Region 1-AAA Semifinals
Grainger (13-11) at Tennessee High (22-4)
Today, 6 p.m.
The Skinny: This is a rematch from a season ago when Abby Haga’s solo home run in the fifth inning got the Tennessee High Vikings going in a 6-1 win at Grainger in the first round of the TSSAA Region 1-AAA tournament. … This is Tennessee High’s fourth straight trip to the regional tournament. The Vikings finished as regional runner-up in 2021 and 2023, while winning a regional championship in 2022. … Tennessee High topped David Crockett twice – by scores of 5-1 and 11-1 – to win the District 1-AAA tournament. “I was really proud of our team and how they played in the district tournament,” said THS coach David Boggs. “I was most pleased with the fact that it wasn’t just a few players, we had multiple people step up at different times. That makes a team unpredictable and hard to beat.” … Ace pitcher Carly Compton and freshman shortstop Addie Wilhoit have been mainstays all season for THS, but as Boggs mentioned it has been different folks coming through in the clutch all spring for the Vikings. … Tennessee High’s losses this season have been to Science Hill (twice), Karns and Lakota East of Ohio. … Alison Byrd, McKenna Kee, Jaylee Hayes and McKinley Mills have been the top performers for Grainger. … After opening up the district tournament with a 7-6 win over Greeneville, Grainger suffered 14-9 and 12-9 losses to the Greene Devils in finishing as tourney runner-up. “I let my team know we weren’t finished yet and that we still control everything in front of us,” said Grainger coach Ben Williford. “With only returning three starters from last year’s team we have competed very well in our district. Losing to Greeneville stings, but we have a lot of respect for them and the way they play the game. We are a young group, starting six freshmen, but have battled well this season. I'm looking forward to the challenge Monday evening.” … Tennessee High has taken care of business all season and will try to do the same once again today at Rotary Field. “[Tennessee High’s] added a really good pitcher from what I’ve heard and they have a solid team again from top to bottom,” Williford said. “We have our work cut out for us, but we will be ready to compete.”
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Up Next: The winner plays either Greeneville or David Crockett in Wednesday’s regional title game.