By KEVIN ECKLEBERRY

Daily New

When the season began, one of the primary goals for the LaGrange High softball team was to finish first or second in Region 5-AAAA.

At the halfway point of the region schedule, that goal is still achievable for the Lady Grangers.

LaGrange (12-5 overall) beat Cedartown 3-1 last week to improve to 4-2 in the region, leaving it in third place, but within striking distance of the top two teams.

Chapel Hill leads the region with a 6-0 record, and Central-Carroll is 6-1.

LaGrange has lost to Central-Carroll and Chapel Hill, but it will host both of those teams in the coming weeks.

Finishing first or second is big because those two teams will meet for the region championship at the conclusion of the regular season.

Those teams, regardless of the outcome, will be at home for the opening round of the state tournament.

The region’s next four finishers will get together for a mini-tournament to determine the region’s final two spots at state.

“We want to be in those top two for sure,” LaGrange coach Gabby Heath said. “That sets us up for hosting state, and it sets us up for playing for a region championship. We can’t get there without being one or two.”

LaGrange has three region games this week, including Thursday’s road showdown against Troup.

LaGrange outlasted Troup 3-2 earlier in the season.

LaGrange finishes the week with a home doubleheader against Cartersville on Saturday, with the first game set to begin at 12:30 p.m.

Troup, meanwhile, is looking to get things turned around after dropping six consecutive region games.

Troup (5-13 overall) won its first two region games, but it hasn’t won since, and it fell to 2-6 in the region with last week’s 5-2 loss at Sandy Creek.

Troup plays one region game this week, and it is on Thursday against visiting LaGrange.

In Region 5-AA, Callaway’s softball team is in fourth place with a 2-2 record, and it will have a chance to improve on that position today with a home game against Bremen.

While Heard County leads the region with a 5-0 record, Bremen is in second at 3-1, and Lamar County is third at 2-1.

Callaway finishes the week with a region road game against Jordan on Thursday.

LaGrange Academy’s softball team hosts Heritage today, and Gatewood on Thursday.

THIS WEEK’S GAMES

TODAY

Bremen at Callaway, 5:30 p.m.

Heritage at LaGrange Academy, 3:30 p.m.

THURSDAY

LaGrange at Troup, 6 p.m.

Gatewood at LaGrange Academy, 4 p.m.

Callaway at Jordan, 4:15 p.m.

SATURDAY

Cartersville at LaGrange, 12:30 p.m. (doubleheader)