After four unsuccessful sectional trips, Dobyns-Bennett’s softball team steamrolled through to the Big Dance this time.
The Lady Indians are making their first-ever trip to the state tournament, and they don’t appear to be content with just getting there.
Hailey Porter blasted her 17th home run to cap D-B’s 5-0 sectional win over Farragut, another shutout win for pitcher and Arizona State signee Julianne Tipton. Allie McConnelee also had a solo shot in the historic victory.
The Tribe make their state tournament debut Tuesday at 2 p.m. Eastern, taking on Walker Valley (30-7-1). The Lady Mustangs are making their fourth trip to Murfreesboro, and the first since finishing runner-up in 2018. They’ve won two straight games by scores of 2-1, including their sectional win over Smyrna.
Arlington and Nolensville will be on D-B’s side of the bracket, meaning the Lady Indians wouldn’t possibly face defending champion Green Hill until Friday morning’s state championship game at MTSU.
BOYS SOCCER
Just when outsiders thought it was safe to count out Science Hill, the Hilltoppers did what no Class AAA boys soccer team in Northeast Tennessee had done recently — win a sectional match in Knox County.
Science Hill will face a Howard team on a 10-match winning streak, as the Hustlin’ Tigers advanced with a 2-1 win over LaVergne in the AAA sectional.
Science Hill is 4-1 all time in the state quarterfinal round, most recently advancing with a 3-0 win over Cleveland in the 2017 Class AAA state tournament. The Hilltoppers are 8-9 all-time at the Big Dance, finishing state runner-up four times (1996, 1999, 2011 and 2015).
Ravenwood (19-1-2) or Houston (19-0-1) awaits the winner in Wednesday’s semifinal round.
Oh, and Greeneville is going back too, for the 13th straight year.
The Greene Devils advanced with their 1-0 lightning delayed win over Halls in the AA sectional, while their quarterfinal opponents Alcoa took a 4-3 win at Franklin County. The Tornadoes are making their third straight trip to Murfreesboro after finishing runner-up in Class A last year.
Greeneville is seeking to finish the job after losing the state championship on penalty kicks last spring, the Greene Devils’ first title match appearance since their three-peat from 2017-19.
The winner gets Millington (12-3-1) or Chester County (10-2-2) in the semifinals.
BASEBALL The Bucs are Back
University High has been a mainstay at the state tournament in recent years, making their sixth straight trip this year under first-year head coach Christian Taylor.
The Bucs are seeking their first state tournament win since 2021, when they defeated Lake County 5-4 in the losers bracket. Not since 1992 has UH won its state tournament opener, a 5-2 triumph over eventual champion Summertown.
University High takes on Halls (23-15) on Tuesday at Rockvale High School. The Bucs need to get past Halls, Gordonsville and McKenzie on their side of the bracket to reach the state final.
Welcome to the show, Providence
For the first time ever, Providence Academy will take the field at the TSSAA state baseball tournament will feature Providence Academy.
Unlike the public school state tournaments, the Division II brackets take just the top four teams statewide. The Knights take on Columbia Academy Tuesday, before facing either Boyd Buchanan or(33-5) or Goodpasture (31-11-1) Wednesday. The tournament will be held at Middle Tennessee Christian School, before Thursday’s state finals at MTSU.
Title defense
Greeneville’s road to back-to-back state titles, and three overall under head coach Andy Collins, begins Tuesday at Smyrna High School against Signal Mountain (28-8).
Station Camp (25-10) and South Gibson (30-10) are also on the Greene Devils’ side of the bracket.
Since losing their first two state tournament games in program history in 2016, Greeneville has gone 8-1 at the Spring Fling and 2-0 in the state championship game (2018, 2023).
TENNIS
Clearly, University High’s decision to reinstate its tennis program has paid off. For the second straight year, both the girls and boys teams will be going to the Class A state tournament.
Both teams will play their semifinals at 10 a.m. Tuesday morning at the Adams Tennis Complex, followed by the team state championships Wednesday.
The Science Hill boys are also back after finishing state runner-up last year, taking on Collierville at noon Tuesday to begin team play. Tennessee High’s girls, making their second appearance in three years, face Brentwood Tuesday morning.
Individual play, which will also feature Dobyns-Bennett’s Emery Corpstein in singles, starts Thursday.
TRACK & FIELD
The TSSAA track and field state championships take place between Tuesday and Thursday, with field events beginning at 11 a.m. Eastern each day and running events starting at 4 p.m.
Class A and AA will crown their state champions Tuesday, followed by Division II on Wednesday and Class AAA Thursday at MTSU’s Dean Hayes Stadium.