The Courier News

Mavs fall just short of Spring Fling return

May 20, 2026 by Ken Lay

Anderson County’s Conner Dabney dives safely back to first base ahead of a pickoff attempt during the Mavericks’ Class 3A sectional game against Greeneville at Pioneer Park. Anderson County carried a 2-0 lead into the seventh inning before the defending state champion Green Devils rallied for four runs to claim the victory and end the Mavericks’ season, one win shy of the state tournament. - Tony Cox

Anderson County High School narrowly missed making a return trip to Murfreesboro and the Class AAA state baseball tournament.

The Mavericks, who won the District 4-AAA regular-season championship, finished runner-up in both the District 4-AAA tournament and the Region 2-AAA tournament to earn a trip to the sectional round of the state playoffs.

Anderson County’s opponent in the best-of-three series was defending state champion Greeneville.

Things didn’t go the Mavericks’ way as they were swept by the Greene Devils at Tusculum University.

Anderson County got off to a good start in Game 1 of the series, which was played Wednesday, May 13, but fell 9-1 in the opener.

Greeneville scored nine unanswered runs after Mavericks leadoff hitter Nolan Benson scored the game’s first run with the help of an error by the Greene Devils.

Benson went 2-for-4 with a double and a run scored, while Wil Ridenour singled and drove in a run.

Harrell named new Lady Hawks coach

May 20, 2026 by Ken Lay

Jessica Harrell

Clinton Middle School introduced Jessica Harrell as its new girls basketball coach last week.

Harrell replaces Jason Love, who recently vacated the position to join coach Alicia Daugherty’s staff as an assistant at Clinton High School.

She is no stranger to the sports scene in Clinton. Harrell has a daughter, Henley, who is a rising eighth grader at CMS and plays for the Lady Hawks.

“I’ve been involved in basketball for about the last 15 years in Clinton, whether it’s at South Clinton or in Upward,” Harrell said. “I’ve had almost all of these girls, and I’ve had Myla Queener and Tora Beeler, who are moving on to the high school.

“For me, it’s all about development. My goal has always been development, whether it’s in elementary school, middle school, travel ball or wherever. I can’t hang wins on the wall, but I want to help you take the next step and get there.”

Former Jefferson Middle coach ready to lead Bobcats

May 20, 2026 by Ken Lay

Rodney Ellison

Oliver Springs recently hired its new football coach, and he’s no stranger to the local high school football scene.

Rodney Ellison was tapped to take the helm for the Bobcats, and he said he’s grateful to be taking his next coaching job in Oliver Springs.

“Oliver Springs has a great football tradition. Oliver Springs has always been a place that appealed to me,” said Ellison, who was offensive coordinator at Knoxville’s West High School in 2025 after spending the previous three seasons as head coach at Jefferson Middle School in Oak Ridge. “When I was the head coach in Wartburg, I was always impressed with their program when we played against them.”

Anderson County duo battles at state tennis

May 20, 2026 by Ken Lay

Anderson County’s Reese Russell returns a backhand shot during the TSSAA Class A state tennis tournament in Chattanooga. Russell advanced to the semifinals after winning his quarterfinal match in straight sets. - Ellie Hatmaker

A pair of Anderson County High School tennis players wrapped up their 2026 seasons on Tennessee’s biggest stage at the TSSAA Class A State Championships at Champions Club in Chattanooga.

Senior Reese Russell represented the Mavericks in the boys singles tournament and advanced to the state semifinals before his season came to an end.

Russell, a three-sport standout who also plays football and basketball for Anderson County, opened the tournament Thursday with a dominant 6-1, 6-1 victory over Huntingdon’s Shawn Simpson in the quarterfinals.

His run ended later in the day with a 6-2, 6-1 loss to Hume-Fogg’s Elliot Parker in the semifinals.

Senators’ run stops short of state tourney

May 20, 2026 by Ken Lay

A successful 2026 campaign came to an end earlier this month for Norris Middle School’s baseball team.

The Senators came just short of reaching the state tournament, falling to Grandview, 9-5, on Thursday, May 7, at Anderson County High School.

Norris finished the season with a 19-8 record.

Hunter Wade had a big day at the plate for the Senators, going 3-for-4 with a double, a home run, three runs scored and an RBI.

Eli Lindsay went 2-for-3 with a run scored and two RBIs. Jacob Pierce collected the other hit for the Senators, who struggled defensively, committing seven errors. Those miscues led to six unearned runs for the Eagles.

Norris advanced to the Grandview game with a 5-1 victory over Sweetwater in the region championship game May 2.

Cooper Downs started on the mound and went 5 2/3 innings. He allowed one run, three hits and three walks while striking out eight.

Downs also pitched the final 1 1/3 innings in relief and struck out one.

At the plate, Downs and Pierce both doubled and scored for the Senators.

Oak Ridge sweeps way back to Spring Fling

May 20, 2026 by Ken Lay

Oak Ridge players celebrate in a dogpile after sweeping Kingsport Dobyns-Bennett in the Class 4A state sectional series and clinching a return trip to Murfreesboro for the 2026 TSSAA state baseball tournament. - Izzy Smith | ORHS Sports Media

For the third consecutive season, the Oak Ridge High School baseball team is headed to the TSSAA Class 4A state tournament.

The Wildcats punched their latest ticket to Murfreesboro and Spring Fling by sweeping Kingsport Dobyns-Bennett in a best-of-three state sectional series at Bobby Hopkins Field.

Oak Ridge cruised in the opener against the Indians, rolling to a 15-1 victory in five innings. The second game wasn’t quite as easy, as the Wildcats withstood some self-inflicted adversity and a late rally from the visitors.

In Game 1, Oak Ridge (33-9-1) faced an early deficit as Dobyns-Bennett plated a run in the top of the first inning to take a 1-0 lead.

The Wildcats, who earned the right to host the sectional series by defeating four-time defending state champion Farragut to win the Region 2-4A title in West Knox County, didn’t trail the Indians for long.

Oak Ridge exploded for seven runs in the bottom of the first. The Wildcats added five more in the second and three in the third.

The Wildcats pounded out 11 hits, with leadoff hitter Warren East setting the table throughout the game. He went 2-for-3 and drove in six runs. He had two doubles, a stolen base and a sacrifice fly.

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