White County moves into semifinals in style

COLUMBUS -- White County girls softball coach John Brown was not overly pleased with his Lady Warriors after they had to rally from a sluggish start to edge Eastside in the first round of the Class AAA state finals Thursday.

He was loving things a little more after the Lady Warriors routed Thomson 16-1 in the second round. White County pounded out 13 hits, including seven home runs, in the three-inning win. (White County slammed nine homers in the two games.)

"We didn't play very well in that first game, and were fortunate to get the win really," he said. "But they looked more relaxed and played like they did in the first couple of rounds in the second game."

White County scored six runs in the first inning against Thomson and then blew the game open with a 10-run second inning. All but two players got a hit and five players had two or more hits.

Stephanie Satterfield and Morgan Jacobson each hit three home runs on the day; Satterfield's blasts moved her to within one home run of the all-time single-season state record. Satterfield now has 15 on the year; Jacobson has 11. Callie McDonald and Heather Herdliska each hit one for the Lady Warriors.

McDonald got the win allowing just one run on two hits in three innings.

The Lady Warriors will take on West Laurens, which beat Allatoona 3-2, in the semifinals at 5 p.m. Friday. A win would put White County into the championship round.

"West Laurens is solid team and we'll have to play like we did in the second game to win," Brown said. "I think we match up with them pretty well."

White County has put up the biggest numbers in the opening round in Class AAA and may now be the team to beat the rest of the way. Brown was hesitant to agree.

"Well, I don't know if there is a favorite," he said. "I don't know that we're the team to beat. We played well one game and not so well in one game. But I know I would rather be in the winner's bracket.

"We only have to play one game Friday to get the championship game and that is a big advantage. Hopefully we can come out (against West Laurens) and play like we did against Thomson. The girls are very confident, so I feel good about that."

The Lady Warriors have yet to lose in the state tournament with a perfect 6-0 record to this point. White County had never advanced past the first round in the playoffs prior to this season.

http://accesswdun.com/article/2010/10/233379