The Maryville High School softball team won its Class 4A state softball tournament opener on Tuesday, May 19, 2026, in Murfreesboro, Tenn.
By Matthew Lutey
MURFREESBORO — In an introductory video this offseason, first-year Maryville softball coach Michael Spain talked about the goal of reaching the state tournament and winning state tournament games.
He made it clear it wasn’t a goal years down the line, but rather something he wanted this Lady Rebels senior class to experience.
Check and check.
Garza Law is the proud sponsor of 5Star Preps’ 2026 TSSAA Spring Fling state championship coverage May 19-22 in Murfreesboro, Tenn.
The Lady Rebels, in the state tournament for the first time since 2014, defeated Summit 5-3 on Tuesday afternoon in the first round of the Class 4A state tournament.
Maryville (31-11) faces East Hamilton (30-5) on Wednesday at Noon Central in a non-elimination second-round game.
“I think we knew this team has a lot of potential, a lot of talent,” Spain said.
“We knew that it was possible, but sometimes when you go into a new place, trying to get people bought in, it can be overwhelming for people right out of the gate to say ‘we’re going to win a state championship.’
“People kind of check up at you and say ‘we’ve never done that, that’s something that’s not been done.’ ”
“So I think just setting a very obtainable goal of getting here and milestones along the way to make sure we’re doing the right thing and make sure we’re on track to get here. The reality of it is there’s eight teams here, when you get here anything can happen. We knew if we could get them here, we’d have a shot.”
The Lady Rebels leaned on some of their major contributors throughout the season to secure the victory.
Sophomore Harper White, who has been on a postseason tear, went 2-for-2 with four RBIs.
The outfielder, who is also a basketball standout, staked Maryville out to a 2-0 lead with a double in the bottom of the first inning.
After Summit, out of Spring Hill, tied the game with runs in the second and third innings, White gave the Lady Rebels the lead back with a two-RBI triple in the bottom of the third.
The Lady Spartans (17-20) got within a run at 4-3 in the top of the fifth, but Maryville had the answer again. Leadoff hitter Isabella Saunders began the bottom of the inning with a triple and scored on a groundout.
“You have players that have been good all year and that is what you expect out of them here and that’s what they did,” Spain said about White and Saunders.
“They kept it simple. We weren’t going to get overpowered there so we stayed within ourselves and made good things happen.”
Junior right-hander Saide Johnson picked up the complete-game victory, striking out six, including two in a clean first inning.
Johnson also had perfect sixth and seventh innings, allowing the Lady Rebels to settle in for what they hope is a long stay in Murfreesboro.
“The first time you come to the state tournament with a group that hasn’t been here, we have to get over that first initial thing,” Spain said.
“And Saide set the tone extremely well in the first inning, came out and shut the door on them and gave us a chance to score and do what we do. It was huge right out of the gate to let them settle down and play their game.”