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Sports

Navy Blue power on pitch, diamond

Winning streak continues as Buckner’s baseball Ads ensure yet another substate trip

May 16, 2019 by Alan Sloan

Sometimes a good piece of hitting is all about placing the ball “where they ain’t,” as the old saying goes.

Sophomore Hunter Merrick twice proved that true Monday evening, May 13, as the Farragut Admirals ensured the program’s 20th trip to the TSSAA Class AAA substate in the last 21 years. Farragut also won its 30th straight game.

Merrick’s two-RBI bloop single to right field brought home the game’s first two runs in a three-run Admirals first inning, while his bloop double into short right-center plated one more in a four-run fourth.

The end result was a 9-2 victory — a must win in the Region 2-AAA semifinals — versus District 3-AAA runner-up Halls (22-11) at John Heatherly Field/The Ballpark at Farragut.

About his single, “I was just trying to sit back on the pitch and not do too much and put it into play,” Merrick said.

Improving to 37-2 overall while still unbeaten this season against Tennessee teams, FHS added a run in the third inning on a sacrifice fly from sophomore Hudson Seiglar.

Soggy, slow start no issue for Ads soccer in 4-1 title win

May 16, 2019 by Alan Sloan

It was a soggy pitch at Farragut Soccer Stadium, as FHS senior forward Wes Jeter (blue) battles a Maryville player for the ball.

A soggy field plus an early indirect kick for the visitors, which Maryville converted from 15 yards out, could have caused some frustration among an explosive Farragut team slowed down somewhat by the conditions.

But the Admirals tied this District 4-AAA Tournament title showdown about one minute later, then went ahead for good a few seconds after — with a standout Admiral recording his first career two-goal game — en route to a 4-1 win at Farragut Soccer Stadium Saturday afternoon, May 11.

“We just knew we had to come and get something back quickly,” said senior Wes Jeter, a forward who scored a goal while adding two assists for the Admirals (17-2-1).

But it was senior Alec Arnold, center-midfielder, who picked a nice time to have his first career two-goal game.

After crushing perennial 4-AAA power Maryville twice to capture district tourney, Farragut softball knocks out defending state champs

May 16, 2019 by Ken Lay, Correspondent

Proudly holding the District 4-AAA Softball Tournament championship plaque are Farragut’s two seniors, Lakyn Moore, left, and Joely Gruhn. Moore, staff pitching ace, was named tournament Most Valuable Player. “Lakyn had a great tournament, she went 4-0,” said first-year FHS head coach Nick Green, a long-time Lady Admirals assistant coach. “She was great tonight hitting the strike zone.” Four other Lady Admirals earned All-tournament honors: junior Bailey Myers (nine hits), sophomore Cameron Young (nine hits) and freshmen Avery “Ace” Strickland (12 hits) and Lauren Brakovec (two hits in championship game). They led the way as No. 1 seed Farragut drilled No. 2 seed Maryville 11-3 Tuesday, May 7, in the winners bracket final, and then capped things off by drubbing the Lady Red Rebels 10-2 Wednesday, May 8, at William Blount High School to claim the crown — in addition to winning first-place regular season honors. Other contributors in the May 8 title game were Kallie Overcash with two singles and two RBI; an RBI single from Katie Tuggle; a two-RBI single by Sarah Livingston; an RBI double from Autumn Caywood; and courtesy runner Vivian Boles scoring a run.

Farragut High School knocked off an old nemesis to keep its softball season alive early this week.

The Lady Admirals got some big contributions from a pair of freshmen to rally past defending Class AAA state champion Powell 3-2 in the Region 2-AAA Tournament semifinals Monday night, May 13, before a packed and boisterous house at FHS’s Bellamy Field,

For three innings, Farragut senior pitcher Lakyn Moore (18-4) was locked in a scoreless duel with Powell ace Allison Farr. Moore struck out five consecutive Lady Panthers at one point in the contest, but Powell, the District 3-AAA runner-up, scored first.

Powell (35-8) got a two-run homer from first baseman Haley Schultz with one out in the top of the fourth. The rally started with a single by Hayden Dye, who came home on the round-tripper.

Four relays, 14 overall from FHS qualify for state

Hardin Valley, KCHS also to be well-represented

May 16, 2019 by Staff Reports

Farragut High School’s Sectional champion 4 x 800-meter relay team, from left, Ben Darden, Jacob Cohen, Jake Allison and Scott Grunau celebrate with their ribbons May 11 at HVA.

HARDIN VALLEY — Two Farragut High School relay teams ran away with first-place Sectional finishes, and were joined by two others among the FHS athletes qualifying for the upcoming TSSAA Class AAA state meet following the Section 1 meet at Hardin Valley Academy Saturday, May 11.

The 4 X 100 quartet of Joseph Brooks, Shaquille Howell, Nathan Chandler and Evan McFerran was champ (43:22). The Ads 4 X 800 foursome of Jake Allison, Ben Darden, Jacob Cohen and Scott Grunau also placed first (8:03.48).

Farragut’s 4 X 400 relay team of Vincent Broda, McFerran, Grunau and Conner Evans placed second and qualified, as did the girls 4 X 800 relay team (third) of Summar Ebbert, Lexi Foley, Cathy Hu and Camryn Johnson.

In the 3200, Cohen qualified by finishing second, while in the 400-dash, Grunau qualified with a third-place showing.