Lady ‘Blazers Fend Off Lady Wolves, Stay Atop Big East
After four scoreless innings, Daniel Boone went oppo in producing a 5-2 victory at West Ridge Monday evening. Riley Croley, Anna Richardson and Josie Jenkins all went the other way with key run-producing hits to fend off the Lady Wolves. “We’ve worked on that (opposite field hitting) for two weeks,” said Daniel Boone coach Jeremy Jenkins. “People have really been trying to keep away from Riley and our right-handed hitters. They’ve really tried to bust us away and we’ve worked on that to try and go the opposite way as much as we can.” Croley broke the ice, poking a two-out double to left center that plated McKenzie Strouth in the top of the fifth. “Riley’s hit really got us going and after we got ahead, we exhaled a little bit,” added Jenkins. Ava Saul opened the visitor’s sixth with a single. Courtesy runner Sadie Hall moved to second on a wild pitch, to third on clean-up hitter Kyleigh Bacon’s sacrifice bunt and scored on a double to right field by five-hole hitter Anna Richardson. Richardson then stole third and scored on a throwing error. “Anna is a tremendously hard worker, really works a lot on her own, wanting to get better at her craft,” noted Jenkins. “She could be up in the lineup because of her speed, but we like her at five with the opportunity to knock in runs because she’s one of our better hitters against good pitching. She likes it down there and she’s hitting right at .400.” Taylor Brinn walked with one out in the seventh, advanced to second on a ground out and scored on Jenkins’ base knock to right. After two base on balls, Jenkins came home with Boone’s fifth run to make it 5-0. “Late in the game, I thought we did a better job at the plate,” Jenkins said. We executed some short game. We kind of forced the issue a little bit and got a lot of things from a lot of different people.” Including of course, the interchangeable Saul and Kaylea Osborne in the circle and at first. Tossing the odd innings, Saul struck out six and allowed just two hits with Oborne working the even allowing one hit and fanning four. “Our pitching has really been the difference in games,” noted Jenkins. “They kept us in the game and we got enough hits there late with runners on.” Boone tallied only five hits in the game, four off West Ridge starter Miranda Henley. “We didn’t have a lot of good at-bats,” added Jenkins. “We haven’t really ever hit her hard either the last two years. She does a good job of hiding the ball late.” West Ridge also scored late, plating two runs in the bottom of the seventh. Pinch-hitter Sierra Horton drew a walk and later scored on Lily Frazier’s triple. Frazier would come home on a Nila Horne sacrifice bunt. Horton is the only senior for the 21-13 Lady Wolves noted coach Bill Wagner, who earlier had reflected on a three-year-old photo depicting early construction of the West Ridge diamond. “From 2021 to 2024 and where we are at, I’m pretty darn happy about it,” said Wagner. “We are just right there. With that being said, I expect to win every game. We had two errors tonight that hurt. The West Ridge line-up also routinely features four freshmen, sometimes five. “Some are still learning they belong. We’re getting better, but still have to learn the final little stab and finish it.” The victory keeps the Lady ‘Blazers (4-1, 17-10) atop the Big East Conference, which will see a frenzy of league contests over the next week. West Ridge hosts Dobyns-Bennett Tuesday and Daniel Boone again on Thursday before closing out the league slate next Tuesday at Science Hill. In addition to its rematch with the Lady Wolves, Daniel Boone plays at Science Hill Tuesday, hosts the Lady ‘Toppers on Wednesday and play at Dobyns-Bennett next Tuesday. Daniel Boone0000122-- 5 5 1 West Ridge0000002-- 2 3 4 Daniel Boone – Ava Saul, Kaylea Osborne (2), Ava Saul (3), Kaylea Osborne (4), Ava Saul (5), Kaylea Osborne (6), Ava Saul (7) and McKenzie Strouth, Kyleigh Bacon (5). West Ridge – Miranda Henley, Victoria Browder (6) and Natalie Moore, Savannah Pogue (6). W – Ava Saul, L – Miranda Henley. 2B – Anna Richardson, Daniel Boone 2; Riley Croley, Daniel Boone. 3B – Lily Frazier, West Ridge. RBI - Daniel Boone 3 (Riley Croley, Josie Jenkins, Anna Richardson), West Ridge 2 (Lily Frazier, Nila Horne). SAC – Kyleigh Bacon, Daniel Boone; Nila Horne, West Ridge. SB - Daniel Boone 3 (Anna Richardson, Taylor Brinn, Sadie Hall), West Ridge 1 (Kami Clark). LOB - Daniel Boone 6, West Ridge 3.
Lady Indians Celebrate Most Successful Class by Fending Off Unicoi Rally
The Dobyns-Bennett softball program bid farewell to the most successful senior class in team history on Monday evening. After all the ceremony and, yes, tears, the Lady Indians ended up having to fend off a lengthy rally by Unicoi County in the seventh inning before securing a 13-10 win at Indian Highland Park. The honored seniors include Catie Zani, Payton Moore, Sophie Dean, Julianne Tipton, Reagan Hollowell, Claudia Maness, and Hannah Frye. Six of the seniors started; Frye, who signed with Gardner-Webb to play softball back in November, has missed the entire senior campaign due to an injury sustained during the basketball season. Six of the seven seniors are set to play softball at the next level. In addition to Frye signing with Gardner-Webb, Tipton has inked with Arizona State, Zani is headed to Maryville College, Dean will go to Lincoln Memorial, Maness is bound for Pikeville in Kentucky, and Moore is set to attend Johnson University in Knox County. This outgoing senior class has reeled off 95 total victories, and counting. The Tribe also advanced to the TSSAA sectionals in 2022, the deepest postseason run in program history. It’s a large and close group, as several of the seniors attested. “We played with each other for a long time,” said Zani, who went 4-for-5 with a pair of runs scored and two RBIs. “We've been through it all together. We played since we were little, all together. It's really emotional with us all going our separate ways.” “I really thought I wasn't gonna cry. But then I saw everyone start crying and it just hit me that this is senior year and I'm almost done,” added Hollowell. “We’re definitely tight knit,” Tipton said. “This group of seniors has been playing either with each other or against each other for the past 10 years. It's hard not to be close, you know what I mean? You're always together, you're always fighting for each other, you're always on the same team.” After spotting Unicoi a 2-1 lead early, the Lady Indians (22-9) plated seven consecutive runs, then five more after Unicoi pushed across a pair in the top of the fifth, and seemed on the way to a blowout win with a 13-4 lead in hand. Instead, Unicoi proved to be extremely persistent in preventing that final out. The Lady Devils (10-22) had eight consecutive batters reach base, all with two outs showing in the top of the seventh, to account for the final score. The 10th Unicoi run came home on the final play of the game: an Aaliyah Engle RBI single, but the contest ended when one of the runners on base was thrown out trying to advance to third. “If they hadn't made a base running blunder we might still be playing. It's just crazy,” Tribe coach Andy Hubbard said. Unicoi rotated the two Engles – Aaliyah and Kyndal – with Katey Toney in the circle, making four total pitching changes in the game all involving that trio. Dean went the distance for D-B. Offensively, two of the underclassmen in the Tribe lineup did significant damage. Allie McConlee went 4-for-5 with four runs scored, a double, and a solo home run. Hailey Porter also homered – her 12th of the season – as part of a 2-for-5 day. Tipton also went 2-for-5 but drove in four runs, including a two-run single in the third inning. Dean also was 2-for-5 with an RBI, while Maness singled and drove in a run. Hollowell, usually a reserve player for the Lady Indians, had a hit and walked with the bases loaded for an RBI. “I was really excited to play,” Hollowell said. “It was great.” This is just the start of a busy week for the Tribe. D-B has three league games upcoming – at West Ridge tonight, followed by back-to-back home games this Thursday and Friday against Science Hill. “It was a good senior night. They're happy. We've just got to play better the rest of the week, you know?” Hubbard said. There is still more softball to be played but the reflections brought on by senior night had these outgoing Lady Indians wistful. “These past four years have been hard, emotional and I'm very much ready to take the next step but I'm so sad to leave,” Tipton said. Unicoi County0200206-- 10 14 5 Dobyns-Bennett103441x-- 13 16 3 Unicoi County - Kyndal Engle, Katey Toney (2), Alliyah Engle (4), K. Engle (5), Toney (6) and A. Engle, Kianna Woodward (4), A. Engle (5); Dobyns-Bennett – Sophie Dean and Riley McMillan. W - Dean. L - Toney. 2B - Unicoi 1 (Miley Woodward), D-B 3 (Hailey Porter, Allie McConlee, Julianne Tipton). HR - D-B: McConlee (5th, solo), Porter (6th, solo). RBI - Unicoi County 7 (Kinley Carver, Katlyn Nelson, A. Engle, K. Engle, Toney, Bennett, M. Woodward), Dobyns-Bennett 11 (Tipton 4, Catie Zani 2, Claudia Maness, Reagan Hollowell, Porter, McConlee, Dean). SB - West Ridge 1 (Lily Frazier), Dobyns-Bennett 1 (Moore). HBP - Unicoi County 1 (K. Woodward). SH - Unicoi County 1 (Nelson). SF - Unicoi County 1 (Carver). LOB - Unicoi County 6, Dobyns-Bennett 10.
West Ridge Netters Sweep Volunteer on Senior Day
West Ridge celebrated eight seniors that have left their collective mark on the Wolves’ tennis program on Monday afternoon with 9-0 sweeps over Volunteer. Facing the short-handed Falcon boys only four matches were competed with seniors Trey West and Sawyer Tate picking up an 8-2 win at No. 1 doubles. In the singles matches, Spencer Manis, Elijah Hood and Dayton Baker were all victorious, 8-0, as the Wolves ended the regular season at 7-4. “Sawyer, Trey and Bryson Horne all played other sports and came over and helped have a winning season,” said West Ridge coach Jim Smith. “They made up for a lack of experience with their athletic ability and 100 percent hustle every day.” Lady Wolves’ seniors Angelina Kerney, Casey Wampler, Chloe Campbell, Abbey Hoover, and Jenna Fields were part of six of the nine wins against the Lady Falcons. Kerney took the win at No. 1 singles over Kyndal Shultz, 8-1. “Angelina has played 1 for us for the last two seasons,” noted Smith. “She may be the smartest player to ever play for me on the girls’ side. She has only dropped two matches all season, one at Science Hill and the other at Tennessee High.” As she’s done all season, Kerney teamed with Brevard volleyball signee Casey Wampler for the top doubles win, 8-2. “Casey has played No. 1 doubles with Angelina and her athletic ability is on full display in every match.” continued Smith. Campbell won No. 3 singles, 8-0 while Daphne Lucas took the No. 2 singles victory, 8-2. The two then teamed for an 8-2 win at No. 2 doubles. “Chloe Campbell is a big hitter that won a bunch of matches for us the last three seasons,” Smith said. Hannah Smith and Abbey Hoover completed singles plays with 8-0 wins at the fifth and sixth spots. “Abbey Hoover is the ultimate team player that has cracked the top six this season,” added Smith. “She seems to always have a positive attitude and gives maximum effort on the court.” Hoover and Fields also won 8-0 in the final doubles match. “Jenna (Fields) has played all four years she has been in high school, the first at Sullivan Central and the last three here at West Ridge,” noted Smith. “She has the kind of personality and attitude that will take her far in life. It was great to see her get a win on senior night playing doubles with Abbey.” The Lady Wolves improved to 6-5 on the season, heading into the week’s West Ridge Classic that has been trimmed to just include Elizabethton and Sullivan East. “We had a couple of other schools back out because of scheduling issues due to the weather we had a few weeks ago,” explained Smith. “They needed to play postponed conference matches.” The classic will include individual singles and doubles as well as mixed doubles. “It’s kind of like an individual tournament,” advised Smith. “Players from the same schools will probably end up playing each other. It is really just for fun and the kids love playing mixed, which is something we don't do in our regular matches. The whole thing should be a lot of fun before the district tournaments start next week.” Science Hill will host the District Tournaments beginning next Monday. West Ridge 9, Volunteer 0 – Boys Singles 1. Spencer Manis def. Ethan Vaughn, 8-0 2. Elijah Hood def. Kelton McAmis, 8-0 3. Dayton Baker def. Brayden Buchanan, 8-0 4. West Ridge def Volunteer walkover 5. West Ridge def Volunteer walk over 6. West Ridge def Volunteer walk over Doubles 1. Trey West/Sawyer Tate def. Buchanan/McAmis, 8-2 2. West Ridge def. Volunteer walk over 3. West Ridge def. Volunteer walkover West Ridge 9, Volunteer 0 – Girls Singles 1. Angelina Kerney def. Kyndal Shultz, 8-1 2. Daphne Lucas def. Reagan Lipe, 8-2 3. Chloe Campbell def. Bayley Jones, 8-0 4. Anna Fain def. Gracelyn Barner, 8-1 5. Hannah Smith def. Jollee Doldia, 8-0 6. Abbey Hoover def. Madelyn Lawson, 8-0 Doubles 1. Kerney/Wampler def. Lipe/Shultz, 8-2 2. Lucas/Campbell def. Barner/Jones, 8-2 3. Fields/Hoover def. Lawson/Doldia, 8-0
West Ridge built a 5-0 lead in the fourth and held on for a 5-4 win over Elizabethton Saturday afternoon at Northeast Community Credit Union Ballpark. Cade Duncon went the distance on the mound for the Wolves (8-13), scattering seven hits and allowing three earned runs. Duncan had to snuff out a fifth inning rally that saw the Cyclones cut the deficit to just one. Brayden Barr went 2-for-4 at the plate with a double and two runs batted in for West Ridge. Alex Ireson also doubled home a run and Kas Click finished 2-for-4 with one run driven in. Steven Meadows and Rhett Slagle combined for four of the Cyclones’ seven hits, going 2-for-3. Meadows drove in two runs and Slagle plated one. West Ridge2111000-- 5 8 1 Elizabethton0001300-- 4 7 1 West Ridge – Cade Duncan and Josh Seto. Elizabethton – Brayden Buckles, Jeriah Griffin (4) and Carson Atkinson. W – Cade Duncan, L – Brayden Buckles. 2B – Brayden Barr, West Ridge; Alex Ireson, West Ridge; J.D. Hooks, Elizabethton. RBI – West Ridge 5 (Brayden Barr 2, Kade Oliver, Alex Ireson, Kas Click), Elizabethton 4 (Steven Meadows 2, J.D. Hooks, Rhett Slagle). SB – West Ridge 4 (Ryker Hann 2, Kas Click, Josh Seto).
Major Osbolt and Cole ReSue combined on a two-hit shutout in Science Hill’s 3-0 win over Bearden Saturday afternoon at TVA Credit Union Ballpark. Osbolt worked the first five innings striking out seven for the win with ReSue tossing the final two frames fanning a pair for the save. Both allowed one Bulldog hit. Osbolt also drove in one of the ‘Toppers (24-9) three runs on the day. Landon Smelser and Sam Lane drove in the other two runs. Providence Academy 17, Harlan County 0 The Knights scored three runs in each of the first three innings and capped the win over the Bears with eight runs in the fourth. Providence also bashed five homers in the game, three coming from Josh Owens and two from Nathan Eisfelder. Owens singled in the first inning and then hit three straight home runs, connecting on a solo shot in the second and roping three-run blasts in the third and fourth innings finishing with seven RBI’s and four runs scored. Eisfelder went 3-for-4 with a double and three runs scored. Cracking a three-run homer in the first, Eisfelder then smashed a solo shot in the second. Rinaldo Matti and Austin Price both added two hits with Matti roping a double and scoring twice and Price crossing three times. Price was also part of a combined no-hitter that saw a dozen of the 15 outs recorded by strikeouts. Aiden Sproles started and struck out six in two innings. Price fanned three in his two innings and Grant Gentry whiffed the side in his frame. Providence Academy 14, Cherokee 0 The Knights erupted for nine runs in the first inning, all after two were out, against the Chiefs. Sproles and Matti drove in three runs apiece. Matti also scored three runs on his 3-for-4 effort that included a pair of homers with Sproles finishing 2-for-3 with a double, home run and two runs scored. Merritt Runnels went 3-for-3, Tine Bowman and Niebauer were 2-for-4 and Price was 2-for-4 with all driving in a run and scoring another. Price hit two doubles and Bowman one. Owens cracked his fifth homer of the weekend and drove in two runs while earning the win on the mound with three innings of work. Nash Martinez pitched two innings and both struck out four and allowed two hits. Cherokee 13, Northview Academy 3 The Chiefs started the day with seven runs in the second inning and sixth in the fifth for the five-inning decision over the Cougars. Cole Putnal went yard on a three-run homer in the first and finished with four RBI’s and two runs scored. Porter Owen and Mason Emory both drove in two runs with Owen also scoring two times and cracking a double. Clay Wagoner, Keaton Lawson and Manning Brooks hit safely twice and all drove in a run. Wagoner and Lawson also scored twice. Brooks went the distance on the hill, allowing six hits, one earned run and striking out three. Volunteer 3, North Greene 2 Anthony Blasani went 2-for-2 with a walk and two runs driven in for the Falcons. Austin Williams limited the Huskies to just four hits and one earned run while striking out six.
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