Clay Fletcher spent 5-1/3 innings on the mound for the Mavericks when the team visited Carter on Thursday, April 17. The pitcher threw 82 times with 50 strikes and faced 31 batters. Anderson County lost the game 7-6. Fletcher was 2-for-3 at the plate on the night. - Tony Cox
Anderson County High School’s baseball team endured a rollercoaster ride last week, winning three of five games.
The Mavericks (20-9 overall, 6-2 in District 4-AAA) closed the week with a 5-1 loss at South-Doyle on Friday in Knoxville.
Anderson County held an early 1-0 lead before surrendering five unanswered runs to the Cherokees.
Alex Bond went 2-for-3 to lead the Mavericks at the plate.
Ty Wilson singled and had an RBI.
On Thursday, Anderson County came up short in a 7-6 decision at Carter, despite a strong performance by Easton Beaty.
He went 3-for-4 with a home run, three RBIs and a run scored.
Trent Strickland was 1-for-4 with three RBIs and a run.
The Mavericks opened the week by sweeping a district series against Cumberland Gap.
In the series opener at home, Anderson County rolled to a 19-1 win.
Ali McKamey was 2-for-3 at the plate for the Lady Mavericks against Scott on Thursday, April 17. She had two RBIs, two stolen bases and a run scored. Anderson County won the game 10-1.
Despite her team dropping two of its last three games, Anderson County High School softball Coach Lindsey Verner remains optimistic.
After notching a 9-6 District 4-AAA win over crosstown rival Clinton on Monday, April 14, the Lady Mavericks fell to first-place Gibbs the next day.
The defending state champion Lady Eagles defeated Anderson County 12-2 in five innings.
The Lady Mavericks (19-10 overall, 5-3 in District 4-AAA) opened the scoring against Gibbs.
“They had one big inning against us,” Verner said. “We scored first, and other than that big inning, we were right there with them. They’re good, but they’re beatable.”
Senior centerfielder and leadoff hitter Kaycee Baldwin went 2-for-3 and scored both runs in the contest. Alli McKamey drove in both runs with a pair of sacrifice flies.
The Clinton High School softball team experienced a week of mixed results, but closed it with an offensive explosion.
After dropping a 9-6 decision to crosstown rival Anderson County on Monday, April 14, the Lady Dragons fell 7-2 at home to Knoxville Halls on Wednesday, April 16.
Clinton, however, bounced back in dominant fashion, routing Cumberland Gap 17-1 in a District 4-AAA matchup Thursday night.
“We played well against Halls; we were down 3-2 and gave up a couple of big hits late,” Clinton Coach Leonard Sams said. “We have a young team. We’re so young, it’s crazy. We’re playing good teams like Halls and Gibbs, and we’re right there.
Aiden Golden capped the Dragons’ scoring against the Eagles on Monday night, April 14 with a grand slam. The Dragons eventually lost the game 12-5. Golden is shown here in the Dragons’ April 8 12-0 win over Scott.
Despite dropping three of four games last week, the Clinton High School baseball team put on an offensive display.
The Dragons (11-17 overall, 4-4 in District 4-AAA) opened the week with a two-game district sweep at the hands of Gibbs.
In Monday’s matchup at the newly renamed Morgan Wallen Field in Corryton, the Eagles posted a 12-5 victory.
All five Clinton runs came in the second inning, capped by a grand slam from Aden Golden. Will Brooks collected two hits, including a double, and added an RBI.
The teams met again Tuesday at Jaycee Park, where the Eagles edged the Dragons 5-3.
Clinton outhit Gibbs 7-6, but couldn’t convert enough chances.
Oak Ridge leadoff hitter Warren East set the tone against Karns, scoring three runs and stealing four bases. The Wildcats won the April 14 game against the Beavers 7-2.
It was a busy week on the diamond for the Oak Ridge High School baseball team.
The Wildcats played five games last week, winning four.
They opened the week with their final District 3-4A series of the 2025 regular season, and swept Karns to secure at least a share of the league title.
On Monday, April 14, Oak Ridge defeated the Beavers 7-2 on the road.
Wildcats leadoff hitter Warren East set the tone, scoring three runs and stealing four bases. Parker Free powered the offense, going 2-for-5 with a home run, a double, five RBIs and a run scored.
Left-hander Kam Welch started on the mound and pitched four innings. He allowed one run on three hits and two walks, while striking out 10.
Tryce Sharp threw the final three innings and earned a save. He gave up one run, two hits and two walks, while fanning two.
The 2025 high school soccer season is entering its home stretch, and Anderson County has experienced its share of ups and downs this spring.
The Mavericks, a young squad with only two seniors, honored their veteran leaders Monday night before hosting William Blount. Results of the match were not available at press time.
Goalkeeper Kyden Torres and senior Gavin Higgs were recognized in a pre-match ceremony by Coach Chris Curtin and the program for their contributions both on and off the field.
“Both of them have definitely left their marks on our program, and so have their parents and families,” Curtin said. “Both have played goalkeeper and in the field at different times. They were always ready to step in and play wherever we needed them, especially when injuries left us short.”
Curtin also acknowledged the broader support the seniors’ families provided.
“Their families have done a lot to keep our program going,” he said. “Gavin even has a little sister who jumps in and helps us out however she can.”
The 2024-25 season was a banner year for the Anderson County High School wrestling program.
The Mavericks qualified for the Class A State Duals and followed that achievement with a standout performance at the traditional state championships in February in Franklin.
Anderson County had four wrestlers — three boys and one girl — earn all-state honors from the Tennessee Sports Writers Association.
To be eligible for the all-state teams, athletes had to place in the top four of their respective weight classes at the state championships.
Senior Josh Bingham captured the state title in the 215-pound division, closing out his high school career.
He became just the second state champion in program history. A multi-time state qualifier, he reached the No. 1 ranking in December.
Eli Bratton was also recognized after finishing second in the 190-pound division, while sophomore Zed Houlet claimed fourth place at 120 pounds.
On the girls’ side, sophomore Danielle Connors was named to the all-state team after finishing fourth in the 126-pound class.
She entered the postseason as the state’s top-ranked wrestler in her division, and completed the season with a 47-4 record, including 31 pins and seven wins by technical fall.
An eight-game losing streak came to an end early last week for the Oak Ridge High School softball team.
The Lady Wildcats returned to the field for the first time in more than a week due to inclement weather, and won two out of three games to snap the skid.
On Monday, April 14, Oak Ridge made a triumphant return by notching a 14-0 victory over Rockwood.
Freshman pitcher Emmerson Bradshaw tossed a one-hit shutout, going the distance in a five-inning complete game.
She struck out six and walked one. Bradshaw also contributed at the plate, going 2-for-4 and scoring twice.
Her older sister, senior leadoff hitter Brenna Bradshaw, scored two runs and drove in another.
Senior Morgan Perry went 3-for-4 with two RBIs and a run scored for Oak Ridge, which turned in its best offensive showing in recent weeks by pounding out 11 hits.
Gloria Rust went a perfect 3-for-3, knocking in a run and scoring another.
Taryn McGuire singled, drove in two runs and scored once.
Anderson County High School’s tennis teams continued their strong 2025 campaigns with impressive performances last week.
The Lady Mavericks posted a pair of 9-0 victories, blanking Knoxville Central and Campbell County.
“Those were good wins for us,” Anderson County Coach Robert Byers said.
Against Central, singles winners included Stella Farrow, Anaya Witkowski, Sarah Ahlstedt, Ava Williams, Emerie Bullock and Sophie Cable. The Lady Mavs also swept doubles, with victories from Farrow/Bullock, Williams/Witkowski and Williams/Sophie Crumley.
The Bobcats fielded only one boys player, resulting in a forfeit win for Anderson County. Reese Russell earned a single win.
The Mavericks followed that with a hard-fought 5-4 victory over Campbell County. Michael Lemanski secured the deciding point in singles play.
The Clinton Football Club has endured its share of struggles this season, but the team — made up of student-athletes from Clinton Middle School — picked up a much-needed 4-0 victory over Jefferson County Red on Thursday.
“We really needed this one,” Clinton Coach Jake McMurray said.
“We had some injuries in that game, but we had some kids who really stepped up,” he said.
Tucker Nielsen scored a goal and added an assist Thursday night at Jefferson County High School in Dandridge.
Lucas Metchikoff and Jordan Cuevas each tallied a goal, and Juan Castillo Zoro Castano also found the back of the net.
Clinton goalkeeper Spencer Smith notched eight saves and earned his first clean sheet of the season.
He also made an impact on offense with an assist on Cuevas’ goal.
“Spencer got his first clean sheet, and he also had a keeper assist,” McMurray said.
“It was big for him; Tucker and Lucas stepped up and had a really nice game for us,” he said.
Earlier in the week, Clinton fell 3-0 to Knoxville Halls White.
“We had some injuries in that game, and they really hurt us,” McMurray said.
Norris Middle School’s baseball team entered the week riding a three-game winning streak, and kept the momentum going in a big way.
The Senators (8-7) closed the week with a 14-1 victory at Oliver Springs on Friday night.
Cooper Smith provided an offensive spark for Norris, going 2-for-2 with a triple, four RBIs and two runs scored.
Conner Dabney finished 2-for-3 with three runs and two RBIs.
Eli Lindsay was 1-for-2 with a double, two RBIs and two runs scored.
Leadoff hitter Parker Vance singled and drove in two runs, while Memphis Hill went 2-for-4 with two RBIs and two runs.
Vance and Riley Kincaid combined on a one-hitter.
Vance pitched three innings, allowing one unearned run, no hits and three walks while striking out two. Kincaid worked two innings, surrendering one hit and one walk with two strikeouts.
The Senators also topped Oliver Springs 5-3 at home on Thursday. Hill went 2-for-2 with three RBIs. Dabney had was 2-for-2 with a double and a run scored, while Daniel Massengill contributed two hits and scored twice.
On Tuesday, April 15, Norris claimed a 5-4 walk-off win over Lenoir City. Dabney delivered the game-winning RBI single in the bottom of the sixth. He went 2-for-3 with two RBIs and a run scored. Vance added a single and scored twice for the Senators.
