Mosley, Wright make softball commitments
A pair of northwest Georgia softball stars wasted little time committing to their colleges of choice on the first day NCAA Division I softball coaches could contact Class of 2022 athletes.
Trion’s Jenna Mosley will become the first softball player in program history to play for a SEC school after committing to the University of Tennessee, while Heritage’s Zoe Wright will stay closer to home at the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga.
Both athletes play for ProStar Fastpitch, whose founder, Steve Chattin, announced the commitments Tuesday morning.
Mosley, an infielder, hit .402 for Trion a season ago (over .500 on-base percentage) with 24 RBIs and 18 stolen bases as the Lady Bulldogs earned a Class A public school runner-up finish.
“The first time I saw Jenna play softball her god-given ability was evident,” Chattin said. “Jenna is one of the top power hitters in the south, but unlike most power hitters she possess the speed of a slap hitter and is an elite baserunner.”
Added Trion coach Jason Lanham, “Jenna has a tremendous work ethic and goes above and beyond working on her game. She is a versatile player with all the tools necessary to be successful at the next level.”
The 4.0 student, who also starts for the Lady Bulldogs’ basketball team, jumped at the chance to play for the Lady Vols after coaches Ralph and Karen Weekly called her with the offer.
“As I visited different camps and schools they were the coaches that I was most drawn to as a player,” she said. “I feel they will work with me as a person, a student and an athlete to be the best I can be. The University of Tennessee will also allow me to compete against the best players in the nation and for a National Championship.”
Speed is Wright’s forte. The Heritage slick-fielding shortstop has been the catalyst for back-to-back state championship teams, often creating runs against tough competition due to her sub three-second hometo-first speed.
Adding that kind of speed has been an emphasis for UTC coach Frank Reed in the past two recruiting cycles, so one of his first recruiting calls of the period went to Wright, who quickly accepted.
“Zoe has the type of speed and the intelligence on the bases to be a game changer at any level,” said Chattin, who has coached her since she was 10 years old. “This was the first thing that set her apart from other players her age. She’s played mostly shortstop, but she is capable of playing any position on the field and immediately being the best player at that position. She will have an immediate impact on the program at UTC.”
Wright batted .340 a year ago with 33 runs scored, six doubles and 18 stolen bases. She’s hitting nearly .500 in the early stages of the 2020 season.