By KEVIN ECKLEBERRY

Daily News

The Callaway High softball team will have its hands full.

Callaway, after finishing fourth in Region 5-AA, will travel north to play Region 7-AA champion Rockmart on Tuesday in the opening round of the Class AA state playoffs.

It’s a big-time challenge for Callaway against a Rockmart team that is ranked third in Class AA in the Atlanta Journal-Constitution poll.

Rockmart, which brings an eight-game winning streak into the state playoffs, went unbeaten in region play with a 14-0 record.

The two teams will play a doubleheader on Tuesday at 4 p.m., and if needed, a third and deciding game would be on Wednesday.

For Callaway, facing an elite team with state-championship aspirations is nothing new.

Callaway plays in a region that includes some of the state’s top teams, including Heard County, which is trying to win its second state championship in five years.

In the region tournament, Callaway lost to Heard County and Bremen to finish fourth.

Callaway (14-14 overall) will rely on a balanced offense.

Leijorey Sanders, one of three seniors in the lineup, has done a terrific job from the leadoff position, and she also helps anchor the defense in center field.

Shortstop Chaple Butler has excelled in her first season at Callaway after transferring from Heard County, and McKenzie Rhodes has also gotten it done near the top of the order.

Senior Kourtney Grier has continued to play despite suffering a knee injury late in the season, and she is one of Callaway’s top power hitters.

Alora Vetsavong, who has been behind the plate at catcher for nearly every inning of nearly every game this season, has also been a force in the lineup.

Lindsay Cofield, Mya Lawton, Aaliyah Morman, Tyterria Godwin, Alexus Furgerson and Faith Horton have also been effective members of the lineup.

On the pitcher’s mound, Horton and Furgerson have thrown most of the innings this season.