One of most successful Gordon Lee softball players in the program’s history is taking her game to the next level.

Callie Gee, the Lady Trojans’ lone senior this past fall, will suit up next year for the Lady Lions of Emmanuel College in Franklin Springs.

During her four-year career in Chickamauga, Gee was a part of four Region 6-A championship teams and made four appearances in the state finals.

She won a state title as a freshman in 2004, finished third as a sophomore and helped Gordon Lee to runner-up finishes in each of the past two seasons.

Gordon Lee head coach Dana Mull said he hates to see Gee go.

“Callie’s been a great part of our program for four years,” she said. “We hate to lose her. She’s contributed a lot at first base and at pitcher and she stepped into a big leadership role for us this year, being the only senior. She definitely filled that role and was a great role model for the younger players.”

Callie won eight games as a senior, striking out 42 hitters in 76 innings with a 1.20 ERA.

Gee had an additional offer from Young Harris College, but said she chose Emmanuel because of the coaches and players on the Lions’ current roster.

“I really like the coach and the girls are nice and down to earth,” she said. “It’s a small school, kind of like Gordon Lee, and it reminds me of home. It just seemed like the right place to go. I’m excited and I think it will be fun.”

Emmanuel plays in the NAIA’s Southern States Athletic Conference against the likes of Lee University and Shorter College, which Gee said was a bonus for her family and friends.

“This way more people can come out and see me and I don’t have to be so far away,” she explained.

Mull thinks Gee can handle playing softball at the college level.

“She’s been around school ball and summer ball for many years,” Mull said, “so she knows the discipline and work ethic it takes and I think she’ll bring all that to the next level.”

“She’s a great kid,” Emmanuel head coach Ricky Sanders said. “We’re getting a player that can hit and play defense. She’s got a good track record and she comes from a good high school program so we’re excited about that.

“Plus, she’s a good student and that’s important to us. We’re happy to get her. We’ve got eight freshmen coming in and we’re graduating a lot of seniors this year and next year.”

Gee plans to major in education with designs on teaching and coaching softball at the middle school or high school level one day.

Emmanuel recently won the NCCAA South Region Championship. Eight players were named to the All-Tournament Team while senior pitcher/catcher Heather Vaughn was named as the SSAC Player of the Year.