Uneven Tribe Gets Result at Boone
Soccer can be one big paradox. A team can dominate a match from the opening kick until the final whistle and win 1-0. A team can score, and win by, multiple goals but have a more uneven performance. The latter statement summarized Dobyns-Bennett’s 3-0 win at Daniel Boone on Tuesday. The Indians were flat for extended periods of play and Ethan Cline repelled a potential game-tying penalty kick before D-B tallied a pair of goals in the final 20 minutes to ensure the Tribe maintained their undefeated record. D-B (9-0-2, 4-0-0) stays in the driver’s seat in the Big 4 Conference and can clinch the title with a win at home against Science Hill tonight at Indian Highland Park. Kickoff for that game is set for 7 p.m. “You're going to have games like that, where you're kind of flat,” Indians coach Tony Weaver said. “To come out with the ‘W’ when you're flat, we’ll take that.” The Tribe had a slew of goal-scoring chances, finishing with 23 shots, 13 of them on target. D-B broke through in the 30th minute. Unsurprisingly, Brogan McGhee tallied that goal, with Gavin Farmer contributing the assist. McGhee also scored the final Indians goal in the match, his fourth multi-goal performance in the six games since he moved full-time to forward. Boone (5-4-2, 2-2-0) came out strong and had momentum early in the second half. Mere seconds into the second stanza, Josh Ramirez got the ball on a breakaway and reeled off a shot that sailed just wide of the frame. “We focus always on the energy, the team energy,” Trailblazers coach Michael Louter said. “Today our warming up wasn't what we needed it to be. We had to reflect on it and learn from it. … You cannot just turn the switch on.” Then in the 59th minute came the play of the game. A Boone player was fouled inside the box, leading to one of the three yellow cards assessed against the Tribe in the match. That also gave Boone a penalty kick. Caleb Mason delivered a fine offering but Cline guessed right and made a sprawling dive to repel the penalty kick. D-B promptly cleared the ball and Boone had no other tangible goal-scoring opportunities the rest of the way. “Ethan came up huge. That could have been a turning point in the game,” Weaver said. A couple of D-B reserves figured in the pair of insurance goals. In the 62nd minute, Eli Wallace connected on a header off of a corner kick booted by Junsung Montanaro. McGhee got his second goal in the 77th with another reserve, Andy Cruz, delivering the assist. D-B heads into tonight’s home game with Science Hill looking to wrap up the conference title in Weaver’s first campaign as head coach and secure the top seed for the District 1-AAA tournament. The Indians have won three straight games in their rivalry with the Hilltoppers, a streak that dates back to the 2023 playoffs.
Lady Indians Tipton Homers, Records 500th Strikeout in Win at West Ridge
Arizona State-bound Julianne Tipton struck out 14, including the 500th of her career, in Dobyns-Bennett’s 7-4 victory at West Ridge Tuesday afternoon. Tipton fanned 14 on the day, scattering eight hits and allowing four runs for the Lady Indians (3-3, 23-9). She also reached base on all four trips with two walks, a single and a two-run homer in the fifth. Hailey Porter and Riley McMillan also brought in two runs on back-to-back hits in the second with Porter roping a double to left and McMillan going up the middle for a single. Claudia Maness also brought in a run for the Lady Indians. Kami Clark finished 2-for-4 for West Ridge (1-6, 21-14) with a triple and a run batted in while Caydence Spears was 2-for-3 with a double and two RBI’s. Dobyns-Bennett0500200-- 7 9 0 West Ridge0002200-- 4 8 0 Dobyns-Bennett – Julianne Tipton and Riley McMillan. West Ridge – Victoria Browder and Savannah Pogue. W – Julianne Tipton, L – Victoria Browder. 2B – Reagan Hollowell, Dobyns-Bennett; Hailey Porter, Dobyns-Bennett; Caydence Spears, West Ridge. 3B – Kami Clark, West Ridge. HR - Julianne Tipton, Dobyns-Bennett (one on in 5th). RBI - Dobyns-Bennett 7 (Hailey Porter 2, Riley McMillan 2, Julianne Tipton 2, Claudia Maness), West Ridge 4 (Caydence Spears 2, Kami Clark, Lily Frazier).
Boone's Bacon Grills Lady 'Toppers
Kyleigh Bacon and the Daniel Boone bats were sizzling Tuesday at Metro Kiwanis Park. Bacon hit two home runs, leadoff batter Riley Croley homered and the Trailblazers piled up 17 hits in a six-inning, 16-3 win at Science Hill. Boone improved to 4-1 in the Big Four Conference and 18-10 overall. Science Hill fell to 3-2 and 16-5. Boone is responsible for each of the league losses of the Hilltoppers, who will visit Boone on Wednesday. “We knew the importance of this game,” Boone coach Jeremy Jenkins said, “because it gives us two wins against them in case we ended up tied with them.” Boone’s power surge wasn’t exactly expected. The Trailblazers entered Tuesday’s game having hit six home runs all season. Last year’s state runner-up team had hit 28 home runs at the same point. But Bacon highlighted a five-run third with a two-run home run and capped a five-run fourth with another long ball – three batters after Croley had hit a two-run home run. Bacon finished 4-for-4 with two home runs, a double and four RBIs. “Kyleigh would be the first to tell you she’s been struggling a little bit,” Jenkins said. “And she struggled last night at West Ridge. Today, she really came out of it. Everything was hit hard.” Bacon homered on a 2-2 fastball and a first-pitch fastball. She’s faced Science Hill pitcher Isabel Meeks for four years, if not longer. “I’ve seen her all four years here and maybe a little bit in travel ball,” Bacon said. “So I’ve seen her quite a bit. She is a good pitcher.” But Boone was locked in Tuesday. Croley went 3-for-4 with a home run, a double, a walk and four RBIs. All three of her hits were to the opposite field. “People have been hammering her away (outside pitches) and she’s really worked hard on going the opposite way,” Jenkins said. “And she’s been going the opposite way, but just kind of flicking it over there. Today she really drove it over there. She hit one out and about hitting a second one out. “She’s a table-setter. When she gets on base and is hitting the ball, we really like our chances.” Ava Saul was 2-for-4 with two doubles, two runs and two RBIs. Anna Richardson was 2-for-4 with two runs. Sadie Henson, Kaylea Osborne and Taylor Brinn were each 2-for-4. Osborne drove in three runs. “At the beginning of the season we weren’t hitting well,” Bacon said, “but it’s coming around at the right time. So that’s all that matters, I guess. Taylor Brinn hit really well today. She’s getting hot. And Riley did as well. I thought everyone hit pretty well.” For the fifth straight game – all victories – Daniel Boone rotated pitchers Osborne and Saul every inning. Jenkins likes the alternating rest intervals and the potential of disrupting hitters’ timing. Osborne allowed three hits, one walk and one unearned run while striking out three in three innings. Saul gave up four hits and two runs in three innings while striking out four. “They’ve both bought into it,” Jenkins said. “The girls really like it. So far, so good.” Kaylee Oler was 2-for-2 with a sacrifice bunt, a steal and a run for the Hilltoppers. Lora Wilgus was 2-for-3. Kaylee Pickering drove in two runs with a two-out bloop single in the fifth and Beth Pridemore delivered an RBI double to deep center field. Maddie Diamond walked, was hit by a pitch and scored a run. “We’ve gotta turn back around and play them again tomorrow,” Jenkins said. “We know they’re a quality club and Meeks is a good pitcher. We just got on her early there. Some days it happens that way. She got us at home last year. We know we’re gonna get there best effort again tomorrow.” Daniel Boone025504-- 16 17 1 Science Hill001200-- 3 7 2 Daniel Boone – Kaylea Osborne, Ava Saul (2), Kaylea Osborne (3), Ava Saul (4), Kaylea Osborne (5), Ava Saul (6) and Kyleigh Bacon. Science Hill – Isabel Meeks, Chloe Conner (4) and Lora Wilgus. W – Kaylea Osborne, L – Isabel Meeks. 2B – Ava Saul, Daniel Boone 2; Riley Croley, Daniel Boone; Kyleigh Bacon, Daniel Boone; Kaylea Osborne, Daniel Boone; Sadie Henson, Daniel Boone; Beth Pridemore, Science Hill. HR — Kyleigh Bacon, Daniel Boone (one on in 3rd, one on in 4th); Riley Croley, Daniel Boone (one on in 4th). RBI – Daniel Boone 15 (Riley Croley 4, Kyleigh Bacon 4, Kaylea Osborne 3, Ava Saul 2, Sadie Henson, Taylor Brinn), Science Hill 3 (Kaylee Pickering 2, Beth Pridemore). SB – Riley Croley, Daniel Boone.
Lady Pioneers Celebrate Senior Wilson With Win Over ‘Betsy
David Crockett celebrated senior Cara Wilson with a 5-3 win over Elizabethton Tuesday evening at Mary Irwin Field. The victory broke a tie for second in the Upper Lakes Conference standings with the Lady Pioneers (4-2, 17-10) taking over sole possession of the spot. Laney Britton, Julie Maupin and Autumn Wynn all had two hits for Crockett. Wynn led off the fourth with a solo homer with Maupin also driving in a run and scoring another and Britton scoring twice. Brylee Tulock and Bailey Dugger drove in runs in support of Madelyn Dulaney, who went the distance scattering six hits, striking out eight and allowing just one earned run. Elizabethton’s Gracie Whaley had two hits including a double and accounted for all three Lady Cyclone runs, scoring twice and driving in another. Elizabethton0011001-- 3 6 1 David Crockett102200x-- 5 11 3 Elizabethton – Lilly McDuffie and Lela Byrd. David Crockett – Madelyn Dulaney and Bailey Dugger. W – Madelyn Dulaney, L – Lilly McDuffie. 2B - Grracie Whaley, Elizabethton; Lilly McDuffie, Elizabethton. HR – Autumn Wynn, David Crockett (solo in 4th). RBI - Elizabethton 1 (Gracie Whaley), David Crockett 5 (Madelyn Dulaney, Julie Maupin, Brylee Tullock, Bailey Dugger, Autumn Wynn). SB - Julie Maupin, David Crockett; Laney Britton, David Crockett.
Vikings Clinch Third Straight Upper Lakes Conference Title With Win at Crockett
Lather, rinse, threepeat – Tennessee High’s baseball team seems to be head and shoulders above the rest of the Upper Lakes Conference. On Monday the Vikings clinched their third straight league title since joining the league with a 14-1 romp at David Crockett. Right-hander Kaleb Feathers pitched five shutout innings to improve to 6-0 and Preston Feagins went 2-for-4 with a three-run home run as the Vikings improved to 9-0 in the league and 19-4 overall. “They took advantage of some opportunities and they’re well coached, they always are,” said Crockett coach Spencer Street, whose Pioneers fell to 4-4 in the league and 13-9 overall. “They did the little things well and we didn’t. We had a couple of chances early, couldn’t get that extra hit and it got away from us quickly.” Feathers walked two and allowed two hits while striking out five. One of the hits he allowed was a bloop single. “I had a really good feel for the slider,” Feathers said. “The changeup, at times, came out of the hand a little wrong. But other than that, I was able to control all three of ‘em really well. “My last start against Elizabethton I allowed six runs. I was a little shaky. I couldn’t really control the slider. I walked, I think, five people. I came out here today and I just had to believe in myself. At the beginning of the season, it was like this almost every game.” Feathers credited pitching coach Brad Morelock, who essentially said to have a short memory after the Elizabethton outing. “I love him to death – all four years I’ve been here,” Feathers said. “I wouldn’t be the pitcher I am today without him. He’s like a second father to us. If we ever need anything he’d be the first coach I call. He loves talking to us, pulling us to the side. You can talk about life with him. He’s just a great mentor.” The Vikings program has become a well-oiled machine with manager Preston Roberts, assistant coach Adam Cross and Morelock. “We had close ballgames a couple of weeks ago that we found a way to win,” Roberts said. “It’s hard. This is a very, very competitive conference. … “Kaleb Feathers on the mound – just really proud of him. Proud of the defense for the most part. I’m really proud of our at-bats. We’re just doing the little things right. We ran the bases really well.” Feagins, a sturdy-built sophomore, has been slowed much of the season by a sore Achilles tendon. He looked like Achilles when he teed off on a first-pitch fastball with two on and one out in the fourth inning. Feagins’ three-run blast to left-center gave the Vikings a 7-0 lead. The rout was on. “I knew it off the bat,” Feathers said. “He’s had a hot bat all year. And he’s a big boy.” Bryson Hutton went 3-for-5 with three runs and three steals for Tennessee High. Ashton Leonard scored three runs, drove in two others and tallied a hit and a walk. Shortstop Gage Graziano delivered a hard-hit double and a bloop double, and he made a difficult catch after lunging to his left for A.J. Ford’s liner. Chandler Myers walked three times and was hit by two pitches. Cainan Meyers, half of the Vikings’ two-headed ace, pitched the final two innings. He struck out four and would’ve faced the minimum if not for a bad-hop single by Nolan Street, who stole second, advanced to third on a ground-out and scored on Ron Hall’s sacrifice fly. “They pound the strike zone and their defense plays pretty well,” Street said. “They have really good outfield play. … I felt like they did a good job keeping us off balance with Feathers mixing in the breaking ball, and I didn’t love our approach at the plate. “But it happens. It stinks it’s in a conference game, but we get to come out and try again tomorrow.” Crockett will host Unicoi on Tuesday at 6 p.m. The Vikings, which have won five straight and 10 of their last 11, will visit University High at 5 p.m. on Tuesday. Tennessee High1124006-- 14 10 2 Alcoa0000001-- 1 3 12 Tennessee High – Kaleb Feathers, Cainan Meyers (6) and Cainan Meyers, Tripp Lively (6). David Crockett – Connor Hendrix, Mason Grindstaff (5), Ronnie Hall and Jackson Whaley. W – Kaleb Feathers 6-0, L - Connor Hendrix. HR - Preston Feagins, Tennessee High (two on in 4th). RBI - Tennessee High 9 (Preston Feagins 3, Ashton Leonard 2, Gage Graziano, Isaac Blevins, Chandler Myers, Josh Sizemore), David Crockett 1 (Ronnie Hall). SAC – Ronnie Hall, David Crockett. SB - Bryson Hutton, Tennessee High; Nolan Street, David Crockett.
VIDEO GALLERY
