The Southeast Bulloch and Screven County softball teams are on their way back to the Elite Eight of the GHSA Class AA state tournament. Both squads won their way through the South Sectional in Savannah on Saturday.
    The Lady Yellow Jackets of SEB needed just one win, a 3-0 win over Savannah Christian, to advance to Thursday’s semifinals in Columbus.
    Southeast won 3-0 behind Megan Barnwell’s 12 strikeout performance and some flawless defense. Ashley Clifton hit a two-run home run in the win. With one out and DeAnn Lewis on second in the fourth, Clifton blasted a shot to centerfield where an SCPS outfielder caught the ball, but fell over the portable fence resulting in the homer.
    The Jackets added another run in the seventh to hold on for the win.

SCHS 4, Vidalia 3
    Screven County was held to just two hits to start the day in a loss to Berrien County, 3-1. But the Lady Gamecocks came back with a dramatic win over Vidalia, 4-3, to advance to Columbus.
    In the bottom of the seventh, with one out, Kate Blackburn and Sydnee Weaver hit infield singles. They then advanced on a wild pitch, forcing VHS to intentionally walk Tiffany Burns.
    Lauren Thomas then lifted a fly ball to the outfield which was deep enough to score Blackburn and the game-winner.
    Marla Thompson pitched a two-hitter and struck out five in the clinching win over Vidalia.
    Thomas finished with six RBIs on the day while Blackburn went 3-for-3 with three runs scored.