Pope softball team ranked No. 1 in Class 6A preseason poll

Pope softball team state champions

Coming off their second Georgia High School Association state championship, the Pope softball team is ranked No. 1 in Class AAAAAA to start the 2020 season.

Many teams are starting play on Thursday, but the Greyhounds don’t have their opener until Aug. 11, when they play host to Woodstock.

Coach Chris Turco’s team went 30-4 in 2019 was able to win the state title at home after rain washed out the finals in Columbus.

Pope lost some valuable seniors from that team but return some budding new stars, including Jadyn Laneaux, a sophomore outfielder who excelled in the finals against Lee County. (Her sister Zoe, a shortstop, is one of those departed seniors.)

Also returning is the team’s top pitcher, Hallie Adams, who’s now a senior. More about the Pope team, including rosters, can be found here.

Kell, Sprayberry and Walton are starting their seasons on Thursday, while Wheeler gets underway on Saturday.

Lassiter, which reached the Class 7A Final Eight last year, also starts its season on Tuesday.

Due to GHSA reclassification, five of the six teams in East Cobb will be playing in the same region of Class 6A. Walton remains in Class 7A but is playing Wheeler and Kell during the regular season.

Softball is the first fall sport to get underway in Georgia, and it’s starting on time. The GHSA has delayed the start of football season and limited practices due to COVID-19 guidance.

Cross country season swings into action next week. Walton is the reigning Class 7A boys state champion.

Volleyball also is scheduled to get underway without delays, with most teams in East Cobb starting on or around Sept. 1. That’s when defending Class 7A champion Walton starts its season against Marietta.

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