MURFREESBORO — As players poured onto the field after the final out, Weston Willeford braced himself for the uncomfortable but sweet feeling of being the low man in a dogpile.
The Christ Presbyterian Academy senior pitcher earned it after throwing seven dominant innings in the Lions’ 6-0 win over Brentwood Academy in the Division II-AA TSSAA baseball state championship game on May 21 at MTSU’s Reese Smith Jr. Baseball Field.
“I’m just so thrilled to be able to end it like that,” Willeford said. “Winning our last game is awesome and winning the state championship is great. But being able to dogpile with my friends, having Eli (Dickey) tackle me. That’s what I’ll remember.”
CPA (35-6-1) ended the year on a 24-game win streak with its seventh win against Brentwood Academy (29-13) and erased the painful feeling from last season’s state runner-up finish. In 2025, the Lions needed just one win to capture the title and lost twice to Lipscomb Academy.
This year’s team took control of its destiny. After a 3-2 loss to Father Ryan on March 30, the Lions decided not to lose again.
CPA coach Larry Nesbitt sensed something special about this group before its first game, he said, not knowing if that meant a state title was in store, or if maybe the Lions were headed for a national ranking.
They might be worthy of both after surging to the program’s third title.
“I’ve played a few nationally ranked teams,” Nesbitt said, “and I’d put these guys up there.”
Willeford allowed just three hits and struck out six batters while walking two. Sophomore first baseman Wright Martin went 4-for-4 with two doubles and two RBIs and three runs.
CPA scored runs in five of the six innings it went to the plate.
“Compared to last year, this is such a good feeling,” Martin said. “At the end of the game, in our circle, we were talking about the different emotions. We were in that same exact dugout, same circle last year and it was tears shed. This year it was just tons of joy.”
CPA’s pitching staff got a jolt in the offseason when Vanderbilt signee and left-hander Bo Holloway transferred from Nolensville. Holloway was 10-0, earning the win over Baylor earlier in the week.
Holloway wanted to erase the feeling he had from what he’s called a subpar year for him in 2025. His new teammates were motivated by the bitter result against Lipscomb Academy.
Those things together helped create a sense of urgency.
“It’s a whirlwind of emotions. This is the first time I’ve shed a tear in a long time,” Holloway said. “Getting to do this with my brothers and the coaches I love, it’s just such a blessing. There’s no explaining the joy I have right now.”
Tyler Palmateer covers high school sports for The Tennessean. Have a story idea for Tyler? Reach him at tpalmateer@tennessean.com and on the X platform,@tpalmateer83.
He also contributes to The Tennessean’s high school sports newsletter, The Bootleg.Subscribe to The Bootleg here.
This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: CPA defeats Brentwood Academy for DII-AA TSSAA baseball state title