As the GHSA softball playoffs enters the round of 16 this week, three local teams — Blessed Trinity, Milton and Mount Pisgah — still have a trip to Columbus and state championship dreams on their mind.

Blessed Trinity (23-12 overall) had the toughest time reaching the round of 16, being forced to a decisive third game in their first round series against Banks County.

The Lady Titans — region champions from 6AAA and ranked No.5 in AAA — split the opening double-header 5-1 and 1-5 before jumping all over the Lady Leopards 9-0 in game three.

Senior pitcher Mary Bryce Pring led the way on the mound in the clinching game by throwing a two-hit shutout, walking none and striking out three in the win. Senior second baseman Jackie Kinney sparked the offense, going 3-for-3 with three runs scored and three stolen bases, with strong offensive games from Pring (2-for-3) and Mary Kate Sullivan (2-for-3, two runs).

“I thought we came out [in game three] and played to our full potential,” said BT coach Jan O’Donnell.

“We told the girls to learn from the loss [in game 2] and realize what level we are playing at now. I think they did that and they saw how important it will be for us to play at that potential in every playoff game moving forward.”

Blessed Trinity will host Lakeview-Ft. Oglethorpe (19-16) in round two today and tomorrow. First pitch for today’s double-header is set for 2:30 with game two to follow afterwards. A decisive third game would be played at BT tomorrow at 4:30.

“It will be tough and we know we’ll have to play our best to take two games away from them,” said O’Donnell.

In Class AAAAAA, Milton continued their red-hot run by sweeping Parkview in the opening round (7-6 and 3-2). The two wins push Milton’s win-streak to 13 games and give them an astounding seven straight victories in one-run ballgames.

The Lady Eagles will host Collins Hill (23-8) in round two today and tomorrow.

After two weeks off, Mount Pisgah (18-12 overall) will play in the Class-A state playoffs today and tomorrow by virtue of a second place finish in the Class-A Private School Power Rankings — a system put in place to determine 16 playoff participants after public and private schools decided to split their playoff brackets.