The CHS Volleyball huddles up on Wednesday at Eagleville(Photo provided)

The CHS volleyball team continued their preseason tune-up work as they traveled to Eagleville on Wednesday to compete in a preseason tournament. Coach Andrew Taylor called it a “very productive day.”  The team finished first in their pool with a 2 and 1 record.  A bad service game contributed to the lone blemish on the day.

In the first match, the Lady Raiders won the best 2 out of 3 match in straight sets 25 to 22 and 25 to 22 over the host Lady Eagles of Eagleville. In the second match, Lawrence County, who was a late replacement for Loretto, took advantage of 12 services errors to sweep Coffee County by a pair of 25 to 23 scores. In the final match, the Lady Raiders blasted Grundy County 25 to 16 and 25 to 5.

Coach Taylor was complimentary of the play of 3 of his seniors as Rachel Henley, Bailey Morgan and Kaylee Skipper were all called out for strong play in the opening day of the tournament. Coffee County will return to Eagleville on Thursday for 3 games as they will play at 9 AM, Noon and 3 PM.  The tournament concludes on Friday with a double elimination tournament bracket.

The 2015 CHS Lady Raider golfers with their 2nd place trophy from last year’s Lakewood preseason tournament. (L-R) Sophie Vinson, Savannah Quick & Teagan Perry (Photo provided)

The CHS Red Raider and Lady Raider golf teams will take part in a scrimmage tournament on Thursday as they travel to Tullahoma for the Lakewood Preseason Tournament. Last season, the Lady Raiders finished 2nd in the tournament led by Savannah Quick who shot a 2 over par 74. The Red Raiders came in 5th place with 3 of their top 4 golfers from last year’s tournament returning.
The tournament will begin at 9 AM at Tullahoma’s Lakewood Country Club. The CHS golf teams open their regular season on Tuesday, August 2nd when they travel to Cookeville. That match is set to start at 1 PM and the Cookeville Golf Club.

It was a good thing for Reds pitcher Anthony DeSclafani that Tucker Barnhart hit a home run in the sixth inning on Wednesday afternoon at Great American Ball Park. The two-run shot not only provided a lead, it allowed DeSclafani to pitch eight innings as the Reds took a 6-3 victory over the Braves and claimed two of three games in the series.

Braves starter Lucas Harrell took a 2-0 lead into the sixth inning when Cincinnati erupted for a four-run rally. With one out, Jose Peraza hit a two-run single to center field that scored Jay Bruce and Eugenio Suarez. Two batters later, Barnhart put the Reds ahead with a two-run homer to right field. Manager Bryan Price would have pinch-hit for DeSclafani, who was hitting ninth behind Barnhart, had they not taken the lead.
“I told [DeSclafani] the other day that he needs to pitch more, because I seem to drive in some runs when he pitches,” said Barnhart, who is batting .345 in his past 18 games. “[Harrell] threw me two sliders there before the heater. I was lucky to put a good swing on it. I feel really good at the plate right now. I’m just trying to keep it rolling.”
Harrell finished with four earned runs and seven hits over six innings, with three walks and three strikeouts.
“Wheels came off right there,” Braves manager Brian Snitker said. “He did a good job of keeping us in the ballgame for five innings. Obviously stayed with him too long.”
DeSclafani pitched eight innings for the second time this season and allowed two earned runs and eight hits, with no walks and three strikeouts. He is 5-0 with a 2.50 ERA in eight starts this season.
In the seventh, Joey Votto provided added insurance with his own two-run homer to right field against lefty reliever Ian Krol. The Braves made the gap less comfortable in the ninth, when Adonis Garcia led off with a first-pitch homer to right field against right-hander Ross Ohlendorf to make it a three-run game. But there would be no comeback, as the Reds won for the fourth time in their past six games.
In the sixth as Cincinnati trailed, 2-0, Bruce and Suarez started the inning with singles vs. Harrell. When Brandon Phillips flied out to right field, Bruce tagged up and went to third base, and Suarez alertly advanced to second base and easily beat a wide throw. That enabled Suarez to score on Peraza’s single on a close play at the plate that was reviewed.
“Suarez followed him and set the table for Peraza to line that two-run single that led us to Barney’s two-run homer and giving us a lead,” Price said. “So much of that was based on the fact the Geno tagged up and did a heads-up job on the bases. A lot of good things these first six games of the second half.”
Freeman goes deep: Freddie Freeman’s first-inning homer came off the bat at 102 mph and traveled 382 feet, according to Statcast™. The homer busted a 1-for-19 stretch for Freeman. After being held 0-for-11 against Colorado, Freeman came into Wednesday’s game 1-for-8 with four strikeouts against the Reds. He finished the game 1-for-4, striking out three times. Freeman’s jack was his first at Great American Ball Park. His 81 homerless plate appearances were the most he’s had at any park without going yard.
“This park’s a graveyard. Know what I mean?” Freeman said. “I’ve never in my career been swinging very well when I come into this park, and I was able to get one over there today.”
Votto’s homer in the seventh was his 16th of the season and second in three games. It also continued a very hot stretch for the first baseman. He has reached safely in 15 of his past 16 games (.565 on-base percentage) and he’s hit safely in all six games since the All-Star break, while batting .550 (11-for-20).
Harrell cruised through his first five innings, allowing three hits and just two men into scoring position. But in the sixth, he looked more like he did in his previous start, allowing four hits and four runs in the frame. The overall outing was better than his 3 2/3-inning, seven-run (five earned) performance against Colorado, but still a long way away from his first two starts, in which he had a 1.32 ERA over 13 2/3 innings.
The Braves travel to Colorado on Thursday to face the Rockies for the second time in their past three series. Mike Foltynewicz takes the mound in the 7:40 p.m. CT start. In his past outing, also against the Rockies, Foltynewicz allowed three runs in seven-plus innings and took a no-decision.  Thunder Radio will bring you the broadcast, as part of the Atlanta Braves Radio Network, beginning at 6:30 PM.

Left-hander Ross Detwiler tossed five strong innings in relief to help guide the Nashville Sounds to a 7-5 win over the Albuquerque Isotopes Wednesday night at Isotopes Park.
Fresh off being acquired in a trade with the Cleveland Indians, Detwiler limited the ‘Topes to one run in his five frames after starter Jesse Hahn went one inning in a planned shortened start.
When he entered in the second, the game was even at 0-0 but it didn’t stay that way for long. The first batter Detwiler faced – Ben Paulsen – clubbed a solo homer to right field to give Albuquerque (43-54) a 1-0 lead.
He settled in after the blast and retired 15 of the next 17 batters he faced before turning it over to J.B. Wendelken in the seventh.
By then the Sounds (53-45) had built a 4-1 lead thanks to a big fourth inning. The frame started when Max Muncy drew a walk against Albuquerque starter Jeff Hoffman.
Renato Nunez singled and Joey Wendle bounced into a fielder’s choice to put runners at the corners with one out. Matt Olson drew a walk to load the bases for Colin Walsh who leveled the game with a sacrifice fly.
The red-hot Bruce Maxwell gave the Sounds the lead for good when he sent a single up the middle scoring Wendle. It extended the hitting streak to eight games for Maxwell who finished the night 2-for-4 with a pair of runs scored and an RBI.
The offense kept churning as Billy Burns and Jaycob Brugman followed Maxwell with run-scoring singles of their own. Brugman’s infield knock made it a 4-1 game.
Detwiler went on cruise control before handing over to Wendelken who tossed a scoreless seventh and eighth inning. He got an assist from Brugman who threw out Tim Smalling at the plate trying to score from second on a base hit by Rafael Ynoa.
For good measure, Nashville plated three more runs in the ninth. Maxwell doubled and moved to third on a wild pitch before being sent home on Burns’ third hit of the night. Chad Pinder pitched in with a run-scoring double and Max Muncy made it 7-1 with a sacrifice fly.
Ryan Brasiser started the bottom of the ninth but allowed four runs on three hits and a pair of walks before being lifted. Eduard Santos relieved him and got Ynoa to bounce into a fielder’s choice to end it.
The series finale is scheduled for Thursday afternoon at Isotopes Park. Right-hander Zach Neal (7-2, 3.21) starts for the Sounds against right-hander Eddie Butler (4-0, 4.64). First pitch is scheduled for 1:05 p.m. CST.
The 2016 season is the Sounds’ 19th year in the Pacific Coast League and their second as the Oakland Athletics’ top affiliate. Season ticket memberships are available now by calling (615) 690-4487 or by visiting www.nashvillesounds.com.

The first-place Nashville Sounds begin an eight-game homestand on Friday, July 22 when they welcome the Triple-A affiliate of the Kansas City Royals – the Omaha Storm Chasers – to First Tennessee Park.

Following the set against Omaha, the Sounds host the Triple-A affiliate of the Milwaukee Brewers – the Colorado Springs Sky Sox – for four games from July 26-29.

Below is a preview for each game of the homestand:

Friday, July 22 vs. Omaha – 7:05 p.m.

• Gates open at 6:00 p.m.
• FOX17 post-game fireworks presented by Koorsen Fire & Security.

 Saturday, July 23 vs. Omaha – 7:05 p.m.

• Gates open at 6:00 p.m.
• Pirates and Princesses Theme Night – Join the Sounds in dressing up in your favorite pirate or princess costume. Meet and greet with Princess throughout the game and participate with a face painter with special pirate and princess designs.
• Boy Scout Night – The Sounds and the Middle Tennessee Boy Scout Council host Boy Scout Night at First Tennessee Park. The night features a pre-game parade, post-game sleepover on the field and breakfast in the morning.

Sunday, July 24 vs. Omaha – 6:35 p.m.

• Gates open at 5:30 p.m.
• Tiny Tunes Kids Club Day presented by First Tennessee.
• Sounds OYO Mini-figure Giveaway – The first 2,000 fans in attendance receive a collectible Sounds OYO mini-figure.
• Pre-game autograph session with select Sounds players 5:45-6:00.
• Military Sunday presented by Piedmont Natural Gas, Tennessee 811 and WSMV Channel 4 – the Sounds will wear camouflage jerseys to honor active/veteran military men, women & families.
• Kids Run the Bases (12 & under) presented by First Tennessee.

Monday, July 25 vs. Omaha – 7:05 p.m.

• Gates open at 6:00 p.m.
• Major League Monday Stomper Appearance – Oakland A’s mascot Stomper makes his way to First Tennessee Park to hang out with Booster presented by AM 650 WSM.
• Kroger Plus Monday – Buy a “Family 4-Pack” that includes 4 Select section tickets, 4 hot dogs & 4 fountain sodas for $44. This offer is only available at participating Ticketmaster locations inside Kroger stores and is not available at First Tennessee Park.

Tuesday, July 26 vs. Colorado Springs – 7:05 p.m.

• Gates open at 6:00 p.m.
• “Live from Nashville, it’s Tuesday Night” – First Tennessee Park transforms into Margaritaville on Jimmy Buffett Night and Luau with a Steel Drums performance by Deep Groove Steel Band.
• Grill Spatula and Bottle Opener Giveaway – The first 2,000 fans in attendance receive a grill spatula and bottle opener presented by Tennessee Beef Council.

Wednesday, July 27 vs. Colorado Springs – 12:05 p.m.

• Gates open at 11:00 a.m.
• Noon Bash in Nash presented by ESPN 102.5 The Game – catch Sounds baseball at high noon!
• Senior Discount – Fans 60 and older may purchase a Corner Section ticket for just $8. Discount is based on availability – one ticket per I.D.

Thursday, July 28 vs. Colorado Springs – 7:05 p.m.

• Gates open at 6:00 p.m.
• Throwback Thursday presented by iHeartMedia – the Sounds will wear throwback jerseys to commemorate the team’s original uniform style from 1978. Fans can purchase Coca-Cola fountain soda, domestic draft beers and 12oz. cans for $2 each. Bud and Bud Light 16oz. cans and import and craft draft beer can be purchased for $3 each.

Friday, July 29 vs. Colorado Springs – 7:05 p.m.

• Gates open at 6:00 p.m.
• FOX17 post-game fireworks presented by Koorsen Fire & Security.

The 2016 season is the Sounds’ 19^th year in the Pacific Coast League and their second as the Oakland Athletics’ top affiliate. Tickets are available now by calling (615) 690-4487 or by visiting www.nashvillesounds.com.