Chamblee freshman pitcher Mary Axelson is 5-0 and leads DeKalb County with a 0.33 ERA heading into the Class 5A state playoffs. (Photo by Mark Brock)

Region 5-5A champion Arabia Mountain leads a seven-team contingent of DeKalb County softball teams headed to the fast-pitch softball state playoffs beginning on Wednesday.

Arabia Mountain along with 5-5A runner-up Miller Grove and 7-6A runner-up Stephenson will host their best-of-three first round series.

The Rams (19-7) host the Kell Longhorns (13-4) in a Class 5A State Playoffs doubleheader beginning at 2:30 pm at Arabia Mountain. A third game, if necessary, would be played at Arabia Mountain at 4:30 pm on Thursday.

Eric Hoxie’s squad is making its fourth trip to the state playoffs in the past five seasons. The 19-7 record is the program’s best in seven years under the direction of Hoxie (95-56) who started the program in 2010.

Junior Dymond Brown is hitting .509 with 4 homers and 19 RBI to lead Arabia Mountain at the plate. The pitching duo of senior Kayla Phillips (6-4, 1.27 ERA, 55 IP, 46 Strikeouts) and sophomore Jalyn Barker (5-2, 1.20 ERA, 52 2/3 IP, 28 strikeouts) have been tough on the mound this season.

Miller Grove missed the 2015 playoffs and rebounded from a tough 3-16 record a year ago to post a sterling 15-2 mark under new head coach Derek Thomas heading into the state playoffs where they will host Class 5A foe Woodland-Cartersville (12-19), the Region 7 No. 3 seed, at 2:30 pm on Wednesday. A third game, if necessary, would be at Miller Grove at 4:30 pm on Thursday.

Sophomore Deyounce Anderson has been stout on the mound for Miller Grove with a 6-1 record, a 0.44 ERA, and 44 strikeouts in 32 innings. Senior Lashayna Lee is hitting a DeKalb high .714 with 15 RBI 5 doubles and 4 triples to lead the offense.

Joining Arabia Mountain and Miller Grove out of Region 5-5A is No. 3 seed Chamblee (16-9) and No. 4 seed Southwest DeKalb (8-10-1).

Chamblee is making a seventh consecutive trip to the state playoffs and second in a row under skipper Alan Loper (28-18) as the Bulldogs head to Region 7 No. 2 seed Villa Rica (19-7) at 5:00 pm on Wednesday for the opening doubleheader. The third game, if necessary, is set for 5:00 pm on Thursday at Villa Rica.

Freshman pitcher Mary Axelson is 5-0 with an amazing DeKalb County leading 0.33 ERA with 16 strikeouts in 21 innings and junior pitcher Carlin Waddell is 5-1 with a 1.26 ERA with 66 strikeouts in 39 innings for the Bulldogs. Senior Alexandria Towner is hitting .604 with 17 RBI, 7 doubles and 1 triple on the season.

Southwest DeKalb travels to take on Region 7-5A No. 1 seed Carrollton in the opening doubleheader at 5:00 pm on Wednesday. A third game, if necessary, would be at Carrollton at 5:00 pm on Thursday.

Coach Bernice Foreman (196-123-1, 16 seasons) is second on the DeKalb County career wins list has junior Nyla Moore (.397, 14 RBI) and sophomore Amayah Williams (.417, 5 RBI) leading the offense. Senior pitcher Kayla Hutcherson is 4-3 on the mound with a 3.10 ERA and 31 strikeouts in 29 1/3 innings.

Stephenson freshman Brierra Warren is hitting .611 with 18 RBI and 3 homers. (Photo by Mark Brock)

CLASS 6A
Stephenson is coming off a tough 3-2 loss to Mundy’s Mill in the Region 7-6A championship game, but earned a host role in the first round of the Class 6A State Playoffs against Effingham County (16-9), the Region 2 No. 3 seed, at 2:30 pm on Wednesday. A third game, if necessary, would be at Stephenson at 4:30 pm on Thursday.

Coach Marco Jackson’s (90-62, 7 seasons) offense is led by freshman Brierra Warren who is hitting .611 with 18 RBI, 3 homers and 5 triples. Senior Jordyn Powell is 8-5 on the mound with a 2.67 ERA and 82 strikeouts in 60 1/3 innings.

CLASS 7A
Lakeside came out of a tough Region 7-7A as the No. 4 seed under first year head coach Lauren Levin to reach the state playoffs for the fifth time in six seasons.

The Vikings (10-15) travel to face a tough Lambert (21-3) team, the Region 5-7A No. 1 seed, in a doubleheader beginning at 5:00 pm to kick off the Class 7A State Playoffs.

Senior Taylor Parker leads the Vikings with a .391 batting average and 8 RBI while senior Madison Kesel is hitting .368 with 13 RBI, 5 doubles and 2 triples. Senior Clare Hunter has pitched 72 innings to compile a 4-8 record for Lakeside.

CLASS 3A
Cedar Grove captured the No. 3 seed out of Region 5-3A to secure a third consecutive trip to the state playoffs.
The Saints (15-11) knocked off Pace Academy in the region tournament to get the No. 3 seed and travel to Region 7 No. 2 seed North Hall (11-8) for a 5:00 pm doubleheader on Wednesday. A third game, if necessary, would be at North Hall at 5:00 pm on Thursday.

DCSD STATE SOFTBALL PLAYOFFS
Wednesday, October 12 (Best of Three Series)
CLASS 7A
Lakeside (10-15) at Lambert (21-3), Doubleheader beginning at 5:00 p.m.

CLASS 6A
Effingham County (16-9) at Stephenson (16-7), Doubleheader beginning at 2:30 p.m.

CLASS 5A
Kell (13-4) at Arabia Mountain (19-7), Doubleheader beginning at 2:30 p.m.
Woodland-Cartersville (12-19) at Miller Grove (15-2), Doubleheader beginning at 2:30 p.m.
Chamblee (16-9) at Villa Rica (19-7), Doubleheader beginning at 5:00 p.m.
SW DeKalb (8-10-1) at Carrollton (18-7), Doubleheader beginning at 5:00 p.m.

CLASS 3A
Cedar Grove (15-11) at North Hall (11-8), Doubleheader beginning at 5:00 p.m.

Admission Cost:        
Wednesday Doubleheader — Adults, Students $7

Third Game, if Necessary
Thursday, October 13 (Best of Three Series)
CLASS 7A
Lakeside at Lambert, Single game, if necessary, at 5:00 p.m.

CLASS 6A
Effingham County at Stephenson, Single game, if necessary, at 4:30 p.m.

CLASS 5A
Kell at Arabia Mountain, Single game, if necessary, at 4:30 p.m.
Woodland at Miller Grove, Single game, if necessary, at 4:30 p.m.
Chamblee at Villa Rica, Single game, if necessary, at 5:00 p.m.
SW DeKalb at Carrollton, Single game, if necessary, at 5:00 p.m.

CLASS 3A
Cedar Grove at North Hall, Single game, if necessary, at 5:00 p.m.

Admission Cost:    
Thursday Single Game If Necessary — Adults, Students $5