CLARKSVILLE, TN (CLARKSVILLE NOW) – In the final day of the District 13-4A softball tournament on Thursday, the Kirkwood Cobras defeated the Rossview Hawks to avoid elimination in game one, before Clarksville High defeated the Cobras for their first district title in three years. Meanwhile, Wildcat sophomore Kenzie White broke the program record for single-season home runs with 20. Let’s recap the action.

Kirkwood advances, ending Rossview’s season

Baseball player in pinstriped uniform and helmet running on a dirt field during a game.
Four female softball players in pinstripe uniforms stand with their backs to the camera, arms linked around each other in the infield.
Female softball player in a pinstriped uniform fields a ball mid‑throw on a dirt infield, with a white base nearby and ads in the outfield backdrop.
Softball pitcher in a pinstriped uniform throws from the mound with the ball raised high in her right hand.
Female softball pitcher in black and red uniform mid-pitch on the mound, ball raised ready to throw, with a teammate in the background.
Young female softball player in a white pinstripe uniform stands on a base, throwing a glove-ward signal during a game with a scoreboard and field signs in the background.
Runner on a base wearing a white pinstriped uniform and navy helmet smiles at the camera while teammates in black and red uniforms stand nearby on a softball field.
Female softball player in a black jersey and red pants stands on a base, ready to run, with helmet on and dirt infield visible behind her.
Softball coach speaks animatedly to a huddle of female players in pinstriped uniforms on the field, celebrating a moment together.",
Cougars softball players celebrate a run on the dirt infield, center player #9 with arms raised and glove open as teammates cheer nearby

The Kirkwood/Rossview game was a pitcher’s duel early, with both teams loading the bases in the first inning but unable to plate a run. In the bottom of the third, with a Jayda Rhodes 2 RBI double and a few Hawk errors, the Cobras exploded for four runs in the third, and took off from there. Kaylee Carnall, Sophia Lucas, and Illiana Conley all batted in runs to extend their lead to 9-1, and Kiara Conley closed out the complete game in the circle for a big win that sent Kirkwood to the district title.

“We did what we had to do; we knew that we couldn’t play anymore if we didn’t handle business,” said the Cobra’s head coach, KJ Storz. “We came in locked in, and our energy was great from first pitch to last pitch. Kiara is a stud, diving for balls, giving us wholehearted effort; she gave us all she had today.”

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Rossview, coming off a state tournament run last year, has its season come to a close in the district semifinals.

“We came out flat, it was the end of our road, that’s how the year turned out,” said Hawks head coach Travis Gilette. “I’ll remember what these girls did for this program. They wanted to be Lady Hawks. These girls fought all year, and I’m going to miss this team.”

Clarksville earns district title with win over Kirkwood

Female softball pitcher in purple and black throwing a pitch from the mound, ball in the air, glove ready next to her
Female softball pitcher in a black jersey and purple pants winds up to throw on a dirt field with teammates and spectators in the background.
Softball player in purple raises arms in celebration at home plate as a teammate in a white pinstriped uniform watches nearby.
Female softball player in a black and purple uniform sprints on the dirt toward first base, wearing a helmet and gloves.
Female softball player in a black and purple Wildcats uniform, helmet, running on the bases during a game.
A women's softball team in purple and black uniforms celebrates, hugging and cheering on the infield dirt at night.
Man wearing a purple Clarksville Wildcats shirt and dark cap stands on a baseball field at night, smiling slightly.
Softball team Cobras posing with a trophy on the field after a win.
Girls' softball team posing with trophy after winning, wearing black and purple uniforms on a dirt field formation.
Girls' softball team in purple uniforms celebrate a championship, raising their arms and holding a plaque on the field.

The Wildcats are a young squad, with no seniors on their roster, so this was the first district title game that any of these girls had played in. It didn’t look like that on Thursday night, as the Wildcats were in control from start to finish. Maggie Smith highlighted the Wildcats offense with 4 RBIs, including an inside-the-park home run to get the scoring started in the bottom of the third. In the circle, Maddi white was doing her normal thing, striking out 13 Cobra batters and allowing only one run.

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And of course, a historic two-run blast from Kenzie White (that may still be flying), that broke the CHS single-season program record for home runs with 20.

“It’s pretty special to me,” said White. “I didn’t come into this year thinking I would come close to that number. It’s great to see all of the work pay off. I want to keep doing what I’m doing and not overcomplicate it, and I know that I have teammates that have supported me and will continue to.”

White has had a season for the ages, earning All-District, All-Tournament, and District Player of the Year honors. She batted .545 as a freshman last season, the highest in Wildcat program history in over 25 years, to earn Clarksville Now’s offensive player of the year. As just a sophomore, she’s got the rest of this Cats postseason run and two more years to keep rewriting the record books.

“It’s amazing to see her do what she does,” said Wildcats head coach Brian Rush. “Her average is over .680 at this point. As the year went on, as she realized it was in reach, she worked really hard for it, and I could not be more proud of her.”

What’s next for local softball

When the final out was recorded, the Wildcats raised a gold plaque for the first time since 2023. The road doesn’t end here, as Kirkwood will travel to Henry County, while Clarksville will host Dickson on Monday night in Region 7-4A semifinals with both of their seasons on the line.

“I’m happy for these girls; they’ve worked hard and earned this,” said Wildcats head coach Brian Rush. “These girls have really come together and started to play hard for each other. We’ll celebrate tonight, but tomorrow we’ll go to work. Both of those teams in the region are great, and I’m excited for a great ballgame on Monday.”

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