Heritage ‘focused’ on quest for three-peat

When the Heritage Generals won their first-ever fastpitch softball title in walk-off fashion back in 2018, folks wondered what they could possibly do for an encore. Then 2019 rolled around.

Not only did the Navy-and-Red make it back-to-back Class AAAA state titles, they did so with the most memorable ending in the history of Georgia state softball

— an unfathomable championship-clinching triple play (that was shared nationwide on social media) that took place on the Generals’ own home field after heavy rains made the fields in Columbus unplayable.

“Every day we practice fly ball communication...credit goes to our girls,” head coach Tanner Moore said some 10 months later. “They made three unbelievable throws. I’ve watched the film over and over again and they did exactly what they needed to do, which was put the pressure on the runners and make them make the decision. It was an amazing play and it’s still unbelievable to even think about it.”

So now, the question must be asked again — what in the world can Heritage do for an encore this time around?

How about win it all again? It certainly won’t be easy. Defending a title never is, but going into the 2020 season, Heritage certainly has the talent and depth to become just the eighth team in GHSA history to win at least three straight state fastpitch titles.

“We’re just focused on the season,” Moore said. “We have such a mature team now and that’s so cool to think about it. They can and do kind of run (things) themselves and they do it in an unbelievably humble way, but also with unbelievable leadership too.”

Moore says his team fully realizes that the bullseye on its back is even bigger going into this season and that it is something they’ve talked about.

“What they’ve done is put themselves into a situation where everybody knows who they are, and I mean that in the most humble way,” Moore explained. “It’s (because) of the way they play the game, the way they treat the game and the way they treat each other. They’ve (already) left a legacy

with where they are as a senior class, but they’re not done. There’s another one that they’re ready to go after. Every single time they step on the field they’re going to be ready and prepared because they’re going to get somebody else’s best every time out.”

After repeating as Class AAAA state champion without a senior on the roster last year, Heritage will have six veterans leading the way this time around.

It starts in the circle with Clemson commit Rachel Gibson, who continues to rewrite the Heritage record books with every inning she pitches. A two-time Catoosa County Pitcher of the Year and a three-time All-State selection who has been named the Class AAAA Pitcher of the Year the past two seasons, Gibson went 23-4 with 296 strikeouts, just 37 walks and a 0.95 ERA as a junior, giving her 52 career victories and 627 career strikeouts with one full season left on the slate.

At first base, Catoosa County Co-Player of the Year, All-Region first teamer and All-State first team pick Carmen Gayler returns after batting .429 with 11 doubles, three triples, seven homers and 46 RBIs last fall. Across the diamond at third is West Georgia commitment Bailey Christol, another All-Region first team pick, who hit .423 with 13 doubles and four triples in 2019, while adding 37 runs scored, 23 RBIs and 18 stolen bases.

Defensive standout Morgan Phillips will once again patrol left field, while right fielder Bailey Davis is coming off a season in which she had 22 RBIs and 12 extra-base hits, including a pair of homers, in her first year with the program. The final senior, first baseman/ designated player Sarah Grace Haynes hit .333 a year ago and will be counted on for run production this season.

Moore said the group has been a source of stability, levelheadedness and positive leadership during this summer of uncertainity with the COVID-19 pandemic.

“They’re probably a little annoyed at me because I’ve been holding them back a little bit this summer as a precaution, but they’re ready to go,” he added. “I couldn’t ask for a better class to lead these freshmen players and even these rising sophomores and juniors too.

“It doesn’t matter what I ask of them. They could care less about the amount of playing time that they get. All they care about is each other and this team. They are an amazing and talented group and I can’t tell you how blessed I am to have them.”

Behind the seniors are six juniors with impressive credentials themselves.

Catcher Madeline Stone batted .333 with six doubles and 21 RBIs last year, in addition to her outstanding work behind the plate. Back for her third season at shortstop, Zoe Wright hit a solid .337 a year ago with eight extra base hits, 33 runs scored and another 18 stolen bases. Then in center field, Heritage will bring back Riley Kokinda (.386, 9 doubles, 3 triples, 22 RBIs, 36 runs, 22 stolen bases). All three were first team All-Region picks a year ago.

The rest of the juniors include veteran first baseman/pitcher Brinley Horner (41, 35.1 innings) and corner infielder/outfielder Gracie Dawson, who is rejoining the team after missing last season with an injury. Addi Ball (.414 in 15 games) rounds out the class, but she is currently dealing with an injury and the timetable for her return is unknown.

Among the sophomores, second team All-Region pick Lexi Duckett (.300, 8 doubles) can play both in the infield and in the outfield, as can classmates Jessica Gibson and Savannah Wilson, while Jenna Helton, who is new to the Generals program, will play in the outfield.

The rest of the roster is filled out with a freshman contingent that features outfielders Harper Carstens, Kelsey Anderson and Alexis Faulkenberry, first baseman Avah Morrison, middle infielder Lindsey Wilson and catcher Abbie Young. Anderson, Faulkenberry and Morrison will also pitch.

Moore said leadership and depth are his team’s biggest strengths and that he believes his team can handle the pressure if they tune out all of the outside talk.

“We didn’t have a senior on last year’s team and that’s another reason why everybody on the outside is going to talk because of the expectations of this group,” he said. “But they know their expectations for themselves and they know how they’re going to challenge themselves. The key is just listening to each other, listening to the leadership and leaving everyone else out of it.

“Our girls know what they have to do. They have goals for this team and they’re just going to continue to work together to reach them.”