Chattanooga Christian School, last year's state runner-up in TSSAA Division II-AA softball, will make the program's sixth consecutive trip to the Spring Fling.
CCS is headed to Murfreesboro next week after unleashing 18 hits in Thursday's 18-3 win at Nashville's Lipscomb Academy to close out a best-of-three quarterfinal series. In Wednesday's doubleheader to open the matchup, CCS won 15-3 before losing 4-3 as Lipscomb forced the rubber match.
Junior shortstop Addi Lewis continued her hot play as she drove in and scored four runs Thursday, when two of her three hits went for doubles. Nyla Halfacre drove in and scored three runs, while leadoff hitter Hannah Smith had four singles and scored three times while pitching all seven innings.
CCS (18-17) will be joined in the semifinals by Christ Presbyterian Academy, St. Benedict and Chattanooga rival Baylor (20-5-1), which will be seeking its ninth consecutive state title. The Lady Red Raiders advanced with Wednesday's doubleheader sweep of Tipton-Rosemark, winning 6-4 and 9-2.
Class 2A sectional
Meigs County 10, Johnson County 0: Meigs County pitchers Sierra Howard and Sadie Scott did not allow a hit or a walk while combining for 11 strikeouts and five innings in the circle as the Lady Tigers improved to 30-2 and earned one of eight state berths in 2A. Madylin Johnson went 3-for-3 with a home run and four RBIs, and Alexis Kazy homered and drove in three runs.
Class 3A region final
Soddy Daisy 13, Heritage 5: Skylar Gooden drove in three runs and had three hits along with Hannah Patterson, while Abby Faires doubled twice and scored a pair of runs for the Lady Trojans (22-10-1), who won their fourth straight region title to secure a state sectional opportunity at home. Regan Rowan was the winning pitcher, throwing three scoreless innings in which she allowed no hits, walked five batters and struck out five.
BASEBALL
Class 3A sectional
Signal Mountain 8, Upperman 7: Jake Edmondson's RBI double in the fifth inning pulled Signal Mountain even, and Bo Cooper's single to left field provided a lead the host Eagles would not relinquish as they completed a sweep of their best-of-three sectional to advance to the Spring Fling. Blake Wolfard recorded three of the final five outs via strikeout to earn his second consecutive save in as many games for Signal Mountain (28-8), which won 3-1 in the series opener Wednesday.
Class 1A sectional
South Pittsburg 6, East Robertson 4: The Pirates advanced to the Spring Fling as they scored five runs over the first two innings in Thursday's rubber match. Luke Rector drove in two runs and pitched a complete game with seven strikeouts and no walks allowed as South Pittsburg bounced back from a 7-3 loss in the second game of the series a day earlier. The Pirates won the opener of that doubleheader 8-5.
Class 4A sectionals
Siegel 3, Cleveland 2: The Blue Raiders (24-13) lost in nine innings on a bases-loaded walk to open the best-of-three series. Cleveland's Jack McBrayer and Caden Tippens had RBI singles in the top of the sixth, and Cameron Liner finished with two hits.
Riverdale 9, Bradley Central 0: Jaxon Humble reached base twice and had the lone hit for the Bears.
Bradley Central 8, Riverdale 4: The Bears (27-8) avoided elimination and forced a third game with a state berth on the line.
Contact Patrick MacCoon at pmaccoon@timesfreepress.com.