Maryville competed in the first round of the TSSAA Spring Fling state tournament on Tuesday, May 19, 2026, in Murfreesboro, Tennessee. (Photo Tanner Walker/5SP)
By Matthew Lutey
MURFREESBORO — It hasn’t been an easy go of it for the Maryville softball team.
But playing for a state championship shouldn’t necessarily be easy. And that’s exactly what the Lady Rebels will be doing.
A pair of 4-3 victories over East Hamilton, spread out over some time, got them there.
Maryville will enjoy the day off Friday and face Stewarts Creek for the 4A championship in a game currently scheduled for Saturday at 3 p.m. Central.
Maryville’s adventurous Thursday started early in the morning with just a few pitches.
Garza Law is the proud sponsor of 5Star Preps’ 2026 TSSAA Spring Fling state championship coverage May 19-22 in Murfreesboro, Tenn.
Wednesday’s winner’s bracket game between the two teams was postponed due to rain in the bottom of the seventh tied 3-3 with the bases loaded for the Lady Rebels and no outs.
East Hamilton did get one out when play resumed about 14 hours later, but junior Taylor Sheffield put the game to rest with the walkoff single to shallow right.
Trailing 4-3 in the top of the seventh inning of the second game, East Hamilton loaded the bases with no outs.
But Sadie Johnson, who’s thrown every pitch this week for the Lady Rebels, and her defense got out of it with two forceouts to home and a groundout to first.
“Every single one of those pitches that were on the ground were all drop balls, and I was like ‘you know what, these are going to be the three best drop balls of my gosh darn life,’” Johnson said.
Johnson has been a rock in the circle for Maryville. In the first game against East Hamilton she held the Lady Hurricanes scoreless for the final five innings, allowing the Lady Rebels to rally with two runs in the fifth and two in the seventh.
In the second game, East Hamilton was scoreless in the final three innings, even though it looked like they were going to take the late lead, or at least tie the game.
“I was locked in from the moment I got onto that bus last night to the moment I came to that field over there (for the second game),” Johnson said.
Maryville coach Michael Spain praised Johnson for her finish.
“She’s been tremendous all year long. That’s a huge situation for anybody, but you’re three games into this thing, she’s worked her tail off, she’s tired,” Spain said.
“And just to execute the pitches in the exact way we need her to right there to get three ground balls in a row is incredible.”
Sheffield’s defense in the seventh inning of the second game was just as important as her game-winner in the morning.
The third baseman dove to keep the ball in the infield on the East Hamilton single that loaded the bases. While it was still a hit, had the ball gotten into the outfield it likely would’ve meant a tie game.
Sheffield was also the one to record the first out of the inning with a throw to home.
“She’s fought, and continued to play the side of the game we need her to play,” Spain said.
“She’s so big for us offensively, and to be able to come up with a big hit this morning and play this side of the game this afternoon to be able to keep us alive. It was a great day for her.”
Isabella Saunders and Ava Maples had two hits apiece for the Lady Rebels in Thursday’s full game, including a leadoff home run by Saunders in the bottom of the first inning.
Spain said after the game that the eight-ish hour wait between games Thursday included some 7 Brew Coffee, some lunch and hanging out at the hotel, but Maryville never lost its focus through all the changes.
And they’re being rewarded for that.
“They continue to be resilient, they continue to do what we need them to do,” Spain said.
“It’s been hard. Obviously everything has not gone smoothly. They’ve continued to do everything we’ve asked them to do. They’ve fought. They’ve shown up, whenever, whatever time, whatever is going on. And that’s all you can ask for.”