Christ Presbyterian Academy senior Chip Omer (14) and Chattanooga Christian’s Jared Boldt battle for possession during the first half of Thursday’s non-district match at CPA.

The Christ Presbyterian Academy soccer team passed an important test in Thursday night’s home opener.

In an early-season battle between two traditional state powers, the two-time defending Class A/AA champion Lions emerged victorious, using a late-second-half goal to capture a 1-0 win over visiting Chattanooga Christian School and improve to 2-0 on the season.

“This brings so much confidence,” said senior Harrison Myers, whose 66th-minute goal proved to be the difference-maker. “It was a huge test, obviously, which is why both of us wanted to get this game on our schedule.

“It gives us a ton of confidence knowing that we can compete with a team we might see again in Murfreesboro later in the season.”

The Lions (2-0), coming off a comfortable 3-0 win over district foe Marshall County in Tuesday’s season opener, used a fast start to establish momentum early.

And while the Chargers (2-1), who won their first two matches by a combined 8-0 tally, countered a couple times late in the first half, CPA’s young and largely unproven back line answered the call down the stretch to preserve the clean sheet.

“We graduated three all-state players last year — our goalkeeper (Walter Hagan) and two defenders (Jake Brown and William Whitaker) — and we’re playing an eighth-grader (Sam Ellis) in goal,” CPA coach Tom Gerlach said. “Our back line is inexperienced, but I thought they really stepped up tonight.”

Myers, also a 2015 TSSCA All-State selection, finally managed to put his team in front around the 13-minute mark, ripping a shot from about 45 yards out — just over the outstretched arms of Chattanooga Christian goalkeeper Andrew Soucie, who was caught off his line.

“We didn’t really have anything else, so I just went ahead and gave it a go,” Myers said of the score — his second of the season. “I had a gut feeling about it and went with it.”

“(Myers) pulls that stuff off in practice all of the time,” Gerlach added. “He knew exactly what he was going to do, and to have that kind of panache to strike a ball like that in a game against a quality opponent, its shows you what kind of player he is.”

With the win, the Lions, who’ll take on defending Division II-AA champion Montgomery Bell Academy on Tuesday, have now strung together 15 straight wins over Class A/AA opponents, dating back to last season’s April 9 loss to District 12-A/AA rival Page.

Reach Michael Murphy at 615-269-8262 and on Twitter @Murph_TNsports . 

NASHVILLE The Pope John Paul II High baseball team won Wednesday afternoon’s series finale at Father Ryan, claiming a 7-1 victory over the Irish to win two out of three games in the series.

Pope John Paul II High junior Jordan Weems hits a ground ball during Tuesday’s game against Father Ryan.

Pope John Paul II High junior shortstop Ben Brooks attempts to turn a double play during Tuesday evening’s game against Father Ryan. Brooks scored two runs in the Knights’ 7-1 victory over the Irish on Wednesday.

Junior Pace Dempsey and sophomore Jake Rucker collected three hits each.

Matt Steidl was the winning pitcher, allowing one run over four innings with four strikeouts.

Rucker pitched three scoreless innings of relief to close the game, earning a save.

PJP II (3-5 overall, 2-1 in the Division II-Class AA East/Middle Region) scored two runs in the fifth inning and three more in the seventh. Dempsey singled in junior Ben Brooks – who scored two runs – in the fifth, and Dempsey crossed the plate when senior Ryan Hatten singled two batters later.

Hatten singled in junior Jack Shuttleworth before sophomore Colin O’Berry’s pinch-hit double drove in Rucker and Hatten in the seventh inning.

Jake Rucker

Both Hatten and sophomore Grayson Lang recorded two hits, and Lang stole two bases.

Father Ryan did not commit an error, one day after being charged with eight miscues in Tuesday evening’s 6-5 victory at PJP II.

The lone Irish run came in the fourth inning as senior Curtis Turnmyre singled in classmate Devin Crudele.

Turnmyre and junior Matt Faulkner led Father Ryan with two hits each.

The Knights host three out-of-state opponents over two days as PJP II faces Cincinnati (Ohio) LaSalle on Monday evening. The Knights host Madison (Ohio) and Nazareth (Ill.) Academy on Tuesday for a doubleheader before resuming region play in a three-game series against Montgomery Bell Academy beginning on Thursday.

MURFREESBORO — Offense and second-half comebacks were abundant in the Basketball Coaches Association of Tennessee (BCAT) East-West All-Star games held Saturday at Blackman High School.

The girls game saw 162 points scored as the West defeated the East 87-75, while the two boys teams combined for 193 points as the East knocked off the West 100-93.

Five players reached double figures for the East squad as Station Camp’s Yalen Reed netted 16 points, Blackman’s Cedriontis Wilson added 12 and Creek Wood’s Ross Cummings scored 11.

The East scored 58 second-half points after trailing 55-42 at halftime.

Fayetteville’s Nick Hopkins scored nine points for the East while Cane Ridge’s Kyree Elder added six. White County’s Cade Crossland scored four and Rossview’s Brad Allen netted two.

Arlington’s Nathan Hoover led all scorers with 17 points for the West squad.

The East squad was coached by Oakland’s Troy Bond and Clay County’s Rob Edwards.

The West girls scored 54 second-half points after the East had led 44-33.

Pickett County’s Jayna Ferrell led the East squad with 16 points while Community’s Sarah Pierce added 15 and Rossview’s Haylee Croom tossed in 10. Blackman’s Jazz Bond scored eight for the East while Livingston Academy’s Keeli Lamb netted five.

DeKalb County’s Ashli Chew and Greenbrier’s Kaya Jarell scored four each for the East and Rossview’s Mickey Head netted two.

Midway’s Brandi Beasley led the West with 16 points.

The East squad was coached by Pickett County’s Brent Smith, Smith County’s Scott Moore and Rossview’s Justin Woods.

Basketball

Each step Lucas Bahn takes puts him closer to realizing a dream of playing Division I college hockey.

The former Hendersonville High hockey player took a big step over the weekend, announcing his verbal commitment to the University of New Hampshire via Twitter on Saturday evening.

In doing so, he became the first Commando to commit to an NCAA (National Collegiate Athletic Association) Division I program.

Lucas Bahn headshot

Bahn, a 16-year-old defenseman, recently finished his season with the Skipjacks Hockey Club, an independent club based in Maryland that competes in the United States Premier Hockey League (USPHL).

“Everything just seemed right at the time,” Bahn said. “I had a good season with the Skipjacks and learned more about the college route.”

Recently, Bahn visited the New Hampshire campus and came away impressed.

“Everything was incredible about the campus,” Bahn said. “The hockey rink was awesome. It was huge. The rest of the campus was awesome too. There’s about 13,000 students there.

“The bigger thing for me was (that) hockey was the sport on campus. Everybody loves hockey, and everybody goes to the games.”

Honored to announce my commitment to the University of New Hampshire. Thank you to everyone that has helped me along the way. #GoWildcats

—
Lucas Bahn (@BahnLucas3) March 27, 2016

Bahn played his freshman season with the Commandos before moving to Maryland to suit up for the Skipjacks’ 16U (16-and-under) squad. After injuries hit some of the club’s 18U defensemen, Bahn was called up for nine games near the end of the season. Bahn scored 16 points (on three goals and 13 assists) in 26 games with the 16U squad before his call-up.

“It was really good,” Bahn said of his time with the 18U club. “The only real difference is the guys are a little bigger and stronger. So, you have to change your game to fit that model, but I had fun with it.”

He had to adapt quickly to the speed and size that 18U players tend to have. At 5-foot-7 and 150 pounds, he was giving up some muscle to older players.

“You just have to make quick plays,” Bahn said. “It’s not too big of a jump. The biggest difference is definitely the speed.

“The guys in Maryland are definitely much faster.”

Bahn stays with a billet family (a host family for out-of-state players) from September until March while the hockey season progresses. For a teenager, that can be quite the challenge in itself. However, Bahn is coping with the changes.

“It was definitely hard at first, moving away from home,” Bahn said. “But it was perfect for my development. It’s really paid off.”

Former Hendersonville High defenseman Lucas Bahn brings the puck up the ice during a game that he played with the Skipjacks (Mary.) Hockey Club this past season.

During his freshman season at Hendersonville, Bahn had nine assists over 18 regular-season games before scoring six points (three goals and three assists) in the playoffs.

Prior to his time with the Commandos, Bahn played two seasons with the Nashville Jr. Predators, scoring 24 points (seven goals, 17 assists) over 110 games.

“I had great coaches (with the Jr. Preds) that I still keep in contact with, Kyle Jennings and Brad Stoffers,” Bahn said. “They were just awesome guys that really helped me start on my way to getting better and going on to bigger things.”

Bahn said he found one National Hockey League player in particular which he shared some similar physical traits.

“I’m still a smaller guy, especially for a defenseman,” Bahn said. “The coaches always say that my speed and skating makes up for my size, so that’s a big thing. A guy that I kind of look up to in the NHL would be (Boston Bruins defenseman) Torey Krug. I think he’s only 5-8, a smaller guy too.”

UNH finished with an 11-20-6 record this season, going 4-12-6 in Hockey East conference play.

Head coach Dick Umile just completed his 25th season at the helm, compiling a 571-333-103 record over that span. The Wildcats have made four NCAA Frozen Four (national semifinals) appearances, have earned 17 NCAA Tournament berths and have compiled 22 Hockey East tournament championships under Umile.

“That’s a lot of good experience,” Bahn said. “I met with the assistants as well, and the whole coaching staff. They were just sharp guys. They really know what they’re doing.”

Bahn – who won’t be a freshman at New Hampshire until the 2018-19 season – expects to play next season with the U18 Skipjacks before taking another major step in his development if all goes well.

“Hopefully, depending on my development, I’ll go play juniors in one of the Tier 1 leagues – either the USHL (United States Hockey League) or BCHL (British Columbia Hockey League),” Bahn said. “I’ll still keep my college eligibility and probably play a year or two of juniors and then go to UNH.”

Reach Chris Brooks at cbrooks@tennessean.com or at 615-575-7118. Follow him on Twitter @CB_SumnerSports.

The Beech High soccer team had hopes of fine-tuning things before beginning District 9-AAA play this week.

Beech High freshman Alex Esser carries the ball upfield as Middle Tennessee Fire senior David Bowman pursues during first-half action.

On Monday evening, the Buccaneers found that more adjustments could be necessary after suffering a 4-0 loss to the visiting Middle Tennessee Fire at Nathan Johnson Stadium.

The Fire scored all four goals in the second half, with senior David Sampson scoring the first two just 67 seconds apart.

“Breakdowns – and that’s what we’ve been preaching all the time – breakdowns defensively cost us goals,” Beech head coach Jeremy Cooke said. “Breakdowns on the attack don’t cost us goals. Unfortunately, when (breakdowns) happen, we’ve been getting punished for it, and we’ve just got to learn to correct those mistakes.”

Beech (1-2) saw its deficit swell to three goals when sophomore Alex Boger’s shot deflected in off of Buccaneer junior goalkeeper Dalton Hurst’s hands and into the net with 19:22 remaining.

“They were able to capitalize on every opportunity that they got,” Cooke said. “We didn’t. That was the difference in the game … but that’s the way it goes.”

Beech’s best opportunities came from senior Connor Starr. His free kick with 8:30 remaining in the first half deflected off a Fire defender and narrowly missed to the left side of the goal.

Starr also had a breakaway chance in the second half, but Fire sophomore goalkeeper Jordan Chandler broke up any scoring opportunity by laying out to block Starr’s shot just outside of the six-yard box.

Beech High junior Lorenzo Huerta gains possession as Middle Tennessee Fire junior Parker Miller converges during first-half action.

“I was very happy with the amount of opportunities that we created,” Cooke said. “We just didn’t score on them.”

Freshman Paul Johnson had the other Fire goal with 6:40 remaining, connecting from 25 yards out on a shot into the upper, left corner of the net.

Beech is slated to begin district play on Thursday evening by hosting Wilson Central.

Cooke is hoping that Monday’s result triggers the necessary adjustments to be ready for 9-AAA competition.

“We’re about to start district play,” Cooke said. “We’ve got to get it fixed now.”

Reach Chris Brooks at cbrooks@tennessean.com or at 615-575-7118. Follow him on Twitter @CB_SumnerSports.

WHITE HOUSE The Portland High School baseball team made White House pay for a series of miscues … for the second consecutive game.

The visiting Panthers took advantage of eight errors, six walks and five hit batsmen on Monday evening, capturing an 11-5 win over the Blue Devils.

“It’s a big deal,” Portland senior centerfielder Hunter Read said. “With White House, we always get more excited to play them and beat them.”

Portland High sophomore Logan Wilson runs to first base during the second inning.

The two teams faced off just two days earlier, with White House committing seven errors in a 9-2 loss to the Panthers in an East Robertson Classic game played at East Robertson High School.

“What we did tonight is something we failed to do in the past,” Portland head coach Jimmy Parker said. “We have a resilient group of kids. If we get behind a bit, they don’t get down. We have guys playing out of position with (senior) Brice Snook out (injured), and we have guys stepping in and doing a good job.

“I’m proud of them. This is a tough place to play. It’s not easy to come from behind here and win.”

Errors led to the game’s first three runs, with Panther senior Kemper Dixon scoring in the first and third innings.

A fielding error helped Blue Devil junior Hunter Neumair to eventually score on a successful double steal in the bottom of the second.

Trailing 2-1, White House scored four runs in the bottom of the third.

Junior Jacob Abbott drew a bases-loaded walk, and senior Landon Sewell followed by successfully laying down a squeeze bunt.

Then, White House senior Cody Gentile came through with a two-out, two-run single that gave his squad a three-run advantage.

White House High junior Jacob Abbott makes contact with a first-inning pitch.

However, three walks, two errors and a hit batsmen helped Portland quickly retake the lead in the top of the fourth.

“We have a small margin for error,” Blue Devil head coach Seth Long – whose squad is currently playing without senior centerfielder Luke Hopkins due to a hand injury – said. “When we give extra outs and free bases, it will kill you.

“Guys who are getting varsity playing time who haven’t had a lot of playing time in the past have to learn quick. Wins and losses count, so they have to learn quick. It’s on us as a coaching staff to make sure they are prepared.”

White House High senior Brian Mullins runs to first base during the first inning.

After senior Austin Graves drew a bases-loaded walk in the top of the fourth, classmate Nick Lingo singled to leftfield to place his squad in front to stay.

“Since White House has always been our rival, we get hyped playing them,” Read said. “We wanted to come back and beat them and keep our (winning) streak going.”

Lingo (2-1) went the distance on the mound, allowing just one hit and three baserunners over the final four innings. Lingo tossed a five-hitter, walked six hitters and struck out four.

Portland High senior Nick Lingo delivers a first-inning pitch.

Dixon scored for the fourth time when his sixth-inning pop-up fell between three fielders in shallow centerfield, resulting in a double. He scored on Graves’ third hit, a single through the left side of the infield.

Then, Read doubled to lead off the four-run seventh, an inning that included two walks, three hit batsmen and an error. Read scored on sophomore Logan Wilson’s groundout, and freshman Brandon Tucker, sophomore Dawson Simmons and junior Tristan Sutton crossed the plate later in the frame.

It was the third consecutive win for the Panthers.

“We’re more of a family than anything,” Read said. “We are all so close to each other. We’re a family. We stick together.”

Reach Craig Harris at charris@mtcngroup.com or at 615-575-7138. Follow him on Twitter @HarrisGNESports.

Portland              101 401 4 – 11 9 1

White House     014 000 0 – 5 5 8

Nick Lingo and Kemper Dixon; Ethan Escue, Dillon Draper (4), Tanner Pharris (6) and Cody Gentile. WP – Lingo (2-1). LP – Draper (0-1). Records: Portland 7-4, White House 3-5.

Whites Creek’s Ruot Monyyong picked up an offer to play college basketball at Iowa State this week – his first from a major Division I institution.

Whites Creek’s Ruot Monyyong burst onto the Middle Tennessee prep basketball scene this season, helping lead the school to its most successful season in nearly a decade.

Following his impressive 2015-16 campaign in which he averaged a double-double for the Class AA semifinalist Cobras, Monyyong is starting to make waves on the collegiate recruiting circuit.

The 6-foot-9 junior, who played junior varsity for the Cobras in 2014-15 after transferring from Hunters Lane, recently received an offer from Iowa State — his first from a major Division I institution.

Monyyong, who has also received recruiting interest from Memphis and Tennessee State, averaged 18.3 points, 14 rebounds and six blocked shots for Whites Creek, which advanced to the Class AA state semifinals before losing to Brainerd.

Baseball battle in the Boro: Some of the best baseball teams from five states will bring their talents to Murfreesboro this weekend for the 23rd annual Warrior Spring Classic hosted by Riverdale.

Thirty-seven teams from Tennessee, Alabama, Kentucky, Ohio and Indiana will participating in the tournament on 10 high school fields across Middle Tennessee.

Riverdale, Siegel, Mt. Juliet, MTCS, Oakland, Smyrna, Wilson Central, Blackman, Stewarts Creek and Shelbyville will all play host to games.

Athens and Hewitt Trussville (Ala.), Fishers and Nobelsville (Ind.), Mason and Bishop Fenwick (Ohio) and Ballard and McCracken (Ky.) will put their game to the test against local teams like Central Magnet, Franklin and Lebanon, as well as some perennial state powers such as Houston and Farragut.

Action for the tournament kicks off Friday at 12:30 p.m.

Next-level play: Mt. Juliet native and Father Ryan student Ben Schultheis has been playing for The Thunder AAA Hockey Club in Nashville for the past two years, but had a chance to show off his skills at a higher level last week.

The 16-year-old Schultheis spent last week in Plymouth, Mich., at USA Hockey Arena with some of the best young players in the country at the Team USA Under 17 National Team Development Program.

In all, 48 players from 17 states were invited to participate, with Schultheis being the lone Tennessee selection.

But he wasn’t the only representative from Tennessee at the camp.

Brentwood native and NTDP alum Blake Geoffrion (2004-06) was one of the two guest coaches who led the 26 forwards, 17 defensemen and five goaltenders.

Reach Sam Brown at 615-259-8232 and on Twitter @SamBrownTN and Michael Murphy at 615-259-8262 and on Twitter @Murph_TNsports.

Blackman’s Crystal Dangerfield (32) will play in the McDonald’s All-American Game on Wednesday in Chicago.

Crystal Dangerfield has been declared the top-rated point guard for the Class of 2016 by various recruiting services.

On Wednesday, the Blackman High 5-foot-5 standout and Connecticut signee gets a chance to show the national rankings are true.

Dangerfield will be one of two Tennessee high school players in the McDonald’s All-American Game played at the United Center in Chicago.

Tipoff is at 5:30 p.m. and the game will be aired on ESPNU. The boys game will be played afterward at 8 p.m. and aired on ESPN.

“Obviously they are going to be hyping it up, talking that (I’m) the No. 1 point guard in the nation,” said Dangerfield recently. “I just want to make sure that I hold myself accountable to that.”

Crystal Dangerfield studies UConn in NCAA Tournament

Dangerfield will be joined by Dickson County’s Lea Lea Carter, a Vanderbilt signee, in the all-star game. However, the two are on two different teams. Carter, a 5-foot-11 forward, is on the West team. Dangerfield is on the East team.

Dangerfield will be the second from Rutherford County to play in the game. Former Riverdale standout Alexa Middleton played in the 2014 game.

Dangerfield, who was named the 2016 Morgan Wootten Player of the Year, averaged 23.9 points and 2.9 assists this season. She won a pair of gold medals competing for Team USA during her high school career, including one last summer in Russia for the USA U-18 team coached by South Carolina coach Dawn Staley.

Dangerfield’s high school career came to a close in the Region 4-AAA semifinals when the Lady Blaze lost to eventual state champion Riverdale. Since then, Dangerfield has remained in playing shape to play in both the McDonald’s All American game and the Jordan Brand Classic on April 15 at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn, N.Y.

“I hired a personal trainer,” she said. “I’m doing physical training and working on my cardio. I’m just getting my body in shape for it.”

Reach Tom Kreager at 615-278-5168 and on Twitter @Kreager.

McDonald’s All-American Game

When: 5:30 p.m., Wednesday

Where: Chicago

TV: ESPNU

First-year Brentwood coach Erica Powell looks on during Tuesday’s District 11-AAA game against Franklin.

When it comes to softball, first-year Brentwood High School coach Erica Powell has just about seen it all.

Between stints at traditional state powers Friendship Christian (2007-10) and Beech (2012-14), the Midstate coaching veteran compiled a 223-85-1 record and a combined five state tournament appearances.

Powell’s most recent stop, however, has provided her with a much-needed change of pace.

“I kind of wanted to coach in a different kind of way than I’ve done before,” said Powell, who returned to the profession this spring after taking a year off to complete her doctorate as well as work as a literacy coach in Memphis.

“I’ve come into programs in the past where there’d been a target on my back, whether it was at Friendship Christian or Beech,” she added. “Coming in here it was like getting to come in and just have fun and work hard, and that has been awesome.”

Unlike her previous two jobs, Powell didn’t walk into a program with immediate state-title aspirations. She didn’t inherit a lineup loaded with travel ball talent, either.

In fact, the Lady Bruins (4-4, 1-1 11-AAA) brought back just two starters from last season’s sub-.500 squad, including junior Frankie Cable and sophomore Hannah Koenig.

“At Beech you’re getting girls who have played travel ball their entire lives, and they’ve had the lessons and all that,” Powell said. “But here, I’m getting girls that just want to learn and want to work hard and are very selfless, and it has been so much fun.”

“They’re not stars. All they want to do is win, and they don’t care who gets the credit.”

That has certainly been the case this week as Brentwood has seen standout offensive performances from two different players in wins over Columbia and Franklin.

On Monday, freshman catcher Ansley Casillas belted a pair of home runs in the Lady Bruins’ 5-3 win over Columbia.  Cable delivered a three-hit, six-RBI performance in Tuesday’s 10-3 triumph over rival Franklin — Powell’s first district win at her new school.

“This pitcher was like my dream pitcher,” Cable said of Franklin’s Maddie Sherwood. “I love low and outside pitches, and when she’s on that’s pretty much all she throws.”

“Having Coach Powell here has been a blessing. She has so much experience with softball, playing and coaching, and it’s amazing to have her here.”

Reach Michael Murphy at 615-269-8262 and on Twitter @Murph_TNsports . 

Brentwood sophomore Hannah Koenig delivers a second-inning pitch during Tuesday’s District 11-AAA game against Franklin.

Blackman’s Crystal Dangerfield (32) will play in the McDonald’s All-American Game on Wednesday in Chicago.

Crystal Dangerfield has been declared the top-rated point guard for the Class of 2016 by various recruiting services.

On Wednesday, the 5-foot-5 Blackman standout and Connecticut signee gets a chance to show whether the national rankings are true.

Dangerfield will be one of two Tennessee high school players in the McDonald’s All-American Game played at the United Center in Chicago.

“Obviously they are going to be hyping it up, talking that (I’m) the No. 1 point guard in the nation,” Dangerfield said recently. “I just want to make sure that I hold myself accountable to that.”

Dangerfield will be joined in the game by Dickson County’s Lea Lea Carter, a Vanderbilt signee, but the two are on two different teams. Carter, a 5-foot-11 forward, is on the West team. Dangerfield is on the East team.

“I’m highly blessed and thankful,” said Carter. “One of the best things (about the experience) is being able to go to the Ronald McDonald House and see the children. It’s all about them. Being a part of the banquet (Tuesday evening) was pretty awesome.”

Tipoff is at 5:30 p.m., and the game will be aired on ESPNU. The boys game will be played at 8 p.m. and aired on ESPN.

Reach Tom Kreager at 615-278-5168 and on Twitter @Kreager.

MCDONALD’S ALL-AMERICAN GAME

When: 5:30 p.m. Wednesday

Where: Chicago

TV: ESPNU

WHITE HOUSE Tuesday evening’s contest turned out to be a double whammy for the White House High softball team.

Not only did the Lady Devils suffer a 7-0 loss to visiting rival White House Heritage, they also had another key player leave the game with an injury after senior Savannah Fuston went down in the bottom of the first inning.

Already playing without junior Madeline Cain due to an arm injury, the Lady Devils (9-6 overall, 1-1 in District 9-AA) lost Fuston to a sprained ankle after she executed a sacrifice bunt up the first-base line, going to the ground in an attempt to avoid a tag by Lady Patriot first baseman Lauren Osteen.

“She executed perfectly what I asked her to do,” Towers said. “She’s been working on the push bunt. She ran. She stopped, and she went to fall. When she did, her cleat hung, and she went over. Just by a freak accident, she rolled her ankle. Taking her out of the lineup is huge.”

White House High junior Katy Gut receives a throw at first base as White House Heritage’s Riley Hallum runs down the first-base line during first-inning action.

White House trailed 1-0 at the time, though Fuston’s sacrifice put the Lady Devils in position to tie the game. One batter later, a inning-ending double play halted that opportunity.

After that, Lady Patriot sophomore starting pitcher Alyssa Arden took over, striking out 10 White House batters in earning the complete-game victory. Arden took a no-hitter into the sixth inning before freshman Sydnee Frakes collected White House’s first and only base hit.

The Lady Patriots (12-3, 2-0) broke things open in the seventh off White House senior pitcher Madisen Adkins, scoring four runs. Adkins retired seven consecutive hitters at one point, but two errors in each of the final two innings helped lead to five runs.

“She did an awesome job,” Towers said of Adkins. “She pitched a really good ballgame.”

In total, White House committed five errors.

White House High freshman second baseman Grace Fillmore attempts to turn a double play as White House Heritage’s Alex Martin slides into second base.

“If stuff like that’s going to happen, I’d rather it happen now,” Towers said. “We play for the district tournament, and that’s what I tell them all the time.”

Reach Chris Brooks at cbrooks@tennessean.com or at 615-575-7118. Follow him on Twitter @CB_SumnerSports.

White House Heritage             101 001 4 – 7 7 2

White House   000 000 0 – 0 1 5

Alyssa Arden and Riley Hallum; Madisen Adkins and Copelynne Whitaker. WP – Arden. LP – Adkins. Records: White House Heritage 12-3 overall, 2-0 in District 9-AA; White House 9-6, 1-1.

HENDERSONVILLE The Pope John Paul II High baseball team had a better offensive showing on Tuesday evening, rolling to an 8-2 victory over Madison (Ohio) at Servpro Field.

The Knights piled up 12 hits after managing just five the previous night, in a 4-3 loss to visiting La Salle (Ohio) High.

Pope John Paul II High junior C.J. Laws slides into home plate safely during the five-run fourth inning.

“We’re improving every game,” PJP II junior catcher Jack Shuttleworth said. “Our approaches are improving. Every batting practice, we focus on certain situations. That’s really helped us.”

After Knight sophomore Jake Rucker’s two-out single drove in two runs in the first inning, PJP II erupted for five runs in the fourth, which was also aided by two errors.

Junior Ben Brooks and Shuttleworth had back-to-back doubles, and junior Pace Dempsey and senior Ryan Hatten followed with run-scoring singles.

Junior Jordan Weems doubled in the fifth and scored on Brooks’ single to create an 8-0 lead.

Pope John Paul II High junior rightfielder Jordan Weems fields a third-inning single.

“We knew the offense was going to be a process,” Knight head coach Michael Brown said. “We have to pitch and play defense. All of the games we’ve lost have been because of a lack of command and defense. We have to get that together.

“We know the offense is coming. We swung it a little better than we have (recently).”

Knight sophomore Matt Steidl tossed three innings of one-hit baseball to pick up the win, and junior teammate Nate Pianto came on to hurl three innings of hitless relief. Steidl struck out four hitters, while Pianto fanned two.

Pope John Paul II High junior Nate Pianto delivers a fifth-inning pitch. Pianto pitched three innings of hitless relief in Tuesday evening’s 8-2 win over visiting Madison (Ohio) High.

Hatten pitched the seventh, surrendering two runs to the Rams.

“They were very good,” Shuttleworth said of the pitching staff. “We’re trying to expand the latter half of our staff. It’s coming along nicely. Throwing strikes is the big thing.”

>> Dempsey and Rucker singled and scored runs in Monday’s loss, in which the Lancers rallied for two runs in both the sixth and seventh innings to overcome a 2-0 deficit and then a 3-2 deficit.

Following Tuesday’s win, the PJP II offense cooled off again later in the evening, suffering a 10-4 loss to Nazareth (Ill.) Academy.

The Knights (4-7) used five pitchers, with the first four combining to allow seven hits and issue 10 walks.

Garrett Taylor pitched a scoreless seventh, striking out two hitters.

Brooks had two of his squad’s three hits and scored three runs.

Reach Craig Harris at charris@mtcngroup.com or at 615-575-7138. Follow him on Twitter @HarrisGNESports.

Madison              000 000 2 – 2 4 4

PJP II     200 510 x – 8 12 1

Austin Kohler, Layne Berrier (2), Logan Daniels (4) and Trenton Mortimer; Matt Steidl, Nate Pianto (4), Ryan Hatten (7) and Jack Shuttleworth. WP – Steidl. LP – Kohler. Records: Madison 0-2, PJP II 4-7.

Stat stuffers

Ben Brooks, Jr., C/SS, Pope John Paul II baseball

Brooks had four hits (including a double), scored five runs and drove in one run in Tuesday’s games, an 8-2 win over Madison (Ohio) High and a 10-4 loss to Nazareth Academy (Ill.).

Pace Dempsey, Jr., CF, Pope John Paul II baseball

Dempsey had three hits, drove in two runs and scored a run in Tuesday’s doubleheader.

Kemper Dixon, Sr., C, Portland baseball

Dixon was hit by a pitch three times, doubled, scored four runs and drove in a run in Monday’s 11-5 win at White House.

Austin Graves, Sr., 2B/P, Portland baseball

Graves reached base in all five plate appearances – via three singles and two walks – and drove in three runs in Monday’s victory, and he had two hits, scored a run and also pitched a complete game in Tuesday evening’s 4-2 loss at Wilson Central.

Jake Jarvis, Sr., 3B/P, White House baseball

Jarvis singled, drew two walks and scored a run in the Blue Devils’ loss to Portland on Monday, and he provided two hits, drove in two runs and pitched four innings of scoreless relief to pick up the win in Tuesday evening’s 3-2, eight-inning win at Clarksville Academy.

Isaac Robertson, Sr., CF/P, Beech baseball

Robertson had two hits (including a home run) and drove in three runs in Tuesday’s 6-1 victory over Pell City (Ala.).

Carley Carlisle, Sr., P/1B, Hendersonville softball

Carlisle struck out 15 hitters, pitched a four-hit shutout and drove in a run in Monday’s 3-0, nine-inning victory at Heritage (Va.) High.

Sound-offs

Pope John Paul II High head baseball coach Michael Brown on playing three games over two days against visiting out-of-state foes on Monday and Tuesday … “It’s especially crucial this week. With us being shut down for Easter and then playing conference games this Thursday and Friday (against Montgomery Bell Academy), we needed this. These teams came down here, and it is good competition. We normally wouldn’t play three in two days, but we need to get back in a groove a bit.”

Pope John Paul II High junior catcher Jack Shuttleworth on the team’s recent attempts at improving offensively … “It’s all of the time. A huge part of our offense is having our approach and executing the approach.”

Pope John Paul II High junior Jack Shuttleworth had two hits, drove in a run, scored a run and laid down a sacrifice bunt in Tuesday evening’s 8-2 win over visiting Madison (Ohio).

White House High head softball coach Cindy Towers on injuries to senior Savannah Fuston and junior Madeline Cain … “I’ve lost two of my best ballplayers. It’s giving the freshmen the opportunity to come in and get some playing time. The only thing I’m a little disappointed in is the (returning players) not handling that adversity better. Hopefully, we’ll fight through this. I lost three ballplayers last year. It’s the luck of the draw. It’s part of the game. I’ve realized throughout the years that there’s nothing I can do about it.”

Towers on senior pitcher Madisen Adkins giving up an early hit … “She had a mistake pitch in the first inning. She knew that. Then, somebody else hit, and I came out there and called timeout. She looked at her defense and goes, ‘guys, I’m sorry. That’s my fault. I left it in the middle.’ You’ve got to respect a pitcher when she owned up to that.”

Ezell-Harding pitcher Seth Wyse has thrown 41 strikouts and allowed just one run on his way to a 4-0 start this season.

Ezell-Harding senior left-handed pitcher Seth Wyse wants to play college baseball.

He’s doing his best to prove he’s capable of that so far this season.

Wyse has helped the Eagles to an 8-3 start behind a 4-0 record, and he’s done so in impressive fashion.

Wyse picked up his fourth win of the season in as many starts Tuesday in a 4-1 victory over University School of Nashville, with 13 strikeouts and a complete-game performance.

High strikeout totals are becoming the norm for the senior ace.

Less than two weeks ago in a March 19 showdown with Lebanon, Wyse fanned 14 batters in the Eagles’ 4-2 victory.

And he’s is doing more than just striking out his opponents.

Wyse has allowed only eight hits and one earned run in 23 innings this season, racking up 41 strikeouts in the process.

Ezell-Harding pitcher Seth Wyse has thrown 41 strikouts and allowed just one run on his way to a 4-0 start this season

But impressive pitching is nothing new for Wyse.

Last season, he fanned all 15 batters in a five-inning affair to secure a perfect game in a 2-0 win over King’s Academy.

While playing well is nothing new, Ezell-Harding baseball coach Jason Charlton said he thinks Wyse is trying to make a statement this season that he’s capable of playing baseball at the collegiate level.

“He wants to play college ball and I think he’s kind of set his sights on proving to people that he has the control, velocity and mentality to be a good college pitcher,” Charlton said. “I think he feels a little bit slighted that enough people haven’t paid attention to him and he’s kind of taken that as a challenge to show people he is a good pitcher.”

His hard work may pay dividends soon.

Last Friday, the Eagles hosted the Middle Tennessee Monarchs, and scouts from national junior college Walter State were on hand to see Wyse pitch in the 5-1 victory.

Coach Charlton said that Wyse has also garnered interest from Trevecca and Freed-Hardeman University.

Reach Sam Brown at 615-259-8232 and on Twitter @SamBrownTN.

Thomas Booker

Former East Nashville Magnet basketball standout Thomas Booker has committed to play college basketball at the University of South Carolina Upstate.

“I feel like it’s a good fit for me,” Booker said. “It’s a really nice place up there, and ’m getting a free education. Anywhere that happens, that’s always good.”

Booker, who transferred to Bowling Green (Ky.) High School prior to 2015-16, helped lead the Purples to a 31-3 record and a Kentucky High School Athletic Association state quarterfinal appearance last season.

“It was a lot different (playing basketball in Kentucky),” Booker said. “There’s better exposure, you’re playing better teams, and it kind of makes you appreciate the game more because there’s only one state champion in the entire state of Kentucky.”

Booker, a 6-foot-3 guard, garnered Tennessean All-Midstate first-team honors as a junior at East Nashville, averaging 20 points, 6.5 rebounds and two assists per game for 28-3 Eagles.

“I still talk to a couple of my friends (from East Nashville) during the week, just checking up on each other,” added Booker, who attended the East Nashville girls basketball team’s Class AA championship win over Upperman. “I drove down there to watch them play. It was exciting, man.”

Former East Nashville star Thomas Booker committed to USC Upstate on Tuesday.

Prep notebook: Whites Creek’s Monyyong draws interest
Ezell-Harding ace Wyse turning college heads
Brentwood’s Powell embraces change of softball scenery

Reach Michael Murphy at 615-259-8262 and on Twitter @Murph_TNsports. 

The Gallatin High baseball team hoped for a better start to District 9-AAA play.

Visiting Lebanon sent the Green Wave to its second consecutive loss in league competition on Wednesday afternoon, a 5-1 setback at David Alexander Field.

Lebanon junior starting pitcher Daniel Holmes retired the first 10 Green Wave hitters before freshman Brady Harris reached base on a fourth-inning error.

Gallatin High freshman shortstop Brady Harris attempts to tag Lebanon sophomore Jonathan Presley during fourth-inning action.

“Lebanon’s baseball team found gaps, and we didn’t,” Gallatin head coach Mark Wilson said. “We hit the ball at people, and it didn’t fall in. Sooner or later, you’ve got to believe that those do.”

Junior Jordan Mason collected two of Gallatin’s three hits, singles in the fifth and seventh innings. Mason also stole two bases, but was unable to make it three as he was thrown out trying to take third base to end the fifth inning.

“(Mason) is hitting it well,” Wilson said. “We’ve got other guys that are swinging good bats. It’s just a matter of getting the hits to fall.”

Gallatin High senior Carlos Hernandez fields a ball in rightfield during fourth-inning action.

Junior Austin McWhirter suffered the loss after allowing five runs on nine hits with three bases on balls over six innings. McWhirter recorded three strikeouts.

Senior Billy Campbell threw a scoreless inning of relief, and Campbell drove in junior Dee’Andre Brown with a sixth-inning triple.

“Austin threw a solid game,” Wilson said. “That’s what you want. You just want to be able to offensively help a pitcher out, and we didn’t do that until it was too late.”

Sophomore Jonathan Presley picked up two hits and drove in two runs for Lebanon (7-3 overall, 1-0 in District 9-AAA). Seniors Brady Estes and Matt Bell, along with junior Dalton Squires, also had two hits for Lebanon.

Gallatin High junior catcher Bailey Russell receives a throw at home plate as Lebanon junior Dalton Squires attempts to score during second-inning action.

Gallatin (7-3, 0-2) opened district play with a 10-0 loss to Mt. Juliet on Tuesday evening.

The Green Wave return to 9-AAA competition on Tuesday with a game at Station Camp.

Reach Chris Brooks at cbrooks@tennessean.com or at 615-575-7118. Follow him on Twitter @CB_SumnerSports.

Lebanon            011 102 0 – 5 9 3

Gallatin           000 001 0 – 1 3 2

Daniel Holmes and Chase Andrews; Austin McWhirter, Billy Campbell (7) and Bailey Russell WP – Holmes. LP – McWhirter. Records: Lebanon 7-3 overall, 1-0 in District 9-AAA; Gallatin 7-3, 0-2.

Blackman’s Crystal Dangerfield and Dickson County’s Lea Lea Carter both showed well at the McDonald’s All-American girls basketball game held at Chicago’s United Center on Wednesday.

Blackman’s Crystal Dangerfield, left, passes the ball in the McDonald’s All-American Game on Wednesday in Chicago.

Dangerfield, a UConn signee and rated as the top point guard in the 2016 class, scored six points but dished out a game-high six assists for the East.

However, it was Carter and her West squad that overcame a double-digit second-half deficit for a 97-88 victory.

Carter, a Vanderbilt signee, scored eight points on 3-of-7 shooting and was 2-of-2 at the free throw line for the West.

Dangerfield was 2-of-8 from the field (including 2-of-7 from 3-point range), including a 23-foot bomb during the first half.

Here’s a look at the Tennessee Baseball Coaches Association state rankings as of Wednesday, March 30, 2016:

TCBA state baseball rankings

Ezell-Harding ace Wyse turning college heads

Class A

1. Loretto
2. Peabody
3. Clarksville Academy
4. Jackson Christian
5. McKenzie
6. Columbia Academy
7. Summertown
8. Goodpasture
9. Dresden
10. Eagleville

Dangerfield, Carter fare well in McDonald’s game

Class AA

1. Christ Presbyterian Academy
2. Spring Hill
3. Christian Academy of Knoxville
4. Greenbrier
5. Milan
6. Pigeon Forge
7. Covington
8. Sullivan South
9. Hixson
10. Montgomery Central

Former East Nashville star Booker commits to USC Upstate

Class AAA

1. Farragut
2. Arlington
3. Beech
4. Dobyns-Bennett
5. Houston
6. Hendersonville
7. Siegel
8. Mt. Juliet
9. Summit
10. Munford

Brentwood’s Powell embraces change of softball scenery

Division II-A

1. Harding Academy
2. University School of Jackson
3. Evangelical Christian School
4. Battle Ground Academy
5. St. George’s

Prep notebook: Whites Creek’s Monyyong draws interest

Division II-AA

1. Brentwood Academy
2. McCallie
3. Christian Brothers
4. Baylor
5. Memphis University School

Reach Michael Murphy at 615-269-8262 and on Twitter @Murph_TNsports . 

For the first time in nearly three decades, Franklin Road Academy’s Jack Nunnally will not be leading the school’s softball team when the Lady Panthers open their season Friday.

Franklin Road Academy

Nunnally announced Wednesday that he will be stepping down for medical reasons, bringing an end to a 28-year career that featured 298 wins.

“I have been at FRA for over half my life,” said Nunnally, who recently underwent his second back surgery in three years. “My two children grew up there, played sports there and graduated from there so it is with mixed emotions that I leave FRA.”

Brentwood’s Powell embraces change of softball scenery

Nunnally is a six-time district/region coach of the year award recipient.

“I feel the softball program is in great hands as Coach Kris Climer — my assistant for the past 20 years — will be filling in this year,” Nunnally said. “I also think we have a great group of seniors and one of the best pitching and catching tandems in the area in Julianna Alexander and Jesse Heldman.”

The Lady Panthers, who complete in Division II-A East/Middle District 2, will take on Lookout Valley in Friday’s 4 p.m. home opener.

Ezell-Harding ace Wyse turning college heads
Former East Nashville star Booker commits to USC Upstate

Reach Michael Murphy at 615-259-8262 and on Twitter @Murph_TNsports. 

A coaching change hasn’t slowed the Pope John Paul II High girls lacrosse program.

The Lady Knights haven’t flinched, winning their first 10 contests.

Pope John Paul II High junior Caroline Leonard has 13 goals and five assists in helping the Lady Knights win their first 10 matches this season.

In fact, PJP II has rarely been challenged thus far.

The Lady Knights have managed to win their only close matches, which came over a three-day span in early March. PJP II captured a 7-6 victory at Franklin in an overtime contest and then a 10-9 win over visiting Houston.

Senior Grace Lascara scored the game-winning goal against Franklin. It was her 200th career goal, breaking the school record previously held by Mary Leonard (who played at North Carolina’s Davidson College following her career at PJP II).

“The girls gained a lot of confidence from that,” Pope John Paul II High first-year head coach Paul Raccio said. “We were down 5-1 in the Franklin game, and we were down 6-2. We were also down one player (due to the team being assessed four yellow cards). The girls just held their way back.

“That win was huge for the program and huge for the girls’ confidence. You have to battle through those situations.”

The setback is Houston’s lone loss, while Franklin has fallen to just one other foe, St. George’s (the state runner-up last season).

Houston was a state semifinalist last season.

All of that has to the Lady Knights being ranked third in the state in the LaxPower ratings, behind top-ranked Ensworth and St. George’s.

Raccio – who previously served as the PJP II boys program’s assistant coach – leads the Lady Knights, taking over after Megan Clark was at the helm of the program for the previous six seasons. Clark compiled a 70-32 record during her tenure, reaching the state semifinals in both 2012 (suffering a 15-14, double-overtime loss to Ensworth) and 2013 (dropping a 17-7 contest to Hutchison).

Paul Raccio

“There was a little bit of heartbreak when Megan left,” Raccio said. “It’s all they knew. We have two great assistant coaches (Katie King and Carly Grimm). I’m the disciplinarian, and they are there if they girls need to talk about anything.

“Mainly, the girls have bought into the culture we have tried to create. I think they are enjoying themselves for sure.”

Hutchison has won the last five state titles, after St. George’s captured a one-goal victory over Ensworth in the 2010 state final.

PJP II has outscored its other eight opponents by a combined margin of 133-40.

Raccio attributes much of that success to a six-member senior class, which consists of six starters.

“It was easy to get into the flow of things,” Raccio said. “The girls have taken to what we’ve been teaching. They’re receptive to the coaching. That’s a big part of why we are where we are.”

Lascara – a Kennesaw State (Ga.) University signee and a three-time Tennessee Girls Lacrosse Association All-Central West Region Team selection – leads the team in most categories, including goals (46) and ground balls (36).

Junior Aiyanah Simms (25 goals, 10 assists and 26 ground balls) and senior Anna Grace Shepherd (18 goals, 9 assists and 18 ground balls) are also offensive threats. Shepherd is a University of Alabama in Huntsville signee.

Pope John Paul II High junior Aiyanah Simms has compiled 25 goals and 10 assists through the team’s first 10 contests.

With sophomore Reanna McNair in goal and senior defensive midfielder Maddy Baechle providing stability in front of starting defenders Sasha Chunchukov, Miranda Smith and Rachel Tidwell, PJP II hasn’t allowed more 10 goals in any match this season.

The Lady Knights are coming off of a 13-5 season in which they reached the state quarterfinals for the second consecutive season, suffering a 10-9 loss to St. George’s.

PJP II lost 12 seniors from that squad.

The Lady Knights will have a two-week layoff before they return to action on Wednesday with a match at University School of Nashville.

“Everyone is excited to get the level of play up,” Raccio said. “We need to get ready for the playoffs, which will be difficult. We have USN, Ensworth, Ravenwood, Harpeth Hall and two of the better teams from Kentucky (Sacred Heart Academy and Louisville Collegiate School) coming up. That will help us.”

However, PJP II may face its biggest challenge one week later, when Ensworth visits on April 13.

“Ensworth is a big one,” Raccio said. “It’s big for the girls. JPII has never beaten Ensworth.

“Ensworth is very talented. They kind of took it to us in a (preseason) scrimmage. We are a very different team now. We are very much looking forward to that game.”

Reach Craig Harris at charris@mtcngroup.com or at 615-575-7138. Follow him on Twitter @HarrisGNESports.