Kokinda, Wright accept offers from UTC
Riley Kokinda and Zoe Wright have shined together as teammates at Heritage Middle School and High School and have another full season-and-a-half to help continue the Generals’ recent run of success.
However, their run as teammates won’t be ending after high school.
The duo both received offers shortly after midnight this past Tuesday, the first day NCAA programs could offer players in the Class of 2022, and both accepted and will become teammates at the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga in the near future.
Kokinda said in a Facebook post that her late-night conversation with the UTC staff “felt completely right” and that she was excited about her future as a Moc.
“It’s truly home for me,” she explained. “The coaches at UTC have impacted me as a player since I was very young attending their camps and games. I have such a great respect for these coaches and the program.
“I have been chasing a dream to play college softball for many years. I have had a lot of interest from other programs along the way (and) I’m grateful for each coach that saw something in me.”
Kokinda, the junior centerfielder, was second team All-Region and All-State as a freshman when she batted .400 with seven doubles, three triples and 25 RBIs to go with 36 runs scored and 10 stolen bases. She was first team All-Region as a sophomore (.386, nine doubles, three triples, 22 RBIs, 36 runs, 22 stolen bases) and through nine games this season, she is hitting .542 with three doubles, 11 RBIs, 14 runs scored and five stolen bases.
“There is a simple truth in knowing when you find your home,” she continued. “I am forever thankful for my parents and all my family. They have been with me every step of the way. A huge shout-out to the Fury Platinum organization and all the coaches for investing and believing in me. Even with a challenging summer, you never stopped pushing for ways to work around these different times.
“To my Heritage High School coaches, Tanner Moore, Megan Crawford, Courtney Crawford, Taylor West and (Alan) Broome, you have impacted my life in a huge way and I’m so thankful for each of you. I would like to extend my gratitude to all my coaches, past and present, in all sports. Thank you for believing in me.”
“Riley is just super athletic and she’s somebody who really loves playing the game,” Moore stated. “She was a little raw when she came to us, but she was able to fine-tune her skills her freshman year and started playing elite level softball in the summertime too. That eventually translated into athleticism and instincts and being able to play the game the right way. She’s the leader of our outfield.
“She’s clutch and she’s dynamic at the plate. She’s got gap-to-gap power and she can turn around and slap. She can drive in runs and she sets the table for the hitters behind her. We’re just really blessed to have Riley.”
Wright, the junior shortstop, is also an excellent defensive player and an offensive catalyst for the two-time defending Class AAAA state champions.
She batted .327 with four doubles and six RBIs as a freshman to go with 29 runs scored and 10 stolen bases. She earned AllRegion first team honors as a sophomore by hitting .337 with six doubles, two triples and eight RBIs with 33 runs scored and 18 stolen bases.
So far in 2019, Wright is batting .389 with a triple and five RBIs in five games played. She has scored six runs and stolen three bases.
“There are really too many people to say thanks to, but I would like to start with (UTC) Coach (Frank) Reed for offering me this opportunity,” she said in a press release. “College will be a place I can continue to play the game I love and continue to grow as a person and into the career that I choose with my major.
“Of course, none of this would have been possible without my parents. Both of my parents have supported my softball endeavors from the time I was too young to understand it until now. One of the reasons I wanted to stay local was so my parents and friends could come support me.”
Like Kokinda, Wright had interest from several other schools, but chose to stay close to home and play for a school where she has attended camps for many years.
“I would like to thank Coach (Steve) Chattin, Coach (Gary) Hammontree and all the coaches of ProStar Fastpitch for working with me to become the player I am today,” she continued. “Coach Chattin and Coach Hammontree saw something in me when I was 10 and allowed (me) to not only play with their teams, but they challenged me by allowing me to play in older age divisions and to practice with girls that were eight years older. That influenced my approach to the game. Over the last few years, I have also been blessed to have Jason, Chris, and Brandi coach our team.”
“Finally I want to thank Coach Moore and the staff at Heritage for giving me the opportunity to win two state championships and hopefully a third this year. Their leadership and my teammates have allowed us to win those state championships and to have fun while winning.”
Moore said with Wright’s “elite level, high Division-I speed”, she could slap hit at the top of the lineup or possibly out of the No. 9 hole in college, although he believes she will eventually be a leadoff hitter.
“She’s also probably one of the best shortstops I’ve ever seen at her age,” he added. “Defensively, she’s money and she’s someone who’s fundamentally sound, but who also has the range to go in that 5-6 hole (between shortstop and third base) and make the throw as well. She’s blessed with those abilities as a shortstop and her instincts are amazing, reading things other people aren’t able to see.
“They always keep me laughing and grinning. Whenever I get too serious, they’re able to get me to calm down. They have fun, but they can also be serious too. They bring that grittiness and that edge and feed off our seniors as well. From a player standpoint, you couldn’t get anything better and Riley and Zoe.”
Chattin said Wright is a talented and loyal player with an outstanding arm at shortstop and the ability to slap, bunt and hit away at the plate. He added that he believes UTC is the best fit for Wright.
“Zoe has the type of speed and the intelligence on the bases to be a game-changer at any level,” he stated. “This was the first thing that set her apart from other players her age. Then she has developed her skills as a hitter and a defensive player. She will have an immediate impact on the program at UTC.”
Another local player, Trion’s Jenna Mosley, also accepted an offer on Tuesday. Mosley, also a ProStar player, pledged to Ralph and Karen Weekly at the University of Tennessee. She becomes the first Trion softball player to ever commit to an SEC program.