Garza Law is the proud sponsor of 5Star Preps’ 2026 TSSAA Spring Fling state championship coverage May 19-22 in Murfreesboro, Tenn.
By Matthew Lutey
MURFREESBORO — Not a bad way to start for Cocke County in its first-ever state softball tournament appearance.
The Lady Red walked it off on a sacrifice fly by Jaylee Lane to score Brookelyn Strange for a 2-1 victory over Stone Memorial on Tuesday in the first-round of the Class 3A tournament.
Cocke County (36-7) faces McNairy Central (33-7-2) on Wednesday at 11 a.m. Central time in a winners-bracket, second-round game.
“Gutsy! A lot of fight. We didn’t play our best ball at the plate but got the job done,” Cocke County coach Danny Hartsell said.
“Defensively, (we) played smooth and clean. Hailee (Hartsell) didn’t have her best stuff but got us to the 5th. Changed it up and brought Ellie (Proffitt) in and took care of business. We didn’t have any walks, that’s always big.
“I’ve always said we are dangerous 1-9 and it showed again today.”
Proffitt was the winning pitcher, throwing the final three shutout innings and striking out five.
Strange, a senior, went 2-for-3 and scored both runs for the Lady Red.
Farragut upended by Stewarts Creek
Just like last season, Farragut fell to Stewarts Creek in the first round of the Class 4A tournament, this time by a 5-3 score.
The Lady Admirals (35-8), looking for their first state championship since 2022, square off against Lincoln County (35-7-2) in an elimination game at Noon on Central time on Wednesday.
Farragut jumped out to a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the first inning.
But Stewarts Creek scored the next five runs before Farragut added runs in the sixth in seventh innings.
Callie Brown went 3-for-3 for the Lady Admirals, and Hallie Grace Johnson and Taylor Wolfgram had two hits apiece.
Kingston falls in its opener
Kingston couldn’t get its bats going in a 5-1 defeat against Community in Class 2A play.
The Lady Yellowjackets (22-5) will try to avoid elimination Wednesday at 10 a.m. Central in a meeting with Adamsville (22-19-1).
Kingston was held to just two hits in a tough matchup with Community pitcher Annie Prince, who struck out 14.
Standout Lady Yellowjackets pitcher Sailor Presley struck out 10 batters in her own right.
Catholic’s postseason hot streak cools down
Catholic, which went on an improbable run to qualify for the Division II-AA tournament with five straight postseason wins, was knocked off 9-0 by GPS.
The Lady Irish (9-21) are in the state tournament for the first time since 1984, and take on Baylor (22-10-2) on Wednesday at 4 p.m. Central in an elimination game.
GPS scored three runs in the top of the third inning and six in the top of the fifth to pull away.
Hadley Troutt, Ryleigh McEnery and Catherine Schaad had a hit each for Catholic.