The postseason is already going better than the regular season for the 2012 Class AA softball state champions.
Dade County is undefeated in its new season -- the postseason.
The Lady Wolverines swept Bowdon 11-3 and 11-0 in a pair of five-inning games on Wednesday at Dade County in the first round of the Georgia playoffs.
Senior pitcher Madison Gossett earned the victory in both games by striking out 12 and allowing three runs in 10 innings of work with plenty of support from the defenders behind her and her teammates at the plate.
"I was very comfortable because of the way our defense and offense were going today," said Gossett, who has been chewing Stride gum -- the Sean White flavor -- as a superstition since last season. "It's been a rocky season. But it's a new season."
They Lady Wolverines (22-12) dominated their first round by never trailing the Red Devils. Their run to an attempted repeat will continue next Wednesday at Wesleyan or at home against Oglethorpe County. Playing at Wesleyan would set up a a rematch of last season's championship game.
"We have more confidence and we're ready for Wesleyan," Gossett said. "Today really help builds our momentum for the state tournament."
Dade County's Carly Stephens went 6-for-6 in the two games with five runs scored and two RBI. She scored three times in the first game.
"The girls were way into the game," co-coach Autumn Sigler said. "They attacked early."
Stephens started the scoring in the second game with a home run over the scoreboard in the second inning. Dade County's onslaught continued in the third inning when its scored four runs including a two-run triple to right field by Haley Gass.
Catcher Madison Lacy provided the opportunity for a run-rule victory in the top of the fifth when she launched a grand-slam over the left-field fence for an 11-0 lead.
"She left it right over the middle," Lacy said. "It was probably a curve."
Gossett made no such mistakes.
"Madison was on tonight," co-coach Christine Engbers said. "She was hitting spots and had two or three pitches to go to."
Contact David Uchiyama at duchiyama@timesfreepress.com or at 423-757-6484. Follow him on Twitter at twitter.com/UchiyamaCTFP.