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By KEVIN ECKLEBERRY

Daily News

Destiny Fitzpatrick was feeling right at home.

Fitzpatrick, a LaGrange High graduate, was in the midst of a stellar freshman at Fort Valley State when she and all of her teammates found out that the season was over.

Fort Valley State had just beaten Miles College 8-2 when the players were informed that the season wouldn’t continue because of the coronavirus threat.

“We were getting ready for our second game,” Fitzpatrick said. “We won our first game against Miles and were about to play again. Our coach came up to us while we were warming up, and he was like, our season is canceled.”

It was a tough blow for all of the players, including Fitzpatrick, who made a smooth transition from high school to college.

Fitzpatrick started all 15 games for Fort Valley State, and she hit .333 with three doubles and eight RBIs, all while learning a new position.

“I came in playing third base, but we had to make some adjustments and I ended up playing first base,” Fitzpatrick said.

Fitzpatrick came out swinging with two hits and an RBI in her first college game, and she had at least one hit in nine of the 15 games.

In her final four games Fitzpatrick had nine hits, and she was 2-for-3 in the season finale against Miles College.

“My philosophy is, see the ball and hit the ball,” Fitzpatrick said. “That’s what I was doing.”

With the season over Fitzpatrick is back home in LaGrange, and she’s doing what she can to stay ready physically for when she’s able to get on the field again.

“(The coach) told us just to keep working out,” Fitzpatrick said. “I do my own workouts in my backyard, and I hit and I field with my mom.”

Also at home is her brother, Dexter Fitzpatrick, who is coming off a stellar freshman season as a football player at Mars Hill University in North Carolina.

Fitzpatrick led the team in tackles, and he was the South Atlantic Conference’s defensive freshman of the year.

“I’m extremely proud of him,” Destiny Fitzpatrick said.