LETTER FROM GHSA EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR - DR. TIM SCOTT
GREETINGS GHSA SOFTBALL FANS:
Welcome to the 2024 GHSA Softball championships! The games are sure to be exciting as all of the schools represented are looking forward to their team achieving the title of “Champion”. However we all know that all of our teams are outstanding and are defi nitely winners. This has been an outstanding season and this year’s championship games will include familiar faces as well as teams that have worked hard and peaked at just the right time. Our congratulations are in order for all of the teams, coaches, administrators, students and parents who have supported the athletes through this year’s journey to the fi nal games. I know you will enjoy and appreciate the games and all of the work leading up to this exciting event.
I would also like to thank you for your support of high school softball throughout the season. Your attendance and support is integral to the success of high school athletics and for the team you are here to cheer on. Good sportsmanship is expected from our athletes and I urge you to be positive in your support of all of our teams. Let’s work together to make today’s games a great experience for all involved.
To put on an event of this magnitude takes many volunteers who have worked tirelessly to provide a “fi rst class” event. Many hours of work from this group will enhance the experience of our players, students and fans. The GHSA staff has been working for weeks as well to ensure a special event for all involved.
Finally I would like to thank our corporate sponsors who make it possible to put on these championships. Their advertisements can be seen throughout this venue and I encourage you to support them whenever possible. The GHSA wants to thank these exemplary companies for their involvement, we appreciate their support.
Thank you for your attendance and I know you are going to enjoy the best high school softball anywhere!
Sincerely,
Dr. Tim Scott Executive Director
2024 GHSA FAST PITCH SOFTBALL STAFF
GHSA EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
Dr. Tim Scott
GHSA SITE DIRECTOR
Earl Etheridge
SPONSORSHIP & MARKETING
Jorge Cimadevilla
Gus Andrews
Alan Sharp, Teall Properties Group
COLUMBUS SPORTS COUNCIL HOST
Merri Sherman
GHSA ASSOCIATE DIRECTOR/COORDINATOR
Don Corr
MEDIA INFORMATION
Marvin James Director of GHSA Media Relations
CHAMPIONSHIP
HOST SITE DIRECTOR
Sylvester Seldon
Columbus Parks & Recreation
SOFTBALL LIAISON
Eric Philbert
LOGISTICS ASSISTANT
Kevin Smith
Mitchell Minnick
UIC
Larry McCaden
ASSISTANT UIC
Kevin Spivey
2024 GHSA FAST PITCH SOFTBALL UMPIRES & EVALUATORS
CREW 1 ASSOCIATION
Rickie Sexton Chattahoochee
Dexter Williams Atlanta Quarterback
Richard Jenkins Hinesville
Stephanie Newson North Georgia Amateur
CREW 2 ASSOCIATION
W. Lee Gray Multi Sports
Don Maddox Houston County
David Haulman Hinesville
Paul Conner Southern Eagle
CREW 3 ASSOCIATION
Lynn Church North Georgia Amateur
Jeffery George Dalton
Kel Grier West Georgia
Michael Rawlings Houston County
CREW 4 ASSOCIATION
Micheal Heath Walker Houston County
Thereare seven defending champions making the trek to the South Commons Softball Complex for the GHSA Fast Pitch Softball State Championships highlighting a talented and storied field of 64 competitors who’ve combined for 73 previous state championships.
This season, after the GHSA reclassification cycle, Class 6A is the highest class in the state, down to Class A Division I and II with the new addition of a ‘Private’ classification – consisting of the private schools from Classes 3A-1A.
The first-round games will be played Wednesday with the second round of the winner’s bracket and first rounds of the loser’s brackets taking to the field Thursday. On Friday, the winner’s bracket games will place one team into the championship series while two rounds of play in the loser’s bracket will set up the early Saturday games to determine which teams will earn berths in the championship series.
The finals begin play at 1 p.m. Saturday with possible 3 p.m. games if the loser’s bracket team forces a decisive ‘if game’.
RETURNING EXCELLENCE HEADING TO WEST GEORGIA
The teams who have a chance to defend titles could be in a new class this season, creating intriguing matchups throughout each of the classes. Buford (7A), Northside-Columbus (5A), Wesleyan (3A), Appling County (2A), Prince Avenue Christian (A Division I) and Lanier County (A Division II) will try to defend last year’s championships.
The reclassification of the private schools into their own bracket has opened Classes 3A to Class
Donald Griffin South Georgia
Greg Newell Lanier
Jay McHugh Chattahoochee
CREW 5 ASSOCIATION
Powell Hazzard
North Georgia Amateur
Henry Hill All Star
Kenneth Hopkins
Augusta
Rana Smith Lanier
Jill Poole
Vidalia-Toombs County
CREW 6 ASSOCIATION
Tonya Cash Rome
Thomas Bills North Georgia Amateur
Barry Trammell
Heritage
William Epps Capital City
CREW 7 ASSOCIATION
John Gilleland North Georgia Amateur
David Gilliam All Star
Anthony Brown Central Georgia
Charles Kuhfahl Troup
CREW 8 ASSOCIATION
Chris Chubb Softball Umpires Unlimited
Dustin Holton Lanier
Rashaad Mincey Capital City
Jimmy Cranford Houston County
ADDITIONAL STAFF
Eric Philbert Softball Liaison
Larry McCadden UIC
Kevin Spivey Assistant UIC
Larry Sorrels Umpire Assistant
Cameron Ellison Umpire Assistant
Bob Earwood Umpire Assistant
A for new teams to carve championship pathways. There are 20 teams across those three classes who will be trying for their program’s first-ever championship.
WE’RE GOING TO NEED A BIGGER TROPHY CASE
Buford, one of the favorite contenders in Class 6A this season, has a tournament-leading 12 championships including a title in each of the past two seasons. The Wolves won 10-consecutive titles from 2007 to 2016 before capturing the 2022 and 2023 championships.
Gordon Lee, a favorite in the Class A Division I tournament, has won 11 championships and after the team’s first title in 2004, it won every title from 2010 to 2020, only missing out in 2014. NorthsideColumbus (5A, now 4A) and Wesleyan (3A, now Private) join Buford as teams entering the tournament having won consecutive championships in each of the past two seasons.
HIGH-CLASSED RIVALRY
The state’s highest class features two of the best softball teams in the country in top-ranked Buford and No. 2-ranked East Coweta. The programs met last season in the finals of the winner’s bracket where Buford won 3-2 before meeting again in the championship series, which the Wolves won 9-1 to earn the title. Two seasons ago, Buford defeated East Coweta 2-1 in the second round of the winner’s bracket, sending the Indians on a three-game redemption path through the loser’s bracket. The teams met again in the 2022-23 championship series, won by Buford, again 9-1.
This year’s bracket setup creates a chance that Buford and East Coweta could meet again in the second round if each team wins their first-round contests where Buford plays Brookwood and East Coweta meets Hillgrove.
AIMING FOR A PROGRAM FIRST
There are 34 teams who have advanced to the tournament brackets across the eight classifications who will be trying for the first state championship in program history. There are six teams in Classes 5A and 3A and five teams in Classes 2A and A Division II who are trying to win their team’s first championship. North Cobb, Hillgrove and Brookwood have never won a title and will enter the Class 6A tournament hungry for their first. In Class 5A, South Effingham, East Paulding, River Ridge, Houston County and Effingham County have yet to win a championship. Wayne County is the lone Class 4A program that’s never captured a championship. In Class 3A, LaFayette, LaGrange, Cherokee Bluff, Pickens, Monroe Area and Southeast Bulloch will try for program firsts. Pike County, Miller Grove, Stephens County, Sonoraville and Union County are the Class 2A teams in the hunt for their first trophy. Toombs County, Haralson County, Bremen and East Laurens mark the Class A Division I teams trying to add their first trophy to the case. In Class A Division II, Clinch County, Schley County, Irwin County, Metter and Screven County have never won a title. In the Private classification, Savannah Christian, Hebron Christian, Trinity Christian and Mount Vernon enter the bracket with eyes on their first titles.
2024 GHSA CLASS 2A STATE FAST PITCH SOFTBALL TOURNAMENT
Ball In Play
� MaxPreps integration
� Pitching spray charts
� In-app stat editing
� Starting lineup capabilities
� Simple and powerful scorekeeping
� Better opponent stats & spray charts
� GameStream scoreboard integration
� Highlight clip sharing
� Video Archives
� Live play-by-play announcer
� Automatic hit clips, downloadable & shareable
� Pitch velocity displayed in stream (if recorded)
� Stay on top of your team with messaging and alerts
� Keep track of events with scheduling & calendar sync
� Share exciting moments with photo sharing
� RSVP with your availability
