CoachT.com
Monday, May 14, 2001
Do or die
The road to Chattanooga starts to get a little steeper beginning this afternoon.
That's because 48 regional tournaments in the three classifications of baseball and softball are getting underway.
It's do-or-die time now, as a loss today means elimination.
Of the 32 teams left in each baseball classification only four will advance on to next week's Spring Fling. Softball sends eight teams from each classification.
Here's a look at what to expect from Monday's action.
BASEBALL
Class AAA
The only classification where the defending champion is not still in the running.
Murfreesboro Oakland's District 7-AAA championship victory over Murfreesboro Riverdale was overturned due to the Patriots violating a pitching rule.
Oakland pitcher Blake Melton exceeded the 10-inning limit placed on pitchers in consecutive games erasing a 12-11 win over the Warriors.
That loss may have made red-hot Columbia Central the odds-on-favorite in Region 4-AAA. Oakland defeated Central 13-3 in last year's regional finals.
The Lions will host Warren County, while Coffee County travels to Riverdale in the other matchup.
If the Lions win they must travel to Murfreesboro for the regional championship game, unless Coffee County wins.
If the Red Raiders win Columbia hosts the championship.
Potential sectional opponents for the Region 4-AAA winner are Chattanooga Red Bank, Bradley Central, Rhea County and Soddy-Daisy.
Only Germantown and Science Hill are left from last season's Final Four and both those squads must open on the road.
Class AA
All four Spring Fling participants from last season, led by defending state champion White House, are still alive. Unicoi County, McMinn Central and runner-up Covington all open the region at home.
In our area, Marshall County hosts Montgomery Central, while Richland travels to Fairview. The Tigers ousted Montgomery Central 18-5 in the last year's region championship.
A potential sectional matchup with White House could loom on the horizon if Marshall County or Richland were to advance.
The Tigers were eliminated by the Blue Devils in the sectionals last season.
Class A
Like Class AA all four Spring Fling participants are all still alive, but only Rockwood gets to host a region game. Defending champion Franklin Road Academy, Jackson Christian and Charleston all fell in their district championships and open on the road.
Cascade will be looking for revenge when it hosts Summertown. The Champions were eliminated by the Eagles in Summertown last season.
Mt. Pleasant will look to take care of area rival Chapel Hill. The Rockets eliminated CA last season before being ousted by Summertown in the regional finals.
The Tigers were very impressive in rolling to the District 12-A championship.
SOFTBALL
Class AAA
Only half of last season's Spring Flingers are still around this year, but defending champion Soddy-Daisy is among them. Joining Soddy-Daisy are Knoxville Powell, Beech and Jackson Central-Merry.
Columbia Central, fresh off its surprising run through the district tournament, hosts Lebanon. In the other half of the bracket Lincoln County and Oakland open the region for the second consecutive season.
Last season, the Lady Patriots defeated the Lady Falcons 4-0.
Class AA
This classification features the most returnees (seven) from last year. Defending champion Knoxville Gibbs, Kingston, Sweetwater, Chattanooga Central, David Lipscomb, Covington and Giles County are all back.
The Lady Bobcats will host Montgomery Central, while Marshall County travels to Waverly for a rematch from last season's regional tournament game won by the Lady Tigers.
Giles County defeated Marshall County for the regional crown before defeating Page in the secitionals. Marshall County fell to David Lipscomb in its sectional matchup.
Class A
The powerhouse defending champions from Ezell-Harding head a group of six Spring Fling participants that are still alive. Unaka, Cosby, Boyd-Buchanan, Davidson Academy and South Fulton make up the rest of that group.
Columbia Academy and Summertown will be looking for revenge as they were eliminated by Davidson Academy and Ezell-Harding, respectively, last season in the sectional round.
CA opens at home against Cornersville, while the Eaglettes travel to Chapel Hill.
That's because 48 regional tournaments in the three classifications of baseball and softball are getting underway.
It's do-or-die time now, as a loss today means elimination.
Of the 32 teams left in each baseball classification only four will advance on to next week's Spring Fling. Softball sends eight teams from each classification.
Here's a look at what to expect from Monday's action.
BASEBALL
Class AAA
The only classification where the defending champion is not still in the running.
Murfreesboro Oakland's District 7-AAA championship victory over Murfreesboro Riverdale was overturned due to the Patriots violating a pitching rule.
Oakland pitcher Blake Melton exceeded the 10-inning limit placed on pitchers in consecutive games erasing a 12-11 win over the Warriors.
That loss may have made red-hot Columbia Central the odds-on-favorite in Region 4-AAA. Oakland defeated Central 13-3 in last year's regional finals.
The Lions will host Warren County, while Coffee County travels to Riverdale in the other matchup.
If the Lions win they must travel to Murfreesboro for the regional championship game, unless Coffee County wins.
If the Red Raiders win Columbia hosts the championship.
Potential sectional opponents for the Region 4-AAA winner are Chattanooga Red Bank, Bradley Central, Rhea County and Soddy-Daisy.
Only Germantown and Science Hill are left from last season's Final Four and both those squads must open on the road.
Class AA
All four Spring Fling participants from last season, led by defending state champion White House, are still alive. Unicoi County, McMinn Central and runner-up Covington all open the region at home.
In our area, Marshall County hosts Montgomery Central, while Richland travels to Fairview. The Tigers ousted Montgomery Central 18-5 in the last year's region championship.
A potential sectional matchup with White House could loom on the horizon if Marshall County or Richland were to advance.
The Tigers were eliminated by the Blue Devils in the sectionals last season.
Class A
Like Class AA all four Spring Fling participants are all still alive, but only Rockwood gets to host a region game. Defending champion Franklin Road Academy, Jackson Christian and Charleston all fell in their district championships and open on the road.
Cascade will be looking for revenge when it hosts Summertown. The Champions were eliminated by the Eagles in Summertown last season.
Mt. Pleasant will look to take care of area rival Chapel Hill. The Rockets eliminated CA last season before being ousted by Summertown in the regional finals.
The Tigers were very impressive in rolling to the District 12-A championship.
SOFTBALL
Class AAA
Only half of last season's Spring Flingers are still around this year, but defending champion Soddy-Daisy is among them. Joining Soddy-Daisy are Knoxville Powell, Beech and Jackson Central-Merry.
Columbia Central, fresh off its surprising run through the district tournament, hosts Lebanon. In the other half of the bracket Lincoln County and Oakland open the region for the second consecutive season.
Last season, the Lady Patriots defeated the Lady Falcons 4-0.
Class AA
This classification features the most returnees (seven) from last year. Defending champion Knoxville Gibbs, Kingston, Sweetwater, Chattanooga Central, David Lipscomb, Covington and Giles County are all back.
The Lady Bobcats will host Montgomery Central, while Marshall County travels to Waverly for a rematch from last season's regional tournament game won by the Lady Tigers.
Giles County defeated Marshall County for the regional crown before defeating Page in the secitionals. Marshall County fell to David Lipscomb in its sectional matchup.
Class A
The powerhouse defending champions from Ezell-Harding head a group of six Spring Fling participants that are still alive. Unaka, Cosby, Boyd-Buchanan, Davidson Academy and South Fulton make up the rest of that group.
Columbia Academy and Summertown will be looking for revenge as they were eliminated by Davidson Academy and Ezell-Harding, respectively, last season in the sectional round.
CA opens at home against Cornersville, while the Eaglettes travel to Chapel Hill.
