By KEVIN ECKLEBERRY

Daily News

It felt like the right place.

LaGrange High’s Destiny Fitzpatrick knew she wanted to play softball on the next level, and over the past few months she has been searching for a college home.

A week ago, Fitzpatrick made the trip south to take a tour of the Fort Valley State University, and she knew she’d found the right fit.

“I was in between schools, and I visited there last week,” Fitzpatrick said. “I got on the campus, and it just felt like home to me.”

Fitzpatrick made it official on Tuesday when she signed a letter of intent to play softball at Fort Valley State, with family members, friends, teammates, and coaches there to celebrate the moment with her.

One of those family members is her brother, Dexter Fitzpatrick, who last weekend signed a letter of intent to play football at Mars Hill University in North Carolina.

Fitzpatrick was a four-year member of the varsity softball team, and a multi-year starter.

During her senior season, Fitzpatrick hit .337 with six doubles and 15 RBIs.

Fitzpatrick helped lead LaGrange to a 22-9 record, a third-place finish in Region 5-AAAA, and a spot in the state tournament.

In the first round of the state playoffs against Oconee County, Fitzpatrick had five combined hits in the final two games.

“She has a really good opportunity to go in and make this program better,” LaGrange head coach Gabby Heath said. “I’m

excited for her to do that. I think she’s a perfect example of somebody who can go into a program and lead, and make a change for the better.”

During Fitzpatrick’s first two seasons at LaGrange, the team finished with a losing record.

It’s been a different story the past two years.

An influx of talented freshmen helped LaGrange go 16-11 in 2017, although the season ended with a disappointing loss to Cedartown in the region tournament.

Last season, LaGrange won 22 games and earned a spot in the state playoffs after beating Troup and Cedartown in the region tournament.

Fitzpatrick enjoyed getting to know all of the freshmen who joined the team in 2017.

“When they came up, we didn’t really know each other, but we bonded really good,” Fitzpatrick said. “Hopefully we can do that in college. We’ve got a good recruiting class coming in.”

Heath has either been Fitzpatrick’s assistant coach or head coach throughout her time in high school.

“I’m proud of her,” Heath said. “I’ve coached her for five years, and I’ve been around her for six. I will definitely miss her, and our program will miss her. We’re just excited for what she’s going to do.”

Heath said that Fitzpatrick is planning on majoring in early-childhood education.

“I think she’s going to be an amazing teacher, and I can’t wait to see all the students that she’ll be able to influence in the future,” Heath said.

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