Spring Fling nuggets

A Devil of a defense

White House’s Seth Bumbalough is part of a starting back line that includes fellow sophomore Corey Curtis and seniors Owen Clark and Matthew Smith. That foursome – backed by senior goalkeeper Logan Trimmer – has 12 shutouts this season. Conversely, Tuesday evening’s quarterfinal opponent – Greeneville – also has 12 shutouts this season.

Another Neelly

Gallatin High senior Adam Neelly is looking to keep the Class AAA state discus title in the family after his brother Brett won the state championship last season. Brett Neelly is now competing at Kansas State University, opening the door for Adam Neelly – a University of Memphis signee who placed second in the discus a year ago – to potentially win it this season. Adam Neelly has the top qualifying distance among the AAA competitors in both the discus throw and shot put.

Heath bars all around

Pope John Paul II High senior pitcher Dalton Heath – a Chattanooga State Community College signee – has stepped into the No. 2 starter’s role and compiled a 6-1 record with a 2.29 earned-run average.

Pass go, collect 200 victories

Station Camp head coach Thomas Morand collected his 200th victory as the boys head coach with the school in the Bison’s 2-1 victory over visiting Hendersonville in the Region 5-AAA Tournament championship match last Thursday.

Morand is the only boys head coach in the school’s history, having been with the program since Station Camp opened in the fall of 2002.

McDonald … I’m lovin’ it

Pope John Paul II High senior Alley McDonald – a Southeastern Louisiana University signee – has a team-leading .489 batting average and a .772 slugging percentage. The first baseman has 10 doubles, two triples, four home runs and 41 runs batted in.

Ample assistance

White House sophomore midfielder Brady Briley has provided a team-high 17 assists.

Mister, mister

A pair of Tennessee Baseball Coaches Association Mr. Baseball finalists in Division II-Class AA will square off in the state opener between Christian Brothers and Pope John Paul II, Purple Wave junior pitcher Weston Bizzle (a Vanderbilt University commitment) and Knight shortstop Ben Brooks (a University of Memphis commit). The PJP II leadoff hitter has a .404 batting average, 33 runs scored, 10 doubles and 12 stolen bases. The third Mr. Baseball finalist in Division II-Class AA – McCallie senior catcher Quinn Smith – is also at the state tournament as his Blue Tornado face Brentwood Academy in Tuesday afternoon’s state opener.

A battle of experience

Hendersonville senior Kato Richardson – a Tennessee State University signee – is making his third appearance among the Class AAA state singles field, as is his first-round opponent (Farragut senior Gary Carter). Both players lost in their quarterfinal match in 2014, but each won his quarterfinal match last season before falling in the semifinals. Carter – a three-star recruit – lost to Ravenwood junior Steven Karl, the eventual state champion.

First time for everything

The Pope John Paul II High baseball team is seeking its first victory at the state tournament in its third appearance, having lost its first two state contests in both 2013 and 2015.

State streak

The Blue Devil program is in the Class A-AA State Tournament for the sixth time, and after dropping their first three state openers, White House has won its last two opening-round matches (a 1-0 victory over Dyersburg in 2012 and a 2-1 win over Notre Dame in 2013).

Payton’s place

White House junior Payton Barlow has the third-fastest qualifying time among the Class A-AA girls field in the 400-meter dash.

Bison back line battalion

Boasting a defensive corps that consists of District 9-AAA Most Valuable Player Tanner Carter, District 9-AAA Co-Defensive Player of the Year Mark Ludwig, senior captain Bailey Grissom and sophomore Christian Sanchez – along with depth provided by senior Dylan Grimsley – Station Camp’s defense has given junior goalkeeper Eli McCormick plenty of support this season.

The Bison have allowed more than two goals in a match just twice – in Saturday evening’s 4-3, sectional victory over Franklin and in Station Camp’s lone setback, a 3-0 loss to nationally-ranked Omaha (Neb.) South.

The defense has produced 13 shutouts this season, including a stretch of five consecutive matches without allowing a goal. Station Camp is outscoring opponents by a 71-16 margin this season, including a 20-6 discrepancy in six postseason matches.

A Commodore clash

A pair of Vanderbilt University commitments – Pope John Paul II High junior Mason Hickman and Christian Brothers junior Weston Bizzle – could square off in the second of Tuesday’s two Division II-Class AA State Baseball Tournament opener at Wilson Central. Hickman pitched a complete-game one-hitter in Thursday afternoon’s 5-0 win over visiting Montgomery Bell Academy, while Bizzle had a short outing – pitching just 1 and 1/3 innings – in Friday’s 7-4 loss to visiting Baylor. Hickman pitched the state opener against Christian Brothers last season, allowing three hits and three walks while striking out 14 hitters in a complete-game effort.

Another Heinrich at Old Fort

Merrol Hyde Magnet senior Lauren Heinrich is following in her brother Matthew’s footsteps by reaching the state tournament. Matthew Heinrich played at Hendersonville High and qualified for the Class AAA State Tournament once as a doubles competitor and twice in singles. Lauren Heinrich faces a tall task in her state opener against Fayetteville senior Skylar McDonald, a Dallas (Texas) Baptist University signee who won the 2012 and 2013 state titles in Class A-AA before finishing as the runner-up to Elizabethton’s Danielle Vines the last two seasons.

We meet again

Station Camp’s quarterfinal-round opponent, Cookeville (17-4-2), was the second victim of the Bison’s current 17-game winning streak as the visiting Cavaliers suffered a 3-0 loss on April 4.

Cookeville has also played two other District 9-AAA foes, playing to a 1-1 tie with Hendersonville on April 8 and claiming a 4-2 win over Gallatin on April 9 at the Hendersonville Classic.

The Cavaliers – who enter the Class AAA Tournament on a nine-match winning streak – have shut out 12 opponents this season, including four of their last five. Cookeville has outscored its five postseason opponents by a 17-2 margin.

The Cavaliers are making their third consecutive appearance at the Class AAA State Tournament, with each of the last two appearances in Murfreesboro ending with quarterfinal losses (4-1 to eventual state runner-up Science Hill in 2014 and 3-0 to Ravenwood last season).

Back for a finale

Beech High seniors Courtney Brooks and Allie Guinn will have the experience advantage on their quarterfinal foe, Blackman senior Aya Melham and freshman Anna Mincey. Brooks and Guinn reached the state as sophomores before falling in their state opener. Last year’s state runner-up – Bearden senior Brittany Foust and sophomore Julia Adams – are back among the field.

V – M – I

Two players who have signed with Virginia Military Institute – Pope John Paul II High senior first baseman Ryan Hatten and McCallie senior catcher Quinn Smith – are competing in the Division II-Class AA State Tournament. Smith is one of the three Tennessee Baseball Coaches Association Mr. Baseball finalists in Division II-Class AA, while Hatten has half of the Knights’ six home runs and leads the team with 33 runs batted in.

Agent Carter

Station Camp senior defender Tanner Carter – a Lee University signee – has 11 goals and five assists this season, frequently joining the attack on offense and providing a tall target for potential headers off of corner kicks and other set pieces.

Familiar foes

PJP II is all too familiar with facing GPS at the state tournament. The Lady Knights are making their ninth state appearance over the last 11 seasons, having lost seven of their eight contests against the Bruisers. The lone win came in the two teams’ state opener in 2013, a 5-4 victory for PJP II. In the 2007 Division II State Tournament (which was an eight-team field before Division II was divided into two classes), GPS handed PJP II a 10-0 loss in the winners bracket final and a 14-0 setback in the state championship game.

Got your back

White House senior Owen Clark and sophomore Corey Curtis have been offensive threats while making runs out of the back line, with each of the defenders having scored eight goals.

Going streaking

Station Camp (22-1) enters the Class AAA Boys State Soccer Tournament on a 17-match winning streak, and the Bison’s 22 victories are the most in the state in any classification.

White House (19-2-3) marches into the Class A-AA state tournament on a 17-match winning streak of its own, tied with the Bison for the state’s longest current winning streak.

The Blue Devils have not been defeated in 22 consecutive contests, second in the state to Christ Presbyterian Academy (21-0-3) for the most consecutive matches without a loss entering state-tournament play. CPA, the defending Class A-AA champion, currently holds a 33-match undefeated streak dating back to last season and has won its last seven matches entering the state tournament.

Comfortable surroundings

Over their first eight state appearances, the Lady Knights have compiled a 7-16 record, finishing as the state runner-up twice (in 2007 and 2013). Last season was the fourth time in those eight state tournament appearances that the Lady Knights have lost their first two games. GPS is even more comfortable on the state stage, having won eight state championships (lastly in 2014) and finishing as the state runner-up for the seventh time with last season’s 6-4 loss to Baylor in the state championship game.

General Lees

White House senior forward Mark Lees has scored a team-high 30 goals this season while also providing eight assists.

Stepping in, stepping up

Pope John Paul II High sophomore Anna Wantz has stepped into the pitcher’s circle for the Lady Knights following a back injury to senior ace Alley McDonald, and Wantz has compiled a 12-4 record and a 3.78 earned-run average. Wantz also had a .364 batting average and six extra-base hits (four doubles and two home runs).