Coffee County winners of District 8AAA postseason honors. Left to Right – Aerial Williams & Abby Morgan, All-District team; Holli Smithson – All-District Tournament team; Herb Horton – District 8AAA Coach of the year

Despite being outscored 11 to 3 in the 4^th quarter, despite missing two free throws in the final minute, in spite of not scoring in the last 5:43 of the game; the Lady Raider basketball team held off Franklin County for a 39 to 38 win in the District 8AAA consolation game.  The win gives Coffee County a 3^rd place finish in the district and sets them up for a region meeting with Stewarts Creek on Friday night in Smyrna.

“Never give up” is how coach Herb Horton described his team’s performance this season and an incredible defensive stand in Franklin County’s last possession proved this point.  Not having a foul to give and having lost sophomore sparkplug Abby Morgan to a knee injury moments earlier, the Lady Raiders knocked the ball from Franklin County’s hands.  The ensuing scrum on the floor saw senior Holli Smithson dive onto the floor to force a held ball as the clock counted down to 8 tenths of a second remaining.  The Rebelettes owned the possession arrow but not enough time to get an effective shot off as Coffee County held on for the win.

Holli Smithson led Coffee County in scoring with 9 points.  For her all around amazing performance, Smithson was named the Crazy Daisies player of the game and a member of the All-Tournament team.  Abby Morgan finished with 8 points as she was named to the All-District team.  Alliyah Williams finished with 7 points and Aerial Williams added 6 points as she also was named to the All-District team.  Additionally, Lady Raider head coach Herb Horton was named the District 8AAA Coach of the Year.

Coffee County now advances to the Region 4AAA Tournament hosted by Siegel.  The quarterfinal games will all be held at 7 PM on Friday at the sites of the higher seeds.  Coffee County will travel to Smyrna to take on Stewarts Creek in the opening round matchup.  The game will tip-off at 7 PM, Thunder Radio will begin live coverage with the Char-El Apartments and Home Rental pregame show at 6:50.

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2017 Dist 8AAA Basketball Tournament bracket (updated 2/20/17)

Dansby Swanson’s commemorative glove

When Braves shortstop Dansby Swanson takes the field this year, he’ll once again be able to look at his glove and proudly remember the times he spent with Dai-Jon Parker, a former Vanderbilt University basketball player who passed away two years ago.

Swanson received his new Wilson A2000 glove before the Braves staged their first full-squad workout on Saturday. The leather that will rest upon his left thumb is adorned with the words “All Dai”, a tribute to Parker, who was 22-years-old when he drowned after being involved in a tubing accident on an Indiana lake.
“It impacts a lot of people just because of the legacy he left behind,” Swanson said. “Just to be able to wear that every day and to keep him close to me is pretty cool.”
Swanson met Parker as they were playing high school basketball in metro Atlanta and developed a bond with him when they both matriculated to Vanderbilt. He proudly put “All Dai” on his glove last year, his first professional season, which was highlighted by his August promotion to the Major League level.
When Swanson joined the pro ranks, it was not difficult for him to continue using Wilson, which had supplied gloves to him and his Vanderbilt teammates. He recently made the switch from the A2K model, because the A2000 model is a little thinner.
“Just to think of the position I’m in to be blessed for someone to just give me a $400 glove,” Swanson said. “That’s pretty special.”
A Wilson representative was in Braves camp on Saturday to also provide gloves to Ender Inciarte, Johan Camargo, Lucas Sims, Luke Jackson and Mike Foltynewicz.
When Inciarte returned to his native Venezuela after the 2014 season, he carried a bag filled with gloves manufactured by at least four different companies. He intended to get a better feel for how these gloves differed, until this bag was stolen while he was on a cruise.
With Spring Training quickly approaching, Wilson quickly shipped Inciarte a glove and consequently gained a loyal relationship with the Braves’ Gold Glove Award-winning center fielder, who has never again debated about which glove he will use.
“Once I used that glove Wilson sent me, it felt so good that I didn’t think about using any other models,” Inciarte said. “That’s the glove I used when I won my Gold Glove [last year], so I won’t be using any other glove.”

The Nashville Sounds Baseball Club announced two fan clubs for the 2017 season today – Booster’s Kids Club presented by First Tennessee and the brand-new Silver Sounds Club to honor the team’s senior fans.

In partnership with the YMCA, Booster’s Kids Club is for all children ages 12 and under. A $20 membership includes a club t-shirt, two general admission tickets to any three Sunday games, 10 Fun Zone vouchers, a piggy bank from First Tennessee and a 10% discount at the Sounds Pro Shop.

The Silver Sounds Club is for fans ages 55 and wiser. A $20 membership includes a club t-shirt, official membership card, two Select section tickets to three games Sunday-Wednesday and a 10% discount at the Sounds Pro Shop.

To order a membership for Booster’s Kids Club or the Silver Sounds Club, call 615-690-HITS, e-mail tickets@nashvillesounds.com, or place an online order at www.nashvillesounds.com. All shirts and membership items will be available by pickup or standard shipping on March 1.

The Sounds begin the season on Thursday, April 6 with a five-game series on the road against their American Southern Division rival, the Round Rock Express.

The 2017 season will be the Sounds’ 40th in franchise history and their third as the Oakland Athletics’ top affiliate. Opening Day is scheduled for Tuesday, April 11 as the Sounds host the Oklahoma City Dodgers at 6:35 p.m. at First Tennessee Park. Season ticket memberships are available now by calling (615) 690-4487 or by visiting www.nashvillesounds.com.