Former Farragut star pitcher Avery Flatford transferring to Lady Vols softball

Former Farragut star pitcher Avery Flatford is returning to Knoxville and will transfer to Tennessee to play for Lady Vols softball, she announced on social media. 

“Tennessee will always be Home to me!! Thank you to @KarenWeekly, @MRhodesSmith and @Vol_Softball for this great opportunity!” she wrote on X, formerly Twitter. 

Flatford, now a sophomore, spent her freshman season at Tennessee Tech where she appeared in seven games and pitched in 8.1 innings in 2023. 

Flatford has excelled in athletics since being diagnosed with cystic fibrosis at 18 months old. This genetic disease causes mucus in various organs to thicken, which often impacts the lungs. It can cause airways to clog and increase susceptibility to infection by trapping germs. The disease is progressive and lifelong, and the average life expectancy is around 44 years old.

Her perseverance led her to receive Knox News’ Courage Award in 2022. 

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When she attended Farragut, she won back-to-back state championships and was named the District 4-4A Pitcher of the Year in 2021 and 2022. As a junior, she had a 22-0 record, a 1.34 ERA and 279 strikeouts. She finished her senior season with a 19-0 record, a 1.16 ERA and 267 strikeouts. She totaled 694 strikeouts in her high school career.

Flatford was named to Knox News' PrepXtra first team and the all-state team by the Tennessee Softball Coaches Association and the Tennessee Sports Writers Association.

Toyloy Brown III is a Knox News sports reporter. Email toyloy.brown@knoxnews.com. On X, formerly known as Twitter, @TJ3rd_.