Prep Softball Report: Chase for Columbus begins this week

After nearly two months of action, the postseason has finally arrived.

The Chase for Columbus will be in earnest this week as region tournament play is set to begin for teams in northwest Georgia.

Region 6-AAAA is forgoing a traditional tournament this season in favor of a modified playoff system.

The top two seeds - No. 1 Heritage and No. 2 Lafayette - are scheduled to meet at Heritage in a 5:30 p.m. doubleheader on Wednesday of this week to begin a best-of-three series to determine the region champion. A third game, if needed, would be at 5:30 on Thursday, also at Heritage. Regardless of the outcome, both teams are assured of hosting in the first round of the Class 4A state tournament.

No. 3 Northwest Whitfield will host either No. 6 Pickens or No. 7 Southeast Whitfield in a best-of-three, starting on Tuesday. Pickens and Southeast were slated to meet in a one-game playoff on Monday for the right to challenge the Lady Bruins. The other bestof-three will see No. 5 Gilmer play at No. 4 Ridgeland, starting on Tuesday. The third games of those series would be played on Wednesday.

The winners of those two series will play a one-game playoff on Thursday at the highest remaining seed to determine the No. 3 and No. 4 seeds for the state playoffs, which will start on Oct. 10.

The Calhoun Recreation Department is hosting the Region 6-AAA tournament this week. LFO, who advanced after beating Murray County in a play-in game on Saturday, was scheduled to face Catoosa County rival Ringgold on Monday in the opener with the winner advancing to take on Haralson County later that night. Due to newspaper deadlines, results were not available in today’s edition.