'Amazing run' so far for Heritage softball team

In late February, the Heritage High School softball team wrote down season goals on a whiteboard in the team clubhouse. Two of those goals included beating Blount County rival Maryville and winning the District 4-AAA tournament title.

The Lady Mountaineers didn't just beat Maryville for the first time since 2007, they went 4-0 against the Lady Rebels this season. Their fourth victory over Maryville, a 6-3 win in the district title game on Tuesday night at Heritage, gave the Lady Mountaineers their first district title since 2006.

“It’s been an amazing run,” Heritage coach Jeff Sherman said Wednesday. “It’s been a fun season. (The girls) play hard – all of them.

“We saw it coming last year.  We had some moments last year with freshmen and sophomores playing that we knew if we could put it together. If pitching – pitching was key – if pitching held up that we would be pretty good.”

Heritage’s pitching was especially effective in the district tournament, thanks in large part to Jazmine Geary. The sophomore lefthander earned District 4-AAA tournament MVP honors, helping Heritage (22-13) go undefeated in the double-elimination event.

Sherman thought Geary’s best performance came in the semifinals against Farragut. Geary pitched a complete game and struck out eight batters in Heritage’s 2-1 extra-innings win against the Lady Admirals. The win clinched Heritage’s first regional berth since 2007.

“You got to have a little bit of dog in you to be on the mound,” Sherman said. “She was lights out that night … She wants the ball in (tight) situations, but they all do.

“We have had so many kids contribute in small ways and big ways. If somebody struggles, somebody else picks up the pace. Somebody gets a big hit … I have seen it all along that this (team) is different. They are not playing for individual awards. They are playing together, so we can accomplish something big together.”

Sherman said he always knew the Lady Mountaineers could be successful this season. He just needed to get his players to believe it, also. The defining moment came after the Lady Mountaineers defeated Maryville 5-3 for the first time this season.

“Beating Maryville just goes back to show you the hard work and the dedication that our girls have put into the season,” Heritage principal Jake Jones said. “Coach Sherman has done a great job of keeping his ladies focused from the get-go, and the young ladies have responded.”

But there is still one goal that the Lady Mountaineers have yet to achieve. “Get to the state tournament” was also on that whiteboard.

“That’s the only one we haven’t accomplished yet,” Sherman said. “But they think they can win. Nothing scares them.”