
From left are South Johnston signees Eston Lee, Kyndal Woodard, Katie Mitchell and Savannnah Lockamy. (Dunn Area Sports Photo)
Eston Lee is going to East Carolina to play golf. Softball players Kyndal Woodard, Katie Mitchell and Savannah Lockamy will be moving on to the next level as well.
South Johnston recognized the quartet with a signing ceremony involving family, friends, coaches and teammates in the high school’s auxiliary gym on Wednesday.
Mitchell is going to Gardner-Webb, Woodard has signed with Mount Olive and Lockamy is heading to Piedmont International University in Winston-Salem.
Lee had played some baseball and basketball before his first round of golf at age 11 at Reedy Creek.
“I fell in love with golf immediately,” he said.
Former 3-A state champion Patrick Stephenson of South is a senior in the golf program at ECU and was influential in Lee’s choice. Lee is undecided on a major.
Lee and Stephenson have played together some at the Country Club of Johnston County where Lee shot his career-low round of 65. He has aced No. 6 at the course in Smithfield. Lee finished in the top 10 in the NCHSAA Tournament as a sophomore.
“The campus is really nice and I fell in love with it,” Mitchell said of Gardner-Webb. “The coaches were really nice and the players talked me into it.”
Mitchell, an effective slap hitter in the leadoff spot for the Trojans, anticipates playing second base or outfield for the Bulldogs. She’s considering a major in sports management as preparation for a return to the area as a coach. She has served as an assistant trainer in football at South. She played volleyball and basketball her first two years with the Trojans.
Mitchell hit .528 for a South club that went 12-7 last season. The Trojans were 8-2 in the Greater Neuse 3-A Conference as Mitchell had 14 RBIs, three doubles, four triples and one home run.
Lockamy hit .419 as a junior with 18 RBIs, four doubles and two home runs. She was 2-1 as a pitcher with a 2.23 earned run average. She can also play first and third base.
“I walked on campus and it kind of felt like home,” Lockamy said of the institution previously named Piedmont Bible College.
She plans to study Criminal Justice to go into the investigative field.
Woodard selected Mount Olive to be close to home after drawing recruiting interest from Western Carolina, Appalachian State and Charlotte.
Woodard has played travel ball for the Carolina Elite based in Greenville, S.C. She wants to study biology before pursuing a career in nursing.
Woodard, an outfielder, hit .292 last season for South with 11 RBIs and three doubles.
“We’re really proud of all three,” said South softball coach Ashley Ennis of the diamond signees. “They’ve worked hard, never really lost sight of their goal to play on the next level and they’ve worked hard to accomplish that. I look forward to their senior year and the leadership they will provide.”

Parents and coaches joined the signees on Wednesday. Standing from left are golf coach Daniel Benson, Vicki Lee, Brian Woodard, Debby Woodard, SJ athletic director Brody Massengill, Christie Mitchell, Jeffrey Mitchell, Melody Lockamy, Shannon Lockamy and softball coach Ashley Ennis.
(Dunn Area Sports Photo)