All-State girls basketball teams announced by TSWA

March 30, 2017 Forrest Freeman

Upperman's Akira Levy led the Lady Bears to the Class AA state championship. (Photo credit to Scott Wilson, Cookeville Herald-Citizen)

NASHVILLE, Tenn. – The Tennessee Sports Writers Association announced its All-State girls basketball teams for 2016-17 on Thursday. Each team features 15 players from Classes A, AA, AAA and Division II. Any players who was a finalist for a Miss Basketball award was automatically included on the All-State team.

Division II
Ashtyn Baker, Northpoint Christian, SR
Anna Jones, USJ, SR
Antoinette Lewis, Harding Academy, SR
Jordyn Cambridge, Ensworth, JR
Sydni Harvey, Brentwood Academy, JR
Myah LeFlore, St. Benedict, SR
Bria Dial, Brentwood Academy, SR
Audrey Burdge, Father Ryan, SR
Riley Casey, Franklin Road Academy, SR
Allison Cowie, Battle Ground Academy, SR
Casey Collier, Webb School of Knoxville, SO
Lindsey Whiteside, Northpoint Christian, SR
Mya Long, Baylor School, SR
Selena Pruitt, Lausanne Collegiate, SR
Savanna Owens, Briarcrest Christian, JR

Class A
Ali Golden, Huntland, SR
Taylor Lamb, South Greene, JR
Kara Meadows, Clarkrange, SR
Caitlyn Yost, Forrest, SR
Abby Buckner, Middle Tennessee Christian, SR
Alyssa LeMay, Mt. Pleasant, SR
Braelyn Wykle, South Greene, SO
Chelsey Perry, Middleton, SR
Brynne Lytle, Trinity Christian Academy, SR
Kyleigh Hardy, Jackson County, JR
Courtney Pritchett, Pickett County, JR
Jesica Keith, Huntingdon, SR
Tess Darby, Greenfield, FR
Sydney Boykin, Clarksville Academy, FR
Kaylea Foster, Coalfield, SR

Class AA
Akira Levy, Upperman, JR
Jacobi Lynn, McMinn Central, SR
Erica Haynes-Overton, East Nashville, SR
Janiah Sandifer, Pearl-Cohn, SR
Shawnta Shaw, Pearl-Cohn, JR
Sydni Lollar, Greeneville, JR
Abby Greenwood, Upperman, SR
Paige Pipkin, Chester County, SR
Jamirah Shuts, Haywood, JR
Savannah LeGate, Christ Presbyterian Academy, SR
KeKe McKinney, Fulton, SR
Keeley Carter, Macon County, FR
Quanardra Miller, Jackson South Side, SO
Qua Hines, Gatlinburg Pittman, SR
Karli Combs, Grainger, SR

Class AAA
Anastasia Hayes, Riverdale, SR
Jayla Hemingway, Germantown Houston, SO
Rhyne Howard, Bradley Central, JR
Brinae Alexander, Riverdale, JR
Halle Hughes, Bradley Central, SR
Elizabeth Dixon, Ridgeway, JR
Jireh Washington, Memphis Central, JR
Johne’ Stewart, Memphis Central, JR
Tesia Thompson, Hamilton, SR
Sydney Newsome, Morristown West, SR
Emily Beard, Dickson County, SR
Kailey Rosenbaum, Dickson County, JR
Addison Byrd, Wilson Central, SR
Gabby Crawford, Munford, JR
Brianah Ferby, Stewarts Creek, SR

TSWA honors weekly winners - March 29

March 29, 2017 Forrest Freeman

BASEBALL: Tennessee Tech’s Jones, Rhodes’ Sledge garner TSWA accolades
NASHVILLE, Tenn. – Tennessee Tech’s Matt Jones and Rhodes College’s Trey Sledge were named the Baseball Player and Pitcher of the Week, respectively, by the Tennessee Sports Writers Association on Wednesday for their performances for March 20-26.

Jones batted .667 (14-for-21) with four doubles, eight RBIs and 10 runs scored in five games for the Eagles, who scored 75 runs in five victories during the week. The Madison, Miss., native was 3-for-4 with three runs scored at UNC-Asheville and followed that with a 4-for-4 effort with two doubles, a home run, three RBIs and two runs scored versus Alabama A&M.

The senior infielder posted two hits with a run in the series opener at Austin Peay and was 3-for-5 with a double, three RBIs and a run scored in the second game versus the Govs. He finished the series with another double, two RBIs and three runs scored. Jones is batting .352 overall with nine doubles, five home runs, 26 RBIs and 22 runs scored after Tuesday’s game at Tennessee.

Sledge earned a pair of victories in two starts for the Lynx, allowing one run on six hits in 11.0 innings of work.

The Coppell, Texas, native tossed five shutout innings against Huntingdon College, giving up just two hits with two strikeouts in a 4-1 victory. He then started the rubber game of the series versus Berry College, allowing one run on four hits in six innings. He struck out four, as the Lynx scored eight runs in the final two innings in an 11-1 victory.

Sledge is 2-1 with a 3.22 ERA in 22.1 innings this season, allowing 20 hits with 20 strikeouts.

2017 TSWA BASEBALL PLAYERS OF THE WEEK
February 14 – Ryan Addington, Carson-Newman (Player); Travis Dohr, Cumberland University (Pitcher)
February 21 – Nolen Milton, Union University (Player); Evan Heffner, Maryville College (Pitcher)
February 28 – Collin Harris, Tennessee Tech (Player); Brady Puckett, Lipscomb (Pitcher)
March 8 – Wade Weinburger, Bryan College (Player); Michael Wood, Tennessee Tech (Pitcher)
March 15 – Ryan Flick, Tennessee Tech (Player); Alex Robles, Austin Peay (Pitcher)
March 21 – Austin Krajnak, Cumberland University (Player); JR Miller, Union University (Pitcher)

SOFTBALL: Carson-Newman’s Scott, Trevecca’s Carr named TSWA award winners
NASHVILLE, Tenn. – Carson-Newman’s Taylor Scott and Trevecca University’s Savannah Carr were named the Softball Player and Pitcher of the Week, respectively, by the Tennessee Sports Writers Association on Wednesday for their performances for March 20-26.

Scott reached base in 12 consecutive plate appearances over four games for the Eagles, batting .800 (8-for-10) with nine RBIs, 10 runs scored and four walks. The Huntington, W.Va., native belted a three-run homer and drove in four runs in the first game of a doubleheader against Mars Hill and walked three times and scored three runs in the second contest.

The freshman infielder added two hits and one RBI in the first game of a twinbill versus Catawba and was 3-for-4 with a double, three RBIs and four runs scored in the second contest. Scott is batting .360 with nine doubles, five home runs, 31 RBIs and 29 runs scored while starting all 34 games this season.

Carr posted a 2-1 record with a 0.96 ERA in 18.2 innings over three appearances, allowing just two runs with five strikeouts.

The Springfield, Tenn., native gave up a solo homer in 3.2 innings of relief against 14th-ranked Southern Indiana in a 4-3 loss. She allowed five hits with two walks and two strikeouts.

The sophomore righthander tossed a five-hit shutout in a 2-0 victory over Davis & Elkins, walking one with no strikeouts. She followed that with eight innings of work versus Davis & Elkins, scattering nine hits and striking out three in a 4-1 win. Carr improved to 4-3 with a 2.94 ERA in 13 appearances over 50.2 innings, giving up just 14 earned runs with 16 strikeouts.

2017 TSWA SOFTBALL PLAYERS OF THE WEEK
February 14 – Lexi Cushing, Middle Tennessee (Player); Brooklin Lee, Belmont (Pitcher)
February 21 – Chelsey Deloney, Belmont (Player); McCarley Thomas, Lipscomb (Pitcher)
February 28 – Ashley Scott, Union University (Player); Mandy Jordan, Lipscomb (Pitcher)
March 8 – Morgan Brewer, Maryville College (Player); Hayley Smothers, King University (Pitcher)
March 15 – Kay Brokering, King University (Player); Nicole Blackburn, Maryville College (Pitcher)
March 21 – Jess Andree, Belmont (Player); Mandy Jordan, Lipscomb (Pitcher)

TSWA announces weekly award winners - March 21

March 21, 2017 Forrest Freeman

BASEBALL: Cumberland’s Krajnak, Union’s Miller garner TSWA accolades
NASHVILLE, Tenn. – Cumberland University’s Austin Krajnak and Union University’s JR Miller were named the Baseball Player and Pitcher of the Week, respectively, by the Tennessee Sports Writers Association on Tuesday for their performances for March 13-19.

Krajnak batted .476 with four home runs and nine RBIs in seven games for the Phoenix. He belted home runs in all three games of the weekend series against Georgetown College, including a game-winning two-run homer in the bottom of the eighth in the second game of the series.

The Little Elm, Texas, native posted two hits, drove in two runs and scored twice in a doubleheader against St. Ambrose University and collected two hits, two RBIs and two runs scored along with a solo homer in a twinbill versus Talladega College. He was 6-for-10 in the series against Georgetown, including a solo homer and an RBI single in Saturday's opening game of the series. His two-run homer with two outs in the bottom of the eighth put CU ahead, 6-5, in Sunday's opening game, a towering blast that cleared the trees in left field.

Krajnak added a solo shot in the third inning of the series finale that cleared the trees and the road in left field, his league-leading 12th home run of the year. He also leads the Mid-South Conference in RBIs (34) and ranks second in batting average (.409).

Miller tossed eight innings in a 2-1 victory at Valdosta State, allowing one run on four hits with nine strikeouts. The righthander retired 15-of-17 batters after giving up a leadoff double to start the contest. The sophomore also set down six of the final seven hitters he faced before turning the game over to the bullpen in the ninth.

Miller improved to 4-1 this season with a 3.12 ERA in six appearances, striking out 30 in 34.2 innings of work.

SOFTBALL: Belmont’s Andree, Lipscomb’s Jordan named TSWA award winners
NASHVILLE, Tenn. – Belmont’s Jess Andree and Lipscomb’s Mandy Jordan were named the Softball Player and Pitcher of the Week, respectively, by the Tennessee Sports Writers Association on Tuesday for their performances for March 13-19.

Andree became just the 12th player in NCAA history to hit two grand slams in the same game, accomplishing the feat in a 10-inning contest against Mercer. The Darien, Ill., native singled, drove in a run and walked twice in the tournament opener against Eastern Michigan and hit a solo homer while posting two hits in the first meeting of the tourney versus Mercer.

The junior infielder singled and scored a run against Savannah State before her two grand slams in the tournament finale versus Mercer, a 13-12 victory in 10 innings. The first grand slam put the Bruins ahead, 5-2, in the fifth inning and the second slam was part of a five-run 10th inning that provided the winning run.

Andree is batting .368 with eight doubles, four home runs, 23 RBIs and 15 runs scored in 28 games this season for Belmont.

Jordan posted three victories in three appearances, striking out 30 and allowing just one run in 15 innings of work.

The Camden, Ala., native struck out nine in a five-inning shutout at UAB to start the week, giving up just two hits with no walks. The sophomore righthander posted a career-best 14 strikeouts in a 3-1 win versus Austin Peay, allowing three hits with one walk in the victory.

Jordan finished the week with a three shutout innings of relief against APSU, giving up one hit with seven strikeouts. The Bisons scored four times in the final four innings, coming back for a 7-6 win in eight innings. She is 14-3 with a 1.09 ERA over 19 appearances and 109.1 innings, striking out 142. Opponents are batting just .198 against her this season.

TSWA honors weekly winners - March 15

March 15, 2017 Forrest Freeman

BASEBALL: Tennessee Tech’s Flick, Austin Peay’s Robles garner TSWA accolades
NASHVILLE, Tenn. – Tennessee Tech’s Ryan Flick and Austin Peay’s Alex Robles were named the Baseball Player and Pitcher of the Week, respectively, by the Tennessee Sports Writers Association on Tuesday for their performances for March 6-12.

Flick batted .579 (11-for-19) with three doubles, two home runs, seven RBIs and eight runs scored in four games for the Golden Eagles. The Bluff City, Tenn., native was 3-for-5 with a double, homer and three runs scored at Lipscomb and posted four hits with three RBIs and two runs scored in the series opener at UT Martin.

The junior was 4-for-6 with a double, home run, three RBIs and two runs scored in the series finale, finishing a triple shy of the cycle. Flick is batting .394 with nine doubles, four home runs, 17 RBIs and 19 runs scored in 17 games this season.

Robles tossed a complete game shutout in a 4-0 victory over Jacksonville State. The senior righthander allowed just three hits with one walk and 11 strikeouts for his second career shutout and fifth career complete game. He retired 10 consecutive batters in the middle of the game and struck out six of the final nine hitters of the contest. The Tucson, Ariz., native is 2-2 with 28 strikeouts in 23.0 innings of work this season.

Robles also had a big week at the plate with a pair of home runs, five RBIs and a pair of game-winning hits, including a walk-off homer in the 14th inning to help the Govs sweep the weekend series against Jacksonville State. He added a two-run double in the 4-0 win over JSU and had an RBI double in the series opener. He is batting .389 with five doubles, four home runs, 10 RBIs and 14 runs scored through 15 contests.

SOFTBALL: King’s Brokering, Maryville’s Blackburn named TSWA award winners
NASHVILLE, Tenn. – King University’s Kay Brokering and Maryville College’s Nicole Blackburn were named the Softball Player and Pitcher of the Week, respectively, by the Tennessee Sports Writers Association on Tuesday for their performances for March 6-12.

Brokering batted .417 (5-for-12) with three doubles and seven RBIs in four games for the Tornado. The Shelbyville, Ind., native posted an RBI double and a run-scoring single in a 9-5 victory over Concord University. The sophomore’s two-run double in the sixth inning of game two versus Concord provided the winning runs in a 3-1 win.

She had a two-run double in the first inning and added a run-scoring single later in the game in a victory over Mars Hill as well. Brokering is batting .361 with four doubles, two homers, 12 RBIs and five runs scored in 13 games this season.

Blackburn posted a pair of victories and tossed 14 shutout innings over three appearances for the Scots. The Knoxville, Tenn., native allowed just four hits with five strikeouts in a five-inning win against LaGrange College. She scattered seven hits, striking out four and walking two in a 2-0 complete-game win over Huntingdon College.

The sophomore righthander worked two shutout innings of relief in the second game versus Huntingdon as well, giving up one hit with a strikeout. Blackburn is 4-2 with a 0.97 ERA and 28 strikeouts in 36.0 innings this season for Maryville.

TSWA announces weekly award winners - March 8

March 8, 2017 Forrest Freeman

MEN’S BASKETBALL: Middle Tennessee’s Potts named TSWA award winner
NASHVILLE, Tenn. – Middle Tennessee’s Giddy Potts earned Tennessee Sports Writers Association Men’s Basketball Player of the Week accolades on Wednesday, averaging 22.5 points and 6.0 rebounds in a pair of victories for the Blue Raiders.

The Athens, Ala., native collected 15 points and five boards with three 3-pointers in the club’s come-from-behind victory over Florida International. He followed that with a career-best 30 points versus Florida Atlantic, hitting 12-of-18 shots overall with three more triples. The junior guard added seven boards and three assists.

Potts is averaging 15.5 points, 5.5 rebounds and 1.9 assists per game for Middle Tennessee as they head into this week’s Conference USA Championships in Birmingham, Ala.

2016-17 TSWA MEN’S BASKETBALL PLAYERS OF THE WEEK
November 17 – Matthew Butler, UT Martin
November 22 – Josh Robinson, Austin Peay
November 29 – Dedric Lawson, Memphis
December 6 – Evan Bradds, Belmont
December 13 – Garrison Mathews, Lipscomb
December 20 – Dedric Lawson, Memphis
January 3 – Reggie Upshaw, Middle Tennessee
January 10 – Markel Crawford, Memphis
January 17 – Brody Stone, University of the South
January 24 – Charles Clark, Carson-Newman
January 31 – Jacolby Mobley, UT Martin
February 7 – Javier Martinez, UT Martin
February 14 – Charles Clark, Carson-Newman
February 21 – John Murry, Austin Peay
February 28 – Charles Clark, Carson-Newman

WOMEN’S BASKETBALL: Chattanooga’s Joyner repeats as TSWA weekly winner
NASHVILLE, Tenn. – Chattanooga’s Jasmine Joyner garnered Tennessee Sports Writers Association Women’s Basketball Player of the Week honors for the second straight week on Wednesday, registering 16.7 points, 11.3 rebounds, 3.0 assists and 3.0 blocks for the Mocs to earn Southern Conference Tournament MVP honors.

The Southaven, Miss., native posted 14 points, nine rebounds and five blocks in the quarterfinal victory over Western Carolina and collected 19 points, 10 boards and four blockis in a win versus UNC-Greensboro. The senior forward netted 17 points with 15 rebounds and four assists in UTC’s come-from-behind victory in the championship game against Mercer, erasing a 10-point fourth-quarter deficit.

Joyner averages 13.2 points, 10.6 rebounds and 3.9 blocks per game this season for the Mocs.

2016-17 TSWA WOMEN’S BASKETBALL PLAYERS OF THE WEEK
November 17 – Jada Smith, Union University
November 22 – Bella Taylor, University of the South
November 29 – Jada Smith, Union University
December 6 – Whitney Mitchell, King University
December 13 – Samantha Reeves, Christian Brothers
December 20 – Darby Maggard, Belmont
January 3 – Ty Petty, Middle Tennessee
January 10 – Sally McCabe, Belmont
January 17 – Samantha Reeves, Christian Brothers
January 24 – Alex Johnson, Middle Tennessee
January 31 – Bria Gaines, Union University
February 7 – Amber Levi, Bryan College
February 14 – Ty Petty, Middle Tennessee
February 21 – Sally McCabe, Belmont
February 28 – Jasmine Joyner, Chattanooga

BASEBALL: Bryan’s Weinburger, Tennessee Tech’s Wood garner TSWA accolades
NASHVILLE, Tenn. – Bryan College’s Wade Weinburger and Tennessee Tech’s Michael Wood were named the Baseball Player and Pitcher of the Week, respectively, by the Tennessee Sports Writers Association on Tuesday for their performances for February 27-March 5.

Weinburger batted .714 (5-for-7) with three home runs, eight RBIs and six runs scored in three games against St. Andrews University. The James Cistern, Bahamas, native collected three hits, three runs scored and three RBIs along with a home run in the series opener.

The freshman outfielder added a two-run homer in the second game of the series and posted two hits, three RBIs and another home run in the series finale. Weinburger is batting .364 with six doubles, seven home runs, 21 RBIs and 29 runs scored in 21 games this season.

Wood tossed a complete-game shutout at Bethune-Cookman, allowing just five hits with five strikeouts and no walks. The senior righthander faced only two batters over the minimum in the 5-0 victory and retired the first 12 batters of the game. He is now 2-1 in four appearances over 19.0 innings of work with 16 strikeouts and just five walks for TTU.

SOFTBALL: Maryville’s Brewer, King’s Smothers named TSWA award winners
NASHVILLE, Tenn. – Maryville College’s Morgan Brewer and King University’s Hayley Smothers were named the Softball Player and Pitcher of the Week, respectively, by the Tennessee Sports Writers Association on Tuesday for their performances for February 27-March 5.

Brewer batted .818 (9-for-11) with two home runs, nine RBIs and five runs scored in four games for the Scots. The Maryville, Tenn., native was 6-for-6 in a doubleheader against Agnes Scott, including a triple, two home runs and four RBIs in the opener and three more hits and three more RBIs in the second game.

The freshman infielder posted two hits and one RBI in the first game of a doubleheader versus Wesleyan College and added a single and one RBI in the second contest. She is batting .463 with three doubles, three triples, three home runs, 19 RBIs and 14 runs scored in 16 games this season.

Smothers tossed a pair of complete-game shutouts during the week for the Tornado, allowing four hits with three strikeouts in a five-inning victory over West Virginia Tech. The senior hurler then scattered eight hits with two strikeouts against Mars Hill. She is now 3-3 in 10 appearances over 48.2 innings, striking out 24.