Aucilla Christian Academy's Lady Warriors are one of a kind. They've accomplished many goals this season, including winning the school's first-ever state championship. However, the girls accomplished another goal which was set at the season's start. “At the beginning of the season, one of their goals was to hit 15 homeruns as a team,” said Head Coach Becky Lauth. “By spring break, the girls had already met their goal of 15 homeruns and kept striving to hit more, which they did indeed.” Let's travel down memory lane with Coach Lauth, and look back on some of the Lady Warriors' best moments at bat.
Abigail Morgan- Batting Average: .349 On-Base Percentage: .495 Slugging Percentage: .566 Runs Batted In: 25 Hits: 29 Stolen Bases: 3 With a winning season and home runs heavy on their minds, the Lady Warriors began to make waves. Abigail Morgan played an essential role on the team. She homered in a Feb. 23 game against rival, Robert F. Munroe, against George Jenkins High in the Santa Fe Tournament on March 7 and, lastly, against Seven Rivers in the District Championship on May 1. Lauth asserts that, much like co-pitcher Elizabeth Hightower, Abigail Morgan effortlessly hits the ball. “Both of these girls step up to the plate looking for a base hit, barely swing the bat, and the ball is bouncing off of the scoreboard,” said Lauth.
Ashlyn Rogers- Batting Average: .344 On-Base Percentage: .462 Slugging Percentage: .547 Runs Batted In: 21 Hits: 22 Stolen Bases: 4 Ashlyn Rogers, a Madison native, is the youngest member of the Varsity softball team. Despite her age, she has made a pivotal impact on the team-- and on the ball. “We were playing my best friends' team, Oak Leaf High, at Jacksonville Bolles field,” said Lauth. “Right behind their softball field is a swimming pool. Before the game she (Rogers) was telling me about how Bolles had a girl who could put the ball in the swimming pool if you gave her anything to hit. Ashlyn’s very first at bat of the game, she blasted one not only into the swimming pool, but it was found floating in the middle.”
Kelly Horne- Batting Average: .479 On-Base Percentage: .661 Slugging Percentage: .808 Runs Batted In: 22 Hits: 35 Stolen Bases: 7 Kelly Horne is a force to be reckoned with. “We were playing at Lake City Columbia, down 1-0 against the Tigers with Kelly up to bat,” recalls Lauth. “I have never heard a crowd more silent than when Kelly crushed the ball over the left field fence with one runner on base. This home run would ultimately win the game for us, 2-1, and Columbia had only one loss prior to this.”
Elizabeth Hightower- Batting Average: .365 On-Base Percentage: .427 Slugging Percentage: .490 Runs Batted In: 21 Hits: 38 Stolen Bases: 3 Like her counterpart, Abigail Morgan, Elizabeth Hightower makes swinging the bat look easy. She homered in a game against Bolles on March 20. When Hightower steps up to plate, you might want to duck. “Elizabeth is the type of hitter who does not have to put any effort into swinging the bat,” said Lauth.
Carly Joiner- Batting Average: .268 On-Base Percentage: .390 Slugging Percentage: .402 Runs Batted In: 13 Hits: 26 Stolen Bases: 4 Carly Joiner is one of the youngest players on the team. However she has made quite the scene this season. She homered against Dixie County on Feb. 19 and, again, against rival team, Robert F. Munroe on April 28. “Carly (and Natalie) are both great clutch base hit hitters, so you can imagine the look of happiness and surprise on their faces when they hit a home run,” said Lauth.
Natalie Sorensen- Batting Average: .348 On-Base Percentage: .458 Slugging Percentage: .562 Runs Batted In: 26 Hits: 31 Stolen Bases: 3 Natalie Sorensen homered a whopping four times this season; in a game against rival, Robert F. Munroe, on Feb. 23, against Leon on March 10, Dixie County on March 24, and Munroe, again, on April 16. “Natalie has definitely gained power and killed the ball all season long,” said Lauth.
Ramsey Sullivan- Batting Average: .316 On-Base Percentage: .417 Slugging Percentage: .432 Runs Batted In: 16 Hits: 30 Stolen Bases: 7 “Ramsey hit two home runs during our spring break games at Jacksonville Bolles,” said Lauth. “I joke with her still because even though her ball was well over the fence, she was still sprinting around the bases. I had to remind her they call it the homerun trot for a reason instead of the homerun sprint.”
Kaylie Rogers- Batting Average: .154 On-Base Percentage: .228 Slugging Percentage: .288 Runs Batted In: 13 Hits: 8 Rogers hit the only grand slam of the season in a March 23 game against Lincoln. “Kaylie actually got hurt right before her at bat where she hit her grand slam,” said Lauth. “I pulled her aside and asked her if she wanted to hit and she assured me she could do it! Boy did she! She stepped up to the plate against Lincoln and came out with a grand slam.”
Taylor Copeland- Batting Average: .317 On-Base Percentage: .417 Slugging Percentage: .463 Runs Batted In: 19 Hits: 26 Stolen Bases: 4 Copeland hit a home run against Chiles on Feb. 20. “Taylor is our only lefty on the team, so when she steps up to the plate people automatically assume she is going to be a slapper,” said Lauth. “The next thing they know, she is swinging away and the ball is bouncing off of trees in the outfield.”