Spring season wrapup: Clarksville's 5 storylines, best moment and who made their mark in 2022
The high school athletic season closed last weekend with the conclusion of Spring Fling in Murfreesboro.
A Clarksville area individual captured a state championship in track and field while a softball team advanced to the state title game.
Here is a spring season wrapup.
5 biggest storylines
Rossview Hawks. Parker Holman's baseball team prided itself on scoring all season and had scored in double digits six of their past eight games going into its Class 4A sectional against Houston on May 20. But the Mustangs held Rossview to one run, earning the state tournament spot before eventually losing the title to Farragut.
Cougars near miss. Although Goodpasture was a thorn in Clarksville Academy baseball's side in District 4, the Cougars still had a chance to make the Division II-A final four in Murfreesboro. However, two quarterfinal losses to Northpoint Christian (in Mississippi) prevented that.
CHS can't repeat. No baseball team in Montgomery County history has made back-to-back state tournament appearances. Clarksville had a shot going into 2022 after making the Class 3A field in 2021. But its 1-0 loss to Henry County in the region semifinal spoiled that.
Track rivalry. For the first time in more than a decade, the city was treated to a sprint rivalry that brought out the fans for weekend meets in Clarksville. Kenwood's Keontay Showell and West Creek's Jayden Wiley were the city's best 100- and 200-meter sprinters.
Hawks soccer. Rossview's 2022 boys team may have been its best ever. It never lost a District 13-4A game while capturing the district tournament and Region 7 championships. Three of its top players scored a combined 64 goals. But RHS was dismantled by Houston, 5-0, in the AAA sectional.
Best moment
A title returns to Northeast. For the first time in eight years, Northeast High had itself an individual state champion in track and field.
Cierra Bowser captured the state championship in the girls Class AAA long jump with a title-cinching distance of 18 feet, 4¾ inches, beating out Hardin Valley's Brooke Taylor and defending champ Imani Sharif of Rockvale.
Best coaching job
The elder statesman. It would be smart to hedge your bets on Clarksville softball coach Brian Rush, but maybe this honor goes to Montgomery County's longest tenured coach, Central baseball's Todd Dunn.
In his 37th season, Dunn guided Central to its first state baseball tournament since 2004 and the program's second trip ever. His team was the only one in Class 3A that had a record below .500, but that 7-4 win against Jackson South Side in the sectional ended Central's 18-year state tournament drought.
CHS SOFTBALL: 'Tears of joy:' CHS' best season brings state runner-up trophy
TODD DUNN: In his 37th year MCHS coach isn't slowing down
Spring surprise
Lady Wildcats. Nobody expected Clarksville softball to reach the state tournament, not after the departure of nine seniors that contributed to two 39-win campaigns in the past three seasons. But not only did CHS reach the 4A state tournament, it advanced to the state championship game. They eventually lost to Farragut, 4-0, but it was an unlikely postseason run for Rush and company.
Made their mark
Abby Chappell, Clarksville. Chappell finished five games in the state softball tournament going 5-for-13 with two home runs and six RBIs.
Kristen DeSantis, Rossview. DeSantis medaled, taking fifth place in the girls Class AAA pole vault after clearing a height of 10 feet.
D.J. Merriweather, Clarksville Academy. Merriweather led the city in batting average, hitting .584 for the Cougars.
Emberly Nichols, Clarksville. Nichols pitched a total of 23 innings with 40 strikeouts during Spring Fling.
Eric Owen, Montgomery Central. Owen went 3-for-7 in two games for Central during Spring Fling. Central lost to Covington and Tennessee to finish 0-2.
West Creek. The Coyotes' 4x200-meter relay team finished third in the Class AAA meet in a time of 1 minute, 28.65 seconds. The team included Wiley, Vashon Jackson, Kevin Hunter and Zayiere Blount.
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Reach sports writer George Robinson at grobinson@gannett.com or (931) 245-0747 and on Twitter @Cville_Sports.
This article originally appeared on Clarksville Leaf-Chronicle: Clarksville high school spring sports season wrapup for 2022
