GRAY DEYOSports Writer

The Wildcats are one series away from heading back to the state tournament for the second year in a row. To achieve this, they will have to win a best-of-three set against Soddy Daisy High School starting this Thursday at home.

The team from Chattanooga has been known for their wrestling program the last couple of years, winning back-to-back state dual titles, but their success on the diamond has flown under the radar. Following a 2020-2021 season where they went 3-36, Soddy has won at least 20 games in three out of the last four seasons. This year, they have a record of 23-13-2 and finished first in their district. They have won eight of their last 11 games. During that stretch, they scored 10 or more runs five times and held opponents to three runs or less nine times. Like the Wildcats, they will be bringing an experienced squad to the matchup.

The Trojans have 10 seniors on their roster. All who were a part of last year’s Trojan team that finished the year with a 28-9 record.

A couple of Soddy players to keep an eye out for in this matchup are seniors Cooper Poe and Stephen Vickers. Poe was a standout in both pitching and hitting for the Trojans this year. Through nine listed appearances, he had a 1.09 ERA, and through 25 listed appearances, he batted .405. The pitcher only for the Trojans, Vickers, had an impressive ERA this season with a 2.14.

If the Wildcats can overcome these two players for Soddy and play the brand of baseball they have been playing most of this year, then a THS bus should be making its way to Murfreesboro in the near future.