Chattanooga-area high schools brought home seven team state titles and 40 individual championships this past week at the TSSAA Spring Fling in Murfreesboro.
It was the 31st edition of the Olympic-style event for spring prep sports in Tennessee, which was held in Chattanooga for the first nine years. It spent three years in Memphis before moving to Murfreesboro, where it has remained for nearly two decades.
Despite some weather delays that led to a couple of late nights for athletes, coaches and spectators, the event was held in four days as planned and wrapped up Friday night with all of the honors awarded in baseball, boys’ soccer, softball, tennis, and track and field.
Here are some final thoughts and observations from Times Free Press sports writers Gene Henley and Patrick MacCoon and sports editor Stephen Hargis, who covered this year’s Spring Fling along with chief photographer Robin Rudd.
Staff photo by Robin Rudd / Baylor first baseman Holly Merritt flips the ball to pitcher Avery Shamblin (16), who had just struck out a batter, during a Division II-AA state tournament game against St. Benedict on Wednesday at the TSSAA Spring Fling in Murfreesboro, Tenn. A day later, the Lady Red Raiders beat Chattanooga Christian in the title game to win the program’s ninth straight state championship.SOFTBALL