Prep playoff roundup: Houston County and Mary Persons softball teams sweep
Houston County put up plenty of runs in its GHSA Class AAAAA softball playoff series with South Effingham, winning the best-of-three first round 9-1 and 12-3.
The Bears (25-8) scored four runs in the first inning of the opener and three more in the third, finishing the contest in five innings. Grace Hardee and Shaelin Browne each had three hits, including a home run for each.
A six-run fourth and six-run sixth carried Houston County in the second game. Caitlyn Davis went 3-for-4, while Hardee went 2-for-4 with two runs scored and four RBI.
Sarah Smith was the winning pitcher in both games.
CLASS AAAA SOFTBALL
Mary Persons scored two runs in the top of the seventh to win the opener of its GHSA Class AAAA softball first-round series 2-0 at Liberty County, then the Bulldogs swept the best-of-three with a 5-0 victory in Game 2.
Destiny Middleton’s double drove home courtesy runner Autumn Justice with one out in the top of the seventh. Middleton later scored on a wild pitch.
Megan Bell struck out seven for the victory in Game 1. She also went the distance in Game 2, striking out six for the win.
Middleton and Sydney Thompson homered in the second game, as the Bulldogs advanced to next week’s second round.
CLASS A PRIVATE SOFTBALL
All four Bibb County GHSA private schools earned spots in the Class A private school softball playoffs following appeals and allotments for region champions.
Tattnall Square is the top Middle Georgia seed, claiming the No. 4 spot. The Trojans will host Athens Christian next Wednesday and Oct. 22.
Fifth-seeded FPD will host Excel Christian, while No. 6 seed Stratford will host George Walton. No. 15 seed Mount de Sales will travel to second-seeded Eagle’s Landing Christian.
Winners of the best-of-three series advance to the Elite Eight, scheduled for Oct. 29-31 in Columbus.
VOLLEYBALL
Veterans won its first-round match of the GHSA Class AAAA volleyball playoffs Wednesday, topping Chamblee 3-0 (25-17, 25-15, 25-22).
Madison Purse had seven kills to lead the Veterans attack, while Allison Harbert had seven aces. Madison Hill had 16 assists and six digs.
The Warhawks (37-7) host Woodward Academy in the second round at 6 p.m. on Tuesday.
This story was originally published October 14, 2015 at 11:38 PM with the headline "Prep playoff roundup: Houston County and Mary Persons softball teams sweep."