Lady Pack wins region in softball

Greenbrier has done it again.

The defending AAAA state champions won their 10th straight Region 2-AAAA championship in Statesboro two weeks ago. On Saturday, the Lady Wolfpack continued their winning tradition with a three-win performance in the state sectionals to earn a bid to the AAAA Elite Eight in Columbus, Ga.

The journey wasn't easy.

"We've been hot and cold all year," Greenbrier head coach Garrett Black said. "When we swing the bats no one can beat us."

Greenbrier's bats were swinging Friday with a 13-1 blowout against Americus-Sumter in the tournament's opening round and a 2-1 win against Eagles Landing in an eight-inning battle.

The Lady Wolfpack were one win away from the Elite Eight entering Saturday's play, but Greenbrier's bats went cold in a 7-0 loss to Hardaway.

"Today's effort wasn't Greenbrier softball," Black said after the game.

Greenbrier faced elimination, but the 2-AAAA Region Champs would not let their season end. The Lady Wolfpack defeated Chapel Hill last season to win the state championship. This year, Greenbrier ended Chapel Hill's season once again with a 6-3 victory and another trip to Columbus.

Greenbrier pitcher Austin Long threw a complete game in the win against Chapel Hill and said she could tell the tournament wouldn't be easy.

"Everyone wants to make it to state," she said. "We won it last year, so I knew they really wanted to beat us."

With the win, Greenbrier will defend its state title in Columbus beginning Thursday, Oct. 27. The Lady Wolfpack's first round opponent, Ringgold, has a 33-3 record and is the top seed from the AAAA North State Sectionals.

Also competing in the state sectionals, Lakeside and Evans both saw their seasons come to an end this past weekend.

Lakeside took a first round loss to top seeded Lee County, but defeated Villa Rica 3-2 on Saturday. The Lady Panthers finished the season losing to Effingham County 3-1 in an elimination game.

Evans earned an easy 7-1 win against Bainbridge in the opening round of the tournament on Friday. After a loss to Northgate, the Lady Knights were sent to the loser's bracket and lost a heartbreaking 11 inning marathon of a game to Chapel Hill 7-5.