After Sydney White tore the brachialis muscle in her arm the first game into Ooltewah High School’s 2019 softball season, her return proved pivotal in the Lady Owls’ run back to the Class AAA state tournament.
She homered in her first at-bat back from injury in the district tournament against Walker Valley, and another special moment came in White’s first at-bat of the 22nd annual Tennessee vs. Georgia All-Star doubleheader Wednesday at Jim Frost Stadium.
Waiting back on a changeup down the heart of the plate, White lifted a two-run home run over the left-center-field fence and unleashed a major smile as she was greeted at home plate first by Ooltewah teammates Addy Keylon and Cheyanne Sales.
“It means a lot to be here, because a lot of girls don’t get to this point,” said White, who is a Chattanooga State signee. “It was special to be here with two great teammates who I consider to be family. We trusted each other with our lives, and it really showed on the field. We go all out for our team.”
Tennessee’s girls won 7-2 and 11-1.