With East Hamilton’s 7-3 sectional win over Columbia on Saturday, District 5-AAA has placed its two top teams in the TSSAA Spring Fling state baseball tournament next week in Murfreesboro.
The Hurricanes beat Soddy-Daisy for the district championship. The Trojans rebounded to beat East Hamilton in the Region 3-AAA title game a week later.
On Saturday, the Hurricanes were being no-hit through 5 1/3 innings by Columbia’s Jonathan Davis, but rallied to beat the Lions to secure the school’s first appearance in the state tournament after three disappointing sectional losses in 2011 (Class AA) and 2013 and 2014.
On Sunday, the Hurricanes (21-12) learned their first-round opponent at state.
It's Farragut (37-6) and the game will be played on Tuesday at Siegel High School at 6:30 p.m.
Soddy-Daisy (23-10) drew Hendersonville (31-7) at 4 p.m. on Tuesday at Oakland High.
In Class AAA, one final Sectional game between Houston and Arlington on Sunday afternoon will determine the final spot in the bracket, which will then be posted on the TSSAA web site.
Boyd-Buchanan (Class A) and McCallie (Division II-AA) also have earned state berths and Baylor’s still fighting for a spot in the DII-AA bracket as well.
Meanwhile, Chattanooga will have five teams competing in the softball tournament.
That group is headlined by bitter Division II-AA rivals Baylor and Girls Preparatory School. The Lady Red Raiders and Bruisers have combined to win the last eight state titles, 11 of the last 12 and 14 of the last 17.
Can you spell dominance?
Baylor and GPS will play on Tuesday at 5:30 p.m.
Also on the Tuesday card is Chattanooga Central playing DeKalb County in a Class AA matchup.
Ooltewah’s Lady Owls, who have won Class AAA district, region and sectional titles, will play Bearden on Wednesday at 10 a.m.
Veteran coach Clifford Kirk has directed the Sale Creek Lady Panthers to their first state tournament. Sale Creek is scheduled to play Adamsville on Tuesday. The Lady Panthers routed Jackson County, 18-2, in the sectional to put their name in the Class A tourney hat.
Ooltewah’s Lady Owls are making their first appearance at state since 2008 and won’t play until Wednesday morning, taking on Bearden.
TSSAA Spring Fling
(Local teams)
Baseball
Tuesday
Boyd-Buchanan (27-9) vs. Knoxville Grace (28-11), 6:30 p.m., Middle Tennessee Christian
Class AAA
Soddy-Daisy (23-10) vs. Hendersonville (31-7), 4 p.m., Oakland
East Hamilton (21-12) vs. Farragut (37-6), 6:30 p.m., Siegel
Division II-AA
McCallie (25-8) vs. Briarcrest (21-10), 4 p.m., Wilson Central
Softball
Tuesday
Class A
Sale Creek (19-3) vs. Adamsville (24-10), 5:30 p.m. McKnight 3
Class AA
Chattanooga Central (20-14) vs. DeKalb County (27-6), 5:30 p.m., Starplex 2
Division II-AA
Baylor (22-3) vs. Girls Preparatory School (15-12), 5:30 p.m., Starplex 3
Wednesday
Class AAA
Ooltewah (38-8) vs. Bearden (25-11), 10 a.m., Starplex 1
(All Times Central)