After leading Heritage to three playoff appearances in his six years as head softball coach, Dickey Hightower has moved on from the Lady Patriots.

Jason McBay will take over as Heritage's coach.

In December, Hightower was announced as head softball coach at Wesleyan College in Macon.

Wesleyan is an all women's school that competes in the Great South Athletic Conference of Division III. The Pioneers were 6-23 overall, 2-14 and won just one road game in 2012.

Such a losing record will be new to Hightower, who helped lead Heritage to a 21-12 mark overall and 8-2 in Region 8-AAAA. The Lady Patriots fell to Northwest Whitfield in the first round of the state playoffs in Hightower's final season, losing 10-2 and 7-2.

In 2010, Heritage reached the second round of the state tournament, bringing it to a third game on the road before being eliminated from the playoffs. That season, Heritage earned a second seed by beating Habersham Central in the Region 8-AAAA Tournament, giving them a home series against Dunwoody in the Class AAAA playoffs.

Heritage defeated Dunwoody 9-1 and 14-0 in the first round before losing the first of a best-of-three series at Kell 5-3, winning the second 3-0 and getting eliminated 6-4.

McBay has served as Hightower's assistant throughout his time at Heritage and will lead the Lady Patriots in the 2012 opener at Woodland, Henry on Aug. 9.

McBay and Heritage's home opener will be against New Manchester on Aug. 13.