Central Georgia off to good start - with some domination - in GHSA softball playoffs; three more teams win Friday

            A dozen Central Georgia softball teams have advanced in the GHSA tournament, and none needed a third game.

            Alas, the teams that were eliminated couldn’t force a third game, either.

            Perry and West Laurens in Class 4A, Peach County in AAA, and AA teams Bleckley County, Lamar County and Dodge County had little trouble in rolling past their opponents Thursday Those teams combined for eight shutouts in 12 games, and averaged 14.2 runs.

            Perry knocked off a top seed with a pair of 11-2 wins at Northside-Columbus, the Panthers getting off to good starts in both games. Bailey Odom was sharp on the mound in both Bleckley County routs.

            Jones County improved to 26-8, taking advantage of seven McIntosh errors to score 21 runs on 18 hits. Peach County was the beneficiary of 11 walks and four errors in its 15-1 win, and only four of 23 runs were earned in the two games.

            Region 2-4A champ West Laurens is on an 11-game winning streak and has given up two runs in the past seven games.

            West Laurens, Lamar County and Dodge County will be at home in the next round.

            Rylee Lamb's walkoff single to center scored Megan Whitaker with the game-winner in Houston County's 9-8 second-game win over Richmond Hill in Class 6A on Friday. The Bears rolled to a9-0 win in the opener.

            Stratford and Mount de Sales advanced in Class A private.

            Teams should email boxes scores and playoff information to centralgasports@gmail.com

GHSA Softball Tournament

First Round

Class AAAAAA

Houston County 9-9, Richmond Hill 0-8, Houston County advances (hosts Lakeside Evans)

Effingham County 15-17, Northside 0-3, Northside eliminated

Class AAAAA

Jones County 6-15, McIntosh 1-0, Jones County advances (at South Effingham)

S. Effingham 4-2, Veterans 0-1, Veterans eliminated

Class AAAA

Perry 11-11, Columbus 2-2, Perry advances (at Thomson, Wednesday, 4:30 p.m. first game)

Northside-Columbus 7-7, Mary Persons 0-3, Mary Persons eliminated

West Laurens 12-16, Hardaway 0-0, West Laurens advances (hosts Burke County)

Class AAA

Peach County 9-15, Jenkins 0-1, Peach County advances (at Worth County)

Rutland 6-9, Island 1-1, Rutland advances (at Appling County)

Class AA

Harlem 18-19, Washington County 0-1, Washington County eliminated

Bleckley County 15-15, Jefferson County 0-0, Bleckley County advances (at Berrien)

Monticello 3-4, Dade County 0-0, Monticello advances (at Lamar County)

Lamar County 19-25, Washington-Atl. 0-1, Lamar County advances (hosts Monticello)

Screven County 5-10, East Laurens 5-1, East Laurens eliminated

Dodge County 12-10, Westside-Aug. 0-0, Dodge County advances (hosts Vidalia)

Class A Public

No. 8 GMC, bye, hosts Lanier County

No. 14 Echols County 8-3, No. 19 Hawkinsville 0-1, Hawkinsville eliminated

Class A Private

No. 2. Tattnall, bye, vs. Mt. Paran/Landmark Christian winner

No. 7. FPD, bye, hosts Darlington

No. 9 Stratford 8-17, No. 24 Hebron Christian 3-0, Stratford advances (at Brookstone)

No. 11 Mount de Sales, 11-9, No. 22 Fellowship Christian 3-1, MdS advances (at Mt. Pisgah)