), and Harlem (1 title 2016). Jackson, Pickens, Hebron Christian and Pike County are trying for the teams first championship.

Eagles Landing Christian leads the count for state championships in the Class 2A field with seven. But the Chargers havent won a title since 2015. Rockmart has one state championship in 2017 and returns to try for another. Jeff Davis, the defending champions, are back alongside one-time champions Appling County, Mount Paran Christian and Banks County. Vidalia and Toombs County are searching for their first-ever state championship.

Five programs will try for their first-ever state championship in Class A Division I Lanier County, Glascock County, Wilcox County, Washington-Wilkes and Telfair County. Defending-champion Emanuel County Institute wants its second title but Georgia Military (2 titles 2014 and 2015) and Bowdon (1 title 2005) will challenge.

In Class A Division II, defending champion Heard County (3 titles 2020, 2021 and 2022) and Dade County (2 titles 2004 and 2012) will face a bracket of hungry teams trying for a program-first state title. The talented field of Prince Avenue Christian, Metter, Temple, Mount Vernon, Trion and Bacon County have never won a championship.