Wildcats fall in state semis thriller
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Warren East makes the throw to second base after fielding a deep ball in the Wildcats’ 10-inning marathon state tournament game against Clarksville. - ORHS Sports Media
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Parker Free and teammate Warren East celebrate during the Wildcats’ game against Clarkville. Free led the team with three RBIs. East had two stolen bases. - ORHS Sports Media
A historic season came to an end for the Oak Ridge High School baseball team Friday night.
The Wildcats reached the Class 4A state tournament for the second consecutive season in 2025, making the state Final Four for the first time in school history.
Oak Ridge finished third at the tournament in Murfreesboro, falling in 10 innings to Clarksville, 7-6, in a battle of Wildcats at Oakland High School.
Clarksville advanced to Saturday’s title game — where it finished as runner-up to four-time defending champion Farragut — on a walk-off single by Cade Abernathy.
Oak Ridge (36-9) pounded out 11 hits in its final game.
Leadoff hitter Warren East went 2-for-5 with two runs scored and two stolen bases, while Parker Free was 2-for-3 with a double, three RBIs and a run scored.
Class 4A Mr. Baseball Mikee Teasley went 2-for-5 and scored twice.
Cy Stephens finished 2-for-4, while Peyton Witter doubled and drove in a run. Whit Renegar singled and scored a run.
The 36 wins set a new program record, surpassing the previous mark of 28 wins, set last season.
Oak Ridge opened the state tournament with a 5-4 loss to Clarksville.
Witter hit a solo home run in that game, while Free had a single and an RBI.
Teasley doubled and made his final start of the season on the mound. He took the loss and fell to 8-2, allowing five runs (three earned) on three hits and four walks. He struck out 12.
Witter tossed the sixth inning, and recorded one strikeout.
The Wildcats battled back through the loser’s bracket. On Thursday, they eliminated Blackman with a 6-1 win.
Free had two hits and two RBIs. East also had two hits, including a double, drove in one run and scored another. Teasley doubled and had two RBIs.
Kamden Welch started and pitched 5.2 innings, allowing one run on three hits and seven walks, while striking out eight. Isaiah Wilson pitched 1.1 innings, giving up one hit and one walk. Tryce Sharp faced one batter, walking one and striking out one.
Oak Ridge then defeated Green Hill, 8-4, behind home runs from Teasley and Free. Teasley had three RBIs and scored twice, while Free had three RBIs and scored once. Witter went 1-for-4 with an RBI, and Renegar singled and scored.
The Wildcats reached the state tournament by sweeping Science Hill in the sectional round after winning the District 3-4A regular-season and tournament titles and the Region 2-4A championship — all on their home field at Bobby Hopkins Park.
