Heritage Lady Generals roll to region road win

Softball in a softball field in California mountains on a white line softball field softball tile / Getty Images
Softball in a softball field in California mountains on a white line softball field softball tile / Getty Images

TUNNEL HILL, Ga. - The Heritage softball team might be the reigning GHSA Class AAAA state champion, but the 2019 version entered the season focused on putting that trophy in the case and developing its own identity.

Less than a month into the season, the Lady Generals have established themselves as a team to beat yet again. They picked up a big region road win Tuesday against Northwest Whitfield, 10-3, behind Rachel Gibson's pitching and a seven-run third inning.

"Early in the season, we were very vocal about last year and how every team is different," said Heritage coach Tanner Moore, whose program graduated six seniors from last year's team and does not have a senior this year. "We have to find our identity and what we do best. I'm very proud of the way they battled tonight, but we still have a long way to go, and I think that's one thing the girls took away from this game."

Northwest (10-1, 2-1) got the scoring started in the second inning without the benefit of a hit. Having trouble gripping a wet ball, Gibson walked four and hit another batter in the inning as the Bruins took a 2-0 lead.

Heritage (8-3, 4-0) didn't take long before ripping that lead away, as its offense exploded in the top of the third inning. With one out, junior Bailey Christol hit her first of two doubles to put runners at third and second. After a hit batter loaded the bases, Riley Kokinda tied the game with a two-run single to left.

Two batters later, junior Carmen Gayler untied it with a towering three-run home run to left-center. Gibson capped off the inning with a two-run shot of her own to make the lead 7-2.

Gibson settled down in the circle after the rough second inning, dominating the final five innings as she finished with 11 strikeouts. Gayler was 3-for-3 and Christol went 2-for-4 with an RBI and a run scored.

While the Lady Generals were dominant on the field, they were equally relentless from the dugout. Led by Christol, the constant chants, cheers and even rapping from the players provided a unique kind of energy that Moore feels makes this team so special.

"Energy, that's all we talk about," Moore said. "When you get momentum and you can hold it, it makes it tough for the other team. When you lose that momentum, it's hard to get it back. Credit to the entire team for always doing such an awesome job of sticking together."

The Bruins' Molly Middleton went 3-for-3 with an RBI and a run scored.

Contact Kevin Llewallyn at sports@timesfreepress.com.

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