By Shannon Fagan, WEIS Sports Director

ALBERTVILLE – Throughout the 2023 high school softball season, Cedar Bluff and Spring Garden met five times. It shouldn’t come as much of a surprise then that a sixth meeting will determine which Class 1A team advances to next week’s state tournament.

The two teams’ paths crossed again on Wednesday in Albertville after Cedar Bluff advanced through the losers bracket of the East Regional at Sand Mountain Park with wins over Appalachian (8-5) and Ragland (3-2 in eight innings).

Meanwhile, Spring Garden fell to regional champion and top-ranked Skyline 15-0 in four innings to put the Lady Panthers and Lady Tigers on a collision course again.

Spring Garden jumped out to an early 1-0 advantage with a run in the bottom of the first inning. Kayley Kirk singled to right field and scored on Helena Ingram’s triple to center with one out.

Cedar Bluff pitcher Reece Patterson retired the side by striking out Lilly McCain and Maggie Jarrett to send the game to the second inning.

Spring Garden pitcher Avery Steward retired the first two Lady Tigers, then gave up a single to center to Kylie Vadon, but the game was suspended after Vadon’s base hit for lightning and thunderstorms that moved through the Albertville area.

The game will be picked up Thursday morning at 11 a.m. on American Field 1 at Sand Mountain Park.

Class 3A Piedmont, which fell 4-0 to Plainview in championship round action on Wednesday, was playing Glencoe for the right to go to state as well before their game was suspended. It will be picked up on Thursday at 1 p.m., with the Lady Bulldogs leading 2-0 in the bottom of the second inning.

Also on Thursday, the Cherokee County Lady Warriors begin play in the Class 4A East Regional. The Lady Warriors open against Jacksonville at 10:45 a.m.