A mid-season loss to Ashford Academy may be one of the best things to happen to the Cornerstone Christian Chargers, who enter the AISA Class 1A softball state tournament this weekend as two-time defending champions.

The Chargers (31-2) enter the tournament as the favorite after winning the previous two seasons without losing a single game. The long win streak came to an end in March at 67 games, but head coach Mark Armstrong said that’s what will get his team ready for their fourth-straight state tournament at Lagoon Park in Montgomery.

“We’re not looking ahead to the championship game. We know we’ve been beat twice, and if we don’t take everybody serious, we can get beat again. We’re going in with our eyes wide open,” Armstrong said.

The Chargers made their first appearance in the state tournament in 2002, losing their first two games. Cornerstone’s legacy began to grow four years later when Armstrong took over as head coach and finished third in the 2006 state tournament. The next year his undefeated Chargers went the distance in 1A and again in 2008.

CLASS 1A PAIRINGS

FRIDAY

Game 1 – Cornerstone vs. Jackson, 10 a.m.

Game 2 – S. Choctaw vs. Abbeville, 10 a.m.

Game 3 – Wilcox vs. Chambers, 11:30 a.m.

Game 4 – Ashford vs. Sparta, 11:30 a.m.

Game 5 – Loser of Game 1 vs. Loser of Game 2 – 1 p.m.

Game 6 – Loser of Game 3 vs. Loser of Game 4 – 1 p.m.

Game 7 – Winner of Game 1 vs. Winner of Game 2 – 3 p.m.

Game 8 – Winner of Game 3 vs. Winner of Game 4 – 3 p.m.

Game 9 – Loser of Game 8 vs. Winner of Game 5 – 5 p.m.

Game 10 – Loser of Game 7 vs. Winner of Game 6 – 5 p.m.

SATURDAY

Game 11 – Winner of Game 7 vs. Winner of Game 8 – 10 a.m.

Game 12 – Winner of Game 9 vs. Winner of Game 10 – 10 a.m.

Game 13 – Loser of Game 11 vs. Winner of Game 12 – noon

Championship – Winner of Game 11 vs. Winner of Game 13 – 2 p.m.