The Trion High School Lady Bulldogs softball team begins its quest for a state championship today as the Georgia High School Association Elite Eight tournament gets underway in Columbus.

Trion will face Irwin County at 1:15 p.m. Wednesday at the South Commons Softball Complex. The tournament continues through Saturday, October 31, with the remaining eight teams competing for the Class A state championship.

The Lady Bulldogs enter the tournament with an impressive 23-5 record and a 10-game winning streak. Trion has also captured the Region 7 championship and is making its second consecutive appearance in the Elite Eight.

Trion earned its trip to Columbus by sweeping Taylor County in the second round of the state playoffs on October 19. The Lady Bulldogs won the opening game 3-0 behind a strong pitching performance from Hartley Staton, who struck out nine batters.

The second game was a much closer contest, with Trion pulling out a 5-4 victory to complete the sweep and advance to Columbus.

The Lady Bulldogs opened postseason play with convincing victories over Atkinson County, winning 11-1 and 17-5 in the first round.

Head coach Trent Stamey praised his team’s determination following the Taylor County series, saying the players have demonstrated grit throughout the season and have learned to focus on doing whatever is necessary to win.

The Elite Eight appearance gives Trion another opportunity to compete against the state’s top Class A softball programs, with the ultimate goal of bringing a state championship back to Trion.

Fans unable to attend the tournament can watch games through the NFHS Network, which has exclusive streaming rights for the state championships.

Tickets for the tournament are available online through GoFan. Tickets will not be sold at the gate.