Top-ranked Kennesaw Mountain will be among a group of Cobb County fast-pitch softball teams aiming for Elite Eight berths when the Class AAAAA North Sectional begins today at Central Park in Cumming.

Kennesaw Mountain (27-4) will be joined by No. 4 Lassiter (25-5), North Cobb (20-9), Harrison (19-10) and Kell (18-10) in the field, which begins with first-round games today and concludes with games that will determine the four representatives from the sectional at next weekend's Class AAAAA state tournament in Columbus.

Kennesaw Mountain, the top seed from Region 5AAAAA, will play eighth-ranked Peachtree Ridge (19-12), the fourth-seeded team from 7AAAAA. Harrison, the fourth seed from 5AAAAA, will play second-ranked Mill Creek (25-6-2), the top seed from 7AAAAA, in first-round games at 4 p.m.

In the 6 p.m. games, Lassiter, the top seed from 6AAAAA, will play Parkview (19-14-1), the fourth seed from 8AAAAA, while North Cobb (20-9), the second seed from 5AAAAA, will play North Gwinnett (22-9-1), the third seed from 7AAAAA. Kell, the fourth seed from 6AAAAA, will take on third-ranked Grayson (24-6-1), the top seed from 8AAAAA.

Featuring a lineup loaded with strong hitting and pitching, Kennesaw Mountain comes in as the top team in the state, fresh off winning the Region 5AAAAA tournament title.

"This is the most solid lineup top to bottom that I have had at Kennesaw Mountain," head coach Lisa Chapman said. "We have solid pitching and a strong-hitting lineup. If we continue to hit the ball, we have a great shot at playing in Columbus next weekend. If we can get out of our sectional - as tough as it is - then I feel our chances our good for playing in the state championship. Anything can happen this time of year, so we need a little luck to go our way."

Jennifer Fenton (.564, 1 HR, 18 RBIs), Ashley Pauly (.405, 1 HR, 24 RBIs) and Kristin Marko (.403, 1 HR, 21 RBIs) are the leading hitters for Kennesaw Mountain, while pitchers Brittany Lundgren (10-1, 0.56 ERA) and Erin O'Shea (9-3, 2.13 ERA) lead the way in the circle for the Lady Mustangs.

Lassiter is also loaded with hitting and pitching, with the Lady Trojans led by Kelli Wheeler (.592, 5 HRs, 31 RBIs), the county's leading hitter, and ace pitcher Jessica Cannon (21-2, 1.21 ERA).

While Lassiter is one of the favorites to advance to Columbus, Lady Trojans coach Scott Kelly is not taking anything for granted.

"Every team on the other side of the field can beat you," Kelly said. "We will have to play our best to move on."

For North Cobb, Morgan Sheridan (.458) and Kristin Stoll (.338, 28 RBIs) are the top hitters and Audrey Mason (16-6, 1.21 RBIs) is the top pitcher.

Harrison will depend on Sara Stukes (.433, 34 RBIs), Erin Nesbit (.425, 4 HRs, 24 RBIs) and Jessie Homesley (.420) at the plate and Caillee Shamoun (15-9, 1.01 ERA) in the circle.

"We feel confident in our chances this weekend," Harrison coach Deanna Stewart said. "We feel that we have as good a chance as any of the other teams if we can get timely hits and play solid defense."

For Kell, it will be the first trip back to the state sectionals since 2004, the year the Lady Longhorns won their second straight state title.

"I think our girls are playing well right now," Kell coach Kristy Simpson said. "If they continue what they started in the region tournament, I think they can be successful this weekend in the sectional tournament. This will be the first time most of the girls on the team have competed in this tournament, so it will be a new experience for them. We have a young team and this will be a good experience for the future.

Katie Hamilton (.491) leads the way for Kell.

In the Class A bracket, Mt. Paran (13-10), the fourth seed out of Region 5A, will meet 7A champ and state No. 2 Georgia Military (23-4) for a 4 p.m. first pitch at Alto Park in Rome.

The Lady Eagles count on Erin Sparks (.542) and Natalie Clinkscales (.500, 29 RBIs) from the plate, while Erin Sparks (8-2, 2.51 ERA) leads from inside the circle.

goshust@mdjonline.com

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