The districts do not change much for Sweetwater athletics this spring, but there is notable movement across the three sports.
The Wildcats have been one of the more consistent programs in advancing teams out of the district tournaments across multiple sports and they hope to continue that tradition.
District 3-2A Baseball: Despite returning from a Class 2A semifinalist run last spring, Wildcat baseball is not the clear front-runner in the district. McMinn Central — which had their season end in the Class 2A sectional round at the hands of eventual champions Union County — is a heavy contender.
“If you think about the league, you first think about McMinn Central. They were so close last year and have a real good team,” Sweetwater coach Travis Watson said. “They have enough pitching last year and this year they are just as good.”
Central features Campbell commit Tyler Oaks and junior Zak Derrick — last season’s District co-pitchers of the year. The Chargers have also picked up a transfer from Meigs County and two sophomores that Watson has noted.
“Central has depth on the mound. They do a real good job and will play you to the end,” Watson said.
Meigs County returns to the district after winning 13 games last season. The Tigers have two young pitchers that Watson said can keep teams off-balance.
Walker Malone has been promoted to the head coaching role after three seasons as an assistant in Decatur.
Another new coach will be Aaron Fielden in Kingston. The Yellowjackets held a lead over Sweetwater in an elimination game to start the postseason.
“They had a couple good young players last year that were on the mound,” Watson added.
As Loudon becomes the lone and significant departure of the league, Polk County comes back into the district after spending two seasons with the Chattanooga district.
The Wildcats from Benton are not the only program that returns 2023 TSWA All-State selections. Sweetwater’s Kai Correll and Blaine Watson share the moniker with Polk County’s Kolton Casson.
“Any time you have a guy that is good on the mound, he is going to keep you in games,” Watson said.
Heath Ware coached a hard-nosed Tellico team that beat Sweetwater last season in Sweetwater. The Bears have a pair of pitchers that can compete.
“Heath Ware does a really good job up there. You cannot leave them out because he coaches really hard and those kids buy in. They play hard,” Watson said. “He gets them believing.”
Because of the performances from Sweetwater and Central last season, District 3-2A has a lot of eyes on it — even with Loudon off to Class 3A.
Sweetwater finished third in the league with a 6-4 record and trailed in two 2023 District 3-2A elimination games.
“You sit and draw it up and it may be the best district in East Tennessee in Class 2A baseball. McMinn Central’s pitching staff could be as good as anyone in East Tennessee in 2A baseball,” Watson said. “You have to bring it every day, that is for sure.”
Region opponents include Bledsoe County, Brainerd, CSAS, Marion County, Sequatchie County and Tyner Academy.
District 3-2A Softball: The company in District 3-2A only slightly differs from last season, but the change is noticeable. Loudon is off to Class 3A while Polk County reenters the league.
“We have a tough district,” Sweetwater coach Sarah Davies said.
Sweetwater won two games in the league last year, both over Loudon, before losing to the same team in the first round of the postseason.
But the Lady Wildcats team this spring has more experience than it did last year.
“If we do the little things right, put the bat on the ball and move those runners, we are going to be in some ball games,” Davies added. “We are hopefully going to put the runs across the plate, play solid defense and hopefully squeak out some of these wins people are not expecting us to squeak out.
“Because of our showing last year, people are going to overlook us. We are going to surprise a lot of people.”
However, the league remains top-heavy. Kingston returns Sailor Presley, who was named to the TWSA All-State team as a freshman.
Also returning to the league is Meigs County senior Lainey Fitzgerald, an arm known all over the region and another TWSA All-State selection.
“She is always going to be good and give it everything she’s got. She is a force and they have the bats to back it up,” Davies said.
Looking to compete at the top of the league will be Tellico. The Lady Bears return plenty of names defensively and in the lineup.
McMinn Central improved greatly last season, even downing Sweetwater in the regular season. The Chargerettes will look to continue the momentum in the program.
Polk County advanced into the Region 2-2A tournament out of District 4-2A.
Kingston represented District 3-2A in the Class 2A state tournament while Meigs County reached the Class 2A sectional.
District 3-A Soccer: Sweetwater crossed over into a new district this season, but the competition is not too different. The Wildcats go from District 4-A to District 3-A, a move that will be noticeable in the region tournament if the program advances.
“I am expecting to be competitive, especially with the schools in the bigger cities where some kids play all year round,” Sweetwater coach Ricardo Torres said. “I am expecting to be competitive.”
The district crown could be wide open as Loudon moves into Class AA. Falling into the league from Class A is McMinn Central.
The district does retain Polk County and Tellico Plains — which will be fielding a full team this season.
Brainerd, Chattanooga School for the Liberal Arts and Tyner Academy all factor into the league out of Chattanooga.
The adjacent district brings a familiar face in Bledsoe County while also featuring CSAS, Chattanooga Prep, Lookout Valley, Marion County, Sale Creek and Sequatchie County.
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