GIAA softball tournament update: FPD and Tattnall eliminated from 4A bracket

Four of Macon’s private schools began their playoff journeys Thursday in the GIAA Class 2A and 4A state championship tournaments. For updates on wins and losses, come back to this story throughout the day to keep track of FPD, Tattnall, Stratford and Windsor.

The latest update:

Tattnall fell by a score of 6-4 to Strong Rock Christian to end its season Thursday afternoon, allowing six runs to the Patriots in the fifth inning after leading 4-0 to eliminate the Trojans from the Class 4A tournament.

Star pitcher Callie Still pitched four clean innings and looked like she would continue her excellent tournament before some errors doomed the Trojans in the fifth. The Tattnall offense could not muster a comeback in the final two frames.

FPD lost to Strong Rock in the final game of the losers bracket, falling one game short of the Class 4A championship with a 2-0 loss. Gracyn Fuller gave it her all yet again — she pitched a complete game against Strong Rock in the second round of the tournament Thursday — but the FPD offense struggled, only notching four hits and a walk while striking out 10 times.

Fuller pitched six innings and only allowed four hits while striking out eight, but three errors gave Strong Rock enough offense to get the win and advance to the championship Saturday afternoon.

No. 3 FPD

The FPD Vikings (19-3) face No. 6 Loganville Christian (13-9) in the opening round of the Class 4A tournament at noon on Field 3 at the South Commons Softball Complex in Columbus. Games can be livestreamed for $14.99 via GIAA.tv here.

UPDATE: FPD won a superb pitcher’s duel with Loganville Christian Academy in the first round, getting a 1-0 win behind a complete game shutout by staff ace Gracyn Fuller. She allowed only four hits and four walks while striking out 12 LCA batters.

The Vikings will face No. 2 Strong Rock Christian in the second round at 4 p.m. on Field 7.

UPDATE 2: FPD finished the first day of the Class 4A tournament undefeated after beating No. 2 Strong Rock in another 1-0 win. Gracyn Fuller again went the distance, allowing only one hit and one walk in a dominant outing.

The Vikings will play No. 1 Calvary Christian in the semifinal with a spot in the championship on the line at noon Friday on Field 4.

No. 5 Tattnall

The Tattnall Trojans (16-6) face No. 5 Bethlehem Christian (16-7) in the opening round of the Class 4A tournament at noon on Field 2 at at the South Commons Softball Complex in Columbus. Games can be livestreamed for $14.99 via GIAA.tv here.

UPDATE: Tattnall defeated Bethlehem Christian 11-3 in the first round. Bryton Tarver and Mercer West led the Trojans wit three RBIs apiece in the win. Tattnall will play No. 1 Calvary Christian in the second round at 4 p.m. on Field 8.

UPDATE 2: Calvary Christian knocked Tattnall into the losers bracket in the last game of Thursday’s action, as the Knights won 11-3 behind a 15-hit team performance.

Tattnall will face No. 6 George Walton at 10 a.m. Friday in the losers bracket.

No. 8 Stratford

The Stratford Eagles (11-12) face No. 1 Calvary Christian (22-2) in the opening round of the Class 4A tournament at noon on Field 1 at the South Commons Softball Complex in Columbus. Games can be livestreamed for $14.99 via GIAA.tv here.

UPDATE: Stratford lost 9-1 against Calvary Christian in the first round of the playoffs. The Eagles move to the losers bracket and will face Bethlehem Christian at 4 p.m. on Field 5.

UPDATE 2: Stratford fell 15-1 in an elimination game to Bethlehem Christian, knocking them out of the tournament. BCA scored 14 runs in the third inning to get the win on a mercy rule.

No. 7 Windsor

The Windsor Knights (9-8) began their game against No. 2 Southwest Georgia Academy (17-5) at 10 a.m. in the first round of the Class 2A tournament on Field 4 at the South Commons Softball Complex in Columbus. Games can be livestreamed for $14.99 via GIAA.tv here.

UPDATE: Windsor fell 5-2 to SGA in the opening round. The Knights will face Edmund Burke Academy at 2 p.m. in an elimination game on Field 5.

UPDATE 2: Windsor fell 11-4 against Edmund Burke in the losers bracket, eliminating them from the Class 2A tournament.