Sarah Sonnier signs with with Faulkner State

Surrounded by her parents David and Lori Sonnier, friends and teammates, Hanson Memorial Lady Tiger Sarah Sonnier signed a college scholarship to pitch for Faulkner State University of Mobile, Alabama Friday at the Hanson Memorial Library.
Sonnier, the Hanson Memorial Lady Tigers’ outstanding starting pitcher, is excited to sign a college scholarship to pitch on the next level at Faulkner State University.
“I’m kind of nervous in having to leave my family, but signing a college scholarship is something I’ve always wanted to do,” said the Hanson Memorial senior hurler, who has equally wowed opposing hitters and fans with her speed and accuracy in the circle.
According to Sonnier, she has been pitching since the age of eight when she and her sister Kimberly had a pitching competition.
And the rest is history.
“I have been pitching my whole life,” Sarah Sonnier said. “Since I was eight years or so when my sister Kimberly and I had a competition to see who could pitch the best or pitch harder than the other,” Sarah Sonnier recalled. “All three of my sisters _ Emily, Katie and Kimberly were all pitchers but it was mostly me and Kim who had speed so she and I competed against each other.”
Sonnier has thrived as the starting pitcher for the Hanson Lady Tigers’ softball team. Over the past several years, she has been brilliant in dominating hitters with a wide array of pitches including her personal favorite pitch _ her breaking curve ball.
Sonnier readily admits that her only thought while in the circle is the very next pitch.
“I just try to take every pitch one at a time and not get ahead of myself,” she replied.
Sonnier will prove to be a dual threat _ in the circle and in the batters’ box _ at Faulkner State University of the Mid-South Conference of the NAIA (National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics) in Alabama.
She is currently making her presence felt while pitching and hitting for the Hanson Memorial Lady Tigers.
Sonnier started the first game of the 2016 season with a 16-0 shutout victory while also clubbing a home run. She says her hitting is “coming along” ever since the end of last season when she started hitting in order to get more playing time.
Sonnier, who went on a 7 for 8 hitting tear in the opening games of this season, says she enjoys hitting.
“I didn’t get to hit until the end of last year and to make sure I could get into the lineup, I started working on it more,” she stated. “Once I did bat, I was hitting most of the time, so I was working to stay in the lineup.”
While mentioning that the sport of softball means everything to her, Sonnier points to the fact that the sport has helped in her maturation on and off the field.
“Softball means everything to me because it’s kind of like my safe place because I don’t really get into trouble because I have to make sure I play!” she said.
For Sarah Sonnier, softball has been a family affair since her father David introduced the sport to his four daughters at an early age.
As Sarah Sonnier signs to attend Faulkner State University, the Hanson Lady Tiger will trade in her blue-and-gold-and-white for the colors of the Faulkner StateLady Eagles with thoughts of her present teammates.
“My teammates and coaches are my family,” she stated.
Sonnier will join the Lady Eagles of Faulkner State after an impressive tryout.
“I was going to a different college when I e-mailed the coach and she said she wanted me to tour the campus and do a tryout and a few days later, she contacted me and asked if wanted to take her scholarship,” Sonnier said.
Sonnier will continue leading the Hanson Memorial Lady Tigers into the 2016 season with hopes of landing a spot in the state Class 1-A playoffs and beyond.