The Red and Black

Issue date: 2/23/07 Section: Sports

Media Credit: AJ PASSMAN Senior Kasi Carroll winds up for a pitch during a game against Western Kentucky. The Bulldogs won the game 6-0.

No. 18 Georgia (9-3) will be one of eight nationally ranked softball teams battling for first place at the NFCA Leadoff Classic in Columbus this weekend.

In fact, 13 of the 20 teams slated to appear at the tournament are receiving votes for the top 25.

"This tournament is tough every year," senior right fielder Charvi Greer said.

"They do a really good job of choosing the teams for it."

The weekend will begin with pool play today and Saturday, followed by bracket play on Sunday.

Georgia's pool includes Illinois State, Lehigh, Coastal Carolina and Virginia Tech.

"Virginia Tech has a national team pitcher and Lehigh won the Patriot League last year, so it should be a solid pool," senior first baseman Megan McAllister said.

Which bracket the Bulldogs participate in on Sunday depends on how they perform the first two days.

The winners of each pool go on to play each other for the tournament title in the Gold Bracket.

The tournament attracts many Georgia fans from West Georgia and East Alabama.

"Every year, it feels more like our home tournament," Greer, who hails from nearby Auburn, said.

"There are a lot of fans who may not be able to make it up to Athens, but they're still Georgia fans, and they come to see us (in Columbus)."

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