Lady ‘Toppers Bash Way to East Tennessee Classic Title (2025)

JOHNSON CITY – There’s nothing meek about Science Hill’s batting order.

With speedy table-setting freshmen twin sisters Ella and Emma Meeks followed by the Lady Toppers’ version of Murderer’s Row - Maddie Diamond, Lora Wilgus and Isabel Meeks - Science Hill roared past Dobyns-Bennett, 12-5, in the championship game of the East Tennessee Classic Saturday evening at Winged Deer Park.

“I think this sends a message to our conference,” said Wilgus, referencing the Big East that produced a state runner-up in 2023 and state champion in 2024. “Our own conference is one of the hardest in the state. I think this is just a big message to everybody.”

It’s the first title in their home tournament since 2021 and the first for coach Megan Harmon.

“This is a long planning process,” explained Harmon. “I start in the fall trying to get teams. For my girls to come here and work hard and get the job done for me, it’s just so gratifying. I do all the planning part, they do all the work when we get here. I’m really proud of them.”

The Meeks twins were on base five times and scored four times while Diamond, Wilgus and Meeks combined to drive in 11 of the Lady ‘Toppers 12 runs.

“They (Ella and Emma) are so speedy and just so softball smart,” noted Harmon. “Getting them on base is a big deal. My 3-4-5 know that.”

Diamond went 2-for-3 with four RBI’s in the three-hole with clean-up hitter Wilgus driving in three runs and Isabel Meeks driving in four from the fifth spot.

In the top of the first, Ella Meeks walked and Emma Meeks singled ahead of Diamond’s three-run blast. Later in the frame, Kaylee Oler singled and scored on a double by Annabelle Eanes.

Dobyns-Bennett cut the lead in half on freshman Evie Porter’s two-run homer in the bottom of the first and got within one run in the third when Jenna Mayle raced home on a wild pitch.

The Lady ‘Toppers broke the game open in the top of the fourth. Diamond was intentionally passed with two outs and Makenzie Cumbow on third. Wilgus made the Lady Indians pay with a two-run double to left that plated Cumbow and Diamond.

“It’s respect to Maddie first of all,” Wilgus said. “I just try to capitalize on the moment and take what I get. More runners to score.”

Isabel Meeks followed with an opposite field homer to right as the lead grew to 8-3.

Science Hill added four more in the sixth. The Meeks both singled with Ella Meeks scoring on a Diamond single. Wilgus drove in Emma Meeks with a sacrifice fly with Isabel Meeks going the other way for a second time with a two-run shot that scored Diamond.

“It’s hard, our 3-4-5 is so strong,” added Isabel Meeks. “You really can’t get around it.”

Isabel Meeks had only two hits on the day, both big flies.

“I hadn’t had a great day at the plate so I was just trying to get a hit, that’s all I was thinking,” smiled Meeks. “I was 2-for-7 with two home runs.”

All three Meeks sisters finished with two runs scored in the game while the deceptively swift Diamond swiped two bases and scored three times.

All in support of freshman pitcher and winner Piper Brewer.

“Offensively, we’ve been focusing on protecting our pitchers and giving our pitchers support, not making them throw extra pitches,” said Harmon. “We’ve got to take some pressure off them, because they are going to be hit. Every team in our league can hit.

“We also have to be able to continue to make plays behind them. Defensively, I thought we were pretty solid this weekend.”

Brewer scattered ten hits in allowing five runs while striking out four and walking none.

“Fantastic job!,” said Meeks of her understudy. “Our defense played wonderful behind. That was a great first showing against a strong team.

“Isabel has helped Piper along the way,” added Harmon. “She’s been a really good mentor, really good leader for her. We need Piper to be strong in the circle.”

Evie Porter, Riley McMillan and Mayle all finished 2-for-3 with a run scored for the Lady Indians. McMillan and Laiken Hinson scored once and drove in one run.

“When we started with our schedule (pool) you wouldn’t think we would have had much of a chance with Tennessee High and Volunteer,” said D-B coach Andy Hubbard. “But our kids battled and I’m super proud of them.

“We had a lot of new faces out here. Two games we had five freshmen and two sophomores. Our pitching was feeling good, we just kind of ran out of gas and Science Hill was just hot. That’s the way it goes.”

Charlee’s Challenge

With Harmon looking to add something extra to a tournament now void of an all-tournament squad, a skills competition to honor the memory of Charlee Blackburn was held after the conclusion of pool play and prior to bracket play.

Blackburn was an eighth-grade student at Indian Trail Middle School when a sudden illness resulted in her passing on February 17, 2024.

"She (Blackburn) was teammates with some of the freshmen last year at Indian Trail (Middle School),” explained Harmon. “They actually played with her and they were friends with her.

“Not having an all-tournament team, I really wanted to do something different and we called her family and asked them if they would be OK with that. Her mom cried when I called her. She was just so thankful, so appreciative. She loves these girls. We have her number (No. 10) on our helmet for her, we wore a purple ribbon, we want to always keep her memory alive.”

Lacey Fugate of West Ridge won the home run derby with Science Hill’s Oler the fastest around the bases, Volunteer’s Addyson Fisher the highest velocity pitch and Volunteer’s Zetta Smith the highest velocity overhand throw.

Science Hill – Piper Brewer and Annabelle Eanes. Dobyns-Bennett – Phenix Ahles, Braelynn Ferrell (4) and Evie Porter. 2B – Lora Wilgus, Science Hill; Annabelle Eanes, Science Hill; Jenna Mayle, Dobyns-Bennett. HR – Isabel Meeks, Science Hill 2 (solo in 4th, one on in 6th); Maddie Diamond, Science Hill (two on in 1st); Evie Porter, Dobyns-Bennett (two on in 1st). RBI – Science Hill 12 (Maddie Diamond 4, Isabel Meeks 4, Lora Wilgus 3, Annabelle Eanes), Dobyns-Bennett 4 (Evier Porter 2, RIley McMillan, Laiken Hinson). SB – Maddie Diamond, Science Hill 2; Kaylee Oler, Science Hill; Riley McMillan, Dobyns-Bennett.

Blue Ribbon Bracket

Semifinals

Dobyns-Bennett 5, Daniel Boone 1

The Lady Indians scored two times in the first inning and three more in the fourth to advance to the championship game.

McMillan and Hinson both had three hits with McMillan roping a double and driving in two runs.

Mary Kate Lively finished 2-for-2 with a walk, a double, a run scored and two runs batted in. Hailey Porter singled and doubled in four at-bats, scoring two runs and driving in one.

In the circle, Allie McConnelee worked the six inning complete game, allowing four hits, one run and striking out five.

Allie Greer led Boone with two hits including a double that scored Ava Saul.

Science Hill 2, Lakeway 1

The Lady ‘Toppers scored the walkoff win over the Lions with two runs in the bottom of the sixth.

Emma Meeks, Diamond and Wilgus raked three straight one-out singles with Meeks scoring the tying run An out later, Oler fought back from an 0-2 count to line a 2-2 pitch to center scoring Diamond with the winning run.

Oler finished 3-for-3 and Wilgus 2-for-3 in the win. Meeks allowed three hits, one earned and struck out 11 in the six-inning complete game.

Consolation

Lakeway Christian 12, Daniel Boone 0

Kacey Pillion clubbed a pair of home runs, scored three runs and drove in four for the Lions.

Avery Ramey struck out nine in the four-inning one-hitter.

Aggie Greer logged the only Lady ‘Blazer hit.

Red Ribbon Bracket

Semifinals

Greeneville 14, Unicoi 6

Destani Bailey doubled twice and drove in three runs and Adaley Lamons had two hits and drove in two runs as the Devils Greene bested the Devils Blue.

Kaley Garland (three walks) and Kyla Jobe (single, double, walk) both reached three times and scored three runs for Greeneville.

Bailey, Lamons and Baylee Ramsey were all 2-for-3, although only six of the Lady Greene Devils runs were earned.

Aaliyah Engle was 3-for-3 with a home run, two runs scored and three RBI’s. Kianna Woodward also drove in three runs with a single and triple in three trips.

Volunteer 3, West Ridge 0

The Lady Falcons won a pitcher’s duel over the Lady Wolves in a game that featured 34 strikeouts among the 39 total recorded outs.

Virginia Tech signee Addyson worked the one-hit shutout for Volunteer, facing one over the minimum. The only West Ridge hit was a two-out single in the third from Savannah Pogue.

Fisher then struck out 11 straight and 12 of the final 13 outs. At the dish, Fisher was 2-for-3 with a solo homer and two runs scored. Zetta Smith was also 2-for-3 with one run scored and one run driven in. Jenna Thomas also brought in a run.

Miranda Henley struck out 15 for West Ridge in six innings.

Championship

Volunteer 15, Greeneville 0

With a number of regulars out of both line-ups, the Falcons posted a ten spot in the first in the runaway win.

Emily Walker was 3-for-3 with two runs scored and five runs batted in for the Lady Falcons while striking out eight and allowing one hits in the circle in the three inning affair.

Timber McLain, Raylie Gray and Fisher all drove in two runs each with Fisher, Chloe Anderson and Jayden Ford all scoring a pair of runs.

Consolation

West Ridge 11, Unicoi County 1

Victoria Browder shutdown the Lady Blue Devils, striking out eight and allowing two hits and no earned runs in seven innings.

Browder also had two hits and a run driven in while Cayden Spears went 3-for-5 with two doubles, two runs scored and two RBI’s.

Lacey Fugate and Nilan Horne were both 2-for-4 with a run driven in and two runs
scored. Fugate clubbed a solo homer and Horne doubled and tripled.

Natalie Moore scored twice and Pogue doubled home a run for the Ridge.

Peyton Higgins and Emmi Linkous collected the two Unicoi hits.

White Ribbon Bracket

Tennessee High 10, Sullivan East 0

Katy Granger tossed the five-inning shutout and Macie Strouth and Lily Ware both drove in two runs in the second 10-0 Lady Viking win over the Lady Patriots of the week.

Granger allowed three hits and struck out four and also scored a run and drove in a run for Tennessee High.

Ware was 2-for-3 and Strouth 1-for-2 with a double and sacrifice fly. Brooklyn Fuel and Kaylie Hughes also drove in runs.

Addison Holly had two hits for East.

Cocke County 11, Tennessee High 1

Nila Proffitt had two hits and drove in the only Lady Viking run.

Pool Play

Science Hill 12, Cloudland 5

Ella Meeks and Eans both drove in two runs for the Lady ‘Toppers

Ella Meeks went 2-for-2 with three turns scored while Emma Meeks was 1-for-2 with two runs scored. Both Meeks also walked, doubled and stole two bases apiece.

Eanes walked twice and stole three bases with Diamond, Cumbow, Oler, Ainsley Craft and Reagan Carroll all driving in one run apiece. Carroll had two hits and scored two times.

Kyleigh Metcalf worked the circle, allowing four hits, two earned runs and striking out three.

Regan Blair finished 2-for-3 with two RBI’s for the Lady ‘Landers. Layken Blair also drove in a run and scored one run.

Greeneville 11, Sullivan East 4

Ramsey and Jobe were both 3-for-4 with a run batted in for the Lady Greene Devils. Ramsey scored three times and Jobe twice in the victory.

Brooke Parsley was 2-for-3 with two RBI’s while Kinslee Lewandowski was 2-for-2 with a walk, a double, three runs scored and one run batted in.

Jamie Jackson and Gabby Atchison combined on a three-hitter with Jackson allowing all three hits in three innings. While Atchison fought through two innings in the circle, walking four and fanning two.

Unicoi County 6, Cocke County 0

Byrd tossed a two-hit shutout and 2-for-4 with an RBI in the Lady Blue Devil victory over the Lady Red.

Byrd struck out eight and walked just two.

Aaliyah Engle, Carly Baxter, Kaley Toney, and Peyton Higgins (double) all drove in Unicoi runs. Kyndal Engle finished 2-for-3 with two runs scored.

Daniel Boone 7, Lakeway 7 - 7 innings

The Lions and the Lady ‘Blazers fought to the seven-inning tie.

McKenzie Strouth cracked a solo homer and drove in three runs for Boone. Riley Croley, Saul and Greer all scored one run and drove in another.

West Ridge 5, Tennessee High 4

Pogue’s walk-off single in the bottom of the fifth. capped a Lady Wolves rally from a 4-2 deficit to the victory.

Kami Clark started the rally with a single. One out later Tipton singled, Lily Frazier singled and Nila Horne all singled in succession to tie the game at 4-4.

Pogue then followed with a fourth consecutive single to plate Frazier with the winning runs.

Pogue finished 3-for-3 in the game while Horne, Tipton, and Victoria Browder were all 2-for-3 with an RBI. Clark was also 2-for-3 with two runs scored.

Kaylee Hicks earned the win for the Lady Wolves, allowing three hits and striking out four in 2⅔ innings of relief.

Ware tripled and drove in two runs for Tennessee High.

Dobyns-Bennett 2, John Battle 1

Evie Porter drove in Riley McMillan twice in the Lady Indians win over the Trojans.

Braelyn Ferrell went the seven inning distance in the circle, scattering seven hits, walking two and striking out four.

East Tennessee Softball Classic
Winged Deer Park - Johnson City

Friday, March 21

Saturday, March 22
Science Hill 12, Cloudland 5
Greeneville 11, Sullivan East 4
Unicoi County 6, Cocke County 0
Daniel Boone 7, Lakeway Christian 0
West Ridge 5, Tennessee High 4
Dobyns-Bennett 2, John Battle 1

Blue Ribbon Bracket
Dobyns-Bennett 5, Daniel Boone 1
Science Hill 2, Lakeway Christian 1
Lakeway Christian 12, Daniel Boone 0 - Consolation
Science Hill 12, Dobyns-Bennett 5 - Championship

Red Ribbon Bracket
Volunteer 3, West Ridge 0
Greeneville 14, Unicoi County 6
West Ridge 11, Unicoi County 1 - Consolation
Volunteer 15, Greeneville 0

White Ribbon Bracket
Tennessee High 10, Sullivan East 0
Cocke County 11, Tennessee High 1