Rockmart takes top region seed without play

♦ 7-AA calls off region games due to bad weather delaying season’s end in Floyd Co.; third region championship in a row

Good news for Rockmart fans: the Lady Jackets cemented their top seed in the first round of the state playoffs without even having to break a sweat.

In a rare move that was brought about by rain that poured across Floyd County in previous weeks, the top four softball teams in the Region 7-AA standings will move on to the Class AA state playoffs without a region tournament.

The decision was made on Sept. 28 by the schools’ principals that they would forgo a region tournament and simply have the top four teams in the standings move one.

Rockmart’s 13-1 region record was enough to crown the Lady Jackets as champions for the third straight season.

Joining Rockmart in the Class AA state playoffs will be Chattooga (14-7, 11-3), Dade County and Pepperell. Dade County (13-12, 10-4) defeated Armuchee 7-2 on Monday — a matchup that was supposed to be played last week — giving the Lady Wolverines the No. 3 seed, while Pepperell, which shutout Model 13-0 on Monday, gets the four seed.

Rockmart and Chattooga are seeded first and second, respectively. Region 7-AA will match up against Region 6-AA, with Rockmart and Chattooga hosting, and Dade County and Pepperell playing on the road.

Head coach Steve Luke is glad the Lady Yellow Jackets are the top team, but he says he would’ve rather played the region tournament to build up his team’s experience before the state playoffs. He said he was surprised at the decision to do away with the tournament.

“It kind of takes away from something from the girls and the experience,” Luke said. “It has its drawbacks. You’re having to keep your practices at high levels. It’s definitely difficult.

“We’re going to try to get on that routine despite the fact that we’re not playing,” Luke said. “It’s all about mental prep now.”

The Lady Jackets already know who they’ll be facing on Tuesday after press time – weather permitting, of course. Douglas Atlanta will be traveling to Polk County to play in the bestof-three first round games, and the winner will go on to play in the second round against either Bremen or Banks County.