Cloudland softball state bound for first time

OLIVER SPRINGS — The Cloudland softball program is heading to Murfreesboro. The Lady 'Landers secured a spot in the 2026 TSSAA Spring Fling with a 5-4 road victory at Oliver Springs on Saturday evening. With the win, Cloudland advanced to the Class 1A State Tournament with play set to begin on Tuesday in Murfreesboro. "It is big — the girls had made a big goal this year to try and get down the road and be the first team from Cloudland to get to the state tournament," Cloudland head coach Matt Birchfield said. "We had a hard-fought battle today. Kind of a tough game all day. We had some big plays out of kids to win in seven innings there and not letting them get back in it." Cloudland used a big fourth inning to take control. With the game tied at 1-1 entering the fourth, the Lady 'Lander bats came alive. Peyton Preswood opened the inning with a lead-off solo home run over the center field fence to retake the lead for the Lady 'Landers. Cloudland loaded the bases before Willow Bennett drew a walk to plate Ayla Horney. Reagan Turbyfill capped the inning off with a single to right field that allowed Regan Blair and Eowyn McCoury to score that gave CHS a 5-1 lead. "Peyton comes in with a big at-bat, gets a home run, and then the kids just kind of fall right in there and get that big lead," Birchfield said. "We got up 5-1 and needed that early. We left some baserunners on, had hoped to do a few more with them, but had a great inning right there to hold us on, and then we made plays when we had to." Oliver Springs plated runs in the fifth, and threatened with the bases loaded in the bottom of the sixth. However, Turbyfill recorded a strikeout to keep the CHS lead intact. In the bottom of the seventh, the Lady Bobcats were able to get a run across and have the tying run on base. However, the Cloudland defense forced a groundout to set off the celebration. "We got up 5-1, and then had a big strikeout by Reagan in the sixth with bases loaded that was big, and then Willow made several plays at third for just major plays," Birchfield said. "We got bats when we needed them. The kids just never quit, but with this team, I knew that going in with great senior leadership - these six seniors are leaders, and there is no quit in these kids, and they wouldn't let anybody quit, so that helps when you have great seniors." Cloudland took a 1-0 lead in the first inning as Zoe Gardner hit a single that allowed Savannah McCoury to score. Turbyfill was 2-for-3 with two RBI at the plate. Gardner and Preswood had a hit and an RBI apiece. Bennett recorded an RBI.