GALLATIN, Tenn. -- The Chattanooga State baseball and softball teams begin their parallel pursuits towards a junior college national championship Friday as each begins play in the 2013 TCCAA/NJCAA Region VII tournaments.
Volunteer State Community College will be hosting both tournaments simultaneously, causing no small amount of logistical problems for the boosters and school officials from Chattanooga attending. Coach Greg Dennis' Tigers seeded third among the four teams competing with a record of 35-13 (15-9 in conference play) begins their first-round battle with host Vol State (24-18, 13-10) at 4 p.m.
Central time. But just one hour later at the softball stadium, the Lady Tigers (33-11, 24-6) begin their defense of their NJCAA championship against Columbia State (33-11, 25-4).
Chattanooga State's baseball squad brings the league's leading team average (a robust .350) to the tournament, led by sophomore outfielder Casey Mannion (Milton High, Atlanta) at .451. Mannion and sophomore first baseman Aaron Wright (Asheville Roberson) are also one off the league lead in home runs, with nine apiece. Two other hot bats for the 2013 season have been sophomores Marquis Webb, a second baseman out of Atlanta Parkview (.388) and Aussie shortstop Jordan McDonald (.382).
Among the pitchers who have had productive seasons for the Tigers are workhorse Tyler McClure (5-2, 2.42), Dalton product Colton Kinnamon (7-1), Blake Davenport (4-2, 3.29) freshman Reid Fults (3-0, 1.46 in limited duty) and closer Adam Weldon (fiver saves).
The Lady Tigers ranks second in the conference in both batting average and ERA, so standout seasons are in plentiful supply.
Breaking out in a big way this season was former Grace Academy first baseman Lacye Walker, who has dominated TJCAA with a .520 average, 15 home runs and 63 RBIs -- all leading the league or tied for the lead. Georgia native Marina Wilkerson hit .403 for Chattanooga State this year with 14 homers, while her former prep teammate Khadija Neely was right behind her at .400.
Haley Fagan, who was recruited out of Cornersville, Tenn., was a mound mainstay, going 16-5, 2.16 in 25 appearances. But a freshman also stood out in 2013 -- Shelby Willard out of Chattanoog Central, who put together an 11-5 record in 23 games.
TCCAA BASEBALL
Friday Games, All Times Eastern
Dyersburg (29-14, 15-8) vs. Jackson (27-20, 12-12), 2 p.m.
Chattanooga State (35-13, 15-9) vs. Volunteer State (24-18, 13-10), 5:00
TCCAA SOFTBALL
Friday Games, All Times Eastern
Walters State (33-7, 25-4) vs. Volunteer State (29-13, 17-11), 4:00
Columbia State (33-11, 25-4) vs Chattanooga State (33-11, 24-6)