Honor roll
Softball
Melissa Dickie, Buford: 10 strikeouts in a win over Blessed Trinity last Tuesday in the Region 6-AA tournament.
Karly Fullem, Buford: 3-for-4 with two doubles, two runs scored and two RBIs against Blessed Trinity last Tuesday.
Lexi Overstreet, Buford: 2-for-4 with a double and three RBIs against Blessed Trinity last Tuesday.
Alysha Rudnik, Buford: Two-run home run and three runs scored against Blessed Trinity last Tuesday.
Caitlin Fowler, Flowery Branch: 3-for-3 with a triple and home run in loss to Lumpkin County on Wednesday in the Region 7-AAA tournament.
Katie Copeland, Lumpkin County: 14 strikeouts in two wins over White County and Flowery Branch in the Region 7-AAA tournament.
Courtney Dyer, Lumpkin County: Two RBIs in the eighth inning in a win over White County last Tuesday in the Region 7-AAA tournament.
Megan Rogers, North Hall: 12 strikeouts in two games against Lambert and West Forsyth last Tuesday in the Region 7-AAA tournament.
Miranda Miller, West Hall: Two doubles, a triple and three RBIs in win over Flowery Branch last Tuesday in the Region 7-AAA tournament; shutout win against West Forsyth on Wednesday of the tournament.
Bailey Soucie, West Hall: Home run against Flowery Branch last Tuesday in the Region 7-AAA tournament.
Aubrey Gstalder, White County: 5-for-7 with an RBI and run scored on Thursday of the Region 7-AAA tournament.
Morgan Jacobson, White County: Double, triple and home run in two games against Lumpkin County during the Region 7-AAA tournament.
Callie McDonald, White County: Two wins in the Region 7-AAA tournament.
Lindsey Messmore, White County: 3-for-6 with a run scored on Thursday of the Region 7-AAA tournament.
Volleyball
Mona Abraham, Lakeview Academy: 14 assists in a loss to Prince Avenue Christian during the Area 8-A tournament.
Jackie Burleson, Lakeview Academy: 15 assists, four aces and six digs in a loss to Prince Avenue Christian.
Louisa Jacobs, Lakeview Academy: 15 kills and three digs in a loss to Prince Avenue Christian.
Megan Rochester, Lakeview Academy: Eight kills, five blocks, six assists and three digs in a loss to Prince Avenue Christian.
Kathryn Bell, North Hall: 34 assists, 11 digs and 12 kills last week during the Area 7-AAA tournament.
Lauren Gregory, North Hall: 13 digs, 12 kills and two blocks during the Area 7-AAA tournament.
Evann Rowland, North Hall: 24 digs, 21 kills, seven aces and two blocks during the Area 7-AAA tournament.
Nicolette Ashley, West Hall: 26 digs during the Area 7-AAA tournament.
Erika Grainger, West Hall: 47 assists and six aces during the Area 7-AAA tournament.
Kristen Holmes, West Hall: 28 kills during the Area 7-AAA tournament.
Stephanie Rowland, West Hall: 14 kills during the Area 7-AAA tournament.
With only one lifetime home run on her resume, White County junior Stephanie Satterfield was surprised when she hit a grand slam in the Warriors’ 8-0 win over Lumpkin County on Thursday in the Region 7-AAA tournament at Lanier Point Park.
She was even more astonished when she connected with a solo shot in each of White County’s next two games.
“I’ve only hit one my whole life,” Satterfield said. “To hit three in three straight games is just amazing. I couldn’t believe it.”
Known for her prowess in the pitcher’s circle — she has 13 wins on the season — Satterfield picked the perfect time to find some power. Her home runs, combined with two wins by Callie McDonald, propelled the Warriors to a runner-up finish at the tournament and a berth in the Class AAA state playoffs, which begin at 4:30 p.m. today when they play host to Ridgeland.
“I’m proud of the way the girls played at the tournament,” White County coach John Brown said. “I’m excited about playing in this new format.”
This year’s state tournament will employ best-of-three series throughout, which differs from the past when each team would play in sectionals in order to earn a spot in the state finals in Columbus.
White County (19-8) nearly missed the state playoffs after opening the region tournament with an eight-inning loss to Lumpkin County in which Satterfield surrendered three runs in the eighth.
“I went home and thought all night about how the team looks up to me,” Satterfield said of how she dealt with the loss. “I knew I had to step it up a few gears and pitch the way I can.”
She accomplished that goal with back-to-back wins over Gilmer and West Forsyth on Day 2 of the tournament, but Satterfield really stepped up her game the next day when she wasn’t in the pitcher’s circle.
It started with the grand slam against Lumpkin County, carried over to the West Hall game when she hit a solo home run to help the Warriors jump out to a 4-0 lead, and it culminated with another solo shot in the title game against Creekview gave White County an early lead.
“She hit very well when she didn’t pitch,” Brown said. “She’s competed all year, no matter what the situation.”
That competitive nature was called on against West Hall, as Satterfield came in to record the save with the Spartans threatening to score. It will be asked for again today, when Satterfield gets the ball as the Game 1 starter.
“It wasn’t really a tough decision,” Brown said. “The team we play is going to be really good and I’m excited to get an opportunity to play.”
So is Satterfield, who knows what she needs to do in order to help her team advance to the second round.
“I have to go in there and shut ‘em out,” said Satterfield, who throws six different pitches including a fastball, curveball, rise ball, screwball, drop ball and change up. “I don’t know anything about Ridgeland, so I have to throw strikes and see what they can hit and what they can’t hit.”
Regardless of a win or loss in Game 1, Satterfield would like the opportunity to pitch her team into the next round.
“It’s not my decision, but I want to,” she said of pitching in Game 2. “I won’t mind if Callie pitches, but of course I want to.”
After all, she is a competitor.