District tournament play begins tonight for local softball teams. While the various tournaments vary slightly in format, all are designed to send two teams from each district on to play in their respective regional tournaments.

The District 8A softball tournament will be played at Crump Paris Park in Smith County while the District 9AAA tournament will play first round games at home sites of higher seeds, with action moving to Mt. Juliet High on Monday.

Mt. Juliet High opens play in the District 9AAA softball tournament today (Friday) with a 5 p.m. game against Hendersonville High. The Lady Bears stand 28-11-1 overall following Wednesday’s 6-0 home win over District 9AAA rival Gallatin High. The Mt. Juliet squad wrapped up 9AAA play 9-1 with the victory over the Lady Wave.

Mt. Juliet pushed across five runs in the bottom of the third inning to put the game on ice. Rachel Atnip and Brittney Graves each had two-run singles for Mt. Juliet.

On Tuesday, Mt. Juliet knocked off Riverdale High 4-2 in Murfreesboro as Lauren Woodard threw a four-hitter

Wilson Central hosts Portland --
Wilson Central High (31-13 overall) is scheduled to host Portland High Friday evening.

The Lady Wildcats wrapped up the regular season with a 3-1 victory over visiting Donelson Christian Academy. Morgan Powell (16-7) worked four innings, scattering four hits, to get the win. Ninth grader Hannah Bodenhorn finished up for the save with three innings of no-hit ball.

Trailing 1-0, Wilson Central scored a run in the bottom of the first inning when Ashley Eldridge led things off with a triple followed by Allie Bennett’s single.

Central tacked on two more in the bottom of the second when Powell led off with a double and was moved to third on a sacrifice bunt before scoring on Kelci Swafford’s ringing double.

Swafford’s courtesy runner scored on a nicely executed squeeze bunt by Carmen Ruby.

LHS visits Station Camp --
Lebanon High will be on the road tonight for a 6 p.m. first round game against Station Camp High. LHS closed out the regular season with a 12-2 victory over District 9AAA rival Hendersonville High Monday at Drake Creek Park.

Now 16-18-1, Lebanon scored eight times in the top of the third to put the game away.

8A tourney opener --
Watertown High will host Red Boiling Springs Friday in a District 8A tournament play-in game.

First pitch is set for 5:30 p.m. at Three Forks Park. Pregame ceremonies will honor Jamie Reed -- the team's only 12th-grader. The winner advances to 8A double-elimination tournament at Crump Paris Park in Smith County.

Tonight’s winner will play Monday at 7 p.m. vs. number-one seeded Friendship Christian School. The 5 p.m. game on Monday features Trousdale Co. vs. Gordonsville. Tournament finals are set for Thursday, May 10.

District 9AAA softball
first round games at higher seeds
Friday, May 4
Game 1
Gallatin High at Beech High
Game 2
Portland High at Wilson Central
Game 3
Hendersonville at Mt. Juliet High; 5 pm
Game 4
Lebanon High at Station Camp; 6 pm

Monday, May 7
all games at Mt. Juliet High
Loser G1 vs. Loser G2 at 5 pm
Loser G3 vs. Loser G4 at 7 pm

Tuesday, May 8
Winner G1 vs. Winner G2 at 5 pm
Winner G3 vs. Winner G4 at 7 pm