Elite stage to host FPD, Tattnall Square, Stratford in softball
The GHSA Class A private school softball Elite Eight has a large Middle Georgia contingent headed to Columbus.
Three of the area teams that begin play Thursday are from Bibb County, as FPD, Tattnall Square and Stratford all vie for a spot in the championship series that culminates Saturday.
"I think all three teams have a great chance," Stratford head coach Jeff Treadway said. "We're very excited to be there, and we're excited about being in it the first two years we have been a part of the GHSA. We are quite honored to get this opportunity; now we just have to go take advantage of it."
FPD (22-6) and Tattnall (23-5) will play each other for the third time this season at 10:30 a.m. on Thursday.
In the first meeting between the two teams, Tattnall Square squeaked out a 3-2 victory, but in the second game, Tattnall distanced itself, overcoming nine strikeouts by a combination of FPD pitchers to win 5-1.
"(FPD is) a very good softball team. They are very talented," Tattnall head coach Joey Hiller said. "We were fortunate to get the best of them twice during the regular season, but honestly, those wins don't mean anything right now. I do like the fact that it is somebody that we do know, though.
"I don't think we're going to have any problems getting the juices flowing to play a game like that with, of course, it being a state tournament game, but also a crosstown rival. It should be fun."
FPD enters the Elite Eight coming off of two dominant victories over Excel Christian, 10-1 and 5-1.
The Vikings were efficient on offense, pounding out 19 hits in two games.
"(The Elite Eight) is something the girls have worked for all year," FPD head coach Jim Turner said. "It's just like the pinnacle of the association, but now we have to focus on what we have in front of us. Tattnall is a very good team. It is going to be a close game because it always is with any of the local schools.
"And you have two very good teams against each other."
Stratford, meanwhile, also plays at 10:30 a.m. on Thursday and is matched up with Prince Avenue Christian.
The Eagles (20-6) roll into this week's tournament coming off of a convincing sweep of George Walton, as they pounded out 14 hits in Game 2 of the series. Senior pitcher Mary Wilson Avant struck out 13 batters in the two-game series while allowing no hits.
"We've been pretty good in a lot of areas," Treadway said. "We've always pitched well, been, at times great on defense. And we have hit the ball well, at times. It is just a matter of putting all three together at the same time this week.
"(Prince Avenue) is very good, and it should be a good be a good game."
This story was originally published October 28, 2015 at 10:32 PM with the headline "Elite stage to host FPD, Tattnall Square, Stratford in softball."