A spring break trip to Gulf Shores, Alabama, brought some positive results for the Anderson County High School softball team.
The Lady Mavericks won four of six games in tournament play last week.
“Overall, I’m really proud of the girls,” said first-year Coach Lindsey Verner. “We were really focused most of the time. I don’t want to say all the time, because we had one game where we weren’t.”
The Lady Mavericks (4-3) opened the tournament with an 8-5 victory over Beech, a top team from Hendersonville.
ACHS jumped out to a fast start, scoring all eight runs in the first two innings.
The Lady Mavericks answered an early wake-up call for the game, and Verner liked how her team responded, scoring two runs in the top of the first, and adding six more in the second to take an 8-0 lead.
“That was an early game, and we came ready to play,” Verner said. “We scored a lot of runs early and put them on their toes.”
When Anderson County High School baseball Coach Josh Boynton saw his team’s draw for last week’s Gulf Shores Classic in Alabama, he knew the Mavericks might face some challenges.
They did.
Anderson County dropped three of its four games, but Boynton wasn’t disappointed with the trip.
“Overall, I was pretty happy,” he said.
“Record-wise, we didn’t do as well as we would’ve liked, but we faced some good competition and played teams we wouldn’t normally see. We played two (Class) 7A teams and two teams that made their state tournaments.”
The Mavericks (2-3) had just one regular-season game under their belt before heading to the Gulf Coast. Their opponents had been playing since February.
“I’m not making excuses — I don’t make excuses — but our first game down there was only our second of the season,” Boynton said. “Those teams had already played 15 games.
“We had some errors and some situational baseball where things just weren’t quite there,” he said. “But the kids had a great time at the beach, and the parents were glad to get away from home. Plus, we got to eat some good seafood. The kids were happy to have a trip for spring break.”
Clinton FC kicked off its 2025 season Thursday night with a nail-biting victory.
The team, representing Clinton Middle School in the Knoxville Area Goal Soccer League, edged Karns Gold 6-5 in a friendly at Dragon Stadium. A friendly is a non-competitive match that is not part of a formal tournament or league.
Clinton built a commanding lead by halftime, but had to withstand a furious second-half rally from Karns Gold.
“We were ahead 5-1 at halftime,” Clinton FC Coach Jake McMurray said. “That was kind of interesting. But I’m proud of the kids. They’re all having fun and working hard, and that’s what it’s all about.”
McMurray credited the team’s offensive cohesion, noting improvement in the attacking third while using a 4-3-3 formation.
Juan Camilo Zoro Castano powered Clinton’s attack, scoring four goals and adding an assist. Samuel McMurray netted two goals, while Austin Barahona recorded two assists. Tucker Nielsen also contributed an assist in the victory.
Before the friendly, Clinton participated in a preseason jamboree at John Tarleton Park in Knoxville’s Marble City community.
The squad played Northwest Orange to a 1-1 draw, and fell 2-1 to Hardin Valley Blue in 35-minute exhibition matches.
Midfielder Jordan Cuevas scored both of Clinton’s goals in the jamboree.
Clinton FC returns to action Friday night in a friendly against Oak Ridge before opening league play Thursday, March 27.
The team is sponsored by Kimberly Black’s local Domino’s.
Clinton softball heats up with three wins at Ripken tourney
by Ken Lay
Taylor Sherwood (33) hits an inside-the-park home run against West Creek High School (Clarksville) on Friday afternoon during the Ripken Tournament in Pigeon Forge. The Lady Dragons’ bats were hot as the team notched 11 hits and 15 runs in a 15-0 win over the Lady Coyotes. - Tony Cox
Clinton High School softball Coach Leonard Sams said he is pleased with his squad’s effort early in the 2025 season.
After taking tme off for spring break, the Lady Dragons returned to the diamond and won three of their five games at the Ripken Tournament in Pigeon Forge.
Clinton faced tough competition throughout the tournament.
“The competition was probably tougher than I thought it was going to be,” Sams said. “But it’s early, and the key for this team is growth. We still have a pretty young team, and people forget that.
“We keep getting better every time we play,” he said. “I’m happy with our offense, I’m happy with our defense, and our pitching is starting to catch up.”
Clinton (4-3) opened tournament play Friday morning with a 6-5 victory over Mount Lebanon.
The Lady Dragons started hot, scoring four runs in the top of the first inning.
But the Lady Devils cut Clinton’s lead in half with two runs in the bottom of the frame, before Clinton added single runs in the second and fifth innings.
After dropping its lone game in the opening week of the 2025 season, the Oak Ridge High School baseball team bounced back in dominant fashion, winning three of four games last week.
The Wildcats, considered a favorite to win District 3-4A this year, opened league play with a two-game sweep of Knoxville Halls.
Oak Ridge kicked off district competition with a 5-0 shutout victory over the Red Devils at Bobby Hopkins Field on Monday, March 10.
Junior left-hander Kam Welch tossed an impressive five-hit complete-game shutout. He struck out nine over seven innings and contributed offensively, going 1-for-3 with a double, an RBI, and a run scored.
Leadoff hitter and centerfielder Warren East had a big night, finishing 2-for-3 with a home run, a walk, a stolen base, and two runs scored. Peyton Witter doubled and drove in a run.
The Wildcats traveled to Bob Polston Field in North Knox County the following night, rolling to a 13-2 victory over Halls on Tuesday, March 11.
Oak Ridge High School endured a rough week on the softball diamond, dropping a pair of games, including its District 3-4A opener against Knoxville Centra,l on Thursday night.
The Lady Wildcats (2-3, 0-1 District 3-4A) were shut down in a 4-0 loss to the Lady Bobcats, facing one of the area’s top pitchers, Zoey Cranford.
“I think Zoey just keeps getting better,” Oak Ridge Coach Jeremy Gill said. “She was good last year, but she just keeps improving. When she’s on, man, she’s on. She gave up one hit and had one walk.”
Cranford dominated, allowing just one hit, a single by Leah Curran, while also contributing at the plate, going 2-for-4.
Central did most of its damage early, scoring three runs in the top of the first inning.
“We played pretty well,” Gill said. “We gave up three runs in the first inning, and then we gave up just one the rest of the way.”
Oak Ridge High School’s girls basketball team saw its 2024-25 season end in heartbreaking fashion last week in the Class 4A state tournament quarterfinals.
The Lady Wildcats, who entered the tournament at Middle Tennessee State University’s Murphy Center riding a 20-game winning streak, had their run snapped with a 52-50 loss to Bartlett on Thursday night.
Oak Ridge (30-4) had a magical season, sweeping through its District 3-4A regular-season schedule.
The Lady Wildcats also won the district tournament for the 10th-consecutive year, claimed the Region 2-4A title, and edged Sevier County in the state sectionals after rallying from a deficit against the Bearettes.
But all good things come to an end, and the Lady Wildcats bid farewell to one of the most battle-tested and successful senior classes in program history.
The 2025 high school boys soccer season is underway, and Oak Ridge finds itself in the midst of a rebuilding year.
The Wildcats, who graduated eight seniors — including six starters — from their 2024 squad, are off to an 0-1-1 start after facing two of the top teams in District 4-AAA.
They opened the season with a pair of road matches against Maryville and Farragut.
Oak Ridge battled Maryville to a 1-1 draw on Tuesday, March 4, before falling to Farragut, 5-0, on Thursday, March 6.
Against the Rebels, senior midfielder Ayden Clements, who recently signed with Pellissippi State, scored the Wildcats’ lone goal, assisted by junior midfielder Drayton Keehn.
Longtime Coach Tom Gorman expected early challenges for his young and inexperienced squad, especially given the competition.
“We lost a lot of talent and experience from last year,” Gorman said. “We have a talented group this year, but many of them are stepping into leadership roles for the first time.
“It may not look great early, but I love the potential and can’t wait to see how we finish the season.”
Key players for Oak Ridge this season include Clements, Keehn, junior midfielder Juno Morrill, and junior defender Daniel Jackson.
The Wildcats returned to action Tuesday with a road match at Austin-East. Results were unavailable at press time.
While many of their classmates enjoy spring break, the Oak Ridge High School boys basketball team is preparing for its biggest week of the season.
The Wildcats, who captured both the District 3-4A regular-season and tournament championships before winning the Region 2-4A title, are headed to Murfreesboro to compete on the state’s grand stage.
Oak Ridge (29-3) punched its ticket to the state tournament with a nail-biting 51-50 victory over Sevier County in the state sectionals Monday, March 10, at Wildcat Arena.
The Wildcats last reached the state tournament in 2021, going to the semifinals.
They will open state play Thursday against a familiar foe, taking on Walker Valley (30-4) at Middle Tennessee State University’s Murphy Center. Tipoff is scheduled for 8:15 p.m. ET.
The two teams met earlier this season, with Oak Ridge rolling to an 88-70 win on Feb. 3 at home.
The Clinch Valley Trail Alliance invites the community to its spring quarter ride, run, hike and member meeting on Thursday, April 3, at Haw Ridge Park in Oak Ridge.
Activities begin at 6 p.m., guided by alliance members, followed by a social gathering from 7 to 7:30 p.m.
The member meeting will take place from 7:30 to 8 p.m.
Food and refreshments, including grilled hot dogs, snacks and drinks, will be provided.
This event also marks the beginning of the group’s Thursday night rides, scheduled for 6 p.m. each week.
Participants will receive updates on upcoming projects, including an extension of the Nutmeg Trail, a new progressive jump line and a cleanup effort at the Dirt Lab.
Details about the annual Hill of Truth Bike Festival, set for Saturday, Oct. 4, will also be shared.
“We’re excited to kick off our spring events and provide an opportunity for outdoor enthusiasts to connect,” said Doug Bataille, the group’s president.
“We look forward to sharing the progress we’ve made and our plans for continued improvements to trails that the community enjoys.”
All activities begin and conclude at the alliance’s headquarters, 299A Old Edgemoor Road, Oak Ridge, just beyond the Dirt Lab.
For more information, visit clinchvalleytrailalliance.org.
