Boys basketball all-state teams recognized by TSWA

NASHVILLE – The Tennessee Sports Writers Association announced the 2020-21 All-State boys basketball teams Wednesday, including 15 players in all three Division I classes as well as two teams in Division II.

Class AAA
Mason Miller, Germantown Houston, Sr.
Matthew Schneider, Siegel, Sr.
Grant Slatten, White County, Sr.
Johnathan Lawson, Germantown Houston, Sr.
Amarr Knox, Bartlett, Jr.
Davon Barnes, Collierville, Sr.
Philip Dotson, Arlington, Jr.
Grant Hurst, Cleveland, Sr.
Jonathan Milloway, Oak Ridge, Sr.
Reed Kemp, Franklin, Sr.
Ametri Moss, Clarksville Northwest, Sr.
Micah Simpson, Morristown East, Jr.
Keynan Cutlip, Science Hill, Jr.
Brandon Miller, Cane Ridge, Jr.
John Windley, Brentwood, Sr.

Class AA
Jakobi Gillespie, Greeneville, Jr.
Trey Morrow, Scott, Jr.
Toris Woods, Bolivar Central, Sr.
Reid Satterfield, Greeneville, Jr.
Harper Neal, Kingston, Sr.
Colby Raymer, Kingston, Jr.
Alex Rush, Upperman, Sr.
Matthew Sells, Livingston Academy, Sr.
Kerrick Thorne, Howard School, Sr.
Brandon Maclin, South Side, Sr.
Tylon Chatman, Haywood, So.
Dylan Bartley, Sullivan East, Jr.
JaQuan Lax, Bolivar Central, Sr.
Dalton Colbert, Chester County, Sr.
Gus Davenport, Cannon County, Jr.

Class A
Trey Johnson, Cosby, Sr.
Walter Peggs, Madison Academic, Sr.
Grant Strong, Clay County, Jr.
Elijah Young, Gleason, Sr.
Kaleb Meredith, University High-Johnson City, Sr.
Chriss Schultz, North Greene, Jr.
Dylan Woods, Memphis Academy of Health Sciences, Sr.
Nathan Bowling, Oneida, Sr.
Jordan McCullum, Harriman, Fr.
Jalen Anglin, West Carroll, Jr.
Demarkus Kee, Peabody, Jr.
Daniel Nicholson, Richland, Sr.
Zach Amonett, Pickett County, Jr.
Cayden Jones, Monterey, Sr.
Christian Ballard, Madison Academic, Sr.

D-II A
Alex Anderson, Tipton-Rosemark, Sr.
Kameron Jones, Evangelical Christian, Sr.
Braeden Moore, Christ Presbyterian Academy, Jr.
Tyler Byrd, Tipton-Rosemark, Jr.
Daniel Egbuniwe, First Assembly Christian School, Jr.
Lukas Walls, Webb School-Knoxville, So.
Jose Rodriguez, Concord Christian, Jr.
Caden Johnson, Boyd Buchanan, So.
Dylan Arnold, Jackson Christian, Sr.
Jaxon Toney, Harding Academy, Jr.
PJay Smith, Goodpasture Christian, Sr.
Evan Eursher, Webb School-Bell Buckle, Jr.
Isaiah West, Goodpasture Christian, So.
Braden Zapp, Christ Presbyterian Academy, Sr.
RJ Casey, Franklin Road Academy, Jr.

DII-AA
B.J. Edwards, Knoxville Catholic, Jr.
Chandler Jackson, Christian Brothers, Jr.
Trent McNair, Brentwood Academy, Jr.
Reese McMullen, Christian Brothers, Sr.
Cooper Haynes, Briarcrest Christian, Fr.
Blue Cain, Knox Catholic, So.
Eric Rivers, McCallie School, Sr.
Handje Tamba, Knox Catholic, Jr.
Malik Dia, Ensworth School, Jr.
Jackson Francis, Montgomery Bell Academy, Jr.

TSWA announces girls all-state basketball teams

NASHVILLE – The Tennessee Sports Writers Association announced the 2020-21 All-State girls basketball teams Tuesday, including 15 players in all three Division I classes as well as two teams in Division II.

Class AAA
Denae Fritz, Maryville, Sr.
Acacia Hayes, Riverdale, Jr.
Tessa Miller, Stone Memorial, Sr.
Addie Grace Porter, Lebanon, Sr.
Carmen Taylor, Arlington, Sr.
Mallory Taylor, Collierville, Jr.
Anna Muhonen, Bradley Central, Sr.
Khamari Mitchell-Steen, Oak Ridge, Sr.
Avery Treadwell, Bearden, So.
Iyana Moore, Blackman, Sr.
Amelia Osgood, Brentwood, Sr.
Bella Vinson, Coffee County, Sr.
Gracie Dodgen, White County, Sr.
Ta’Mia Scott, Clarksville Northwest, Jr.
Skyler Gill, Hardin County, Sr.

Class AA
Jalynn Gregory, Macon County, Sr.
Jada Harrison, Westview, So.
Reagan Hurst, Upperman, Sr.
Bre Yarber, Sullivan Central, Sr.
Jenna Hare, Sullivan East, So.
Lauren Bailey, Greeneville, So.
Campbell Penland, Northview Academy, Sr.
Tori Rutherford, Grainger, Sr.
Lauren Longmire, Grainger, Sr.
Zoe Piller, Nolensville, Sr.
Haylee Johnson, York Institute, Sr.
Olivia Koontz, Signal Mountain, Sr.
Blaize Deere, Scotts Hill, Sr.
Sharnecce Currie-Jelks, South Side, Jr.
LaRose Morrow, Maplewood, Sr.

Class A
Madison Hart, Gibson County, Jr.
Kassie Monday, Clarkrange, Sr.
Karly Weathers, Loretto, Jr.
Lyndie Ramsey, Unaka, So.
Bralyn McGaha, Cosby, Sr.
Kelsey Pike, Oneida, So.
Brooklyn Anderson, North Greene, Jr.
Kaylie Monday, Clarkrange, Sr.
Katie Arms, Clay County, Sr.
Jesse Jennings, Richland, Sr.
Kaley Campbell, Summertown, Sr.
Edie Darby, Greenfield, Jr.
CeCe Johnson, Peabody, Sr.
Savannah Davis, McKenzie, Fr.
Anna Stevenson, Huntland, Sr.

DII-A
Jordaynia Ivie, Lakeway Christian, Sr.
Olivia Lee, Trinity Christian, So.
Maggie Vick, Lakeway Christian, Sr.
Leah Jones, Northpoint Christian, Sr.
Brianna Hall, Tipton-Rosemark, Sr.
Catherine Hendershott, First Baptist Academy, Sr.
Gracie Palmer, Berean Christian, Jr.
Madelyn Ladd, Webb School-Knoxville, So.
LaShae Dwyer, Webb School-Bell Buckle, Sr.
Diamond Bryant, Clarksville Academy, Sr.
Hadleigh Wharton, Goodpasture Christian, So.
Mariah Edmonds, Providence Christian, Sr.
Olivia Jones, University School-Jackson, Sr.
Julie Wagner, University School-Jackson Sr.
Tessa Gibson, Silverdale Baptist, Sr.

DII-AA
Jaloni Cambridge, Ensworth School, Fr.
Carmyn Harrison, Hutchison School, Sr.
Jaila Lee, Brentwood Academy, Sr.
Maxine Engel, Hutchison School, Sr.
Kaia Barnett, Hutchison School, Sr.
Kayli Clarkson, Briarcrest Christian, So.
Sydney Mains, Knox Catholic, Fr.
Jeila Greenlee, Knox Catholic, Sr.
Kennedy Cambridge, Ensworth School, Jr.
Raegyn Conley, Baylor School, Sr.

College players of the week honored by TSWA - April 20

BASEBALL: Tusculum’s Martin, Vanderbilt’s Rocker named TSWA Players of the Week
NASHVILLE, Tenn. – Tusculum University’s Daulton Martin and Vanderbilt’s Kumar Rocker earned Tennessee Sports Writers Association’s Baseball Player and Pitcher of the Week honors, respectively, for games from April 12-18.

Martin batted .393 (11-for-28) with five home runs, 17 RBIs and 11 runs scored in seven games for the Pioneers.

The Lancaster, Pa., native walked twice and scored two runs in the first of two games at Carson-Newman and singled home a run in the second contest. He walked and drove in a run against Belmont Abbey.

In a four-game series versus Limestone University, Martin posted 10 hits, six for extra bases, with 15 RBIs and nine runs scored. He opened the series with a 4-for-4 outing that included a triple, two home runs and nine RBIs, tying a school single-game record for runs batted in. He collected two hits in the first inning with a bases-clearing triple and later hit a two-run homer as well as a grand slam in the contest.

Martin belted two more home runs in the second game of the doubleheader and recorded five RBIs. In Sunday’s twinbill he registered a solo homer among his two hits in the first game and singled and scored a run in the regular season finale.

Martin is batting .350 with six doubles, four triples, 12 home runs, 48 RBIs and 48 runs scored in 38 games for the Pioneers.

Rocker tossed seven shutout innings against fifth-ranked Tennessee, allowing two hits with one walk and eight strikeouts. The Athens, Ga., native retired the side in order in the first, fourth and sixth innings and worked around a hit batter and a walk in the third inning.

The Vols picked up their first hit in the fifth and posted a double in the seventh, with that runner reaching third for their best scoring threat of the evening. UT was 0-for-5 with runners on base in the contest.

Rocker improved to 8-1 with a 1.64 ERA in nine appearances covering 55.0 innings, giving up just 29 hits with 15 walks and 81 strikeouts. Opponents are batting only .151 against the righthander.

2021 TSWA BASEBALL PLAYERS OF THE WEEK
February 23 – Andrew Keene, Lincoln Memorial (Player); Gunner Becker, Tusculum University (Pitcher)
March 2 – Dominic Keegan, Vanderbilt (Player); Joshua South, Belmont (Pitcher)
March 10 – Fuzzy Furr, Tusculum University (Player); Elijah Pleasants, Tennessee (Pitcher)
March 16 – Isaiah Thomas, Vanderbilt (Player); Kumar Rocker, Vanderbilt (Pitcher)
March 23 – Liam Spence, Tennessee (Player); Jack Leiter, Vanderbilt (Pitcher)
March 30 – Drew Gilbert, Tennessee (Player); Jack Leiter, Vanderbilt (Pitcher)
April 6 – John Behrends, Belmont (Player); Aaron Brown, Middle Tennessee (Pitcher)
April 13 – Jacob Justice, Bryan College (Player); Jack Leiter, Vanderbilt (Pitcher)

SOFTBALL: Union’s David, Middle Tennessee’s Dodd garner TSWA Player of the Week honors
NASHVILLE, Tenn. – Union University’s Mackenzi David and Middle Tennessee’s Corrina Dodd earned Tennessee Sports Writers Association’s Softball Player and Pitcher of the Week accolades, respectively, for games from April 12-18.

David batted .500 (5-for-10) with three home runs, a triple and 10 RBIs in three games for the Bulldogs.

The Scott, La., native drove in a run with a groundout and hit a solo and two-run homer in the series opener against Christian Brothers, tying the game with the solo shot and providing the winning runs with the second round-tripper in a 6-4 victory in extra innings.

The sophomore belted another solo home run and added a two-run single in the second contest. David posted a bases-clearing triple in the series finale versus CBU.

She is batting .233 with five home runs, 14 RBIs and right runs scored in 16 starts for this season.

Dodd posted a 2-0 mark with a 0.91 earned-run-average over three games for the Blue Raiders, all one-run victories against rival Western Kentucky. She allowed just two runs on eight hits in 15.1 innings.

The Trafford, Ala., native tossed six-plus shutout innings in the series opener versus the Hilltoppers, giving up two hits with two strikeouts in a 1-0 win. She retired 11 straight hitters before a leadoff double in the seventh ended her day.

The junior righthander then picked up another victory in the circle with 4.1 shutout frames of relief in the second contest, a 5-4 triumph in nine innings. She allowed two hits in the fifth when she entered the game and retired 13 of the final 14 batters she faced, giving up just a walk.

In the series finale Dodd tossed five-plus innings, allowing a solo homer to leadoff the game and another to start the sixth. In between she set down 15 of the 18 hitters she faced, giving up two singles and a walk.

For the season Dodd has posted a 7-3 mark in 17 appearances over 83.2 innings, allowing 73 hits with 41 strikeouts.

2021 TSWA SOFTBALL PLAYERS OF THE WEEK
February 23 – Katie Eakes, Carson-Newman (Player); Nikole Counts, King University (Pitcher)
March 10 – Carly Turner, King University (Player); Ragyn Hall, Trevecca University (Pitcher)
March 16 – Shannon Smith, Carson-Newman (Player); Nikole Counts, King University (Pitcher)
March 23 – Shannon Smith, Carson-Newman (Player); Corinna Dodd, Middle Tennessee (Pitcher)

Justice, Leiter earn TSWA weekly honors

BASEBALL: Bryan’s Justice, Vanderbilt’s Leiter named TSWA Players of the Week
NASHVILLE, Tenn. – Bryan College’s Jacob Justice and Vanderbilt’s Jack Leiter earned Tennessee Sports Writers Association’s Baseball Player and Pitcher of the Week honors, respectively, for games from April 5-11.

Justice batted .600 (6-for-10) with four home runs, 10 RBIs and four runs scored in three games for the Lions.

The Ringgold, Ga., native posted an RBI single and a two-run homer in a midweek contest at Martin Methodist. He was 3-for-3 with two home runs and six RBIs in the first of two games versus St. Andrews University, including a solo shot and a grand slam as well as an RBI single.

In the series finale Justice provided the first run for the Lions with a solo homer in a 2-1 victory. For the season he is hitting .284 with five doubles, nine home runs, 27 RBIs and 26 runs scored in 30 contests.

Leiter tossed seven innings against Georgia, allowing one run on three hits with three walks and 13 strikeouts. He exited with the game tied at one.

The Summit, N.J., native retired 10 of the first 13 batters of the game and did not give up a hit until two outs in the fourth inning. He struck out 13 of the 27 batters he faced while recording multiple punchouts in five of his seven frames of work.

Leiter is holding SEC batters to a .065 average against across his 29.0 innings of work in conference play. He has recorded double-digit strikeouts in five of his eight starts this season, including all four of his starts in SEC play. He owns a 0.55 ERA (3 ER/49.0 IP) for the year, including a 0.62 mark (2 ER/29.0 IP) in league action.

2021 TSWA BASEBALL PLAYERS OF THE WEEK
February 23 – Andrew Keene, Lincoln Memorial (Player); Gunner Becker, Tusculum University (Pitcher)
March 2 – Dominic Keegan, Vanderbilt (Player); Joshua South, Belmont (Pitcher)
March 10 – Fuzzy Furr, Tusculum University (Player); Elijah Pleasants, Tennessee (Pitcher)
March 16 – Isaiah Thomas, Vanderbilt (Player); Kumar Rocker, Vanderbilt (Pitcher)
March 23 – Liam Spence, Tennessee (Player); Jack Leiter, Vanderbilt (Pitcher)
March 30 – Drew Gilbert, Tennessee (Player); Jack Leiter, Vanderbilt (Pitcher)
April 6 – John Behrends, Belmont (Player); Aaron Brown, Middle Tennessee (Pitcher)

Behrends, Brown named TSWA Players of the Week

BASEBALL: Belmont’s Behrends, Middle Tennessee’s Brown named TSWA Players of the Week
NASHVILLE, Tenn. – Belmont’s John Behrends and Middle Tennessee’s Aaron Brown earned Tennessee Sports Writers Association’s Baseball Player and Pitcher of the Week honors, respectively, for games from March 29-April 4.

Behrends batted .476 (9-for-21) with two home runs, four extra-base hits, five runs scored and eight RBIs in five games for the Bruins.

The Chattanooga, Tenn., native singled, scored a run and drove in another versus UT Martin and collected two hits with a two-run homer, an RBI single and four total RBIs against Trevecca University.

The junior registered three hits in both games of a doubleheader versus Eastern Illinois, including an RBI single and a two-run single in the opener. He added a solo homer and three runs scored in the series finale.

Behrends is hitting .413 with nine doubles, five home runs, 26 RBIs and 25 runs scored in 24 games this season for the Bruins.

Brown tossed a complete-game two-hitter in the series opener against Rice, walking one and striking out nine in a 4-1 victory. The Blue Raiders scored three times in the eighth to break a 1-all contest.

The Mt. Juliet, Tenn., native retired the side in order four times and worked around a pair of errors, the first complete-game two-hitter by a Blue Raider hurler since Zac Curtis in 2014.

In addition to nine his punchouts, his fifth outing in seven starts this year with at least nine strikeouts, Brown induced 12 ground ball outs and has surrendered one or fewer runs five times this season as well.

He upped his mark to 4-2 with a 3.40 ERA in 42.1 innings, giving up just 25 hits with nine walks and 61 strikeouts. Opponents are batting only .167 against him. 

2021 TSWA BASEBALL PLAYERS OF THE WEEK
February 23 – Andrew Keene, Lincoln Memorial (Player); Gunner Becker, Tusculum University (Pitcher)
March 2 – Dominic Keegan, Vanderbilt (Player); Joshua South, Belmont (Pitcher)
March 10 – Fuzzy Furr, Tusculum University (Player); Elijah Pleasants, Tennessee (Pitcher)
March 16 – Isaiah Thomas, Vanderbilt (Player); Kumar Rocker, Vanderbilt (Pitcher)
March 23 – Liam Spence (Tennessee); Jack Leiter, Vanderbilt (Pitcher)
March 30 – Drew Gilbert (Tennessee); Jack Leiter, Vanderbilt (Pitcher)