GHSA fast pitch softball state championship updates from Friday

Defending Class 7A and 11-time state champion Buford outlasted East Coweta in the finals of the winners bracket 3-2 to advance to the championship series where it awaits the survivor of the losers bracket.

After losing to East Coweta in the second round of the winners bracket 4-3, Brookwood advanced through the losers bracket beating North Paulding 12-9 and North Cobb 9-1 to earn a rematch against East Coweta for a chance to face Buford in the championship series.

In Class 6A, Newnan defeated River Ridge 4-0 to advance to the championship series and awaits the winner of River Ridge and Pope in the losers bracket. Pope lost to South Effingham 3-0 in the first round and beat Grovetown 10-1, Lassiter 3-1 and South Effingham 5-3 to earn a matchup against River Ridge.

Northside-Columbus beat Harris County 3-2 to earn its berth in the Class 5A championship series and awaits the winner of Harris County and Northgate in the losers bracket. Northgate lost to Northside-Columbus 8-0 in the second round of the winners bracket and then beat Cambridge 9-6 and Kell 13-1 to stay alive.

In Class 4A, Heritage-Catoosa beat North Oconee 4-2 to advance to the championship series where it awaits the winner of Wayne County and North Oconee in the losers bracket final. Wayne County lost to North Oconee 12-0 in the second round of the winners bracket and then beat Sonoraville 16-2 and Seckinger 7-6 to have a chance in the losers bracket final.

Hebron Christian earned a berth in the Class 3A championship series by beating Wesleyan 2-0 and awaits the winner of Wesleyan and Gordon Lee in the losers bracket final. Gordon Lee lost to Hebron 1-0 in the second round of the winners bracket and beat Jackson 7-0 and Harlem 9-0 to advance to face Wesleyan in the losers bracket final.

In Class 2A, Appling County upended Banks County 2-1 to earn a championship berth where it awaits the winner of Banks County and Jeff Davis. Jeff Davis lost to Appling 9-5 in the second round of the winners bracket and beat Toombs County 15-7 and Vidalia 8-1 to advance to the finals of the losers bracket.

Mount Vernon beat Heard County 8-7 to earn its trip to the Class A Division I championship series where it awaits the winner of Heard County and Prince Avenue in the losers bracket final. Prince Avenue lost to Heard County 6-5 in the second round of the winners bracket and beat Temple 11-0 and Bacon County 5-1 to stay alive.

In Class A Division II, Lanier County defeated Washington-Wilkes 7-0 to advance to the championship series where it will face Washington-Wilkes or Glascock County. Glascock lost to Wilcox 3-2 in the first round and outlasted Bowdon 7-4, Georgia Military 1-0 and Wilcox County 6-0 to stay alive.

Follow the link to see the full brackets.