Chattanooga Christian School rises in two years from no team to district softball champion

The high school softball program at Chattanooga Christian School has a long and strong history but fell on some hard times after a state-tournament appearance in 2009. Losing records and the inability to advance out of the district tournament became the norm.

The school shut down the high school program for two years starting in 2014. But in the last two years it has made a triumphant turnaround.

Welcome back, Lady Chargers.

Last year Chattanooga Christian fielded a high school softball team for the first time since 2013. This year, the Lady Chargers are District 7-AA regular-season champions.

Chattanooga Christian, 15-7 overall and 9-1 in its league, is the top-seeded team in the District 7-AA high school softball tournament, which begins today.

From dormant in 2015 to district regular-season champion in 2017, CCS (15-7) is the top-seeded team and host for the 7-AA tournament, which was scheduled to begin Thursday but because of rain is rescheduled to begin today at 10 a.m. The final is scheduled for Tuesday night at 8 and a second championship game would be played Wednesday, if necessary.

Athletic director and former baseball coach John Visser said high school softball at CCS was "not competitive" from 2010 to '13 and added that a decision was made to recommit to the sport starting at the middle school level. Visser also was instrumental in the hiring of Lisa Gray in late July 2016 to take over the high school program's relaunching.

"Lisa has done a great job," Visser said. "She's very committed to the job and has a great knowledge of the sport. She's brought a real life to the program. I've been extremely pleased with the job she has done."

Start-up projects are nothing new to Gray, who got the softball program going at Covenant College in 2006. She came to CCS from Lakeview-Fort Oglethorpe High School, but before coaching there she had a stint as an assistant at her college alma mater, Carson-Newman.

"This is my 11th year as a coach," Gray said. "I have to say the last two years have been the most fun and rewarding years for me as a coach. I've never felt so blessed as to be here."

Gray's young 2016 team went 7-3 in the district, tying Grundy County for second place. The Lady Yellow Jackets won a coin flip for the No. 2 seeding in the tournament, but the Lady Chargers ended up beating them 9-4 in the losers-bracket final, which qualified CCS for the region tournament.

"Last year was a good surprise," said Gray, her team ending up 18-12.

The Lady Chargers lost 6-1 a year ago in the district final to Sequatchie County, but that was closer than they had played the Lady Indians in the previous two meetings. This year they beat Sequatchie 4-1 on March 30 and 13-2 on April 26.

"Last year they run-ruled us twice," Gray said of the Lady Indians, who are second-seeded in this year's tournament. "We weren't very competitive with them last year. I think that's another reason our girls were so focused when we played them this year. Last year they had the better team. They have a great program. To win an early game against them this year was very beneficial to our team's mentality."

Sophomores Madison Hollis (.435, team-leading four homers and 32 RBIs) and Rachel Kay (team-high .508 average and eight extra-base hits) are key statistical leaders. And with no seniors on the team - the lone junior is right fielder Sydney Emerson (.424), who missed two weeks with an ankle injury - they try to lead mentally, too.

"Pretty much everybody has tried to contribute leadership in some way," Kay said. "I think we learned from the seniors last year to think positive. They kept us loose in tight situations."

Those two also handle pitching duties with Hollis getting most of the work. She has a 10-4 pitching record, and her 11 walks in 79 innings illustrate she can keep the ball around the plate.

"As a pitcher you have to have full confidence in your defense," Hollis said. "If you give up a ground ball or a pop fly, you have to know they're behind you to catch it for you. I have their backs; they have mine. We all just know we're there for each other."

Madison Blevins, Holly Hendry, Shelby Houts and Anslee Walker head the freshman class. Blevins has played an extremely valuable role as the team's only true catcher.

Kay's sister, Lauren, and Madison Vandergriff are eighth-graders who hold down the starting spots on the left side of the infield. Shortstop Vandergriff, whose sophomore sister, Mary, would become eligible May 17 if the Lady Chargers' season is still alive, leads the team with 30 runs scored.

"We know that we did the first step," Rachel Kay said. "But number one in the district doesn't mean anything if we don't play well in the tournament."

Said Hollis: "We know it's going to be a tough road. Coach tells us now we're starting season two. We're done with season one. This is when it really counts. I think we're up for the challenge. We're ready going in and ready to play our hearts out."

Gray credits Rebecca Ludwig, the pitching coach, and assistant Brent Matthews, who heads the middle school program, for helping get the program back on track. And that track, the Lady Chargers hope, will take them to Murfreesboro and the state tournament.

"I feel like this team has mental toughness," Gray said. "I just love the girls' heart. They want to go to the state championship, and I believe they will, whether it's this year, the next year or the year after. I believe this team will work for that goal."

Contact Kelley Smiddie at ksmiddie@timesfreepress.com or 423-757-6653. Follow him on Twitter @KelleySmiddie.