GHSA softball playoffs: What you need to know about Savannah-area teams in the first round
The Georgia High School Association state softball playoffs begin next week with Super Regionals being held as teams try to make their way to the Elite Eight in Columbus.
The winner of each Super Regional, played with a double elimination format, earns a spot in the Elite Eight.
Here's a look at the teams who reached the playoffs from the Greater Savannah area and which Super Regional they will be playing in.
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Class 6A
Oct. 18-19
South Effingham (25-4), South Effingham Regional
It came down to the wire on Wednesday as South Effingham scored a pair of runs in the bottom of the sixth and edged Effingham County 5-4 to win the Region 2-6A title and secure rights to host a Super Regional.
Senior Sarah Messex continued her hot streak by going 2 for 3 with a double and three RBIs in the win, and Kenzie Ergle was 2 for 3 with two runs and an RBI. Bailey Kendziorski pitched a complete game to earn the win as the Boston College commit improved to 15-0 on the season with a 0.77 ERA.
The Mustangs have six players with more than 20 RBIs in Danni Lynn (.395 batting average, 25 RBIs), Whitney Thompson (.366, 27 RBIs), Hailey Burns (.321, 21 RBIs), Ergle (.365, 21 RBIs), Alyssa Martin (.338, 23 RBIs) and Messex (.350, 27 RBIs).
The Mustangs, who reached the Elite Eight last season, host Rockdale County (10-8) in the first round of the regional.
Effingham County (22-5), Houston County Regional
Effingham battled to the end as the Rebels lost 5-4 to South Effingham Wednesday, as South Effingham went up 2-1 in the season series with their cross-county rival to win the Region 2-6A title.
The Rebels, who reached the Elite Eight last season, are looking to do it again. Sophomore pitcher Ansleigh Giordano has emerged as one of the top pitchers in the state, while catcher Gracie LaFleur has been excellent behind, and at, the plate.
Emma Reynolds, Megan Coleman and Olivia Morgan are standout is a stacked lineup that has the talent to get to Columbus.
Effingham, a No. 2 seed, faces Lovejoy (15-9) in the first round of the regional.
Class 6A
Richmond Hill (9-14), Brookwood Regional
The Wildcats enter the postseason as the No. 4 seed out of Region 1-7A.
Adriana Williams has been solid in the pitching circle for the Wildcats, while freshmen Aubrey Ragins and Ainsley Washington have also had an impact.
Richmond Hill opens against host Brookwood (19-5-1) in the regional opener.
Class 4A
Oct. 18-19
Islands (4-14), Cairo Regional
The Sharks are the No. 3 seed out of Region 3-4A. Last season, the squad was also a No. 3 seed and made a run to the Elite 8 for the first time in school history. But graduation hit the Sharks hard, with Devin Long (East Carolina) and Aaliyah Williams (South Carolina State) moving on.
Adeline Zaragoza leads the Sharks with a .500 batting average and Hailey Hill is batting .467 with a team-high 11 RBIs for the Sharks, who will face Perry in the first round of the regional.
Class 3A
Oct. 16-17
Savannah Christian (18-8), Savannah Christian Regional
The Raiders have been playing well and clinched their first region title since 2013 last week. SCPS has been getting contributions from throughout the lineup with a roster that includes just one senior in Ava Rolen.
Sophomore Jillian Austin is the No. 1 pitcher with a record of 12-7 and a 3.77 ERA, while hitting .415 with 23 RBIs and 32 runs. Leighton Stallcup leads the squad with a .500 batting average and 14 RBIs. Junior centerfielder Payton Livingston is excellent in the outfield and is hitting .481 with 19 RBIs and 37 runs. Third baseman Chaynie Cornwell (.425 BA, 21 RBIs and 32 runs), catcher Julia Ronk (.408, 24 RBIs, 21 runs) and shortstop Hannah Jane Gard (.344, 21 RBIs, 36 runs) provide offensive punch for SCPS.
Calvary Day (13-11), Morgan County Regional
The Cavs finished second in Region 3-3A and hit the road as they open against Peach County (7-12) in the Morgan County Regional.
Sophomore Jaya Moore (.379 batting average, 28 RBIs, 16 runs), junior Natalie Sanders (.429, 14 RBIs, 29 runs) and freshman Reese Jenkins (.469, 16 RBIs and 14 runs) lead the Cavalier offense. Junior Emma Overby is the No. 1 pitcher for Calvary Day.
Liberty County (5-15), Jackson Regional
Freshman Mya Armstrong leads the Panther offense with a .520 average, three home runs, 20 RBIs and 20 runs scored, and she is also the No. 1 pitcher. She is 5-10 on the season with a 5.60 ERA and 127 strikeouts in 75 innings pitched.
The Panthers, a No. 4 seed, will face Jackson (21-7) in their playoff opener.
Class A Division I
Oct. 18-19
Bryan County (15-11), East Laurens Regional
Bryan County enters the playoffs as a No. 4 seed and will open against host East Laurens, a No. 1 seed with a record of 20-5.
Bryan County lost a lot of talent to graduation after an Elite 8 berth last year and is rebuilding with a young roster. Sophomores Eris Deal and Abigail Lee and freshman Emily Johnson have all seen action in the pitching circle and sophomore shortstop Liz Harvey has also been playing well for Bryan County, along with her classmate Cam Parker.
Bryan County coach Jason Roundtree said his squad has been hurt by an injury to Skylar Lee. The senior, who was leading the team in hitting, suffered a broken leg recently and will miss the rest of the season.
Dennis Knight covers sports for the Savannah Morning News. Contact him at Dknight@savannahnow.com. Twitter: @DennisKnightSMN
This article originally appeared on Savannah Morning News: Savannah-area high school softball teams in the GHSA state playoffs
