Tennessee High’s baseball team had already clinched the Upper Lakes Conference baseball title, but the Vikings are now the undisputed and undefeated holders of that crown.
The Vikings completed a perfect run through its league with a 15-5 victory over the Elizabethton Cyclones on Monday evening.
THS (23-4, 12-0) honored its 10 seniors prior to the game and Ashton Leonard turned out to the master of ceremonies on Senior Night as he blasted a first-inning grand slam to seize the momentum.
Bryson Hutton (2-for-3, two RBIs), Gage Graziano (2-for-5, three RBIs) and Chandler Myers (2-for-2, two runs) played well too.
Kaleb Feathers, Cooper Harris, Landon Sennet and Graziano teamed to pitch a six-hitter.
It was a good night all the way around.
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“Well, we’ve got 10 seniors and we talk about how they show up and compete every day,” said THS coach Preston Roberts. “They are high character and they are incredibly hard-working in the classroom and I think the team GPA is 3.73. That shows the yare smart and they also show up to work in classroom and life and corelates to baseball. … To win all their conference games. That’s hard to do. That’s a credit to those seniors. They are ones that set the tone and the younger guys have fed off that.”
Tennessee High opens the TSSAA District 1-3A tournament on Thursday at 6 p.m. at Tod Houston Field.
Elizabethton 100 031—5 6 4
Tennessee High 425 005—15 10 2
Whitehead, Atkinson (2), Rowland (3), Buckles (5) and Hooks. Feathers, Harris (2), Sennet (5), Graziano (5) and C. Meyers. W – Harris. L – Whitehead. HR – Leonard (THS), 1st, three on.
Chilhowie 16, Holston 4
The Chilhowie Warriors retained their firm grip on first place in the Hogoheegee District by hammering out a win over Holston.
Connor Smith had three hits, scored three runs and had five RBIs to lead the way for Chilhowie.
Dawson Tuell and Ben Kilbourne scored three runs apiece in the victory.
Kilbourne is hitting at a .462 clip, while Smith owns a .432 batting average after Monday’s performance.
“Connor and Ben have led us at the plate all season,” said Chilhowie coach Jeff Robinson. “Both are seasoned veterans and it is no surprise they are putting up the kind of numbers they have this year. Ben can do a lot of things offensively and Connor is one of the premier power hitters in the area.”
The Warriors (11-3, 5-0) used five pitchers, who combined to craft a four-hitter.
Brodie Richardson had two hits for Holston.
Chilhowie 060 113 5—16 13 0
Holston 000 004 0—4 4 5
Hill, Poe (4), N. Nash (5), Schwartz (6), Mabe (7) and Bowman. Widener, Mickens (6), Price (6) and N. Tweed. W – Hill. L – Widener. HR – none.
Eastside 19, Honaker 9
The Eastside Spartans exacted some revenge on Monday with Jed “The Masher” McCoy doling out most of the punishment.
McCoy went 4-for-4 with six RBIs as Eastside improved to 11-3 with a marquee non-district victory. He also pitched well in relief.
“McCoy was clutch at the plate and on the mound tonight,” said Eastside coach Chris Clay. “Happy for him. Great kid.”
Eastside had dropped a 9-7 decision to Honaker back on March 20, but the Spartans won the rematch.
Eastside led 8-2 after two innings, only to see the Tigers (8-5) rally back and tie the game at eight.
However, the Spartans exploded for nine runs in the fourth inning to seize control.
Clay Ward (4-for-4, five RBIs) also swung the bat successfully. Adam Burke, Will Johnson and Tanner Perry tallied two hits apiece.
It was the fifth straight game in which Eastside has scored in double digits.
Honaker received two hits from Matthew Nunley. The Tigers also received two RBIs apiece from Kam Beavers and Devon Hale.
Honaker 113 31—9 3 4
Eastside 440 92—19 17 4
Beavers, C. Ball (4), Lester (4) and Johnson. Perry, Nixon (3), Underwood (4), McCoy (4), Johnson (5) and Ward. W – McCoy. L – C. Ball. HR – none.
Virginia High 4, Tazewell 2
Virginia High and Tazewell have had a habit of playing close games over the past two seasons and the Bearcats prevailed once again on Monday night at Lou Peery Field.
VHS scored three runs in the top of the first inning and held off the Bulldogs.
The Bearcats had posted a 4-3 win over Tazewell on April 25.
“Pleased with our effort to get it done tonight,” said Virginia High coach Adam Moore. “Hats off to Tazewell for another hard-fought game.”
Luke Whitt, Bhraedon Meredith and Eli Hucks each had two hits for the Bristolians.
Meredith was the winning pitcher, while Ollie Foy got the final five outs to notch the save,
“I thought Bhraedon settled in well enough and Ollie came in and held the game down really well to preserve the W,” Moore said.
The Bearcats have won five straight and has allowed just 11 total runs during that streak.
“We are still looking for that timely hit,” Moore said. “Just got to keep grinding and find way.”
Nate Lambert had two hits for Tazewell. Tre Blankenship and Walker Patterson scored the runs for the Bulldogs.
Virginia High 300 001 0—4 8 1
Tazewell 100 001 0—2 4 3
Meredith, Foy (6) and Hucks. B. Patterson, Hash (6), Childress (7) and Brown. W – Meredith. L – B. Patterson. S – Foy. HR – none.
Rural Retreat 15, Northwood 5
Brycen Sturgill went 4-for-4 to set the pace as the Rural Retreat Indians notched a win over Hogoheegee District rival Northwood.
Jay Snavely and Trever Shelton supplied two hits apiece in the victory.
Rural Retreat had a dozen hits.
Eli Williams had two hits and two RBIs for Northwood.
Northwood 212 00—5 7 2
Rural Retreat 242 43—15 12 2
Nutter, Moore (4) and Prater. Fontaine, Bandrimer (3), Childers (5) and Rollyson. W – Fontaine. L – Nutter. HR – none.
Union 3, Wise County Central 1
What was the highlight of Union’s Mountain 7 District baseball victory over the Wise County Central Warriors on Monday?
Collyn Neff.
‘Nuff said.
The freshman struck out 10 and allowed just one earned run in 6 1/3 innings of work as he continued to impress.
Kam Bishop got the final two outs to notch the save and also had two hits.
Aidan Lane scored two runs in the win.
Union had just four hits, but took advantage of four Central errors.
Cayden Hayes and Nate West each had two hits for the Warriors. West also scored the team’s only run on an RBI from Jackson Willey.
Jaron Wyatt, also a ninth-grader, pitched five solid innings for Wise County Central.
Wise Central 010 000 0—1 6 4
Union 001 011 x—3 4 1
Wyatt, Hayes (6) and Kennedy. Neff, Bishop (7) and K. Chandler. W – Neff. L – Wyatt. HR – none.
Gate City 6, University High 4
Eli McMurray and Dakoda McMurray were McMasterful with two hits apiece as Gate City earned a win over the team from Johnson City, Tennessee.
Dakoda also got the win on the mound.
They are not related, but certainly share a kinship on the diamond.
Jackson Jones added two RBIs for the Blue Devils.
David Crockett 14, Sullivan East 1
Ronnie Hall went 3-for-4, scored three times and tallied two RBIs from the leadoff spot as David Crockett crushed Sullivan East for an Upper Lakes Conference win.
A six-run third inning put the Pioneers in complete control.
East managed just four hits – two each from Zack Johnson and Jonah Smith. Johnson scored the lone run on an RBI from Smith in the fifth inning.
The Patriots host Unicoi County on Wednesday in the opening round of the TSSAA District 1-3A tournament.
Giles 17, George Wythe 5
Leadoff man Christian Ratcliffe went 3-for-5 with two doubles and three runs scored to set the tone for the Giles Spartans in their Mountain Empire District victory.
Carson Stanley had two hits for GW, while Cade Bralley scored two runs.
Lee High 6, Harlan County (Ky.) 3
Konner Early and Cayden Tickner each had two hits as Lee High earned the victory.
Virgil Hobbs added two RBIs, while Jake Leonard and Nate Shelburne scored two runs apiece.
The Generals scored three times in the fifth inning to break a deadlock.
SOFTBALL
Holston 12, Chilhowie 11
In one of the wildest games played in Southwest Virginia this season, Holston earned a walk-off win over Hogoheegee District nemesis Chilhowie.
Holston led 11-2 after five innings and had the Cavaliers scored one more run in the fifth they would have won via the mercy rule.
However, Chilhowie scored eight times in the sixth inning and once more in the top of the seventh inning to inexplicably force a tie.
Holston won when Lucy Reid scored with one out in the bottom of the seventh inning on a ball hit by M.J. Musser.
Musser finished 3-for-5 with a home run and two RBIs. Rily Cobler also homered, while Maya Owens, Sydney Bishop and Reid finished with two hits apiece.
Kendall Dancy tripled and drove in three runs for Chilhowie. Payton Hester and Denessa Martin had two hits apiece.
Chilhowie 100 018 1—11 7 2
Holston 430 040 1—12 13 5
Dowell and Hester. Cobler and Owens. W – Cobler. L – Dowell. HR – Cobler (H); Musser (H)
Rural Retreat 14, Northwood 2
Caroline Cox went 3-for-3, doubled and scored three runs as Rural Retreat rolled to a Hogoheegee District victory.
The Indians led just 5-2 before erupting for nine runs in the fourth inning.
Elaina Terry added two hits and two RBIs in the win, while Kailey Davidson pitched a three-hitter.
Karlee Frye had two of Northwood’s and scored both runs for the Panthers. The squad from Saltville was hurt by six errors.
Northwood 101 00—2 3 6
Rural Retreat 221 9x—14 11 3
Doane and Dick. Davidson and Buckingham. W – Davidson. L – Doane. HR – none.
J.I. Burton 7, Castlewood 3
Jordan Frazier homered and Jordan Mooney pitched a two-hitter with 14 strikeouts as the J.I. Burton Raiders earned a crucial Cumberland District victory.
Frazier finished with two hits, as did Mackayla McCurdy, Shay Henderson and Savannah Adams.
Jozy Phillips doubled, scored a run and tallied an RBI for Castlewood.
Bailee Varney had the other hit, while Lexus Mullins and Anna Summers also scored. The Blue Devils scored all three of their runs in the sixth inning.
Castlewood 000 003 0—3 2 0
J.I. Burton 001 420 x—7 12 0
Summers and Phillips. Mooney and Henderson. W – Mooney. L – Summers. HR – Frazier (JIB)
Union 10, Ridgeview 5
Aliyah Davidson went 2-for-3 with two RBIs as Union outlasted Ridgeview for a Mountain 7 District victory.
Kylee Castle and Keelie Sutphin also had two hits apiece for the Bears, while Addison Toney scored two runs and tallied two RBIs.
Braelynn Strouth went 3-for-4 to lead Ridgeview at the plate. Ava Stanley drove in two runs for the Wolfpack.
Eastside 9, Richlands 4
Jada Jordan went 2-for-4 with three RBIs as the Eastside Spartans earned a non-district win over Richlands in a matchup between two of the top softball teams in Southwest Virginia.
Emma Sartin added two hits and was also the winning pitcher as she teamed with Braelyn Hall to toss a six-hitter with 11 strikeouts.
Haley Day, Taylor Clay and Emmaleigh Banks scored two runs apiece for the crew from Coeburn. It was Eastside’s second win over Richlands this season.
The Spartans (12-1) led 4-1 after two innings.
Arin Rife had two hits for Richlands, while Ady Moore drove in two runs.
Richlands 010 030 0—4 6 4
Eastside 231 201 x—9 9 3
Fuller, Rife (5) and Moore. Sartin, Hall (6) and Compton. W – Sartin. L – Fuller. HR – none.
Hancock County 22, Thomas Walker 0
Hancock County’s Cylee Seal pitched a three-inning perfect game as the Indians overwhelmed Thomas Walker.
Seal struck out seven of the nine batters she faced. Hancock scored 16 times in the third inning to elicit the mercy rule.
George Wythe 5, Giles 0
Olivia Shockley pitched a one-hitter with 11 strikeouts as the George Wythe Maroons held the Spartans of Giles scoreless.
Makena Gilman (2-for-4, three RBIs) and Shockley (3-for-4, two RBIs) were also the leaders at the plate.
Tennessee High 10, Morristown East 0
Carly Compton was locked in on Monday.
What else is new?
The Tazewell transfer pitched a no-hitter with 14 strikeouts and no walks, while also going 2-for-3 with a home run and three RBIs as the Tennessee High Vikings had no trouble with Morristown East.
The only Morristown East baserunner came on a hit by pitch to start the fourth inning.
Maddi Hall (3-for-4, three RBIs), Katy Granger (2-for-3, RBI) and Addie Wilhoit (2-for-3, RBI) were standouts as well.
The Vikings (20-3) committed no errors.
Elizabethton 5, Lee High 1
Chloe Bledsoe had two hits, but it wasn’t enough as the Lee High Generals lost to Elizabethton.
Gracie Garrett scored the only run for Lee, crossing the plate in the first inning on an RBI by Chloe Calton.
Science Hill 15, Sullivan East 4
Maddie Diamond went 3-for-3 with a home run and five RBIs as Science Hill stomped Sullivan East for a non-conference win.
Natalie Collins scored two runs, while Addison Holly (2-for-2, two doubles) and Raquel De Prete (two RBIs) were the leaders for the Patriots at the plate.
East committed six errors.
Sullivan East 022 000—4 5 6
Science Hill 331 125—15 14 4
Del Prete and Holly. Kelley, Conner (4) and Pickering. W – Kelley. L – Del Prete. S – Conner. HR – Diamond (SH), 6th, two on.
GIRLS SOCCER
Gate City 6, Lee High 0
Bekah Reid scored three goals and Georgia Griffis dished out three assists as Gate City cruised to a Mountain 7 District victory.
Emma Reed, Abigail Tate and Aubrey Smith also found the back of the net.
Madison Tipton’s two assists were also notable.
Goalkeepers Erin Hensley and Avery Elam combined for four saves in the shutout.
Graham 5, Lebanon 0
Ella Dales added three more goals to her ever-growing total as the Graham G-Girls lambasted Lebanon.
Honaker 3, John Battle 1
Julia Barton, Kedryn Hess and Kiley Musick scored Honaker’s goals as the Tigers topped the Trojans of John Battle.
BOYS SOCCER
Virginia High 4, Tazewell 1
Virginia High received two goals each from Gamble Stevens and Tijn Lak in a Southwest District triumph at Gene Malcolm Stadium.
Stevens, Owen Dean and Carter Price had assists for the Bearcats.
George Wythe 1, Grayson County 1
The Maroons and Blue Devils played to a tie in their Mountain Empire District match.
Graham 7, Lebanon 3
Dennis Thomas (four goals) and Blake Graham (three goals) starred in Graham’s Southwest District victory.
Carter Dillon scored all three of Lebanon’s goals.
Gate City 4, Lee High 0
Bryson Smith was in goal for the shutout as the Gate City Blue Devils blanked Lee.
GIRLS TENNIS
Abingdon 6, John Battle 3
Singles
Grayson Woodall (A) def. Mackenzie Smith, 6-0, 6-0; Eliza Cozart (A) def. Acadia Sah, 8-2; Wrenn Rainero (A) def. Addie Reedy, 8-2; Claire Kreutzer (JB) def. Katy Creasy, 8-4; Allison Smith (JB) def. Eller Buddington, 8-6; Melanie Bedwell (A) def. Reese Ratliff, 8-2.
Doubles
Woodall-Rainero (A) def. Sah-Reedy, 6-1, 6-4; M. Smith-A. Smith (JB) def. Cozart-Bedwell, 8-6; Creasy-Buddington (A0 def. Kreutzer-Ratliff, 8-2.
Lebanon 5, Richlands 0
Singles
Bailey Collins def. Bonney, 8-0; Dye def. Hammond, 8-0.
Doubles
Averi Russell-Bailey Collins 8-0 def. Hannah Brooks/Bayleigh Bonney, 8-0; Kenzie Boyd-Calli Dye def. 8-0 Emily Rohrer-Reagan Boyd, 8-0; Meagan Helton-Marley Bush (L) def. Hammond-Griffith, 8-3.
Notes: the other single matches were not finished in this Southwest District doubleheader.
Lebanon 9 Graham 0
Singles
Averi Russell def. Jordan Lambert, 8-3; Bailey Collins def. Rileigh Gibson, 8-2; Kenzie Boyd def. Kailee Carr, 8-1; Calli Dye def. Madee Young, 8-4; Meagan Helton def. Kaleigh Menefee, 8-0; Marley Bush def. Sydney Gasperson, 8-0.
Doubles
Russell-Collins def. Lambert-Carr, 8-4; Boyd-Dye def. Gibson-Young, 8-0; Amber Davidson-Mercedes Raguz def. Menefee-Gasperson, 8-3.