Some of the best softball talent that the Georgia Independent School Association has to offer will be on display this weekend as Bulloch Academy hosts the Bulloch Bash tournament.
    Coming off of a solid performance at their season opening tournament in Macon last week, the Lady Gators are looking forward to another opportunity to tune up for a tough region schedule with tough competition of the next two days.
    “As tough as our region is, it’s extremely important to test ourselves like this early on in the season,” said Bulloch coach Chandler Dennard. “We want to go out there and show that we can compete with the best.”
    Dennard and his Gators will likely get that opportunity as the tournament is stacked with teams near the top of the rankings in all three GISA classifications.
    Westfield — which defeated Bulloch in last season’s state playoffs before splitting a pair of games with the Gators last weekend — is ranked second in Class AAA while fellow tournament participant Tattnall Square is No. 3 in the highest
classification.
    Defending state champions Brentwood (AA) and Briarwood (A) also highlight the 12-team field.
    Teams are currently separated into four groups, with pool play today deciding Saturday’s Gold, Silver, and Bronze brackets.
    Bulloch Academy faces First Presbyterian today at 4 p.m. at Bulloch Academy.
    Other games in the opening round of the tournament will be held on the campus of Georgia Southern University as Eagle Field and the adjoining two fields of the GSU softball complex will host games.
    At 4-2-2 on the young season, Dennard has seen plenty of positives in his team so far this season.
    The Gators pitching has, as expected, been on point and the Gators’ bats have shown improvement from last season. Dennard hopes that another weekend full of games will keep his team moving in the right direction.
    A good showing by the Gators will not only gain bragging rights, but will set them up with plenty of momentum heading into the meat of their regular season schedule.
    “I don’t know if a lot of people realize how much talent is floating around these schools,” said Dennard. “Westfield has a pitcher that is being looked at. Our catcher, Taylor Collins, has schools looking at her. Tattnall Square has a few girls that can hit softballs farther than you’d believe.
    “I think that we are an experienced and confident team, and hopefully that will show. I’m sure we’ll have some very tough games this weekend.”
    After today’s games, group standings will determine Saturday’s schedule. All of Saturday’s games will be help on the GSU campus with the first games of the day beginning at 8:30 a.m.

Bulloch Bash
Today's Games
4 p.m. (GSU Fields)
    Westfield vs. DEA
    Pinewood vs. Memorial
    Briarwood vs. RTCA
4 p.m. (Bulloch Academy)
    Bulloch vs. FPCA
5:45 p.m. (GSU Fields)
    Brentwood vs. DEA
    Pinewood vs. CBA
    Tattnall vs. RTCA
5:45 p.m. (Bulloch Academy)
    Westfield (2) vs. FPCA
7:30 p.m. (GSU Fields)
    Westfield vs. Brentwood
    Memorial vs. Curtis Baptist
    Briarwood vs. Tattnall

    Mike Anthony can be reached at (912) 489-9404.