Blackman names Bob Fortel as softball coach

Blackman will add a veteran softball coach with postseason success to its staff.

Bob Fortel has been hired to take over the Lady Blaze program after Jesse Messick decided last week to move over to help with the Blackman baseball team.

"I'm very excited," said the 49-year-old Fortel, a Smyrna graduate. "I came and watched them play (during the 2018 season), and they're impressive. There's a lot of young talent. A lot of potential, for sure."

Fortel is a 20-year coaching veteran who has compiled a 251-120 record at the high school level.

His most recent coaching stint came at Greeneville High (2009-17), where his teams won five consecutive district tournaments, three region titles, two sectional titles and a Class AA state championship in 2015.

"Coach Fortel's experience and success made him an outstanding choice to be our next softball coach," Blackman athletic director Scott Lawless said. "We are excited about the future of our softball program."

Fortel was at Spring Hill High this past year but did not coach.

"We moved closer to home (last year)," Fortel said. "My parents and wife's parents live in Rutherford County. This is where I grew up. It makes sense to be closer to home."

Fortel is also an experienced travel ball coach with a pair of American Softball Association national championships.

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Shelby Hayes, who assisted Messick on the 2018 Lady Blaze squad, will stay on as Fortel's assistant.

Blackman went 22-12 overall and 9-3 in District 7-AAA in 2018, finishing second in the regular season and falling to Smyrna in the loser' bracket finals of the league tournament.

The Lady Blaze return six starters from the 2018 squad.

"They're very solid at just about every position," said Fortel, who will teach sociology at Blackman. There's a lot of young talent will help make that better. I’m excited. It's the first program I’ve ever walked into that was already in good shape."

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The Blackman softball program is the fourth at the school in the past calendar year that has had a coaching change. The school also replaced head coaches in baseball, football and girls basketball.

Reach Cecil Joyce at cjoyce@dnj.com or 615-278-5168 and on Twitter @Cecil_Joyce.