Eagleton Beats Pigeon Forge in First-Ever High School Game at Covenant Health Park

The Royals handed the previously undefeated Tigers their first loss of the season in a close 7-6 matchup.

Apr. 14, 2026 at 1:05am

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A fractured, cubist-style painting depicting the high school baseball game between Eagleton and Pigeon Forge, with sharp geometric shapes and planes of color representing the players, field, and stadium environment.The first-ever high school baseball game at Covenant Health Park showcased the competitive spirit and young talent of the Eagleton Royals and Pigeon Forge Tigers.Knoxville Today

For the first time, Covenant Health Park in Knoxville, Tennessee hosted a high school baseball game between the Eagleton Royals and the Pigeon Forge Tigers. The Royals, a fourth-year program, defeated the previously unbeaten Tigers 7-6 in a back-and-forth battle between the two region rivals. Eagleton is now 14-6 on the season, while Pigeon Forge suffered its first loss and sits at 21-1.

Why it matters

This game marked a milestone for high school sports in the Knoxville area, with Covenant Health Park, normally home to the Smokies minor league team, hosting its first-ever prep contest. The matchup between the two undefeated region foes also had major implications for the divisional standings.

The details

Eagleton, a team with five freshmen in the starting lineup at one point, was able to hand Pigeon Forge its first loss of the season in the close 7-6 game. The Royals' head coach Travis Hart noted that while his team has played a tough schedule, the experience of playing in a professional ballpark will be something his young squad will never forget.

  • The game took place on April 14, 2026.
  • The two teams will meet again the following night at Pigeon Forge High School.

The players

Travis Hart

The head coach of the Eagleton Royals baseball team.

Eagleton Royals

The high school baseball team from Eagleton, Tennessee that defeated the previously unbeaten Pigeon Forge Tigers 7-6.

Pigeon Forge Tigers

The high school baseball team from Pigeon Forge, Tennessee that entered the game with a perfect 21-0 record before suffering its first loss to Eagleton.

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What they’re saying

“We've played a pretty tough schedule. We aren't seasoned. At one point in time we had five freshman on the field. But it was two quality teams that are both well coached, and it was just a good high school game. It was fun.”

— Travis Hart, Head Coach, Eagleton Royals

“This was great. I mean to be the first high school game other than the Smokies being here, this is something our kids will never forget. We're a fourth year program and we're still building.”

— Travis Hart, Head Coach, Eagleton Royals

“We won, but this game doesn't mean anything if we don't come back tomorrow. If we want to get where they [Pigeon Forge] are, we need to learn how to put wins back-to-back.”

— Travis Hart, Head Coach, Eagleton Royals

What’s next

The two teams will meet again the following night at Pigeon Forge High School, providing the Royals an opportunity to build on their victory and the Tigers a chance to avenge their first loss of the season.

The takeaway

This historic high school baseball game at Covenant Health Park showcased the growth of the Eagleton Royals program and the competitive nature of their rivalry with the powerhouse Pigeon Forge Tigers. The experience of playing in a professional stadium will be a memorable one for the young Royals team as they continue to build towards challenging the region's elite.