MACON — Heritage Academy first-year softball coach Gary Harris always had lofty goals for his team.
Now that one week remains in the regular season, those goals can now come into focus and be discussed more clearly.
“We want to go to north state, win two games and make the state tournament,” Harris said. “This team only won two games last season. So, when you consider that, this has been quite a turnaround.”
The Lady Patriots moved to 9-6 overall with a 9-6 win over Central Academy on a picture-perfect fall afternoon on the Central Academy campus.
Heritage Academy scored twice in the first inning and were never threatened in the contest. Still, the Lady Vikings made things mighty interesting late.
Energized by a home run from Courtney Gaylord, the hosts scored four times in the final at-bat and would later strand a pair of runners in that last at-bat.
“When we get a team down, we have to find a way to finish the game,” Heritage Academy junior first baseman Katlyn Petty said. “We have a lot of young players on this team. Sometimes, we have a hard time making sure the game is over and that we won.”
Learning how to win games is a problem Harris is happy to have.
“We get a lead and sometimes we just try to coast,” Harris said. “I think that happens when you have a lot of young players. Some of our older players have not been a part of a lot of wins.
“It is a process and we are getting better at it.”
Harris spent most of the summer practice sessions working on the proper mind-set. He knew his team would struggle with some youth issues.
He also felt like his team could make a run in postseason play. Now two games remain in the regular season and that goal could soon become reality.
“We finished 2-4 in district play, so that will most likely put us fifth in the north state tournament,” Harris said. “The top four teams advance to the overall state tournament. That is our goal and it is very much in reach.
“We need to go to north state, find a way to win two games and make it to the state tournament. For a team with only two wins a season ago, that would be an incredible feat.”
The Lady Patriots end the regular season with Starkville Academy Monday and Winston Academy Thursday.
A victory in either of those would clinch a winning season for the squad.
“Everybody is really excited around here,” Petty said.
“Because we haven’t been this good in a while. It still seems like every win is a reason to get excited.”
To make a push through postseason play, Harris said the Lady Patriots will have to continue to do well at the plate.
Offensive improvement is the biggest reason why Heritage Academy has won six of its last seven games.
“We hit the ball really well in this game,” Harris said. “It may be the best contatct we have made thi season up and down the lineup. It took a while for some of our younger players to step up.
“That is the biggest difference in the first of the season to now. We are taking quality at-bats and hitting the ball much harder.”
Petty admits it is still a surprise when the team consistently hits the ball hard like it did Tuesday.
“Honestly, we are not that good of an offensive team,” Petty said. “When we get a big inning like we did today (five runs in the fouth inning). It is really big. It gets everybody excited.”
Petty paced the Lady Patriots with a double and triple.
Brooklyn Waldrep, Caitlin McLain, Tyler Rhett and Madison Sears each added doubles. Macy Walters and Macy Nordquist had singles.
Scott was sports editor for The Dispatch.
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