Schedule may have changed, but Houston County, Veterans, West Laurens, Taylor County still ready for GHSA state softball
By Michael A. Lough
The Sports Report
centralgasports@gmail.com
Destination: Columbus is “Mission: Accomplished” for four Central Georgia teams as the GHSA state championship round starts at Columbus.
Weather has affected the schedule, with game originally to starta at 11 a.m. Wednesday.
West Laurens is the last Central Georgia team to take home a championship, doing so in 4A in 2022. A year earlier, ACE Charter did it A Public. A year before that, the 5A trophy came home with Jones County.
And a year before that, Mount de Sales snagged the A Private championship.
Other Central Georgia state champs in this century: GMC Prep (2014-15) and Jones County (2010).
Houston County was two and out last year. West Laurens went 1-2. ACE Charter and East Laurens went 0-2 in A/I a year ago, while GMC battled through the loser’s bracket with four wins – three by a run – before losing 2-1 to ECI in the championship.
County and region rivals Houston County and Veterans both made it to the South Park Commons in Class 6A in 2022, but it was a short trip. The Bears lost 8-0 and 7-6, the Warhawks 5-4 and 4-0.
Houston County is back, despite a season less smooth and dominant than usual. The 21-12 Bears beat Riverwood in three games to open the postseason and swept South Paulding to advance with a 21-12 record.
Veterans made it to Columbus with a sizzling 27-6 record, two losses coming to Houston County in the middle of September and one to West Laurens. The Warhawks took out River Ridge in two games and won the third game over Alexander 10-0 to advance.
Loganville won the 3A title in 2001.
West Laurens again has posted no information on MaxPreps or Gamechanger. The 28-3 Raiders are headed to Columbus for the sixth straight year after a huge series win at eighth-seeded Cairo.
Taylor County is one of several A/II teams making their Columbus debut. And the 25-3 Vikings are hot, taking out Charlton County and Screven County in sweeps, outscoring the opponents 34-10. Their only losses are to GIAA FPD and twice to 4A Perry.
Skyler Searcy is hitting .430 and Summer Searcy .378 for Taylor County, Molleigh Gassett right behind at .375. Victoria Cooper is 17-0 with a .97 ERA.
Wednesday
Class 5A
2/1 Houston County vs. 8/2 Jackson County, 6 p.m.
2/2 Veterans vs. 8/1 Loganville, 6 p.m.
Next game: Friday at 2 p.m. (winner’s) or 6 p.m. (loser’s)
Class 3A
9. West Laurens vs. 17 Monroe Area, 8 p.m.
Next game: 2 p.m. or 6 p.m.
Class A/Division I, Thursday
6/1 Taylor County vs. 7/1 Trion, 12 p.m.