Dobyns-Bennett’s softball opponents have had a devil of a time against Julianne Tipton — or a “Sun Devil” of a time if you will.
Two weeks into her senior year, the Arizona State signee has pitched two no-hitters.
And it’s not like they came against weak competition. In fact, the first came against last year’s 4A state runner-up — a Daniel Boone squad very much in contention for another trip to Murfreesboro.
Tipton’s duel with Boone pitcher Ava Saul certainly had a postseason feel, a nine-inning marathon resolved only by Allie McConnelee’s solo home run to lead off the final frame.
As if that wasn’t enough, the Lady Indians and Lady Trailblazers are slated to meet twice more this regular season before the district tournament begins — April 9 in Kingsport and April 18 in Gray. And then comes the seemingly inevitable postseason collision.
Speaking of McConnelee, the D-B sophomore already has three saves in the circle. And three other Lady Indians have wins to their names entering Monday.
Kaylea Osborne — the other half of Boone’s 1-2 punch in the circle — got the win Monday afternoon against Alabama’s defending 7A state champion Thompson. As for Saul, she shook off her loss to 5A state runner-up Curry by hitting the deciding two-run bomb in the first inning.
BIG TIME BIG FOUR
With its 8-2 start to the season, Science Hill had already surpassed last year’s win total two weeks into the 2024 season. The Lady Hilltoppers sent an early message with their 9-0 win over West Ridge, a dangerous team especially with junior ace Victoria Browder.
But a one-hitter from sophomore Isabel Meeks gave the Lady ‘Toppers the upper hand to this point.
CROCKETT COMING ALONG
The Lady Pioneers have developed a 1-2 punch of their own in the pitcher’s circle — senior Cara Wilson and freshman Madelyn Dulaney. The latter tossed her first no-hitter against Morristown West in the East Tennessee Classic, where the Lady Pioneers also played Dobyns-Bennett to a one-run game.
And that came a week after Dulaney dueled with Tennessee High ace Carly Compton, a 2-1 victory for the Lady Vikings.
BASEBALL GLANCE
Crockett’s baseball team, which already owns a win against last year’s 3A state champion Greeneville, took a 3-3 mark into Monday’s district opener with Tennessee High.
Dobyns-Bennett, 8-0 for the first time in a decade, is spending spring break in Charleston, South Carolina. But then it’s down to business with a two-game series against Daniel Boone on April 1-2.
The Trailblazers have already created a logjam in the District 1-4A standings with their split against Science Hill.
WHITSON GOES DOWN FIGHTING
Something else this sportswriter noticed during the TSSAA state tournament at MTSU’s Murphy Center — all the Blue Raiders’ women’s basketball players had their headshots framed and displayed in the hallway next to the coaches’ offices. But at first, one particular headshot appeared to be missing.
Turned out, Courtney Whitson’s headshot was there. But it was located in the concourse next to the team entrance — the first headshot visible to anyone without going further into the corridor.
Appropriate, considering what the Dobyns-Bennett graduate accomplished with the Blue Raiders.
Only the second member of MTSU’s 1,500-point, 1,000-rebound club, Whitson led the Raiders to a 30-5 record in her final season.
For the 30th win, Whitson scored seven points and seven rebounds with two blocks, helping MTSU upset Louisville and advance to the second round of the NCAA tournament. The Raiders’ 18-point comeback was the third-largest in NCAA women’s tournament history.
“This is the platform you work for,” Whitson said after her final game, MTSU’s second-round loss to defending champion LSU. “I get to represent my faith, I get to represent my community … it’s been a long journey, but I’m thankful for it.”
So is Northeast Tennessee.
