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Lady Rebel trio holds signing celebration
ECHS Signees
Effingham County athletic standouts (left to right) Sarah Grace Hinely, Murphy Boyett and Faith Strickland celebrated their recent college signings Dec. 15 during a ceremony in the school gym. Hinely, a softball outfielder, will attend Point University. Boyett, an outside hitter in volleyball, will attend LaGrange College and Strickland, a goalie in lacrosse, is headed to Lander University. (Photo by Donald Heath for the Effingham Herald.)

By Donald Heath

Special for the Effingham Herald


SPRINGFIELD – Effingham County High School softball outfielder Sarah Grace Hinely had a unique outlook on her sport Friday morning at the Rebels’ fall signing celebration.

“Playing softball isn’t just a sport, it’s an environment,” Hinely said before a small gathering in the gym. Softball is a great environment that provides you with (another) family.”

Hinely then reiterated the bonding phrase she learned from her coach Brad Thompson – Forget About Me, I Love You.

Take the first letter from each word and you have the acronym “FAMILY.”

ECHS athletic director Jake Darling congratulated the school’s fall signees – Hinely, Faith Strickland (lacrosse) and Murphy Boyett (volleyball) at the start of the ceremony in the school’s gym.

Hinely will be headed to Point University, a private evangelical Christian college in West Point, Georgia. Strickland signed with Lander University in Greenwood, S.C. and Boyett signed with LaGrange College.

Hinely was a starter on the Rebels’ softball team that finished 26-7 and advanced to Columbus to play in the Class 6A Elite Eight tournament.

She also played for the Angels Gold travel team, which was coached by Helen Reynolds, the mother of her Rebel teammate Emma Reynolds.

A relative newcomer to the sport of lacrosse, Strickland was the Area 7 Goalie of the Year. She made more than 100 saves while sharing time in goal with the Rebels last season and has 114 career saves heading into her final season in the spring.

“Keep pushing boundaries and we’ll all be cheering you on,” said ECHS lacrosse coach Alison Lawson.

Boyett was a key all-around performer for the Rebels’ volleyball team while earning first-team all-region honors this fall as a senior. She stayed on the court and led the teams with 245 kills (2.8 per set) and was second in digs with 198.

Two seasons ago, Boyett shined while helping ECHS win its first volleyball region title since 2016.

Boyett will also play beach volleyball, which is offered at LaGrange and played in the spring.

Addressing onlookers, her words displayed her appreciation for her time at Effingham County High School and acknowledged her new loyalty.

“Go Rebels, thank you for the memories, and now go Panthers,” Boyett said.