County teams pull out stops for state playoffs

Playoff time is quickly approaching for a few of our local teams. Actually, it's more than a few teams.

I don't know that this has ever happened before, but every public school volleyball and softball team in Columbia County has earned a spot in the state playoffs this year.

It shouldn't have happened, at least, not this year.

We've got bigger regions with more teams this season. Only one team, Greenbrier softball, has consistently remained in the state's top-10 rankings.

On top of that, the Columbia County school system canceled softball preseason practices this year after the decision was made to prohibit county teams from practicing in a heat index of more than 100 degrees. In August, the heat index often hits 105 at 10 a.m.

Despite all that, everybody's going to the playoffs.

It's a good thing I can be in six places at once.

In softball, Greenbrier headed into the Class AAAA state sectionals this weekend with a No. 1 seed for the 11th consecutive year. Lakeside followed as a No. 2 seed, while Evans held a No. 3 seed. Harlem, playing in the Class AAA state sectionals, earned a No. 2 seed.

In volleyball, Evans took the Area 2-AAAA championship for the first time in school history and will enter the Class AAAA state sectionals as the No. 1 seed. Greenbrier will play as a No. 2 seed, and Lakeside is the No. 3 seed. Harlem will travel to the Class AAA state sectionals as a No. 3 seed.

Then there's Augusta Prep. The Lady Cavaliers owned the Region 4-AAA volleyball standings and will enter the Georgia Independent Schools Association Class AAA state tournament as a No. 1 seed. Augusta Prep's soccer team took second place in the region and played in the GISA Class AAA state quarterfinals last Thursday.

At Augusta Christian, swimmer Summer Bragg took fifth place in the 100-meter butterfly in the South Carolina Independent Schools Association state swim meet and, once again, it looks as though the Lions will be the only state playoff football team in the county for the second consecutive year.

Here's a look at the dramatic state playoff calendar:

Oct. 26

GISA Class AAA boy's soccer state semifinals, TBA

Oct. 26-28

GHSA Class AAAA softball state Elite Eight, Columbus, Ga.

GHSA Class AAA softball state Elite Eight, Columbus, Ga.

Oct. 27-28

GISA Class AAA volleyball state tournament, Augusta Prep

Oct. 28

GISA Class AAA boy's soccer state finals, TBA

GHSA Class AAAA volleyball state sectionals, TBA

GHSA Class AAA volleyball state sectionals, TBA

SCISA Class AAA cross country state meet, Columbia

Nov. 2

GHSA Class AAAA volleyball state semifinals, Atlanta

GHSA Class AAA volleyball state semifinals, Atlanta

Nov. 3

SCISA Class AAA football state quarterfinals, TBA

Nov. 4

GHSA Class AAAA volleyball state finals, Marietta, Ga.

GHSA Class AAA volleyball state finals, Marietta, Ga.

Nov. 10

SCISA Class AAA football state semifinals, TBA

Nov. 11

GHSA Cross Country State Meet, Carrollton, Ga.

Nov. 17

SCISA Class AAA football state finals, Orangeburg, S.C.