SPRINGFIELD -- Hayley Dickerson's competitive fire will soon burn at a higher level.
Dickerson, recently named the Region 2-AAAAAA pitcher of the year, signed a national letter of intent to attend Georgia Southwestern State University on Wednesday. A ceremony was conducted in the Effingham County gymnasium.
"She is a tremendous athlete, a tremendous competitor," Effingham County coach Johnny Coleman said. "Her work ethic is second to none. I think her effort and intensity is right there with anybody I've coached -- male or female. She puts max effort into everything."
Dickerson was a key reason the Rebels advanced to the Elite Eight after winning the 2-AAAAAA championship. She credited her father, Ira, for her fiery demeanor that helped her land a spot with the Hurricanes of the NCAA Division II Peach Belt Conference.
"He pushed me to play softball and I really have a love of the game," she said. "I've always wanted to do it for him."
See the Nov. 15 edition of the Effingham Herald for more details.