SGA’s Sizemore staying close to home, signs with Darton softball

DAMASCUS — Southwest Georgia Academy’s Jana Sizemore fulfilled a lifelong dream Thursday, signing a softball scholarship with Darton College in front of family, friends and coaches.

And if it were up to her, she’d carry all of those folks with her to Albany.

“Oh, this feels great,” Sizemore, a catcher, said afterwards. “This is really a dream come true for me. I’ve always wanted to play college softball.

“Darton is close to home, so my parents can watch me play. I couldn’t be any happier.”

Sizemore’s signing was a bittersweet moment for SGA coach Tommy Manry, who was happy for his star, yet sorry to loose his team’s sparkplug.

“Jana is a special player and person,” She was the heart and soul of our team for four years — especially her senior season.

“She’s really, really good. She’s a hard-nosed player and Darton is getting themselves a good one.”

Her accomplishments at SGA read like a laundry list of superlatives:

***All-Region 3-AA all four years of school

***All-State her senior year

***GISA All-Star her senior year

***All-time SGA leader with 99 RBI and 105 hits

***A .378 lifetime batting average

***Made just one error in 34 games this past year

Sizemore modestly credits her teammates and coaches for those numbers and her success.

“I think I set four or five school records my senior year,” Sizemore said. “We made the final eight. I could not ask for better teammates or coaches.

“I am really grateful for the team and coaches. Without them, I would not be here today.”