KNOXVILLE — Keep doubting. The Dobyns-Bennett softball team welcomes it. And Murfreesboro will welcome the defending state champions back to the TSSAA Spring Fling after their latest accomplishment.
The Lady Indians, having never made it to the big dance before last year’s title run, are going back for the second straight year. Allie McConnelee got the upper hand in Friday’s pitchers duel at Halls, and the Tribe clinched another trip to the Class 4A state tournament with a 3-0 victory.
Whatever music was on McConnelee’s pregame playlist must have worked. The junior Austin Peay commit pitched a five-hit shutout, walking just two and striking out seven in the biggest start of her career to date.
“I was going through the season saying we were going to defend our state championship,†McConnelee said. “In my mind, I was defending it with my whole life.
The whole day I listened to music, prepared myself mentally for this. I think I did pretty well guarding it with my life.â€
Hard to doubt that. She also went 2-for-4 at the plate and drove in two runs to help her cause.
The Lady Indians (23-16) led 1-0 in the fifth inning when Laiken Hinson led off with a ground-ball single. Riley McMillan followed with a one-out double to put two runners in scoring position. After fouling off three straight pitches, McConnelee lined a base hit to left field and brought the runners home.
McConnelee, knowing she and fellow junior pitcher Phoenix Ahles had to replace state champion pitcher Julianne Tipton after she graduated and went to Arizona State, spent most of the offseason focusing on her velocity and mental strength.
“I knew trying to fill (Tipton’s) shoes was going to be hard mentally a little bit,†McConnelee admitted. “I think I persevered pretty well just going out by out with the help of Phoenix. I think we made a really good team.â€
Good enough to have another shot at the state championship.
CATCH THIS, MURFREESBORO
McMillan, another one of just three starters back from D-B’s 2024 squad alongside ETSU-bound Hailey Porter and McConnelee, got the Lady Indians on the board.
After hitting a one-out line drive to get on base and stealing second, the sophomore catcher reached third on McConnelee’s base hit. Evie Porter hit into a fielder’s choice, safely reaching first and allowing McMillan time to reach home, and the 1-0 lead last until the fifth.
“It’s just amazing because no one expected us to come this far, let alone go back to state,†said McMillan, whose family is no stranger to helping D-B win championships. “It’s been a long season, so we had ups and downs with it. We’ve been able to come together and pull through. We’re going back to state now. It just means a lot.â€
McMillan hit 2-for-4 and Hinson 2-for-3, with Evie Porter and Mary Kate Lively adding one single apiece.
HISTORY MADE AGAIN
As much history as Dobyns-Bennett’s 2024 state championship team made, this year’s Lady Indians made some of their own. After finishing runner-up in both the District 1-4A and Region 1-4A tournaments, the 2025 squad became D-B’s first to win a softball sectional on the road. D-B had been 0-4 all-time in sectionals, all away from home, prior to last year.
“How about that,†D-B coach Andy Hubbard said, while quick to credit assistant coaches Mike Sweeney, Kim Bailey and Cody Davenport. “I haven’t hit a ground ball this year. I had back surgery in the fall. They’ve carried the load at practice far as hitting ground balls and doing that kind of thing. I owe so much to them. They do such a great job.â€
Halls, which was seeking its 14th state tournament trip and second straight, ended the year 32-7-1. Chattanooga signee Emery Bales went the distance in the circle, striking out 10 and allowing seven hits with one walk. Brianna Smith doubled for one of the Lady Devils’ five hits.
UP NEXT
D-B opens the TSSAA Class 4A state tournament on Tuesday against Rossview at the Starplex in Murfreesboro. First pitch is set for 3 p.m. Eastern.
