After opening the day with a 8-5 loss to Walnut Grove, the White County High softball team battled back to defeat Franklin County 11-6 and Walnut Grove 13-0 to earn a spot in the Region 8-AAA championship game Saturday against Oconee County at Lanier Point Park. The Lady Warriors lost that game 8-0 in five innings but came away with a No. 2 seed going into the Class AAA state playoffs which begin next Wednesday.

White County coach John Brown said he was proud of the way the Lady Warriors came back after dropping the first game of the day.

“We’ve had a great season and I was glad to see the girls keep fighting,” Brown said. “Hopefully we’ll continue to play well next week.”

In the championship game, Oconee County pitcher Geri Ann Glasco threw a complete-game, one-hitter, while striking out eight and earning Class AAA’s top-ranked Oconee County the Region 8-AAA championship and a No. 1 seed in the state playoffs.

White County only managed three base runners in the final game of the day, with Stephanie Satterfield reaching after being hit a with a pitch in the bottom of the fourth inning and Callie McDonald reaching first on a fielder’s choice in the same inning.

Heather Herdliska managed the only hit for White County, a single in the bottom of the fifth which turned out to be the next-to-last batter of the game.

“I was hoping to cut out the no-hitter,” Brown said with a laugh. “Oconee County is just a great team. They hit well, pitch well and play good defense, that’s why there the No. 1 team in the state.”

Satterfield, who earned both wins on the day for White County, was also proud of the way the Lady Warriors played after dropping their first game.

“I’m glad we came back fighting in the loser’s bracket,” Satterfield said.

In Satterfield’s second game in the circle against Walnut Grove, the pitcher was a big part of a four-run first inning. Both Satterfield and Morgan Jacobson hit a two-run home run in the bottom of the first and White County cruised to the 13-0, three-inning win.

Satterfield finished the game 3-for-3 with five RBIs, while Herdliska had two hits with three RBIs. Sarabeth Cummins, McDonald and Aubrie Gstalder each added an RBI against Walnut Grove.

“I think everybody just clicked,” Brown said of the third game. “We started hitting the ball and playing well.”

Brown attributed the loss of momentum his team experienced between games as one of the reasons White County lost the championship game.

“It’s a bit of a let down,” Brown said. “When you know that you’re going to be a one or two seed and that you’ll be playing at home, it’s hard to keep up the momentum.”

In the other games played Saturday, Oconee County defeated Franklin County 10-2 and Walnut Grove 6-2. Walnut Grove earned the No. 3 seed while Franklin County rounded out the top four.

White County will play host to the No. 3 seed from Region 6-AAA on Wednesday.