Moore returns to lead the Hertitage ‘family’

After a 21-14 mark and a tough, threegame, Class AAAA state playoff, first-round loss at the hands of Region 8 champion Jefferson, the Heritage Generals are hitting the reset button this fall with a new, albeit familiar name, leading the way.

One-time Heritage assistant coach Tanner Moore is back in Catoosa County after spending the last two years as a coach at Lee University, his alma mater. The Generals lost some talented seniors to graduation, but will return a good deal of firepower as the Navy-and-Red eye the program’s sixth overall region title.

Moore said it was good to back as part of the family again.

“The first thing I told the girls the first day I talked to them was that they were the reason I came back (to Heritage),” he said. “I love them all, we’re family and families stick together.”

And Moore plans to have his team play hard together too.

“We’re going to play hard, play the right way and have fun with it,” he added.

Three seniors will suit up for Heritage in 2017, all of which have plenty of experience in the circle.

Taelyn Bates won 11 games a year ago and had a 2.97 ERA as she was named to the 6-AAAA first team. Madi Morris (second team All-Region, second team All-State) won seven games and had a 4.27 ERA, while also batting .396 with three homers and 32 RBIs, and Ashley Faulkenberry collected three wins and finished with a 2.95 ERA. Morris will also play some at centerfield and Faulkenberry can play third base. All three also sport perfect 4.0 grade point averages.

“Because of injuries, Ashley got thrown in the fire as a freshman, but she pitched the team to a third-place finish down at state that year,” Moore explained. “Madi has really come into her own the last year-and-a half. From what I heard, though, she really set herself apart last year and made second team All-State. And you know what you’re getting from Taelyn every time she steps in the circle. She doesn’t throw it as hard, but she can hit her spots, locate her pitches and keep (hitters) off balance. She’s given us quality innings in each of the last two years.”

“I have a vision for what I want my seniors to be and I want them to be people that the younger girls can come to because they’ve been through the fire. They’ve been through region games, rivalry games and state tournament games. I want them leading and saying ‘I’ve been through that and I’ve got your back. Follow me and we’ll get this done.’ They’ve done an absolutely incredible job of that so far.”

The bulk of the offense likely will be provided by a large and talented collection of

juniors.

Middle infielder Ansley Bice (.370, 18 RBIs last season) was an All-Region first team pick a year ago, while catcher Mallory Lowe (.343, 17 RBIs) was a second team pick. The rest of the juniors include outfielder Sarah Dye (.353), utility player Reagan Armour (.302, 10 RBIs), first baseman Katie Proctor (.263, 16 RBIs) and outfielder Malia Buchanan. Lowe has already committed to Tennessee-Martin,

while Proctor is bound for Birmingham Southern.

Heritage will also get back sophomore catcher Kaylie Frogge, a year removed from injury, and fellow sophomore Emily Humphrey, a corner infielder who is back after not playing softball last season.

The rookie class includes infielder Bailey Christol, outfielder Morgan Phillips, first baseman Carmen Gayler and pitcher/outfielder Rachel Gibson, who Moore said is already drawing interest from SEC schools.

“You’re going to see a lot of flexibility,” Moore added. “We have a lot of girls that can play a lot of different positions. We have a lot of depth, which is something I’m excited about. Depth and talent are really our strengths. Obviously, you can’t control injuries and those are probably going to happen. I hope they don’t, but it will be okay if they do because of all the depth we have.”

Moore also has two new assistants in former LFO standout Courtney Crawford and ex-Ringgold standout Megan Crawford (no

relation). Courtney was an All-American at Chattanooga State and played for Moore at Lee, while Megan won a national championship during her time at Chattanooga State.

“The girls have worked so hard,” Moore said. “They show up and give you their best effort. We have to continue to take it one day at a time and be all that we can be. Our focus is to show up every single day, have that work ethic, and be good teammates. If we do that, the results we want will take care of themselves.”