Karley Thomas plays shortstop for Sonoraville during a game at Ringgold on Aug. 18. Sonoraville is at the top of the standings in Region 6-AAA and will receive a first-round bye for the league tournament.Most Georgia high schools have been in session just two months or so, but it's already time for the GHSA's first postseason of 2018-19 to begin.
Some fast-pitch softball region tournaments begin next week, with three weeks of state playoffs starting Oct. 10 and culminating once again in Columbus. Before teams get there, though, there is a bit of unfinished business to take care of in northwestern Georgia.
Region 6-AAAA will not hold a region tournament this year, instead using the regular season to determine which of its four teams advance to the state playoffs. With three games to go, three teams are still in control of their own destinies for the top spot.
Heritage and LaFayette are tied with 8-1 records in the region, with Northwest Whitfield just behind at 7-2. The three play each other over the next week, including today's Heritage at Northwest game. The battle for the final playoff spot will likely come down to the Ridgeland at Pickens game next week.
"I like the new format because it makes the regular season more important," Heritage coach Tanner Moore said. "You can tell every team knows how crucial every game is."
In 6-AAAAAA, Dalton's recent surge has the Lady Catamounts (6-6 in region play) in position to secure a spot in the region tournament. Allatoona (12-2), Creekview (11-2) and Harrison (9-4) are the top three right now, with River Ridge and Sequoyah tied with Dalton with six losses.
The top two teams will receive a first-round bye for the 6-AAAAAA playoffs, with the next four meeting (No. 3 hosts No. 6; No. 4 hosts No. 5) to determine the rest of the final four. Those teams will then settle things in Canton starting Sept. 27.
"If we win Saturday against Allatoona, the number-one-ranked team in the state, we will definitely finish fourth," Dalton coach Stacy Parker said. "If we lose, then it depends on what the other teams do."
Region 6-AAA is changing its tournament, which will be held at the new Calhoun Recreation Center fields, to a double-elimination format. The top two teams, Sonoraville (13-1) and Calhoun (12-3), will receive first-round byes. Coahulla Creek (11-5) and Haralson County (9-5) are next in line, followed by Ringgold and North Murray, each 7-8.
Region 7-AA is not nearly as settled. Rockmart (11-1) and Chattooga (11-2) split games during the regular season and stand first and second heading into the final week before the region tournament starts a week from today.
Chattooga could use some help from third-place Dade County (9-3), which plays Rockmart today. There is potential for a three-way tie.
In Region 6-A, Gordon Lee and Trion will make the playoffs based on their power ratings. A region championship, though, would guarantee no travel until Columbus, which hosts the final eight teams in each classification in a double-elimination format.
Gordon Lee (19-1, 8-0), looking to repeat as state champion, is No. 1 in the Class A public power ratings. Trion (11-3, 8-3) is second. Gordon Lee hosts Trion a week from today, and that might not be their last meeting this year.
"I'm sure we will see them again down the road," Gordon Lee coach Dana Mull said. "They returned everybody but two from last year's runner-up team, so I'm sure I will see them see them at some point if we both get to Columbus."
Contact Lindsey Young at lyoung@timesfreepress.com or 423-757-6296. Follow him on Twitter @youngsports22.