The Georgia High School Association voted during the offseason to change the way the fast-pitch softball playoffs are held.

No longer will softball teams compete in sectionals after the region tournament, but instead they will compete in playoff series.

In the first two rounds of the playoffs, softball teams will now play in a best-of-three game series like baseball. After the first two rounds are complete, the final eight teams will advance to Columbus to compete in a tournament.

Like years past, the top four seeds from each region qualify for the state playoffs. The higher-seeded team from each region will then host the first two rounds of the playoffs.

"I like the new system, I like a series," Lady Bulldogs fast-pitch Head Coach Chris McKelvey said. "My background is baseball and that is how they conduct their playoffs. I just like home playoff games. Look back to this past winter with our boys basketball team. I truly feel like with them playing two home playoff games to start the postseason, it helped. We had a home court and I loved it."

McKelvey said the possibility of hosting a playoff series is something that should excite all the players, coaches and fans.

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