COLUMBUS, Ga. – Buford and Jackson County advanced in the weather-delayed Georgia High School Association Elite 8 bracket this morning at the South Commons Softball Complex.
Mother Nature pushed the start of the Elite 8 bracket from Wednesday to Thursday morning, altering the game times. Class 6A and 5A began this morning at 9 a.m.
Buford (33-0) used a six-run second inning to fuel an 8-0 win over North Cobb. The Wolves will play Brookwood in the second round at 5 p.m. Thursday.
In the big second inning, LG Goldin drove in two runs with a single, Lydia Hamrick added a sacrifice bunt RBI, Janie Goldin followed with an RBI single, Summer Castorri plated a run on a groundout, and Addie Rackley capped the rally with a solo home run.
Rackley earned the win, striking out eight and allowing just one hit over five shutout innings. Castorri and Rackley led Buford with two hits each, while the Wolves stole four bases and played error-free defense.
In Class 5A, Jackson County (21-5) advanced to the second round with an 8-3 win over Houston County. The Panthers will play South Effingham at 5 p.m. on Thursday.
Emery Schiffmann went 3-for-4 and drove in two runs to lead the Panthers. Jackson County used a five-run sixth inning to pull away from Houston County.
The Panthers were the first to score in the third inning on a Miabella Lee single that scored two runs. Houston County answered three innings later to tie the game in the sixth. However, the Panthers answered in the bottom with five runs on four hits — highlighted by Schiffmann’s two-run single — to reclaim control.
Adalyn Mitchell earned the complete-game win, striking out eight while allowing six hits and no earned runs over seven innings. Lee added three RBIs and went 2-for-4, while Ryleigh O’Brien and Reese Wilson also had multiple hits as part of Jackson County’s 11-hit day.
Alanah McKenzie led Houston County with two hits, while Ann Marie DeFore, Olivia Buffone, and Kendall Carswell each drove in a run.
Cherokee Bluff is currently leading Pickens, 3-0, in the third inning. LaFayette currently leads North Hall, 4-0, in the fifth.
Check back for updates throughout the day.
GHSA ELITE 8 TOURNAMENT, Thursday, Oct. 30
(Double-elimination format)
CLASS 3A
Cherokee Bluff vs. Pickens, 11 a.m.
North Hall vs. LaFayette, 11 a.m.
Class A Division 1
Banks County vs. Bremen, 3 p.m.
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