South still has some work to do.
The top-seeded Lady War Eagles lost to third-seeded Chattahoochee 31-29, 18-25, 25-23 in the Area 5-AAAAAA semi-finals on Wednesday at home, setting up a match with second-seeded Johns Creek at 5 p.m. for a potential re-match with Chattahoochee in the area finals at 6.
Earlier in the day, South defeated Centennial 25-23, 25-16 in the quarterfinals of the winner’s bracket.
Kelli McCravy led the Lady War Eagles with 60 assists on the day to go along with 13 digs and three aces. Taylor Svehla had a team-high 21 kills and added three aces. Hannah Shanley had 14 kills, 15 digs and a team-best four aces, Jordan Hawk had 14 kills, while Amanda Nugent added seven kills.
Tory Wright added 36 digs and Rachel Croce had 16 digs.
SOFTBALL
Lambert 6, West Forsyth 1: A three-run first inning was all the Lady Longhorns needed Wednesday to advance to the Region 6-AAAAAA finals at Fowler Park.
Lambert (27-2) will face South Forsyth for the region title at 5 p.m. Game two of the championship series is at 7 if necessary.
Marissa Guimbarda led the Lady Longhorns at the plate, going 2-for-2 with a double and three RBIs. Megan Whitlach was 1-for-4 with a double and RBI, while Rachel Ross went 1-for-3 with a RBI.
Kassie Howard earned the win for Lambert, allowing six hits, two walks and one earned run while striking out 11 in seven innings. Howard also was 2-for-4 with a double at the plate.
Lauren Bearden took the loss for West, which is guaranteed the No. 3 seed out of the region in the state playoffs.
Bearden allowed nine hits, one walk and six runs (two earned) while striking out three over six innings.
West’s Bailey Concatto was 2-for-4 and teammate Erica Davis (1-for-4) had the team’s lone RBI.
Pope 13, Forsyth Central 0: The Lady Bulldogs couldn’t solve Kelly Barnhill.
Central managed just one hit off Pope’s ace in the quarterfinals of the Region 7-AAAAA winner’s bracket Wednesday at the Al Bishop Softball Complex in Marietta.
The Lady Bulldogs face Kell at 5:30 p.m. with a state playoff spot on the line.
Lexi Bump went 1-for-2 for the lone hit off Barnhill, who allowed no earned runs and one walk over four innings while striking out six. Bump had a stolen base.
South Forsyth 4, North Forsyth 0: Katherine Huey continued her supremacy in the circle with a complete game shutout. Huey struck out five and allowed two hits, as South Forsyth blanked North Forsyth 4-0 on Wednesday at Fowler Park.
Meghan Rud (1-for-2, two BBs, two RBIs, two Rs, SB) and Bianca Mora (1-for-4, 2B, two RBIs) guided the Lady War Eagles, while teammates Emily Harris, Sarah Nelms, Stephanie Harris and Kara Bilodeau each recorded an RBI.
The loss eliminated the Lady Raiders (15-11) from the region tournament, but they earned the No. 4 seed in the Class 6A state tournament.
South Forsyth 8, West Forsyth 1: South Forsyth’s Emily Harris picked up where Katherine Huey left off.
Harris struck out four and gave up five hits in a complete game 8-1 win over West Forsyth on Wednesday at Fowler Park.
Emily Harris and Stephanie Harris combined for four hits and two RBIs to pace South (18-13).
Bianca Mora racked up two RBIs and Meghan Rud tallied three hits, one RBI and three stolen bases. Sarah Nelms and Allie chipped in with a combined four hits and two RBIs.
West’s Jessica Bagwell finished (1-for-3, 3B, one run scored) and Hayla Seitz added a double.
The win moved South Forsyth to the finals with a matchup against Lambert tonight, while West (19-10) was eliminated and took the No. 3 seed for the Class 6A state playoffs.