Lady Devils continue state softball tournament

Published 12:00 pm Wednesday, October 19, 2022

GUYTON — Wednesday afternoon may be a very tiring one for the Tift County Lady Devils softball team. That is what they would prefer. Playoffs were to resume at 1 p.m., with the Lady Devils taking on Woodward Academy in the consolation bracket.

The bracket is double elimination. Tift had to win their last four games at South Effingham to make it to Columbus.

South Effingham, host of the tournament, won a 15-1 contest over the Lady Devils in the first round Tuesday, Oct. 18. Tift was not the only team to feel their wrath; South Effingham won 14-0 over Dunwoody in the semifinals.

Woodward dropped a 6-4 final to Dunwoody in the other first round game, setting up the meeting with Tift.

The Lady Devils scored their run against South Effingham in the 3rd inning, Loralee Bennett doubling in Abby Henderson. Tift had two extra-base hits, the other being a double by Bailee Williams in the opening frame.

News was good so far for two other Region 1-6A teams. Houston County and Veterans both advanced to the finals. Houston, the No. 1 seed, defeated Evans and Marist. Veterans, No. 2, won over Grovetown before upsetting North Atlanta.

Thomas County Central is making the long drive back from Alcovy. Effingham County won a first round contest against the Lady Jackets, who were then eliminated by Riverwood.