Union's Lewis, Vanderbilt's Hickman garner TSWA baseball accolades

BASEBALL: Union’s Lewis, Vanderbilt’s Hickman garner TSWA accolades
NASHVILLE, Tenn. – Union University’s Hayden Lewis and Vanderbilt’s Mason Hickman were named the Baseball Player and Pitcher of the Week, respectively, by the Tennessee Sports Writers Association on Tuesday for their performances for games March 19-25.

Lewis batted .500 (7-for-14) with one double, two triples, one home run, five RBIs and four runs scored in four games for the Bulldogs. The Jackson, Tenn., native doubled, drove in three runs and scored once in a mid-week contest at Trevecca University.

The senior outfielder doubled in the first of a doubleheader at Valdosta State and added a single in the second contest versus the Blazers. In the series finale Lewis was 4-for-4 with two triples, a solo homer and three RBIs. He is batting .281 with five doubles, five triples, two home runs, 15 RBIs and 16 runs scored in 27 games this season.

Hickman tossed a two-hit shutout in the series finale against LSU, walking two and striking out nine in seven innings in a 1-0 victory for the Commodores. The Hendersonville, Tenn., native did not allow a hit after the second inning, retiring 16 of the final 18 batters he faced, including 12 straight at one point.

The freshman righthander improved to 5-0 with a 2.08 ERA in six appearances this season, striking out 28 in 26.0 innings of work. He has issued just nine walks and opponents have a .180 batting average against him.

2018 TSWA BASEBALL PLAYERS OF THE WEEK
February 20 – Kyle Blackwell, Cumberland University (Player); Dillon Cate, Carson-Newman (Pitcher)
February 27 – Fernando Garcia, Bryan College (Player); Grant Boyd, King University (Pitcher)
March 6 – Sam Mang, Trevecca University (Player); Stephen Chamblee, Bryan College (Pitcher)
March 13 – Sam Mang, Trevecca University (Player); Will Neely, Tennessee (Pitcher)
March 20 – David Scoggins, Bryan College (Player); Sean Hunley, Tennessee (Pitcher)

Boys all-state teams for 2017-18 recognized by TSWA

Memphis East's Alex Lomax earned his third straight All-State honor, leading Memphis East to a state championship.

NASHVILLE, Tenn. – The Tennessee Sports Writers Association announced its All-State boys basketball teams for 2017-18 on Friday. Each Division I team features 15 players from Classes A, AA, AAA and 10 players on the teams in Division II-A and DII-AA. Any player who was a finalist for a Mr. Basketball award was automatically included on the All-State team.

Division II-A
C.J. Gettelfinger, Grace Christian Academy, JR
Keon Johnson, The Webb School, SO
Malik Riddle, Rossville Christian Academy, SR
Grant Ledford, Grace Christian Academy-Knoxville, SR
Daniel Loos, Clarksville Academy, SO
Chase Ridenour, Webb School of Knoxville, JR
Schyler Forrest, Lausanne Collegiate, JR
Tripp McEachern, Goodpasture, SR
Luke Howard, Harding Academy, JR
Bryce McCormick, Christ Presbyterian Academy, JR

Division II-AA
Junior Clay, McCallie School, SR
Darius Garland, Brentwood Academy, SR
Cedric Henderson Jr., Briarcrest Christian, SR
John McBride, Memphis University School, SR
Camron Johnson, Brentwood Academy, SR
Patrick Urey, The Baylor School, SR
J.C. Clausi, Father Ryan, SR
Warren Zager, Ensworth School, SR
Thomas Carr, Montgomery Bell Academy, SR
Beyaun Hendricks, The Baylor School, JR

Class A
Caden Mills, Van Buren County, SR
Arecko Gipson, MASE, SR
Jackson Hicks, Oakdale, SR
Dawson Abbott, Pickett County, SR
Tylandrius Parks, Middleton, SR
Justin Pankey, Humboldt, SR
Brandon Adams, LEAD Academy, SR
Antavious Buford, Douglass, JR
Devin Payne, Douglass, SR
Carson Cary, Columbia Academy, JR
Ryan Weathers, Loretto, SR
Jamey Sanders, W.E.B. DuBois, SR
Dillon Fountain, Wartburg Central, SR
Andy Stevens, North Greene, SR
Parker McKinney, Coalfield, SR

Class AA
Kadrion Johnson, Marshall County, JR
Jayden Lockett, East Nashville, SR
Jessie Walker, Brainerd, SR
Quatarius York, Fayette-Ware, SR
Juwan Carpenter, Stratford, JR
Jordan Johnson, Hamilton, SR
Martrell Brooks, Hamilton, SR
Bryce Mason, McMinn Central, SR
Bryce McBride, Jackson South Side, SR
Daryl McElrath, Riverside, SR
Dante Harris, Alcoa, SO
Trey Davis, Fulton, JR
Travion Austin, Ripley, SR
Cameron Smith, Pigeon Forge, SR
Trevor Hensley, Unicoi County, SR

Class AAA
Mark Freeman, Southwind, SR
Tyler Harris, Cordova, SR
Alex Lomax, Memphis East, SR
Chandler Lawson, Memphis East, JR
James Wiseman, Memphis East, JR
Alec Kegler, Clarksville Northeast, JR
Ques Glover, Bearden, JR
Trent Stephney, Bearden, JR
Spencer Chandler, Anderson County, SR
Taelyr Gatlin, Brighton, SR
Brock Jencek, Knoxville Catholic, SR
Reese Glover, Franklin, JR
Trent Gibson, Blackman, SR
Keishawn Davidson, Oakland, JR
Joe Anderson, Maryville, SO

TSWA announces 2017-18 girls all-state teams

Upperman's Akira Levy earned her third straight All-State honor, helping the Lady Bears to another state championship.

NASHVILLE, Tenn. – The Tennessee Sports Writers Association announced its All-State girls basketball teams for 2017-18 on Thursday. Each Division I team features 15 players from Classes A, AA, AAA and 10 players on the teams in Division II-A and DII-AA. Any player who was a finalist for a Miss Basketball award was automatically included on the All-State team.

Division II-A
Casey Collier, Webb School of Knoxville, JR
Ashton Hulme, University School of Jackson, SR
Ashlyn Pittman, Friendship Christian, SR
Sydneey Boykin, Clarksville Academy, SO
Jade Wells, Northpoint Christian, SR
Lauren Gross, Northpoint Christian, SR
Haylee Luttrell, Webb School of Knoxville, SR
Cassie Peters, Grace Christian Academy-Knoxville, JR
Carrington Washburn, Christ Presbyterian Academy, SO
Mariah Edmonds, Providence Christian, FR

Division II-AA
Sydni Harvey, Brentwood Academy, SR
Savanna Owens, Briarcrest Christian, SR
Dontavia Waggoner, Ensworth School, SO
Makaila Wilson, Brentwood Academy, SR
Maggie Brown, Brentwood Academy, SO
Kaiya Wynn, Ensworth School, FR
Annabel Frist, Ensworth School, FR
JuToreyia Willis, Baylor School, SR
Emily Carletello, Father Ryan, SR
Brooke McCurdy, Girls Preparatory School, SR

Class A
Courtney Pritchett, Pickett County, SR
Tess Darby, Greenfield, SO
Chloe Moore, Greenfield, SO
Kyleigh Hardy, Jackson County, SR
Chyna Brooks, Perry County, SR
Taylor Smith, Huntingdon, SR
Derrenishia Jackson, Booker T. Washington, SR
Samantha Russell, Tellico Plains, JR
Kinsley Logan, Moore County, SR
Madison Holley, Wartburg, SO
Savannah Lee, Trinity Christian Academy, SR
Hannah Garrett, Clarkrange, SR
Julia Huntley, Loretto, SR
Shyanne Tuelle, Hampton, SR
Anna Smith, Grace Christian Academy-Franklin, FR

Class AA
Akira Levy, Upperman, SR
Gracee Dishman, Cumberland County, JR
Taylor Lamb, South Greene, SR
Jamirah Shutes, Haywood, SR
Shawnta Shaw, Pearl-Cohn, SR
Sydni Lollar, Greeneville, SR
Keeley Carter, Macon County, SO
Quanardra Miller, Jackson South Side, JR
Kaia Upton, East Nashville, SR
Sade Hudson, Trezevant, SR
Akeria James, Craigmont, JR
Emmy Nelson, Cheatham County, JR
Riley Hurst, Upperman, SR
Deja Graves, Westview, SR
Riley Hicks, Alcoa, SR

Class AAA
Rhyne Howard, Bradley Central, SR
Brinae Alexander, Riverdale, SR
Elizabeth Dixon, Ridgeway, SR
Jayla Hemingway, Germantown Houston, JR
Jireh Washington, Memphis Central, SR
Gabby Crawford, Munford, SR
Kiera Downey, Ravenwood, SR
Alexis Whittington, Riverdale, SR
Alasia Hayes, Riverdale, SO
Trinity Lee, Bearden, SR
Holly Harris, Franklin, SR
Jakhyia Davis, Bearden, SO
Kenedi Hambrick, Cane Ridge, SR
Emma Palmer, Mt. Juliet, SO
Haley Schubert, Powell, SR

Baseball, softball Player of the Week honors awarded by TSWA

BASEBALL: Bryan’s Scoggins, Tennessee’s Hunley garner TSWA accolades
NASHVILLE, Tenn. – Bryan College’s David Scoggins and Tennessee’s Sean Hunley were named the Baseball Player and Pitcher of the Week, respectively, by the Tennessee Sports Writers Association on Tuesday for their performances for games March 12-18.

Scoggins collected six hits in eight official at-bats in a three-game series against St. Andrews University, posting two doubles, three home runs, 12 RBIs and seven runs scored. The Marietta, Ga., native hit a two-run homer, added a double and drove in five runs in the first game versus the Knights.

The sophomore registered a two-run homer in the second contest and doubled, homered, drove in five runs and scored twice in the final game of the series as well. Scoggins is batting .370 with three doubles, six home runs, 17 RBIs and 11 runs scored in 16 starts this season for Bryan.

Hunley tossed a complete-game shutout, scattering seven hits with no walks and three strikeouts in a 5-0 win versus Western Carolina. The Mt. Juliet, Tenn., native retired 12 of the first 14 batters of the game before a pair of singles in the fifth inning, but a line drive doubleplay erased the WCU threat.

Another twin-killing helped erase a baserunner in the eighth for Hunley, who extended his scoreless innings streak to 20.2. The righthander improved to 3-0 for the season with a 0.75 ERA this season with 12 strikeouts in 24.0 innings of work.

2018 TSWA WOMEN’S BASEBALL PLAYERS OF THE WEEK
February 20 – Kyle Blackwell, Cumberland University (Player); Dillon Cate, Carson-Newman (Pitcher)
February 27 – Fernando Garcia, Bryan College (Player); Grant Boyd, King University (Pitcher)
March 6 – Sam Mang, Trevecca University (Player); Stephen Chamblee, Bryan College (Pitcher)
March 13 – Sam Mang, Trevecca University (Player); Will Neely, Tennessee (Pitcher)

SOFTBALL: Maryville’s Strambler, Cumberland’s Caplinger named TSWA award winners
NASHVILLE, Tenn. – Maryville College’s Essence Strambler and Cumberland’s Kayley Caplinger were named the Softball Player and Pitcher of the Week, respectively, by the Tennessee Sports Writers Association on Tuesday for their performances for games March 12-18.

Strambler batted .471 (8-for-17) with two doubles, two home runs and 14 RBIs as well as six runs scored over six games for the Scots. The Freeport, Texas, native posted an RBI single and a three-run homer in the first of two games versus LaGrange College and added a double and a two-run shot in the second contest against the Panthers.

The sophomore outfielder drove in a run with a sacrifice fly and a groundout in the first game of a doubleheader at Covenant College and collected another sac fly and an RBI single in the second contest versus the Scots. Strambler posted a two-run single along with a double and three runs scored in the first of two games at Berea College and registered a sacrifice fly and an RBI single in the second contest against the Mountaineers.

Strambler is batting .449 with two doubles, five home runs, 28 RBIs and 17 runs scored in 22 games this season for Maryville.

Caplinger posted a 3-0 mark with a 0.39 ERA, scattering 14 hits over 18.0 innings while allowing just one run. The Auburntown, Tenn., native tossed five innings versus Bethel University, giving up one run on five hits with no walks and one strikeout.

The freshman righthander then pitched a four-hit shutout against Stillman College, striking out five while allowing four hits in a 2-0 victory. The next day she worked six scoreless frames versus the Tigers, giving up five hits with three walks and two strikeouts.

Caplinger holds a 9-1 mark with a 1.42 ERA in 11 starts covering 59.0 innings with 31 strikeouts and a .227 opponent batting average.

2018 TSWA WOMEN’S SOFTBALL PLAYERS OF THE WEEK
February 20 – Bailey Alexander, Trevecca University (Player); Lacie Rinus, Carson-Newman (Pitcher)
February 27 – Jocelyn De La Cruz, Middle Tennessee (Player); Caylan Arnold, Tennessee (Pitcher)
March 6 – Kyler Trosclair-Klatt, Memphis (Player); Caylan Arnold, Tennessee (Pitcher)
March 13 – Lexi Rouse, Belmont (Player); Molly Smith, Memphis (Pitcher)

Baseball, softball Players of the Week honored by TSWA

BASEBALL: Trevecca’s Mang, Tennessee’s Neely garner TSWA accolades
NASHVILLE, Tenn. – Trevecca University’s Sam Mang and Tennessee’s Will Neely were named the Baseball Player and Pitcher of the Week, respectively, by the Tennessee Sports Writers Association on Tuesday for their performances for games March 5-11.

Mang collected just five hits in 17 at-bats over four games but posted three home runs with 11 RBIs for the Trojans. The Woodstock, Ga., native belted a two-run homer and added an RBI single in the midweek victory at North Alabama.

The junior delivered a three-run home run and a two-run single in a 7-5 victory against Drury University in the second contest of a weekend series and posted a two-run homer and a sacrifice fly in another 7-5 win versus Drury to complete the series. He has seven home runs and 21 RBIs over the last two weeks and is batting .327 in 15 games this season.

Neely tossed a complete-game in a 2-1 victory at Cincinnati, allowing one run on just five hits. The Knoxville, Tenn., native walked one and struck out five. The junior righthander faced just one batter over the minimum in the final seven innings after allowing three hits and a run in the third. Tennessee plated the go-ahead run in the top of the ninth and Neely worked around a two-out single in the bottom of the inning to get the victory.

He improved to 2-0 with a 3.86 ERA in four starts covering 23.1 innings, striking out 16 with opponents batting .233.

2018 TSWA BASEBALL PLAYERS OF THE WEEK
February 20 – Kyle Blackwell, Cumberland University (Player); Dillon Cate, Carson-Newman (Pitcher)
February 27 – Fernando Garcia, Bryan College (Player); Grant Boyd, King University (Pitcher)
March 6 – Sam Mang, Trevecca University (Player); Stephen Chamblee, Bryan College (Pitcher)

SOFTBALL: Belmont’s Rouse, Memphis’ Smith named TSWA award winners
NASHVILLE, Tenn. – Belmont’s Lexi Rouse and University of Memphis hurler Molly Smith were named the Softball Player and Pitcher of the Week, respectively, by the Tennessee Sports Writers Association on Tuesday for their performances for games March 5-11.

Rouse toppled a 16-year-old NCAA record with five home runs in five consecutive at-bats, including three in one game, and belted six homers in four contests for the week. The Macon, Ga., native hit a solo home run at Chattanooga.

The senior hit a two-run shot against Mercer and drilled three solo homers in as many at-bats versus Kennesaw State. She added another solo home run in her first at-bat in the second meeting with Mercer while also tossing a two-hit complete-game shutout against the Bears. She is batting .365 with five doubles, seven home runs, 16 RBIs and 11 runs scored in 18 games this season.

Smith posted three victories and a save with a no-hitter in 21.0 innings of work, striking out 29 while allowing just two runs and nine hits in four outings. The Yamhill, Ore., native struck out 13 against Tennessee State, giving up one run on three hits.

The senior righthander tossed a five-inning no-hitter versus Butler, recording nine strikeouts without a walk. Butler had just one baserunner in the contest and she reached on an error.

Smith allowed one run on three hits with five strikeouts in a victory against Bowling Green and worked three shutout frames for a save versus Indiana State, giving up three hits with two strikeouts.

She improved to 9-2 on the season with a 0.93 ERA in 15 appearances over 83.0 innings, striking out 88 with opponents batting .190.

2018 TSWA SOFTBALL PLAYERS OF THE WEEK
February 20 – Bailey Alexander, Trevecca University (Player); Lacie Rinus, Carson-Newman (Pitcher)
February 27 – Jocelyn De La Cruz, Middle Tennessee (Player); Caylan Arnold, Tennessee (Pitcher)
March 6 – Kyler Trosclair-Klatt, Memphis (Player); Caylan Arnold, Tennessee (Pitcher)