CLARKSVILLE, TN (CLARKSVILLE NOW) – It’s rare to have a youth baseball team grow up to play for top teams in the state. It’s even rarer to have them all play for top teams in the state in the same city. However, most members of this Clarksville Orioles 9U baseball team are set to represent the Clarksville area in the state tournament, even though they are now wearing different uniforms for three separate teams.
The Clarksville Orioles were comprised of players from Clarksville Academy such as Brennen Gibson, Colt Wallace and Garett Allen. Meanwhile, Rossview’s Aiden Smith was also on the team, as well as Clarksville High’s Porter Murff, Cooper Nebben, Kayden Pledger, Dalton Byrd, Dawson Smith and Carter Hedrick.
The only member of the Orioles team not playing baseball this week is Northwest’s Ja’Quez Scott, but he’s busy tearing it up on the hardwood, as he’s coming off a season where he averaged 15 points, 5 rebounds and 5 assists per game for the Vikings basketball team.
The Clarksville Orioles were coached by Matt Wallace at the time, and from a young age, he saw the potential in these young kids, on and off the diamond.
“From early on, there was something different about this group,” Wallace said. “It wasn’t just the talent, and they had a lot of it, but it was the chemistry, the heart, and the way they pushed each other to get better every day. They loved the competition and loved to fight back when adversity came their way. They played for each other, not just themselves. I know it sounds crazy when you’re talking about 9, 10, 11 and 12 years old, but you could see they loved the game, but more importantly, they respected it. That’s what made them special.”
‘You remember where you started’
Starting with the three Clarksville Academy athletes who have all made significant impacts on their squad. Allen has been a dominant pitcher for the Cougars throughout the 2025 season, while Wallace and Gibson have consistently made plays in the field and in the batters box.
Gibson told Clarksville Now that his connection with his old teammates has never wavered, despite donning different hats.
“It’s been fun watching them grow and progress,” said Gibson. “You remember where you started, and there is a connection that doesn’t go away just because you are on different teams. It’s been really special.”
Clarksville Academy will return to action this week in the opening round of the 2025 Division-II Class A TSSAA Baseball State Championship. They will face Knoxville Grace on Tuesday, May 20, at 6:30 p.m.
‘We all have a chance to win something’
The lone representative from Rossview, right-handed pitcher Aiden Smith, has been a crucial piece in the Hawks’ run to Murfreesboro. Despite the Warfield rivalry between him and a few former teammates turned Wildcats, Smith is happy that his guys are playing along with him this week.
“It’s great to see such great teams and talent come out of the city of Clarksville,” said Smith. “We all have a chance to win something, and that’s special for Clarksville. That’s something everyone in the state would love to have.”
Lastly, it’s time for the Clarksville O’s who went on to play for CHS. All six have made significant impacts on the squad, whether that’s at the plate or on the mound. District 13-4A pitcher of the year, Porter Murff, told Clarksville Now he realized how unique of a situation it is to have all his old buddies playing for a title this week.
‘The goal for all of us is to bring a state championship home’
“We have all been around each other playing with and against each other since we were 8 years old,” Murff said. “So now, all of us getting the opportunity to go win a state championship is special. The Clarksville High and Rossview series is always a really good one, and the past couple of years, we have had good games against Clarksville Academy, too. The goal for all of us is to bring a state championship home, but for all of us to be able to go out and compete for our respective schools and be able to have the opportunity to do it is special.”
A youth baseball team of 11 kids, one of whom is a star on the basketball court, but the other ten all have shots at a state title playing baseball all these years later. The Hollywood ending is yet to be determined, but regardless, these ten and their respective teams have made Clarksville proud.
“Seeing how they’ve developed over the years, faced adversity, and matured into leaders on and off the field makes me proud to be just a small part of their journey,” said Wallace. “I still see flashes of those times when they were little, and just out there having fun, and now they are playing for high school state titles. I know the Clarksville High, Rossview and Clarksville Academy communities are very proud of their teams, but this is a testament to Clarksville baseball in general.”
What’s next
Clarksville High and Rossview High will now compete in the same bracket for the 2025 Class 4A TSSAA Baseball State Championship.
With both teams being on opposite sides of the bracket, there is a chance they will play yet another game against one another. But for the first round, Clarksville High will take on Oak Ridge on Tuesday, May 20, at 6:30 p.m.
Rossview High will face Siegel High School also on Tuesday, May 20, at 6:30 p.m.
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