Emmaline Davis quickly adjusted to the heat of the Spring Fling in Murfreesboro, as the freshman East Hamilton pitching ace continued the dazzling start to her prep career in Tuesday’s 10-1 victory over Munford to open her team’s hopeful long stay in the TSSAA Class 4A softball state tournament.
With a five-pitch mix, Davis tossed a complete-game, three-hitter while recording her 13th double-digit strikeout performance of the season as she fanned 10. The win improved Davis to 23-3 overall inside the circle, where she has recorded 220 strikeouts over 156 innings to go with a 1.39 ERA.
“I’m just really excited to be up here,” said the 14-year-old Davis, “especially because we have two seniors whose last Spring Fling before this was when they were freshmen. I’m glad we got to come back for them because they’ve been a big part of this program. Alana is our center fielder, and Bailey is our shortstop, and they have helped me so much on defense.”
Davis also got the job done inside the left-handed batter’s box, as the Lady Hurricanes’ cleanup hitter reached base four times with a pair of doubles and walks. She even provided all the run support she needed in the first inning with a two-run double to left-center that was followed by a home run by Sarah Farris to provide a quick 4-0 lead.
Spring Fling softball on May 19, 2026
Farris’ home run was her 10th of the season and her three RBIs upped her team-leading total to 37.
“This is the big show, and the stage did not get to Emmaline whatsoever,” East Hamilton head coach Norma Nelson said. “She is the real deal. Our girls keep fighting, and we keep going. They are a lot of fun and a great group. The key for us this week will be to stay hydrated and prepare. This is the first time we’ve made it to state in Class 4A. These girls have proven a lot and will keep fighting to make a special run happen this week.”
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East Hamilton (32-5) will face Maryville (31-11) in the winners bracket Wednesday at 1 ET at the Starplex on Field No. 1.
Nelson’s team was firing on all cylinders in the near 90-degree heat on the opening day of the Spring Fling, as the Lady Hurricanes laced 14 base hits with their first five batters in the lineup providing 11 of them and scoring nine runs.
Kat Woody led the team with three hits as she increased her batting average to .456 on the season and collected her 17th extra-base hit with a double.
Meanwhile, East Hamilton’s senior duo shined as Johnson scored three times out of the second spot in the lineup with a pair of hits, while Poschke stole her 22nd bag of the season.
(READ MORE: Poschke’s walk-off homer sends East Hamilton to Spring Fling)
In other Spring Fling public-school softball Tuesday:
Class 2A
› Marion County 15, Scotts Hill 6: Brynna Thomasson continued her red-hot performance of late at the dish, as the left-handed hitting junior had her second straight four-hit game. The Lady Warriors trailed 6-5 entering the top of the sixth but responded with an eight-run inning and plated two more in the seventh.
Marion County (33-10) will take on Summertown (31-8) in the winners bracket Wednesday at 11 a.m. ET on Field No. 1 at the Starplex.
“Brynna is dialed in right now, and we really need her to be,” Marion County first-year head coach Kevin Thompson said of Thomasson, who slugged three home runs and drove in seven runs in a 13-1 sectional win over White House-Heritage. “She is taking it on her shoulders to lead this team, and everyone else is jumping in with her. The moment is not too big for her. She is doing a magnificent job in the circle and at the plate.”
Jazlyen Layne gave the Lady Warriors the lead for good with an RBI single, while Lillian Nixon and Emma McCallie each doubled and had two hits to spark an explosive sixth in which Nixon cleared the bases for a 12-6 lead with her three-run double.
Albany Harris sealed the victory with a brilliant double play as the junior snatched a one-hop line drive at shortstop and tagged the runner off of the second base bag before firing to first.
Thomasson earned the win from the circle, allowing six hits and three earned runs over five innings with a trio of punchouts, while McCallie threw two shutout innings in relief.
Class 1A
› Cloudland 5, Copper Basin 4: Eowyn McCoury had the go-ahead RBI double in the top of the seventh to plate Regan Blair, who tripled with one out. Cloudland (21-11) scored all five runs over the last two innings.
Copper Basin (18-9) lost despite a strong pitching outing by Kinsley Ross, who had eight strikeouts over 6 1/3 innings with three runs allowed on four hits and two walks. Maggie Scoggins homered, while Madden Beach went 2-for-3 with an RBI in the defeat. The Lady Cougars will take on Bradford (16-13) on Wednesday at 2 ET in an elimination game.
Contact Patrick MacCoon at pmaccoon@timesfreepress.com.