Greenbrier softball survives
Wolfpack is only county team to win sectionals, will go to semifinals
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Harlem High's Lori Mullis pitches against LaGrange.
Photo by Chris Thelen
Columbia County placed five high school teams in the volleyball and softball state playoffs, but only one squad is still bidding for a state championship.
The Greenbrier Lady Wolfpack fastpitch softball team survived the Class AAAA state sectionals, which were held Friday and Saturday in Covington, Ga.
Greenbrier opened with a 9-0 win over Cairo, then lost 4-3 to Jones County. That defeat placed the Lady Pack in the loser's bracket, which meant the team had to turn it up a notch Saturday.
The Lady Pack responded with wins over Jordan (8-2) and Thomas County Central (9-0). In the elimination game against Columbus, Greenbrier staged a two-run rally in its final at-bat to win 3-2 and earn a berth in the Class AAAA state semifinals, which will be played Thursday through Saturday in Columbus.
''I have a feeling something special is going to happen," Greenbrier coach Garrett Black said of his team, which has won a school-record 31 games this season.
While Greenbrier (31-5) is gearing up for the double-elimination tournament in Columbus, the Harlem and Lakeside softball teams are packing up their gear after season-ending defeats in the state sectionals.
Lakeside, competing in the Class AAAA sectionals in Covington, won two games but was eliminated with losses to Heritage and Upson-Lee. The Lady Panthers closed with a 24-12 record.
Harlem played in the Class AAA state sectionals Saturday at Diamond Lakes Regional Park in Hephzibah. The Lady Dogs opened with an 11-1 win over Fitzgerald but dropped the next game to LaGrange, 7-1.
Local rival Cross Creek beat the Lady Dogs 7-1, , giving Harlem a 21-6 record at season's end.
Harlem High School's Jessica West got the out on LaGrange's Lindsey Johnson and went for a double play during their game Saturday in Covington, Ga. Harlem lost 7-1, taking the girls out of the running for a Class AAAA state title.
Photo by Chris Thelen
The Greenbrier and Lakeside volleyball teams both competed Saturday in the Class AAAA volleyball playoffs. The Lady Wolfpack was at Woodward Academy in College Park, while the Lady Panthers played at Sequoyah High school in Canton.
Greenbrier began play with a win over Ringgold, but the Lady Pack was eliminated with two close losses to Central Gwinnett and Etowah. Greenbrier ended the 2001 season with a 33-8 mark to set a school record for wins.
Lakeside was ousted after dropping matches to Lafayette and Grayson. The Lady Panthers finished the season with a 24-15 record.