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Athlete of the Week: White County's Morgan Jacobson
Jacobson peaking for state run
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Honor Roll

Softball

Callie Case, Buford: Had an inside-the-park home run, scored a run and stole a base against Greater Atlanta Christian last Tuesday.

Lexi Overstreet, Buford: Had two home runs and set the new school record for home runs in a season versus Greater Atlanta Christian on Thursday.

Volleyball

Amanda Daniel, Jefferson: Had 100 assits, six kills and five aces and one block as the Lady Dragons won second place in the 8-A/AA area tournament.

Jessica Falletta, Buford: Had 24 digs, 20 aces and 18 kills as the Lady Wolves won second place in the 6-A/AA Area Tournament.

Maggie Roper, Buford: Had 30 kills, 24 digs and 18 kills as the Lady Wolves won second place in the 6-A/AA area tournament.

McKenna Rushton, North Hall: Had 16 kills, five blocks and two digs as the Lady Trojans won second place in the 8-AAA area tournament.

Kaylin Walden, Gainesville: Had 13 assists, seven kills and four digs in a tri-match last week.

Compiled by Graham Reaves

White County softball coach Beth Kimsey coached Morgan Jacobson for the first time when Jacobson was nine years old and still hitting the ball off the tee.

"Even then she always made contact with the ball. The difference is now she hits with a little more power." Kimsey said.

The coach and player reunited last season, as Kimsey returned from college and started coaching as an assistant under former Lady Warriors coach John Brown.

"She has developed into an all-around standout player," Kimsey said of Jacobson.

Now the first-year head coach and senior third baseman are looking to defend White County’s 2010 Class AAA state championship.

White County played in the Region 8-AAA third place game against a familiar foe in Franklin County last Saturday after wrapping up another state berth.

The Lady Warriors lost to the Lady Lions in late August after leading until the bottom of the seventh inning, and were eager to get a chance at Franklin County again.

White County came away with a convincing 6-2 win and a third place finish in the tournament.
Jacobson led the Lady Warriors offensively and hit two home runs in back-to-back at bats earlier in the tournament.

For her efforts, Jacobson has been selected as The Times Athlete of the Week.

As a freshman the 2010 All-State third basemen watched from the dugout until an outfielder was injured. In stepped Jacobson and her strong right arm for the rest of the season.

Her sophomore year, she started at third base because of her ability to quickly react to balls hit to the hot corner and make long throws across the diamond. She has started every game since.

A career .428 hitter, Jacobson also wields a powerful bat with 125 RBIs and 35 home runs.

Even with Jacobson in the lineup, the defending state champions did not start out of the gate very well, going 5-5 to open the season.

"We lost a couple of seniors and struggled hitting at the beginning of the season," Kimsey said, "and it took us a while to find our focus."

However, since the Lady Warriors clicked they have not looked back, finishing the season 15-2 and winning the Alpharetta North Park-Milton Invitational heading into the state tournament.

Jacobson, the 2010 GHSA State Tournament Most Valuable Player, is well aware of the task at hand.

"It’s kind of a big deal to be the defending state champions and have everyone looking to knock you off," she said.

Coincidently, the team White County beat to take home last year’s championship is the first team they will face in this season’s state tournament.

Kimsey said today’s games at 5 and 7 p.m. at Allatoona will be hard fought.

"The key is for us to get a lead early," she said, "We are going to have to manufacture runs and play small ball to score."

 

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