GHSA fast pitch softball state championship updates from Wednesday

The first round completed play in Columbus Wednesday at the GHSA state fast pitch softball tournament with four teams advancing to the second round of the winners brackets and four teams moving to the losers bracket where theyll have to be flawless to have a chance at the title.

In Class 7A, East Coweta beat North Gwinnett 8-0 and Brookwood outlasted North Cobb 2-1. Mill Creek defeated Paulding County and Buford outlasted Lowndes 4-0 fueled by Caroline Stanton.

The sophomore pitcher tossed a 3-hit shutout and hit a 2-RBI single in the first inning to score Madison and Mackenzie Pickens to get the Wolves on the board. Madison Pickens scored on a wild pitch with the bases loaded in the fourth inning and junior Kylie Gower scored senior Tavye Borders with a sacrifice flyout in the fifth inning.

South Effingham beat Pope 3-0, Newnan upended Grovetown 3-0, River Ridge beat Alcovy 11-2 and Lassiter moved past Effingham County in the first round of the Class 6A tournament. In Class 5A, Ola beat Cartersville 6-4, Harris County defeated Cambridge 8-7, Northside-Columbus moved past Kell 2-1 and Northgate outlasted Eastside 3-1.

Heritage-Catoosa beat West Laurens 2-0, Whitewater bested Sonoraville 2-1, Wayne County defeated Seckinger 7-4 and North Oconee moved past Perry 11-1 in the Class 4A tournament. In Class 3A, Wesleyan beat Jackson 2-1, Morgan County defeated Pickens 7-6, Gordon Lee bested Harlem 9-0 and Hebron Christian defeated Pike County 9-8.

In Class 2A, Jeff Davis beat Rockmart 5-1, Appling County moved past ELCA 14-1, Vidalia bested Mount Paran 3-2 and Banks County defeated Toombs County 4-2. In Class A Division I, Heard County, Prince Avenue, Mount Vernon and Bacon County earned victories. In Class A Division II, Lanier County, Wilcox County, Georgia Military and Washington-Wilkes are alive in the winners bracket after first round victories.

Follow the link to the brackets.