JOHNSON CITY — The scoreless innings didn’t come right away for Providence Academy sophomore pitcher Nash Martinez. But senior catcher Tine Bowman knew they would if Martinez kept at it.
He was right. Martinez settled in and held The King’s Academy hitless for three straight innings, helping Providence Academy win 10-5 in Monday’s Division II-A East Region tournament game.
The Knights (33-4-1) advanced to take on Grace Christian in Tuesday’s semifinal round at Lakeway Christian Academy.
Chelton Jones’ two-run homer in the second inning put TKA ahead 4-3 after Providence Academy had jumped out to a 3-0 lead. Martinez responded by striking out the next three batters he faced. In five innings pitched, Martinez struck out seven and didn’t allow any of the six hits against him after Jones went yard.
“There wasn’t a time where Nash was getting barreled consistently; the defense let him down and that stuff,†Bowman said. “I went out there and told him you can’t control this stuff. They’ve got unearned runs on the board, just keep doing what you’re doing and it’ll work out. Big maturity point for Nash there.â€
Charlie Walker pitched the last two frames and struck out four, the only blemish being Jones’ second home run of the game.
Bowman and Aidan Sproles, who had two RBIs and scored twice, collected two hits apiece.
Josh Owens tied the game in the fifth, leading off by sending a 2-2 offering over the centerfield fence for a solo shot. Bowman kept the momentum going with his ensuing line-drive double to right, scoring on Grant Gentry’s base hit. Sproles singled Gentry home, before scoring himself when Ryan Kasting flew out to center.
“I’ve hit behind Josh all year. He makes it really easy for me,†Bowman said. “One of the best players in the nation by far. I just try to keep the train rolling behind him.â€
After Cole Blanton scored on Matti’s sixth-inning fly-out, Owens and Port Conger each scored on a wild pitch for a 10-4 advantage.
Rinaldo Matti and Sproles both had RBI singles in the first inning, the latter scoring on a passed ball for a 3-0 lead in the first. TKA got two runs back in the bottom half, the second coming on Ben Flanegin’s RBI hit. TKA finished the season 13-20 overall.
BOYS SOCCER
Gate City 10, Ridgeview 0
CLINTWOOD — Walker Hillman and Caden Banks both scored twice to lead Gate City’s balanced effort, as the Blue Devils improved to 8-0-1 in district play.
Garrett McLain and Carter Derting both scored one goal and assisted another with Malaki Kern, Elijah McMurray, Kooper Mullins and Jerod Brown-Carter all finding the back of the net once. Carson Stephens led Gate City in assists with two, and Mason Baker had one. Judd Kegley made two saves in the clean sheet.
District 1-AA
Unicoi County 5, Sullivan East 0
ELIZABETHTON — Keilet Rodriguez scored twice to help the Blue Devils stay alive in Monday’s District 1-AA play-in match. Jose Lopez, Isaac Kite and Victor Luquin had the Blue Devils’ other goals.
Ezekiel Campbell earned the clean sheet as well as his 100th save of the 2025 season, making three stops.
Unicoi County travels to David Crockett on Tuesday.
District 1-A
University High 3, Cumberland Gap 1
JOHNSON CITY — George Holt found the back of the net twice to keep his senior season alive, as UH led 2-0 at the half before trading goals in the final 40 minutes.
Cooper Booth scored the Buccaneers’ other goal, and Daniel Rojas dished out two assists. Peter Reeves and AJ Campbell both made two saves in goal.
University High travels to Gatlinburg-Pittman for Tuesday’s district semifinals.
BASEBALL
Abingdon 14, Gate City 5
GATE CITY — Gage Crabtree’s three-run bomb capped Abingdon’s offensive output in the seventh inning. He, Elijah Parks (double), Jett Humphreys, Judge Dillow and Landon Turman all had two hits for the Falcons. Parks got the win in relief, striking out two over 2 1/3 innings.
Eli Minor went 2-for-3 to lead Gate City. He and Hayden Wilson both had a hit with an RBI and a run scored.
SOFTBALL
District 2-3A
Volunteer 3, Claiborne 0
GREENEVILLE — Claiborne put up a fight, but Addyson Fisher made sure it didn’t put up any runs. Fisher struck out 15 in her two-hit shutout.
The game remained scoreless until the bottom of the fifth, when Courtney Bellamy led off with a solo blast to center. Jenna Thomas and Bellamy both had RBI singles in the sixth. Zetta Smith, Bryleigh Salyer, Bellamy and Emersyn Templeton had two hits apiece for Volunteer.
The Lady Falcons face Grainger on Tuesday in the district semifinals.
Grainger 12, Greeneville 2
Down 2-0 after five innings, Grainger scored six runs in both the sixth and seventh frames for a stunning comeback triumph.
Jaylee Hayes tied the game with her two-run shot. Kaylee Sturgill went 3-for-4 with a double and three RBIs. McKenna Kee, Destanee Davis and Allie Trent (triple) had two hits each with Davis striking out two in her eight-hit win.
Kaley Garland hit a solo home run for Greeneville. She, Baylee Ramsey and Kyla Jobe all had two hits.
District 1-2A
West Greene 9, Johnson County 5
MOSHEIM — Morgan Brown doubled twice and hit 3-for-3, helping the Lady Buffaloes advance to the district semifinals where they’ll visit No. 1 seed South Greene.
Hayley Arnold (double, 2 RBIs, 3 runs) and Abby Cluesman (2 RBIs) both had two hits for West Greene. Brown struck out two and scattered seven hits over 6 1/3 innings for the win.
Ivy Lakatos went 2-for-4 with a double and two RBIs for the Lady Longhorns. Emma Eller singled and batted in two runs of her own. But Johnson County fell behind 9-1 after six innings before closing the gap in the seventh.
Happy Valley visits Hampton in a rescheduled game on Tuesday, the winner traveling to Chuckey-Doak for Wednesday’s semifinal round.
District 1-1A
Cloudland 5, Unaka 4
BAILEYTON — Cloudland fell behind 3-0 in the third inning before fighting back, pulling even in the fourth on a walk and a one-out error. Abriella Jones began a two-out rally in the fifth with her single. Jayla Harper broke the 3-3 deadlock when she followed with an RBI double, and Harper scored on Savannah McCoury’s base hit to left. Jones, Harper and McCoury all had two hits with Regan Blair and Layken Blair each adding a double.
Reagan Turbyfill went the distance to get the win, striking out 10 and scattering six hits.
Unaka got RBI hits from Kacie Bare and Mollie Buckles, while Katlyn Dugger hit 2-for-3 and scored three runs and Kimberly Proffitt doubled.
The Lady Highlanders meet North Greene in Tuesday’s semifinals.
North Greene 6, University High 0
Hannah Brooks struck out 13 and scattered five hits in her complete-game win, walking just one for North Greene.
Kinlea Eastep hit 3-for-4 with a triple and two runs scored from her leadoff spot. Josie Graham (double) went 2-for-3, and Matti Phillips clubbed a two-run bomb in the fifth for a 3-0 lead.
Reece Williams (double) and Emma Hall both went 2-for-3 to lead the Lady Buccaneers.
GIRLS SOCCER
Gate City 7, Ridgeview 0
CLINTWOOD — Aubrey Smith completed a hat trick as the Lady Blue Devils reached the 10-win mark. Brooke Stokes, Madison Tipton and Allie Sexton each scored one goal and assisted another. Avery Elam accounted for Gate City’s other goal, with Carys Bolling dishing out two assists.
Erin Hensley made three saves in the clean sheet.
