Memphis-area moments: Bartlett soccer gets historic TSSAA state tournament win

Wynston Wilcox
Memphis Commercial Appeal

Bartlett boys soccer coach Brandon Carter wanted his team to have play with some anger after losing to Collierville in the region finals last Thursday. He pulled his starters hoping they would turn that anger into triumph and they did against Rossview in the sectional round, getting their first state tournament berth in program history.  

They continued to play with that edge in Tuesday’s Division I-AAA quarterfinals match as they got their first state tournament win in program history with a 2-0 win over LaVergne.  

“I think it just fueled them and I think it reassured them,” Carter said of the getting the win over LaVergne.  

Bartlett’s Joseph Dawson scored both goals for Bartlett (15-3-3) in the shutout win. He scored his first with less than 10 minutes left in the first half and the second, seven-and-a-half minutes into the second half.  

The Panthers will play Brentwood (23-0) in the Class AAA semifinals on Wednesday. Kickoff is at 4 p.m. at the Siegel Soccer Complex.  

"Getting to do something for the first time in school history with such a young, special group of guys, you can't beat it," Carter said.

"It's an amazing feeling and getting that first win under your belt, I think it will give us confidence no matter who we play tomorrow. We're going to give it our all and it will be another lesson learned no matter what the result is."

Along with Bartlett’s historic win in the first round of the state tournament, here are some other top moments from Memphis area teams at the TSSAA spring championships.  

TOP TSSAA TRACK STAR:Before Jordan Ware became fastest sprinter in TSSAA history, he had to stop losing to his twin sister

SHEFFIELD SOCCER FORFEITS:Sheffield forfeits TSSAA soccer state tournament quarterfinal due to ineligible player

Kentucky signee Hudson Brown leads Northpoint past CAK 

Northpoint Christian dominated Christian Academy of Knoxville (27-10) in the Division II-A quarterfinals on Tuesday night, thanks to a big night from Hudson Brown. Brown, a Kentucky baseball signee, went 5-for-5 at the plate and batted in four runs in the Trojans’ 12-3 win over CAK.  

He was the only player with multiple hits in the game for Northpoint. 

The Trojans (33-6-1) opened the game scoring four runs in the first inning and not letting up. They scored in every inning except the third and fifth innings.  

They’ll play Goodpasture (35-4) on Wednesday for a 12:30 p.m. start. This will be a rematch of last year’s Division II-A state championship game. Northpoint won the first game 7-6 to force an if necessary game and lost the second game 12-1.  

Arlington softball stuns Farragut in Division I-4A state tournament 

Emily Richarde showed Farragut why she’s one of the best pitchers in the state tournament this season on Tuesday afternoon. The senior and all-time leader in strikeouts for the Tigers (29-6-1) had seven strikeouts as Arlington defeated the Admirals 6-3.  

Along with Richarde’s performance as pitcher, Breleigh Bunker and Brittanie Layton were the only two batters with multiple RBI. And every Arlington player that played except for one, recorded a hit.  

The Tigers’ road to the 4A softball semifinals doesn’t get an easier with Nolensville (40-14) on Wednesday afternoon. First pitch is scheduled for 4 p.m. 

Thomas Crabtree leads Collierville to school season record 40 wins 

While AJ Greene had the decisive home run in the first inning in Collierville’s 1-0 win over Hardin Valley, it was Thomas Crabtree’s play on the mound that sealed the Dragons’ win.  

Crabtree, a East Tennessee State baseball signee, struck out 11 batters and allowed just three hits in his first game of the 2023 state tournament and threw a complete game.  

Collierville (40-9) will play Centennial at 12:30 p.m. at Oakland HS on Wednesday in the winner’s bracket.  

Reach Wynston Wilcox at wwilcox@gannett.com and on Twitter @wynstonw__.