Softball: Six DeKalb Teams In State Playoffs Wednesday

By Mark Brock

The GHSA softball state playoffs begin on Wednesday and DeKalb County has six teams ready to break the first round doldrums in the state playoffs this season.

Coach Terrence Canty has his Miller Grove team in the state playoffs for the second consecutive season with a sterling 20-2 mark on the season and a Region 6-AAAAA title in hand. The Lady Wolverines start their best of three series on Wednesday by hosting Region 8 No. 4 seed Winder-Barrow (12-14) in a doubleheader beginning at 2 p.m. at Miller Grove High School.

Canty’s charges are looking for their first playoff victory after being swept in the first round a year ago in their state playoff debut. A third game, if necessary, is set for a 2 p.m. start at Miller Grove on Thursday.

Region 6-AAAAA runner-up Southwest DeKalb (17-4) is also playing the host role on Wednesday in a 2 p.m. doubleheader at Browns Mill Park against Region 8 No. 3 seed Apalachee (16-12). The Lady Panthers are returning to the state playoffs for the first time since the 2010 season and are looking for their first state playoff victory in three appearances. A third game, if necessary, is set for 3 p.m. on Thursday at Browns Mill Park.

Bernice Foreman’s Lady Panther team pushed Foreman over the 150 win mark as a coach to 156-94. Foreman is third all-time on the DeKalb County wins list behind former Tucker mentor Pat Floyd (183-79) and current Columbia skipper Steve Dennis (166-147 entering the 2013 season).

The Dunwoody Lady Wildcats are making their fifth consecutive playoff appearance under Coach Kerry Brown (98-62) and are looking to pick up their first playoff victory since winning the 1996 Class AAAA title and get Brown to the 100 win plateau.

Brown’s team has only one senior and is the No. 3 seed out of Region 6-AAAAA with a 14-15 record which means a trip to Region 8 No. 2 seed Loganville (16-15) on Wednesday for a doubleheader at 5 p.m. A third game, if necessary, will start at 5 p.m. on Thursday.

Stephenson (12-11) rounds out the Region 6-AAAAA entries from DeKalb County as the No. 4 seed travels to Conyers for a 5 p.m. doubleheader with Region 8 No. 1 seed Heritage (24-5) on Wednesday. Coach Marco Jackson’s squad earned the program’s first ever state playoff berth. A third game, if necessary, is set for 5 p.m. on Thursday.

DeKalb County has a pair of Class AAAA state playoff entries in Redan and Chamblee beginning play in their best of three series on Wednesday.

Redan (19-3) is making a second consecutive state playoff appearance underCoach Bridgett Smith (34-13), but is still looking for its first playoff victory in three appearances. Redan gets a host role against Region 8 No. 3 seed Eastside (17-19) by way of a No. 2 seed out of Region 6-AAAA. The two teams open on Wednesday with a doubleheader starting at 2 p.m. at Redan. A third game, if necessary, is set for 4 p.m. at Redan on Thursday.

Coach Adrienne Keathley has the Chamblee Lady Bulldogs (8-13) in the state playoffs for the fourth consecutive season, but is still hunting for that first playoff series win. Chamblee, the No. 3 seed from Region 6-AAAA, goes on the road to take on Region 8 No. 2 seed Walnut Grove (19-8) in a doubleheader set for 5 p.m. on Wednesday. A third game, if necessary, is scheduled for 5 p.m. on Thursday.

STATE SOFTBALL PLAYOFF SCHEDULE
Wednesday, Oct. 16
CLASS AAAAA
Winder-Barrow (12-14) at Miller Grove (20-2), Doubleheader beginning at
2 p.m.
Apalachee (16-12) vs. SW DeKalb (17-4) at Browns Mill Park, Doubleheader
beginning at 2 p.m.
Dunwoody (14-15) at Loganville (16-15), Doubleheader beginning at 5 p.m.
Stephenson (12-11) at Heritage-Conyers (24-5), Doubleheader beginning at
5 p.m.

CLASS AAAA
Eastside (17-19) at Redan (19-3), Doubleheader beginning at 2 p.m.
Chamblee (8-13) at Walnut Grove (19-8), Doubleheader beginning at 5 p.m.

Thursday, Oct. 17
CLASS AAAAA
Winder-Barrow at Miller Grove, Single game, if necessary, at 4:30 p.m.
Apalachee vs. Southwest DeKalb at Browns Mill Park, Single game, if
necessary, at 3 p.m.
Dunwoody at Loganville, Single game, if necessary, at 5 p.m.
Stephenson at Heritage-Conyers, Single game, if necessary, at 5 p.m.

CLASS AAAA
Eastside at Redan, Single game, if necessary, at 4 p.m.
Chamblee at Walnut Grove, Single game, if necessary, at 5 p.m.

Admission Cost: First Day Doubleheader, Adults $7, Students $7; Second Day Single Game, Adults $5, Students $5