With a goliath challenge ahead of it, the Hixson High School baseball team slung the hardest stone Wednesday night, when the Wildcats rallied to beat Signal Mountain twice and win the District 6-AA championship.
Senior standouts Brad Dossett and Manny Velazquez each had four hits Wednesday as they helped the Wildcats to 6-3 and 5-3 victories over the Eagles, who beat them two years ago for the district title. Dossett finished off the first game with a mammoth two-run blast late, and it was seniors Corey Satterfield and A.J. Wild who broke a 2-all tie in the bottom of the sixth with clutch RBI singles.
"Coming back from the loser's bracket to do what we did is so crazy," said Velazquez, who shut the door in game two by striking out 10 batters in seven sharp innings before receiving an ice bath courtesy of his teammates. "We all made this happen together. I couldn't ask for a better group of guys to do this with. We hang out all the time and are at each other's houses, and I can't explain how much this means to all of us."
Hixson No. 3 hitter Kane Johnson helped his team avoid elimination Tuesday night with a three-run homer, his second of the game, to beat Central 8-6 in extra innings. He started Wednesday's first game with another three-run shot.
"I can't say enough about our seniors," Johnson said. "They all stepped up and have led us all season. It really is something we all will remember forever. We came back from the brink of having our season ended to beating Signal Mountain twice at their place to win this championship. This is the greatest feeling ever."
Hixson senior Landon Roden did not allow a hit while earning a three-inning save in Wednesday's first game. Sophomore Cameron Butler started the second game with a two-run opposite-field single for Hixson to support Velazquez on the mound.
"This is the most memorable district championship I have been a part of, and we have won five in the last seven years," coach Colton Green said. "These guys kept battling and never gave up. Manny has been such a great leader for us with this senior class, and they hung in there. We still have more baseball to play, but this is something they will never forget."
Signal Mountain's Ben Timblin had four hits and three RBIs on Wednesday, while Carter Giles homered and Braden Wolfard had a tying hit in the second game.
Sequatchie County 2, Marion County 1: The Indians pushed two runs across in the home half of the first inning and held off a late Marion rally to win the District 7-AA championship. Bodie Terry was the winning pitcher, scattering six hits and striking out eight.
BASKETBALL
East Hamilton has named Kayla Burse its new girls' basketball coach. Burse, who previously worked as head coach at Soddy-Daisy, will also coach the Lady Hurricanes tennis program.
"When searching for the next coach to take over the program we were not just looking for a coach, but the coach to come in and help take this program to the next level," athletic director Keitha Booker said in a release announcing the move. "I know that Coach Burse is a rising star. Her energy, drive and knowledge of multiple sports will propel her and athletics at East Hamilton. We are excited about her hire and can't wait to see the impact on our school and community."
Burse played basketball, tennis and volleyball at Arts & Sciences and was later a two-sport athlete at Milligan College.
"I have a plan to reestablish and return Lady Cane basketball to a top-tier position," Burse said in the release. "I expect to see more Lady Canes sign offers in the future."
SOFTBALL
East Hamilton 2, Soddy-Daisy 1: Syerra Rogers did a little bit of everything to lead the Lady Hurricanes to the District 5-AAA title, driving in two runs in the third inning and pitching a two-hitter while striking out 13 batters.
Soddy-Daisy 13, Walker Valley 2: Hope Ingle had three hits and three RBIs, and McKayla Perez drove in a pair of runs for the Lady Trojans. Taylor Loyd threw a three-hitter to earn the win, striking out eight.
Silverdale Baptist 8, Grace Christian 4: The Lady Seahawks were forced to play an "if necessary" game to decide the Division II-A East Region championship, but they took control early to earn the title. A three-run second inning put them ahead to stay, and three more runs in the sixth provided the cushion needed for the win. McCade Cooper, Bentlee Stiner and Kennedy Stinson each drove in two runs for Silverdale Baptist, and Katie Willoughby went the distance, striking out six for the win.
Grace Christian 6, Silverdale Baptist 2: The Lady Rams forced a championship-deciding game with a three-run second inning that put them in command, and they added two runs in the top of the seventh. McCade Cooper drove in one of the Lady Seahawks' runs.
Whitwell 8, Van Buren 7: The Lady Tigers earned their fourth straight District 5-A title as Addison Beason was 3-for-4 with a triple and a double and Tori Grayson and Mallory O'Neal each added two hits, including a double apiece. Maria Basham earned the pitching win.
BOYS' TENNIS
McCallie advanced to the state semifinals with a 4-0 home win over Knoxville Catholic. The Blue Tornado (13-0), 8-0 in home matches, started quickly by winning the doubles point and then took straight-sets wins at the fourth, fifth and sixth singles positions. Gabe Getz won in both singles and doubles.
Compiled by Stephen Hargis and Patrick MacCoon. Contact Hargis at shargis@timesfreepress.com and follow him on Twitter @StephenHargis. Contact MacCoon at pmaccoon@timesfreepress.com and follow him on Twitter @PMacCoon.