TUNNEL HILL, Ga. - Tanner Moore isn't ready to say his two-time reigning GHSA state championship softball team is ready for the postseason, but recent results suggest the Heritage Generals are close.
Heritage (14-1, 9-0 Region 7-AAAA) completed a three-game sweep of Northwest Whitfield with a five-inning 12-1 win Thursday, keeping the Generals a game ahead of Central-Carroll in the region standings heading into the final three weeks of the regular season.
Heritage broke open a 2-1 game Thursday with a 10-run fifth inning. The potent lineup produced 15 hits, but what impressed Moore the most was the way his batters adjusted during the series.
"They pitched us well in the first two games, but our girls were able to adjust today," said Moore, whose team won the first game of the series 2-1. "We got to two strikes way too much in the first two games instead of taking what they were giving us and shooting the ball right up the middle. We had 15 hits today and only two extra-base hits, so we did that today."
Bailey Christol had four of those singles and scored three runs, while Zoe Wright was 2-for-4 - with both of the extra-base hits (doubles) - and drove in a pair of runs. Morgan Phillips had two hits and drove in two runs, and Sarah Haynes was 2-for-4 with an RBI and two runs scored. Ace Rachel Gibson struck out 11 batters and allowed three hits.
After leaving two runners on base in the third inning and the bases loaded in the fourth, Heritage had no such trouble in the fifth, sending 15 batters to the plate and producing seven hits and taking advantage of four Northwest walks. Wright, who recently committed to the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga, had the big hit with a two-run double to make it 7-1.
"That inning snowballed pretty quickly," said Moore, whose team will play five games this weekend in the SCORE International Tournament at Camp Jordan. "This win is very big in that it essentially makes it a two-team race in our region."
Ringgold 5, LaFayette 2: The Lady Tigers (9-6, 8-4 Region 6-AAA) broke a two-game losing streak as Jade Gainer went 2-for-3 with a homer, a double and an RBI, Baliegh Pitts drove in two runs and Amber Gainer had two hits and scored two runs.
Jasleyn Couch had two hits and Madi Ashley two RBIs for LaFayette.
Gordon Lee 3, Trion 1: The Lady Trojans (12-3, 4-0 Region 6-A public) completed a regular-season sweep of rival Trion as Emma Langston pitched a two-hitter. Emma Minghini had a pair of hits and Sidney Gasaway and Jordan Dyer each drove in a run for the winners.
Chloe Murdock had an RBI and Jenna Mosley went 1-for-1 with two walks and a run for Trion (6-5, 2-3).
VOLLEYBALL
Chattanooga Christian School 3, GPS 0: The Lady Chargers won by set scores of 25-15, 25-11, 25-18, with AJ Johnson delivering 10 kills, seven aces and digs. Emily Day had 24 assists and six kills, while Lauren Kay had 17 digs and three aces for CCS.
Ooltewah 3, McMinn County 0: The Lady Owls continued a strong week, winning 25-13, 25-18, 25-21. Annalee Moore, Karlee Bruner and Caty Hughes combined for nine blocks, Meghan Jordan had 16 digs and six aces and Hannah Irwin tied for the team lead with six kills.
Hixson 3, East Ridge 0: The Lady Wildcats improved to 6-3 overall as Anna Johnston recorded a personal best with 15 aces; she also had 10 assists. Rickell Crutcheer added seven kills, and Izabel Todd had four aces for Hixson.
East Hamilton 3, Central 0: Amya Sutton had nine kills to help lead the Hurricanes to victory by the scores of 25-20, 25-20, 25-17. Angelia Seder and Morgan Bone each had five aces, and Tristin Sutton added 14 assists and five kills for East Hamilton. Julia Culpepper had four aces and four kills.
Notre Dame 3, Collegedale Academy 0: Mary Fillauer had 33 assists to help set up a Lady Fighting Irish attack led by McKenna Brown (17 kills), Peyton Woody (seven kills) and Beth Voges (six kills). Maggie Fillauer contributed four aces, while Voges had four blocks in the sweep that improved Notre Dame to 21-3 overall and 6-0 in Division II-A East District 2 play.
Knoxville Catholic 3, Baylor 2: The Lady Red Raiders took two of the first three sets, but they could not hold off the team that ended their season in the state tournament last year. Elaine Redman had 16 kills, 18 assists and 22 digs for Baylor (3-2), while Holland Moss and Tess Margio added 12 and 11 kills, respectively, and Emma Gray had 27 digs.
Red Bank 3, Marion County 0: Ashley Ware and Shante Smith combined for 15 kills, Bailee Phillips had five of the Lady Lions' 20 aces and Zoe Helms had 21 assists.
Silverdale Baptist Academy 3, Grace Academy 1: Ashlee Kugler had 33 assists, 13 digs, six kills and a pair of aces in the victory. The Lady Seahawks were also led by Savannah Williams (11 kills), Baylee Killingsworth (22 digs) and Casey Neal (18 digs).
* Dade County beat Adairsville, 25-23 and 27-25, but lost to Hiram. In the victory, Zoie Smith had 18 assists and Delaynee Davis had 31 digs. Other standouts for Dade County included Heidi Raines (five kills, three blocks), Bailey Davis (14 digs, four blocks) and Logan Frint (five kills, 13 digs). Jordan Roden had a combined four blocks in the matches.
GIRLS' SOCCER
Silverdale 5, St. Andrew's-Sewanee 1: Gracie Renegar scored twice, and the Lady Seahawks' attack was also spurred by Caroline Upchurch, who had a pair of assists. Silverdale's Brooke Bolton added a score and an assist in the win.
Grace 4, Polk County 3: McKinley Tyson had a hat trick with her third goal the decisive score. Grace's Meg Ferrel added a score and an assist.
BOYS' GOLF
East Hamilton improved to 10-0 in district play with a victory over Sequoyah at WindStone. The Hurricanes were led by Will Tracy's 38 over nine holes; Tucker Wick and Eli Winkler each shot a 39.
Contact Lindsey Young at lyoung@timesfreepress.com and follow him on Twitter @youngsports22. Contact Patrick MacCoon at pmaccoon@timesfreepress.com and follow him on Twitter @PMacCoon.