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How we ranked the top Nashville area baseball teams before TSSAA state tournament

george robinson, nashville tennessean
·6 min read

The TSSAA high school baseball season shifts its focus to Spring Fling and the state tournament for all classifications this week.

Here are the top 10 rankings for Large and Small class baseball teams from the Nashville area. The Large Class includes teams in Class 3A, 4A and in Division II-AA. Small Class teams include Class 1A, 2A and Division II-A. Here's a look at the top 10 in each class.

Large class

1. Stewarts Creek (29-7) ‒ Stewarts Creek captured two of three games against Shelbyville in the Class 4A sectional last week to advance to the state tournament. J.J. Odum and Gage Hoover combined to go 4-for-7 with five RBIs in the third and deciding game, an 11-1 win. Stewarts Creek will face Clarksville Tuesday in its first game in the state tournament. Previous week: No. 1.

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2. CPA (24-10) ‒ After a week off, the Lions lost its first game against Briarcrest Christian, 4-2, but advanced to the Division II-AA state final four with two straight against Saints with consecutive shutouts, 13-0 and 10-0. Steele Chance was 2-for-2 with a double and three RBIs in the Game 3 win. Previous week: No. 2.

3. Lipscomb Academy (24-11) ‒ The Mustangs swept their pair of games against Christian Brothers to advance to the DII-AA final four. Lipscomb will play McCallie at Wilson Central on Tuesday in the first game. Georgia Tech signee, Miller Green, gave up one run and struck out 10 in last Wednesday's Game 1 win. Previous week: No. 3.

4. Clarksville (33-7) ‒ It took three games, but Clarksville returned to the 4A state tournament after beating Arlington in a sectional series last week. Korbin Reynolds led CHS in the deciding game with a double, two singles and three RBIs. Previous week: No. 4.

5. Centennial (24-12) - Centennial has won seven of its last eight games and captured two of three against Green Hill to advance to the third state tournament appearance in program's history. Ryan Sweeney had a double, triple and two RBIs in Game 3. Previous week: No. 6.

6. Upperman (28-9) - The Bees scored 15 runs in three games to beat East Hamilton in a three-game sectional series to advance to the 3A state tournament. They'll face South Gibson Tuesday at Blackman High. Previous week. No. 7.

Independence catcher Cash Money watches the ball zip by him during an at-bat in the second inning against Mt. Juliet in Game 1 of the Class 4A sectional Thursday, May 18, 2023 in Mt. Juliet, Tennessee.
Independence catcher Cash Money watches the ball zip by him during an at-bat in the second inning against Mt. Juliet in Game 1 of the Class 4A sectional Thursday, May 18, 2023 in Mt. Juliet, Tennessee.

7. Independence (32-10) ‒ The Eagles swept Mt. Juliet in the 4A sectionals. Drew Blalock was 2-for-3 with a double, home run, two runs scored and three RBIs in a 5-0 Game 2 win and Independence will face the defending 4A state champions Farragut on Tuesday at Siegel High. Previous week: No. 8.

8. Greenbrier (25-11) ‒ The Bobcats haven't lost since the second week of April. Greenbrier handled Hardin County in two straight 3A sectional games last week to run its streak to 13 straight games and will face Lincoln County in the 3A state tournament Tuesday at Smyrna High School. Previous week: Not ranked.

9. Lincoln County (31-8) ‒ The Falcons return to the top 10 ranking after just missing the cut last week. Lincoln County captured two straight wins over Lenior City in the 3A sectional. Previous week: Not ranked.

10. Dyer County (22-12-1) ‒ Dyer County's state tournament drought came to an end after sweeping Millington by a combined score of 26-5 in the 3A sectional. It's the first state tournament in nine years for the Choctaws. Previous week: Not ranked.

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Goodpasture pitcher Luke Payne throws to a Tipton Rosemark batter in the first inning during a division II-A quarterfinal baseball game Wednesday, May 17, 2023, in Madison, Tenn.
Goodpasture pitcher Luke Payne throws to a Tipton Rosemark batter in the first inning during a division II-A quarterfinal baseball game Wednesday, May 17, 2023, in Madison, Tenn.

Small class

1. Goodpasture (34-4) ‒ The defending DII-A state champions looked every bit as impressive in its sweep of Tipton-Rosemark last week, beating the Rebels 12-1 in Game 1 and 21-0 in the second game. Martin combined to go 4-for-7 with two home runs and six RBIs while Tanner Lane was 3-for-6 with four runs scored, a home run and eight RBIs. Previous week: No. 1.

2. Eagleville (31-5) ‒ Eagleville made quick work of Hollow Rock-Bruceton in two straight 1A sectional games and will face Coalfield Tuesday at home in the first game of the 1A state tournament. Ben Thompson combined to go 4-for-8 with two doubles, three runs and two RBIs against Bruceton. Previous week: No. 2.

3. White House-Heritage (25-7) ‒ After winning two games to capture the Region 5 championship, the Patriots dropped Westview in two games in the 2A sectional to advance to state. White House-Heritage will face Forrest on Tuesday at Stewarts Creek High. Previous week: No. 4.

4. Jo Byrns (15-9) - The Red Devils beat Lookout Valley in two games in the 1A sectional last week and will face Peabody in the state tournament Tuesday at Eagleville High. It's the first state tournament appearance for Jo Byrns who was led by Taylor Head's 12 strikeouts in Game 1 of its sectional, and a home run in Game 2. Previous week: No. 6.

5. East Robertson (22-11) - East Robertson's sweep of South Pittsburg last week vaulted it to its first state tournament since 2021 and only second in program history. Kason Young's sacrifice fly scored the walk-off run in the 9-8 Game 2 win.  Previous rank: No. 7.

6. Forrest (23-12) ‒ Sequatchie County didn't score a run in a two-game loss to Forrest in the 2A sectional. The Rockets pitched 14 shutout innings to reach their sixth state tournament appearance in nine years. Previous week: No. 10.

7. Loretto (23-10) ‒ The Mustangs won their first 2A sectional against Milan but lost the final two to end its season a year after a state tournament appearance. Previous week: No. 3.

8. Richland (22-12) ‒ Richland lost both of its sectional games to McKenzie to end its season. It was only the second sectional appearance in 15 years for the Raiders Previous week: No. 5.

9. Cannon County (17-16) - A pair of 2A sectional wins against Cascade, in which Cannon County scored 27 total runs, advanced the Lions to their first state tournament appearance. Cannon Count will face Milan Tuesday at Riverdale. Previous rank: Not ranked.

10. Riverside (18-17-1) ‒  The Panthers knocked off Memphis' KIPP Collegiate in two games, scoring a combined 42 runs in the process. It's the second straight state tournament appearance for Riverside. Previous week: Not ranked.

Reach sports writer George Robinson at georgerobinson@theleafchronicle.com and on Twitter @Cville_Sports.

This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: TSSAA baseball: Ranking top Nashville area teams before state tournament