SOUTH PITTSBURG, Tenn. - Soon after helping the South Pittsburg High School baseball program beat Van Buren County 13-6 on Thursday night to notch a seventh straight District 5-A championship, co-district MVPs and seniors Ryan Cagle and Reece Genter both emphasized how special their team really is.
With a senior class in the double digits, the Pirates soaked in the moment they hope will propel them to even more success in the Region 3-A tournament that begins Monday.
"After last season was taken away from us (due to the COVID-19 pandemic), we all had the attitude that we are coming out in our final season and leaving everything we have on the line," said Genter, a catcher. "We have put the work in and started practicing for these moments last August. There's so many great things to look back on. I am going to remember my teammates and friends the rest of my life. We all want to keep making more memories together."
Cagle, a Middle Tennessee State University signee, was sharp on the mound again, picking up the win with three scoreless innings, and Brayden Sanders came a home run shy of the cyle and helped build a 10-0 lead for the Pirates (17-13).
"To be out here winning the district tournament again means everything to us," Cagle said. "I am just so happy to be out here with these guys I have grown up playing with. Nothing will ever top this or be as fun as these days playing ball together are. I am excited for what memories are to come and savoring all of these moments."
Van Buren fought back with home runs from Adam Simmons and Will Wrisner, and Jaedyn Walling had three hits.
East Hamilton 11, Ooltewah 3: The Hurricanes scored four runs in the top of the second and sixth innings as they took advantage of nine errors by the Owls to win a District 5-AAA quarterfinal. Ethan Evans drove in a pair of runs, and Chase Roberts and Austin Wolcott combined to draw seven walks with Gray Williams contributing a pair of hits and scoring twice for East Hamilton. Williams also got the win after pitching 5 2/3 innings.
BOYS' SOCCER
Dalton 4, Tucker 0: The host Catamounts, the top-ranked team in GHSA Class AAAAAA, notched two goals in each half to win their state quarterfinal at Harmon Field. Filemon Quintero opened the scoring, and Fernando Guerrero made it 2-0 with 43 seconds to go in the opening half. Damien Rodriguez and Yahir Piez scored three minutes apart in the second half for the Catamounts (18-0-2), who will host Lakeside-Dekalb (17-2-1) in a semifinal Tuesday.
Baylor 7, Walker Valley 1: Senior Ethan Nunes completed a hat trick in the 43rd minute as the Red Raiders scored their seventh goal. Nathan Andreotti also scored twice for the Red Raiders, who honored their seven seniors.
SOFTBALL
Baylor 12, Chattanooga Christian 0: The Lady Red Raiders won on senior night as Acelynn Sellers drove in five runs and homered along with Cadashia Collins and Raven Jones. Morgan Sharpe and Kaylee Snyder also impressed for Baylor (21-1) with two doubles each. Syd Berzon pitched three perfect innings and struck out eight of the nine batters she faced.
Boyd Buchanan 10, The King's Academy 2: The Lady Buccaneers began Division II-A postseason play with a 17-hit performance in an East Region tournament matchup at home. Presley Williamson homered and drove in a pair of runs, while Brooke Watson's three hits included a double and Izzy Messer, Avery Poteralski, Katie Powell and Gracie Wickham each had two hits. Kiley Elliot struck out 16 batters.
TENNIS
In the Small Class District 5 individual tournament at Warner Park, players from Arts & Sciences, Lookout Valley and Signal Mountain starred. For CSAS, Anay Patel won the boys' singles title with a 6-2, 7-6 (9-7) victory over Signal Mountain's Gabe Rhyne. Signal Mountain's doubles duo of Ryan Griggs and Austin Henley were decisive with a 6-4, 6-0 finals win. On the girls' side, Lookout Valley's McLean Murray defeated Sunshine Finnell in the finals, 4-6, 7-5 (10-3). Signal's doubles duo of Bindi Patel and Grace Williams won their finals match 6-1, 6-3. All finalists advance to the Region 3 tournament on May 13.
Compiled by Patrick MacCoon and Lindsey Young. Contact MacCoon at pmaccoon@timesfreepress.com and follow him on Twitter @PMacCoon. Contact Young at lyoung@timesfreepress.com and follow him on Twitter @youngsports22.