Decatur High Softball Player Signs Scholarship

Julia Banks of Decatur High School signed a softball scholarship on Thursday with Augusta State University.

Classmates and family gathered in the school gym for the ceremony. Banks said, “I feel as if I’m going to where I was meant to go. ASU is perfect for me, not too small and not too big. It’s also a good school for me to pursue my interests, like hopefully going to med school after graduation.”

Banks, a pitcher and first baseman, made the all-region team three straight years. She led the team in batting (.410), RBI (25) and doubles (11) while hitting four homeruns with a .490 on-base percentage and .687 slugging.

As a pitcher, she went 8-10 with a 2.47 ERA. A four-year starter as a position player, she posted career numbers of 96 hits, 13 homeruns, 69 RBI, .440 batting average and a .771 slugging percentage. She started 89 of 90 games.

“Julia is one of the very few players in the state who’s both a pitcher and a power hitter," said Decatur coach Allison Paul. "That’s a rare combination and very difficult, since you have important responsibilities on both the offensive and defensive side."

Augusta State is a member of the Peach Belt Conference. The Jaguars went 33-18 last year in making their fourth straight NCAA Southeast Regional appearance.