Tragedy for Heritage softball coach’s family
The Heritage High School community mourned the loss of former student Katie Beth Carter this week. Carter, a freshman dancer in the famed Jacksonville State University band, was killed in an automobile accident as she was making her way back to school following a visit home over the weekend.
Carter was the daughter of Heritage softball coach Jason Carter. The team postponed games against Ridgeland and Gilmer this week, and the school announced that assistant coach Alan Broom will be the interim coach.
“Needless to say, it has been a very difficult few days for our community as Katie Beth was an extraordinary young woman,” Heritage athletic director Eric Schexnaildre said.
The Ridgeland game will be made up at 5:55 p.m. on Sept. 14, with the Gilmer game now set 5:55 p.m. on Sept. 21.
The school hosted a candlelight vigil Wednesday evening and will accept donations at Friday’s football game against North Murray to help establish a scholarship in Katie Beth’s memory. The family will receive visitors at City Church in Chattanooga from 4 to 7 p.m. today, with the funeral service at 7.
Schexnaildre also said the Carters’ church has established a gofundme.com page to help defray costs associated with the tragedy. More information can be found at http://bit.ly/2cHljGA.
CCS soccer tourney
Chattanooga Christian School is hosting a soccer tournament Friday and Saturday, and the eight-team field includes numerous ranked teams.
In addition to the host Chargers, who are ranked fifth, other A/AA top 10 members who will be in attendance are No. 1 Greeneville and No. 3 Page. Those two will play at 8 p.m. Friday. CCS coach Cal Sneller said that Murfreesboro Central Magnet, another of the competitors, is often ranked in the A/AA top 10.
The list of competitors also includes Class AAA top 10 members McMinn County, Shelbyville Central and Lincoln County.
“There should be quality matchups throughout the tournament,” Sneller said.
The opening match is at 4 p.m., with the Page-Greeneville match finishing the first night. Play resumes at 8:30 Saturday morning and the final match is scheduled for 7 p.m.
CCS (3-5) has begun to turn its season, which began with five consecutive losses. The Chargers have won their last three games, and two of those were shutouts.
“The ladies have been playing well all season, and I knew they would be able to turn it around with consistency and cutting back on mistakes,” Sneller said. “We lost a key defender, but the defense is still solid. The offense is continually seeking ways to be more creative in striving to have an attack that can score every night out. The team will continue to get stronger as each player gains a better understanding of the critical role she plays for the team.”
Admission is $5 per game and a Saturday pass is $8. The stadium field (artificial turf) will be used for nine of the 12 games, and CCS is playing at least one of those nonturf games at the track field on Friday.
The other two nonturf games, both on Saturday, will be played on the grass field next to the stadium, which the Chargers call the lower field. Concessions will be available throughout the tournament at the stadium.