Buford wins program's 12th title; GHSA fast pitch softball championship updates from Saturday

Three teams defended last years titles at the GHSA state fast pitch softball championships as the season closed at the South Commons Softball Complex in Columbus Saturday.

Defending-champions Buford (7A), Northside-Columbus (5A) and Wesleyan (3A) defended while Newnan (6A), Prince Avenue Chrisitan (A-Division I) and Lanier County (A-Division II) won the first state championships in program history.

In the Class 7A tournament, Buford defeated East Coweta 9-1 in the championship series to capture the programs 12th championship. The Wolves finished the season perfect 32-0 but survived a 3-2 game against East Coweta in the finals of the winners bracket. East Coweta defeated Brookwood 9-1 to earn the rematch with Buford in the championship series.

First-time champion Newnans path to the Class 6A championship went through River Ridge 4-0 in the winners bracket finals and then Class 6A defending-champion Pope 1-0 in the championship series. In Class 5A, Northside-Columbus won the programs third title (2017 and last season) after beating Harris County 3-2 in the finals of the winners bracket and Northgate 7-1 in the championship series.

Heritage-Catoosas 10-2 victory over Wayne County in the Class 4A championship series marked the programs fourth title after winning three-straight from 2018 to 2020. The Generals beat North Oconee 4-2 in the finals of the winners bracket to earn the championship berth.

Wesleyan is a three-time defending-champion, but the Wolves took the long way to the title and after losing to Hebron Christian 2-0 in the winners bracket finals, Wesleyan defeated 11-time champion Gordon Lee 4-3 to earn a championship berth. In the first game of the series, Wesleyan outlasted Hebron 1-0 to force the decisive if game, which it won 8-5.

Appling County won its first championship in 2021 and upended defending-champion Jeff Davis 4-3 in the championship series to win the programs second title. Appling began the day defeating Banks County 2-1 in the winners bracket finals, earning a championship berth.

Prince Avenue Christian lost to defending-champion Heard County 6-5 in the second round of the winners bracket and then won five-straight games, earning the programs first title. The Wolverines beat Temple 11-0, Bacon County 5-1 and Heard County 3-1 to earn a berth in the championship series. In Game 1, Prince Avenue upended Mount Vernon 5-4 and then outlasted the Mustangs 6-5 in the if game to secure the programs first title.

Lanier County defeated Glascock County 6-2 to capture the programs first-ever championship after moving undefeated through the winners bracket. The Bulldogs began the day beating Washington-Wilkes 7-0 in the winners bracket final to earn a berth in the championship series.

Follow the link to the brackets

State Champions

Class 7A

Buford (12 titles 2007-2016, 2022, 2023)

Class 6A

Newnan (first championship)

Class 5A

Northside-Columbus (2 titles 2017, 2023)

Class 4A

Heritage-Catoosa (4 titles 2018-2020, 2023)

Class 3A

Wesleyan (5 titles 2017, 2018, 2021, 2022, 2023)

Class 2A

Appling County (2 titles 2021, 2023)

Class A Division I

Prince Avenue Christian (first championship)

Class A Division II

Lanier County (first championship)