Lowery, Sowell led softball teams to state
Looking at the two teams from the local area in the Class A state tournament – Huntingdon and Scotts Hill – they are both under their second season with a new head coach.
Huntingdon’s Jay Lowery and Scotts Hill’s Tyler Sowell both took over before the 2015 season and took their teams from missing the region tournament in 2015 to a state tournament berth in 2016.
Both head coaches have something else in common as they both played football at North Side in the early 2000s, but they did not have the chance to play together.
Sowell graduated in 2003, while Lowery played from 2004-06.
But both want to find themselves on the field on Friday in the state championship game.
•Huntingdon (35-8) vs. Forrest (28-9), 4 p.m.: The Fillies get to face the defending Class A state champions from last season in Forrest.
Four players graduated from last year’s Forrest team, so this year might have a different look.
Both teams are coming off of runner-up finishes in the region championship, but both won on the road in sectionals. Huntingdon lost to South Fulton 7-6, while Forrest lost to East Robertson 8-6.
Ensley, Smith help lead Huntingdon to state
The last time these two played was in 2008 when Forrest came away with a 1-0 victory.
The juniors and seniors on Huntingdon’s team do have state tournament experience as the Fillies finished in the top four of the state in 2014.
Senior Sara Beth Hayes will set the tone for Huntingdon in the circle and try to help the younger players ease into the game.
•Scotts Hill (28-15) vs. Summertown (27-12-1), 4 p.m.: Just like the other Class A game with a West Tennessee team, both of these teams lost in the region championship and went on the road to win in sectionals.
Summertown hasn’t shut an opponent out in its last 14 games, so Scotts Hill will want to get the bats going early.
These two teams have played twice in recent history with Summertown winning 9-1 in 2012 and 10-0 in 2010. The Lady Lions are a much different team now with lots of freshmen and sophomores in the lineup.
Scotts Hill stays ahead for sectional win
Scotts Hill has three shutouts in the postseason, and solid defense will be a key at this level.
The Lions have won five of their last six games since ending the regular season on a five-game losing skid.
Class AA
•Chester County (27-15) vs. White House-Heritage (40-8-1), 5:30 p.m.: The Eaglettes are back in the state tournament after a two-year absence. This season has been all about playing as a team and the defense making necessary plays for Chester County to win.
McKinley Farley has done most of the pitching recently as Madison Williams has been needed to fill in at third base. Farley will have to play relaxed and hit her spots.
This White House-Heritage team didn’t make the state tournament last year, but the Lady Patriots have played 49 games so far this season to be prepared for the state tournament.
Chester County softball beats Ripley for state berth
White House-Heritage did play in the Waverly Diamond Classic tournament against some West Tennessee teams.
The Lady Patriots beat Dyersburg 8-2, Tipton-Rosemark 5-3 and South Side 5-4 in that tournament.
They haven’t given up more that one run in any postseason game and outscored their opponents 35-3 in seven games.
Division II-A
•USJ (29-6-1) vs. Friendship Christian (36-8-1), 10 a.m. on Wednesday: The Lady Bruins are quite familiar with their opening opponent in the four-team Division II-A state tournament.
Friendship Christian eliminated the USJ from the postseason in the sub-state series last year. Friendship won Game 1 5-3, while USJ won Game 2 2-1, but the Lady Commanders walked away with Game 3 13-1.
USJ softball sweeps DCA to reach state tourney
Friendship is coming off a two-game sweep of Tipton-Rosemark, while USJ swept Donelson Christian Academy.
The Lady Commanders graduated four off last year’s team that won the state championship over King’s Academy.
USJ is a veteran group led by its seniors, and those seniors will remember losing to Friendship last year.
Ally McFarland has been dominant in the circle, while Addison Dunn and Anna Rice have led the team offensively.
Michael Odom, 425-9754