History accomplished. For the first time ever, a Cloudland spring sport has punched a ticket to Murfreesboro.
A determined Lady ‘Landers squad captured a 5-4 victory over Oliver Springs on Saturday evening in the Class A Sectionals to punch a ticket to the 2026 TSSAA Spring Fling. Cloudland is set to open the state tournament on Tuesday at 4p CT.
It is the first time for the Lady ‘Landers softball program.
“It is big — the girls had made a big goal this year to try and get down the road and be the first team from Cloudland to get to the state tournament,” Cloudland head coach Matt Birchfield said. “We had a hard-fought battle today. Kind of a tough game all day. We had some big plays out of kids to win in seven innings there and not letting them get back in it.”
Cloudland struck first in the top of the first inning as Savannah McCoury scored off a Zoe Gardner single. After a scoreless second inning, Oliver Springs was able to even things up in the third.
The Lady ‘Landers got things rolling in the fourth.
Peyton Preswood led the inning off with a solo homerun over the centerfield fence. Ayla Horney hit a double on the next at-bat, and Regan Blair reached base after being hit by a pitch. CHS loaded the bases with an Eowyn McCoury single.
Willow Bennett drew a two-out walk to allow Horney to cross home plate. CHS pushed the lead to 5-1 when Reagan Turbyfill hit a single to right field that allowed McCoury and Blair to score.
“Peyton comes in with a big at-bat, gets a home run, and then the kids just kind of fall right in there and get that big lead,” Birchfield said. “We got up 5-1 and needed that early. We left some baserunners on, had hoped to do a few more with them, but had a great inning right there to hold us on, and then we made plays when we had to.”
The Lady Bobcats got a run back in the bottom of the inning, but CHS ended the threat with a groundout.
After Oliver Springs added a run in the bottom of the fifth, Cloudland saw two runners reach base, but the Lady ‘Landers were unable to add to the lead.
Oliver Springs loaded the bases in the bottom of the sixth, but Turbyfill ended the threat with a three-pitch strikeout.
CHS once again was able to get two runners on base to open the seventh, but was unable to add to the lead.
In the home side of the seventh, Oliver Springs was able to get a run across and get the tying run on base. However, Cloudland ended the inning on a groundout, and the celebration commenced.
“The kids just never quit, but with this team, I knew that going in with great senior leadership – these six seniors are leaders,” Birchfield said. “There is no quit in these kids, and they wouldn’t let anybody quit, so that helps when you have great seniors.”
Turbyfill went 2-for-3 with two RBI, while also allowing just three earned runs in a complete game effort.
Gardner and Preswood each had one hit and an RBI, while S. McCoury, Khloe Johnson, E. McCoury, and Horney each had a hit. Bennett had an RBI.
Emmeline Patton, Aliya Tinker and Layla Acorn each had two hits apiece for Oliver Springs.
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Story and photos by Matt Laws/Carter County Sports