’Cats, Mavs, Dragons make a run at state championships

May 22, 2024

The 2023-24 season is complete for most student athletes, and is in the home stretch for others.

But several area athletes have some unfinished business to conduct at the Spring Fling in Murfreesboro, as they compete on the Volunteer State’s grand stage,

Oak Ridge High School’s baseball team has made it to the state championships for the first time in more than five decades.

The Wildcats, who last made it to state in 1972, punched their ticket to the Midstate on Thursday night when they defeated Sevier County 8-3 in Sevierville.

Oak Ridge has already made history on the baseball field, and fifth-year Coach Travis Free is headed west as he and the Wildcats (27-14-1) are looking for more.

“That has been the message,” Free said. “We’re not just going to be happy to be there. I want them to enjoy the experience.

“But you want to go down there and win four ballgames.”

The Wildcats have already proven to be one of the area’s most resilient teams. They had a perfect run through the District 3-4A Tournament as the No. 3 seed. They nabbed victories over Campbell County and Powell. They also knocked off top-seeded Knox Central twice, including the championship game.

Powell swept Oak Ridge during the regular season, while the Bobcats and Wildcats split their two regular-season meetings.

In the Region 2-4A Tournament in Farragut, Oak Ridge beat Maryville in both the opening round and their final game of tournament play. The second win over the Rebels came after the Wildcats ended up on the short end of a 21-2 decision against the host Admirals in the tournament championship game. The Rebels also swept ORHS during the regular season.

“Our guys have been resilient this year,” Free said. “That’s why we played the schedule that we played and experienced the things we experienced.”

The Wildcats then took two out of three games against the Smoky Bears on the road at the state sectionals. Those two teams also split a pair of games during the regular season.

Oak Ridge took to the road and was scheduled to play Nolensville Tuesday at Oakland High School.

“We have a tough draw, but once you get to this point, everybody’s good,” Free said. “They have a good program and they’ve had a team in the Little League World Series.

“I don’t think they’re world beaters offensively. But they have good pitching. They have a lefty who touches 90 and I think he gave Farragut some problems early.”

Free, however, isn’t sure that will be the case in Murfreesboro.

“The substate in high school baseball is the best atmosphere, and when you get to the state tournament, it’s really sort of a letdown,” he said. “When you get there, basically it’s just your family. Now, it’s just all about playing ball.”

The baseball team won’t be the only athletes representing Oak Ridge at the Spring Fling.

The school will have four individual athletes and a boys’ 4x400-meter relay team competing on the track.

The Lady Wildcats’ Seven Pettus will compete in both the girls’ 100-meter and 200-meter dash. Pettus, who made it to the state meet in 2023, set a school record in the 200 at the recent state sectional meet.

Sophia Hughes will compete in the shot-put competition and Dylan Job qualified for the 800-meter run.

Oak Ridge’s Mason Greenhalgh will be in action in the boys’ 800-meter run.

The Anderson County track team will have four athletes at the state championships. Ava Moody, the Lady Mavericks’ distance specialist, will compete in both the 1,600 and 3,200.

Boys’ distance specialist Vance Laster qualified for the 3,200. Shot-put thrower Luke Dark and sprinter Waylon LaRue will also be in action at the state championships.

Clinton’s Lucas Butz qualifies for state track meet: Butz will be the No. 6 seed in the 300-meter hurdles.