Alcoa Softball

Hodge’s Walk-off gives Alcoa 4-3 win over Riverside

BY BRIAN HAMILTON MURFREESBORO – For all the games that were played on Tuesday’s opening day of Murfreesboro’s Spring Fling, Alcoa and Riverside may have saved the best game for last. The Lady Tornadoes and the Lady Panthers battled into extra innings until nearly 9 p.m. Eastern Standard Time before Trinity Hodge hit a single to first base and an error allowed Kara Pitts to come home for the game winning run. Alcoa just narrowly escaped its first matchup of the week with a 4-3 win in nine innings. “Trinity had a great at bat earlier in the day when …

Pigeon Forge

Pigeon Forge wins district crown with 10-3 win over Union County

BY BRIAN HAMILTON PIGEON FORGE – The Tigers got out to a quick start during the Class 2A District 2 championship on Wednesday evening, as a home run by Riley Franklin propelled Pigeon Forge to an early 6-0 lead. Pigeon Forge almost ended the game in five innings, leading 9-0 after five, but Union County was able to extend the game through the seventh inning. The Tigers would prevail, however, winning 10-3 to give Pigeon Forge its 16th district championship and a berth in the regional playoffs. “We’re in that Monday game,” Pigeon Forge coach Mike Guinn said of advancing …

Seymour-Carter

Carter scores three runs in bottom of 6th to defeat Seymour and advance to district championship

BY BRIAN HAMILTON STRAWBERRY PLAINS – Tuesday’s game between Carter and Seymour was a game of runs. The Hornets jumped out to an early 3-0 lead in the second inning and then remained scoreless for the next three innings, while Seymour battled back to tie the game at 3-3 in the top of the sixth. Brennan Chamberlain stepped to the plate in the bottom of the sixth and hit a solo home run that helped propel Carter to a 6-3 win. “It was what you expect out of two good teams,” Carter coach Chris Armstrong said. “We came out and …

Dylan Loy

Pigeon Forge uses 14-run inning to advance to district championship in Guinn’s 500th win

BY BRIAN HAMILTON PIGEON FORGE – Mike Guinn picked up his 500th win as a head coach on Monday evening, as Pigeon Forge used a 14-run third inning to build an 18-1 lead over Alcoa in the second round of the Class 2A District 2 tournament. The Tornadoes would battle back, scoring four runs in the top of the 5th, but the Tigers would prevail 18-5, cutting the game short due to the 10-run rule. Guinn began his career at Anderson County but has picked up the majority of the 500 at Pigeon Forge, where he won a state championship …

Tyson McFall

Pigeon Forge escapes late 7th inning rally to defeat Sevier County 5-3

BY BRIAN HAMILTON PIGEON FORGE – Sevier County scored three runs in the top of the 7th inning to turn a 5-0 shutout into a 5-3 thriller, as a fatigued Dylan Loy gave up his first runs of the game. Third baseman Trevan Myers moved to the mound for relief and made the last out, striking Mason Ellis out swinging for a 5-3 win on Thursday night. “You know going into it, with Loy, that you’re not going to have that many opportunities,” Sevier County coach Casey Taylor said. “Good arms give you fewer chances to produce and score, so …