Lee Trawick, Reporter2@riverbendnews.org
Coming into the 2022 high school softball season, the Lady Trojans welcomed their new head coach, Morris Bell. Bell took over a program that had not won a game in two years and had not had a winning season in over 15 years. While he knew he had his work cut out for him, he was excited about the opportunity of becoming the head coach. He believed in his team and knew they could be the ones to turn the program around, as long as the girls believed in one another. The Lady Trojans' most significant challenge came from changing the culture from no expectations to exceptional expectations.
The Lady Trojans and Coach Bell began the season with two straight wins before losing two consecutive games, leaving the Lady Trojans with a 2-2 record before they went on to win six consecutive games. The Lady Trojans carried a batting average of .318, scoring 163 runs while hitting 48 extra-base hits, including nine home runs. They outscored their opponents 163 to 129 on the season. However, Coach Bell’s accomplishments don't end with stats. In his first season as head coach, he also mentored senior Brooke Howell on her way to the next level, as she signed her letter of intent at Thomas University in Thomasville, Ga. The Trojans finished the season with an overall 10-8 record in his first season as head coach.
Therefore, Hamilton County Lady Trojans Head Softball Morris Bell is named the 2022 Riverbend News’ Softball Coach of the Year.