BY MIKE BLACKERBY The pitching has been superb all season. Now the bats are coming around. Look out Murfreesboro, on-a-roll Halls appears to be a major player when the state softball tournament commences on Tuesday in the mid-state. … [Read more...]
Atiana Stamper, Halls Lady Red Devils no-hits Farragut in 3-0 win for Region 2-4A Tournament Title
BY MIKE BLACKERBY Junior pitcher Atiana Stamper was in complete command Wednesday as host Halls took down Farragut 3-0 in the Region 2-4A championship game. Stamper tossed a no-hitter, striking out 16 and walking three batters as the Lady Red … [Read more...]
Farragut’s Bryce Thompson headlines list of area athletes qualifying for state from Section 1-AAA Track & Field meet
BY MIKE BLACKERBY Farragut thrower Bryce Thompson just continues to raise the bar in spectacular fashion in his specialty. Thompson’s record-setting shot put mark of 65 feet, 10.5 inches won the event by more than 13 feet. The toss went so far it … [Read more...]
THE NEW QB1s, part IX — True competition going on for QB1 Spot at Farragut High School
BY MIKE BLACKERBY Farragut football is on the lookout for its next big-time quarterback. The Admirals have a long history of great quarterbacks, and first-year head coach Geoff Courtney is early in the process of figuring out who will get the … [Read more...]
Gibbs Softball notches possible season-altering win on Monday night at Halls
BY MIKE BLACKERBY Gibbs may look back at Monday night’s 1-0 win at Halls as the turning point in its taxing regular season. “With the season we’ve had and the good opponents we’ve played, to get one that was meaningful to go our way is big,” said … [Read more...]
THE NEW QB1s, part VII — Gatlinburg-Pittman has many holes to fill for 2024, including at quarterback
BY MIKE BLACKERBY Few high school football teams in the area lost as much firepower as Gatlinburg-Pittman from the 2023 season. There are plenty of gaps to fill in on offense, including replacing a pair of prolific receivers and a top-tier running … [Read more...]
THE NEW QB1s, part IV — Searching for a 3-peat, the West Rebels will have a new staring QB yet again in 2024
BY MIKE BLACKERBY West looks to make history this high school football season as the Rebels aim for their third-consecutive state Class 5A championship in a row. Since the advent of 5A play in Tennessee in 1993, no state champion has … [Read more...]
Youth-laden Powell Softball picks up big District 3-4A win Thursday against Karns
BY MIKE BLACKERBY Powell’s young softball team got a big boost in confidence Thursday against one of its chief District 3-4A rivals. … [Read more...]
5STAR PREPS 2024 TRACK & FIELD PREVIEW: Storylines and Athletes to Know
East Tennessee athletes gracing the winner podium during TSSAA State Track & Field meets each May has become commonplace. Team titles. Individual championships. You name it. Now, it’s time to see which teams and athletes will excel this … [Read more...]
THE 5STAR PREPS 2024 SOFTBALL PRIMER: THE TEAMS AND PLAYERS TO KNOW THIS SPRING
BY MIKE BLACKERBY By lofty local standards, the 2023 high school softball season was a disappointment. For the first time since 2014, teams in the 5Star Preps coverage area were shut out in the state championship hunt in Murfreesboro. Also, after … [Read more...]