Buford Rolls in 7A; 8 Champs Crowned in All
Eight Georgia high school softball champions were crowned at the 2022 GHSA Fast Pitch Softball Tournament in Columbus this past weekend. While several favorites took home a championship, there were some surprises, and three squads won their first-ever state title. Here’s a look at how the tournament played out in each classification.
7A
Buford achieved a flawless regular season, and that success carried through the tournament. The Wolves knocked off both North Gwinnett and East Coweta – winners of five of the past six 7A titles – to secure their 11th title and first since 2016.
Buford remained in the winner’s bracket throughout the tournament and did not need a rematch with East Coweta in the state championship to clinch the title. North Paulding and South Forsyth, two contenders, felt the wrath of East Coweta, losing a combined three times to the Indians.
6A
Pope lost in its fifth game of the season, but maintained a perfect record from that point on. The Greyhounds rolled through the state tournament with excellent pitching and stifled Apalachee (33-5) twice to win their third state championship. The last time Pope allowed over three runs in a game was back in mid-September.
Lassiter, the only team to beat Pope this season, fell twice to Apalachee, ending their hopes at a rematch with the Greyhounds. Their fantastic regular season was overshadowed by a flat tournament performance.
5A
This classification was hotly contested all season long, but Northside-Columbus caught fire in their home city, defeating top-ranked Loganville twice by four runs for the 2022 Georgia high school softball championship. A sweet moment of revenge came when the Patriots crushed Harris County, 13-0, in the third round of the winner’s bracket after falling to them twice in the regular season.
Villa Rica, a popular choice for the title run with their explosive batting, lost their first two games of the tournament and exited early.
4A
The biggest story in 4A all season was Whitewater’s undefeated campaign. They were promptly stunned by Walnut Grove in the first round of the tournament, but managed to regain composure, winning through the elimination bracket and even shutting out Central-Carrollton.
The Wildcats needed two wins over three-loss West Laurens to win the title, but managed only one, giving the Raiders their first-ever softball state championship. A squad that was 14-19 three years ago now wears the crown in 4A.
3A
As expected, Wesleyan dominated opponents in the state tournament en route to its fourth title in the last six years. Somewhat surprisingly, their state championship matchup came in a rematch with their first-round opponent, Jackson, which had not even won 20 games this season until a gutsy run through the elimination bracket.
Gordon Lee, which had won nine of the past 12 titles in A-Public, fell to both Wesleyan and Jackson to dash their hopes of a 12th title.
2A
A 1-0 loss to Commerce still stands as Jeff Davis’s only setback this season. Despite an early scare from ELCA, the Yellowjackets stormed through the tournament with a pair of shutout victories over top-ranked Appling County and third-ranked Mount Paran Christian.
While the Eagles would get a shot at Jeff Davis again, the Pirates would not, as they fell to the machine of ACE Charter in the elimination bracket.
A-D1
Pepperell, despite having the best record of any squad in this class, fell on back-to-back days against Social Circle and eventual champion Heard County. The Braves, who sported the toughest schedule of all A-D1 teams, cruised in the bracket until Social Circle put up a fight.
However, the Redskins ultimately came up short, popping out with two runners on in the seventh inning. The win gives Heard County a three-peat, with the previous two titles coming in 2A.
A-D2
Emanuel County Institute is the only 2022 Georgia high school softball championship winner to have played in the elimination bracket. After a one-run, third-round loss to Lanier County, the Bulldogs routed Georgia Military before shutting out Lanier County twice for revenge and the state title.
The win gives Emanuel County Institute its first softball title ever. Meanwhile, Wilcox County, which had won every single regular-season game, couldn’t escape Georgia Military, which handed them their two eliminating losses in the tournament.
