COLUMBUS, Ga. — Several local GIAA softball teams went to Columbus Saturday looking to add a new trophy to their cases.
Brentwood battles Southwest Georgia
The Brentwood Academy Eagles faced The Southwest Georgia Academy Warriors. The Eagles entered the matchup from the loser's bracket side and a need to win the first game to force the "IF" game. Brentwood let up seven runs in the first inning. A deep shot by Ava Rathel earned 2 RBIs and the run-rule in three. Brentwood finished its season as the 2A state champion runner-up 15-0.
Eagles' Head Coach Jeremy Boutelle said win or lose, this team is a family.
"We play together. We've been together for a while. We got each other's back. You know? We push each other at times. We pull each other at times. We might fight and aggravate but at the end of the day, we know that we have each other's back. And all year, they've had my back and I've had theirs," Boutelle said.
Westfield looks for eighth state title in a row against Piedmont
Westfield Hornets earned the winner's spot against the Piedmont Cougars in the loser's spot. Piedmont needed to swing big to earn the "IF" game. The Cougars did just that. They won the first match 13-4.
The "IF" game was a true slugfest. A back and forth battle on the diamond caused several lead changes through out the six innings, including a 45-minute second inning. A strikeout sent over the plate by Lauren Davidson would earn Westfiled its eighth ring. The Hornets run-ruled the Cougars 26-18 in six for the 3A state title.
Hornets Head Coach Ryan Wetherington said he saw it coming.
"I knew they were going to push us right. I knew they were going to give us some trouble, and they hand it to us in the first game," he said. "Then we're able to come back out a second game, maintain our composure. And it was just a freaking battle back and forth. They threw some punches, we threw some punches. They threw some punches. We threw some punches. And finally, we were able to kind of throw enough punches and kind of keep them at bay and finally get that win."
Tattnall hunts for revenge against George Walton following title loss last year
The Tattnall Trojans entered the South Commons Softball Complex with a chip on their shoulders. They finished runner-up in the championship game last year. The Trojans started the game down by three after two innings, but tied the game courtesy of a Gradie Appling three-run homer.
In the bottom of the fifth, game tied at 4, Reese Covington smacked a grand slam that gave Tattnall the lead. The Trojans held off the Bulldogs to win the 4A state championship trophy 9-7.
Tattnall Head Coach Jordan Brooks said Appling's hit showed her impact on the team.
"That's, you know, that's, that's our leader. And then she's led the right way all year, and that's what leadership is," Brooks explained.
He said Reese Covington came up big in their last two games of the season and sealing it off for them in the final game was "massive."