David Crockett downs Elizabethton for first region title in 32 years

JONESBOROUGH — After falling in the region championship each of the last two seasons, the third time was the charm for the David Crockett Lady Pioneers on Wednesday evening. Crockett used early offense to propel itself to a 7-2 victory over Elizabethton, earning the school its first region championship since 1994. "I think, while we are very happy right now, there is an overwhelming sense of, 'the job's not done,'" Lady Pioneers head coach Alex Dulaney said. "The girls are ready. Yes, they are celebrating this victory. But they know that this next game is what really matters. I feel like they're locked in." David Crockett (30-14) made sure 2026 wasn't going to be like 2024 or 2025 by striking early. Leadoff batter Madelyn Dulaney just missed a first-inning home run by mere inches, rocketing a ball off of the top of the fence for a triple. Haley Corum didn't waste any time driving her in, doubling on the very next pitch to make it a 1-0 game. Bella Blanton hit an RBI groundout and Lexi Hawkins smoked a run-scoring double before the inning ended. "It really puts your pitcher at ease, typically, and the head coach as well," Dulaney said. "We came out with some really long balls and things looked really good. Then their pitcher settled in. I think there was a stretch where we popped up seven times in a row. That was frustrating. That was out of character for us." Elizabethton (23-14) pitcher Laci Gobble did find a rhythm after a shaky first inning, posting zeros in the run column in the next three frames. In the fifth, the Lady Cyclones looked to provide the sophomore with much-needed run support. After a strikeout to start the inning, Emilee Whitson singled and Gracie Shepard reached on a fielder's choice to put two runners on base, the second inning in a row where Betsy put two on with one out. However, Crockett's standout southpaw induced a flyout and a strikeout to end the inning, keeping Elizabethton off of the board. The Lady Pioneers made the missed opportunity hurt in the bottom half of the inning, posting another crooked number. All of their damage was done with two outs, as Lacey Whitaker drove in two with a ground ball to second base and Blanton hit an RBI single right after. One of the Lady Pioneers who scored in the frame was Lily Mango, the nine-hole hitter who went 2-for-3. "I love that kid," the Crockett skipper said. "Her confidence is growing. To have her as the lineup turns over, there to get big hits or put the ball in play somehow or get down a bunt. She's filling that spot really well." Elizabethton continued to battle late, though, as three straight batters reached in the sixth inning. One of those was Ava Hanson, who hit an RBI single to scratch across the visitors' first run. Shepard added a run-scoring hit in the inning, as well. They were the first two runs the Lady Cyclones had scored off of Dulaney in the circle in the fourth time she faced their lineup. She allowed nine hits and two walks while striking out nine. "She didn't love her performance but loved getting the win for her team," said the head coach and pitcher's father. "She had some things she wanted to work on. Very gutsy. When I would do my mound visits, she was locked in. She was confident. She knew what pitches she wanted to throw to what batters and she was able to execute it." Crockett tacked on an insurance run in the sixth on a Mango single. The victory allows the Lady Pioneers to host the sectional game in search of their first state tournament berth since 1992. Up Next David Crockett will play host to Gibbs on Saturday in the Class 3A Sectional round. Elizabethton will travel to Cocke County on Friday.