Tennessee High softball has become one of the most consistent programs in the region over the last three seasons, winning 70 games, falling in the Class AAA sectional tournament twice and reaching the Class AAA state tournament in 2022.
Expectations are high again for the Vikings, which finished 24-9 last season, placing second in the District 1-AAA and Region 1-AAA tournaments before falling at Gibbs in sectional action.
“I think our team will do well this year.,” said David Boggs, in his second season as head coach of the Vikings. “As with any team, we have areas that need improving. But these young ladies have a great work ethic, a lot of discipline, and a strong desire to improve their game. As long as we can hold on to those three things, I feel like the Lady Vikings will be a tough opponent for any team this season.”
While Tennessee High lost Rylee Fields and Ashley Worley to graduation, much of the excitement surrounding Tennessee High is the result of a pair of newcomers, junior Carly Compton, who pitched Tazewell to the Class 2 state championship last season, and freshman shortstop Addie Wilhoit, who is equally talented at softball as she is at basketball.
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“Carly and Addie are both welcome additions to the lineup,” said Boggs, whose Vikings are 8-2 on the season, with a tournament on tap beginning on Thursday in Myrtle Beach, S.C. “Both of these young ladies are very skilled and disciplined players who are certainly expected to help raise the bar for Tennessee High Softball. Compton will be doing a lot of the work in the circle and Wilhoit is sure to make her presence known in the middle of the infield.”
Boggs also expects contributions from a trio of other newcomers, including senior utility player Madeline Ratliff and freshmen Carrington Harris and Addison Glover.
“(They) are showing a lot of promise and are expected to have an impact this season,” he said.
At least three seniors are expected to starting time for the Vikings, including first baseman Maddi Hall, second baseman Mazzy Wilson and Ratliff. Junior contributors include Abby Haga, a talented catcher, both behind the plate and with the bat, in addition to third baseman Macie Strouth and outfielder Lily Ware. Sophomore Katy Granger can also play all over the field, including pitcher for Tennessee High.
Boggs is excited for what lies ahead for the Vikings.
“The girls work hard and hold each other to pretty high standards. They love to compete,” Boggs said. “I love the fact that they are never satisfied with their current situation. They are constantly looking for ways to improve their level of play. None of them wants to let their teammates or coaches down.”
His primary concern?
“Just making sure when we leave the field each day that we are a little better than we were the day before,” he said.
Tennessee High appears to be the preseason favorite in the Upper Lakes Conference, but Boggs is concerned about all the teams.
“Our conference is tough. Any team in the conference can be a threat.,” he said. “I certainly expect our team to be involved in the battle, but I also look for Elizabethton to be especially tough this year.”
SULLIVAN EAST
There will be plenty of youth on the Sullivan East softball, which includes just three players that saw varsity experience last season.
Among those who have departed are a trio of all-Upper Lakes Conference honorees, Katie Botts, who is now playing at Emory & Henry, along with Keelye Fields and Jayla Vance, along with Jenna Hare, Karlee Miller and Tori Leonard.
Sullivan East just 6-25 last season, but the Patriots have had success in recent seasons, winning 28 games and hosting a sectional game in 2019. Michael Forrester, in his 11th year as head coach of the Patriots, had posted a 168-160 record entering this season.
“We have hard workers and coachable players,” Forrester said. “I think we will be fine at the start of the season and will continue to improve as the season progresses and have a chance to be a very good team by the end.”
Leading the returnees is senior infielder Olivia Ashbrook, an All-Upper Lakes Conference performer last season, batting .288 with 11 RBIs. Senior Brooklyne Loudy can pick it at second base, compiling a .937 fielding percentage in 79 chances last season, while the leading returning pitcher is junior Raquel Del Prete, Jr., who was 0-3 in 10 appearances last season, starting five times for a total of 23 2/3 innings.
Junior Addison Holly, a rare southpaw at catcher, played 21 games at the position last season. Infielders could include senior Berkley Helbert, junior Kyndl Hodge and junior Laiklyn Meade, who missed last season with injury.
Seniors Carly Bradford and Shelbie Leffew will be joined in the outfield by Danielle Collins, a junior transfer from John Battle. Bradford, who had 26 putouts in left field last season, batted .238 in 24 starts and hit her first varsity home run last week against Rye Cove. Senior utility player Jade Sanders had four hits and drove in four runs in a win for the Patriots in Myrtle Beach, S.C. on Monday.
Freshman Breanna Rutledge, who joins Collins as a key newcomer for the Patriots, got her first varsity pitcher performance last week and performed admirably in a close loss to Rye Cove.
“Natalie has tremendous speed and will be a great addition to our outfield,” said Forrester, who likes his team’s defense, while being most concerned about the lack of varsity experience. “Breanna is the only underclassman on the varsity team.”
Forrest expects Tennessee High to be the team to beat in the Upper Lakes Conference but sees plenty to like about all five teams.
“Tennessee High will be very hard to handle after they added Carly Compton. Their offense was going to be very good with their returning players, adding Addie Wilhoit made the offense even better, and adding Compton helps the offense and gives them the pitcher they needed,” Forrester said. “Elizabethton will also be very good with Lela Byrd returning to pitch and will certainly be able to compete with Tennessee High.
“Unicoi County and David Crockett both have fantastic softball traditions and new coaches who bring energy and excitement to their programs, no win by either of those teams will be considered an upset in my eyes. I also think we will compete every time we take the field, so I guess we have 5 favorites.”
WEST RIDGE
It is year three for West Ridge softball and Bill Wagner, who had success in the past at Daniel Boone and East Tennessee State, likes what he sees from the Wolves, who have just one senior and she isn’t expected to start.
“The biggest challenge was trying to recreate what we did at Boone. That took years to do, but for the girls last year it started clicking for them, such as how do you prepare for practice, how to get ready, how to understand the mentality of a game,” Wagner said. “Little things like that and it has gotten to the point now to where I have got girls that can actually lead a full practice.
“The know what to expect. If somebody is not doing it right or someone has a little attitude some day, I have seen them grab them by the arm and take them out behind the dugout and say, ‘Listen, we have just got to hold ourselves to a higher level than that.’”
Wagner, whose Wolves won 18 games last season, certainly doesn’t mind challenging his team. They are in Alabama this week and play in the Eastman Invitational early next month.
“We played good teams (last year). We didn’t play anybody weak,” Wagner said. “We went to Alabama and we are going back there this year. We played good teams. We like to play.”
West Ridge is led by pitcher Victoria Browder, outfielder Lily Frazier and all-purpose contributor Natalie Moore.
“They do a great job of holding the girls accountable and leading by example more than anything,” Wagner said. “I am trying to make sure they understand the difference between managing and leading. They are developing into leaders now.”
Among other returnees to watch is sophomore Lacey Fugate, who led the Wolves 10 home runs last season, while Miranda Henley paced the Wolves with 12 wins in the circle as a freshman. Sierra Horton is the lone senior, while junior Savannah Pogue and sophomore Elliana Goodwin will be looking for playing time, as will nine freshmen.
“We have got a really good influx of freshmen this year and we have another influx coming in next year,” Wagner said.
That includes Kami Clark, Caydence Spears and Nila Horne. Other freshmen vying for playing time include Abby Berry, Bonnie Dolen, Cassidy Good, Graycen Harkleroad, Kaylee Hicks and Emma Wilson.
“All three of those play basketball. Some of them play volleyball too,” Wagner said. “I have got more multiple sport girls this year and I like that. I like girls that play multiple sports. I think it is good for the high school experience.”
Wagner said the Wolves’ goal this season is to be one of the two teams from the Big 4 Conference to earn a Region 1-AAAA berth.
“This year it is to advance to the region,” he said. “In our sport, we are not like basketball where a lot of teams get to go. We only get two teams that get to advance and this year we want to advance at least to the regionals. That is kind of our goal.”
He has a prescription on what it will take to get there.
“It is probably like this with every coach. You have got to stay focused on what the goal is,” Wagner said. “Sometimes you walk a fine line between having fun and enjoying the sport and staying focused and competing. I am not sure we are 100 percent there yet, but they are a lot better than they have been the last two years.”
He definitely knows the favorite in a league also includes Dobyns-Bennett, Science Hill and Daniel Boone.
“Dobyns-Bennett has got five or six D1 girls that have signed. They have got three really good pitchers, but you can only throw one of them at a time,” Wagner said. “I don’t know if we match up with them well, but we play them close. All our games with them the last two years have really been close games and quite honestly they have had a lot more talent than us. Our talent level is catching up now and that helps a lot.”
While practice is nice for every team, Wagner likes his team to learn in games, and they certainly did that, reaching 40 games before any other team in the area last season.
“We have had to work on things during the games because we will play. The last two years we hit 40 games before anybody else in our area. We will go play,” he said. “We are going to go play. If we are going to hit the field, let’s make it count.”