CLARKSVILLE, TN (CLARKSVILLE NOW) – The Northeast Eagles, Rossview Hawks, Kirkwood Cobras and Clarksville Wildcats all met up at Clarksville High School for the opening round of the District 13-4A softball tournament on Thursday. Rossview and Clarksville stayed in the winners’ bracket with a win, while Northeast and Kirkwood fell to the losers’ bracket with a loss. 

Rossview upsets Kirkwood in Battle of Exit 8

Female softball player in navy uniform swinging a bat at a ball on dirt field, with spectators behind chain-link fence
Baseball player in navy and orange uniform stands on base, signaling with arms raised; teammate in red on right.
Softball pitcher in a red Rossville jersey mid-pitch on the mound as the bright ball flies toward home plate, with spectators behind a chain-link fence.
Female softball fielder in navy uniform dives toward a sliding baserunner to tag her out on a dirt infield.
Female softball pitcher in a navy uniform winds up on the dirt mound, wearing a protective face mask and orange socks.
Female baseball player in a red uniform swings a bat at a bright yellow ball, mid-swing, with spectators behind a brick wall and chain-link fence.
Softball player in a red Rossville uniform at first base with arms outstretched; teammate in navy stands nearby with a glove.
Blue and orange softball players cheer in the dugout, clapping and smiling during a game break.
Female baseball player in a navy Kirkwood uniform sprinting on the dirt infield during a game, wearing a helmet.
Female softball pitcher in a red Rosview jersey (#0) shouting on the mound during a game, glove in hand.

Rossview and Kirkwood were the first matchup of the day. Despite Kirkwood threatening to score in the first and second innings with runners on second and third and no outs, they couldn’t get any across. Rossview responded with a big three-run third, highlighted by Layla Clark, who both batted in a run with a single, then stole home. The Hawks again got one across in the top of the fifth on a Cobra error.

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The Cobras continued to get runners on base, but couldn’t seem to find home plate. That was mostly due to the pitching of freshman Olivia Quick, who allowed only eight hits in a seven-inning complete game and didn’t walk a single batter. Kaylee Carnall finally got the first Cobra run across in the bottom of the seventh on an RBI double, but the lead was too big to overcome. Rossview upset Kirkwood 6-2, and moves on to the district semifinals on Monday.

“I’m just upset it took us this long to play to our potential,” said Hawks head coach Travis Gillette. “We always seem to play our best ball at the right time, and I’m proud of our girls. Quick is a stud; she’s believing in herself, and the sky is the limit for her. With the young kids, I’m not gonna tell them Monday is important, just tell them to show up and enjoy playing ball with each other.

Clarksville runs away from Northeast

The Clarksville Wildcats knew how important it was to win their first postseason contest, and they wasted no time. The Wildcats scored eight runs in the first inning and 16 in the second to take a more than commanding lead, highlighted by Kenzie White tying the CHS single-season home run record with 19. On the other side, freshman pitcher Maddi White struck out eight of the nine batters she faced, with the ninth being a 1-3 ground out. Clarksville cruised to a 24-0 mercy rule win in three innings.

Now, the Wildcats and Hawks will meet on Monday, with the right to go to the district championship and a spot in the region tournament on the line. The last time these two teams met, Rossview upset the Wildcats on their home field.

“My girls came out ready and focused,” said Wildcats head coach Brian Rush. “Northeast is young, but they played hard. Maddi has been doing this all year long; she’s been able to hit her spots. A win Monday puts us in the region, and everyone wants that spot, so we can play another week.”

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