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A Pair of Lady Rockets Named to All-Conference Team
Haidyn Campbell & Hallie Wimberley with their All-Conference team medals
The Westwood Lady Rockets softball team held their end of season banquet on Thursday night at the Coffee Café. Outgoing Head Coach Angela Houck presided over the festivities as a pair of Lady Rockets were recognized as members of the Duck River Valley Conference All- Conference team. Haidyn Campbell and Hallie Wimberley were named to the All-Conference Team as selected by the conference coaches.
School Sports Tryout Report
Tryouts for the 2016-17 Coffee County Central High School Lady Raider Softball team will be May 31 and June 2 at 6:00 pm. Everyone must have an up to date physical form with them to try out. If you have any questions please contact coach Steve Wilder at: wilders@k12coffee.net
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Tryouts for the 2016-17 Coffee County Central High School Baseball team will be May 31 and June 2nd from 12 to 2.
Everyone must have an up to date physical form with them to try out. If you have any questions please contact coach David Martin at: martindavid@k12coffee.net
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Coffee County Middle School Baseball tryouts for next school year will be held on Saturday, June 4th at the following times:
Incoming 6th & 7th grade from 10:00am to 1:00pm
Incoming 8th grade from 1:00pm to 3:00pm
Players trying out must have a copy of a current physical.
If you have any questions please contact Rodney Meeker 409-6958
Foltynewicz Struggles as Braves Drop Finale
Left-hander Jeff Locke threw seven strong innings, Gregory Polanco led another complete performance by the Pirates’ lineup and the Bucs beat the Braves, 8-2, on Thursday night to clinch a victory in their four-game series at PNC Park.
Locke bounced back from a rough start against the Cubs and worked seven full innings for the second time in his last four starts, holding the Braves to two runs on six hits while striking out six. Unlike Wednesday night, Pittsburgh’s bats backed up their starter, pounding out eight runs on 11 hits — including three from leadoff man John Jaso and Jordy Mercer and two from Polanco.
Polanco flashed rarely seen power in the second inning, launching an 80-mph curveball over the left-center-field wall off Braves starter Mike Foltynewicz — who gave up five runs (four earned) in three innings. The two-run homer, Polanco’s fifth of the season, traveled 409 feet from home plate the opposite way and into the stands with an exit velocity of 105 mph, according to Statcast™.
Polanco’s barrage against Atlanta’s pitching staff continued in the fifth, when he smashed a leadoff triple high off the right-field wall and scored on a sacrifice fly by Jung Ho Kang.
Fresh off the paternity list following the birth of his daughter, Tiana, Pirates left fielder Starling Marte knocked a two-run single to right field in the first inning against Foltynewicz to open the scoring. One of the Pirates’ most productive hitters thus far this season, Marte missed the first three games of this series to be with his family.
Foltynewicz retired two of the first three batters he faced before hitting Kang with a 1-2 fastball. The first of Tyler Flowers’ two passed balls set the stage for Marte to spark Pittsburgh’s two-run first with a bloop single to shallow right. Then in the second inning, the Braves right-hander allowed three consecutive two-out hits, including Polanco’s two-run homer. Foltynewicz had allowed two earned runs in 15 innings over his two previous starts.
After making three quick trips in and out of Pittsburgh last season without throwing a pitch, reliever Wilfredo Boscan finally got on the mound at PNC Park. Called up Thursday afternoon to replace left-hander Cory Luebke in the bullpen, Boscan tossed a perfect eighth inning and a scoreless ninth to seal the victory.
Jeff Francoeur notched the first of the two consecutive doubles surrendered by Locke to begin the fourth inning and then opened the sixth inning with his second home run of the season and of the series. The six home runs the Braves hit during this four-game series matched the total they have compiled over 19 games at Turner Field this season.
Matt Wisler will take the mound when Atlanta begins a three-game series in Philadelphia at Citizens Bank Park on Friday at 6:05 p.m. CT. Wisler has pitched into the eighth inning in each of his past three starts, including his May 10 loss to the Phillies. Thunder Radio will bring you the broadcast of the game as part of the Braves Radio Network beginning at 6 PM.
Smolinski, Pinder Team to Give Sounds Win
Jake Smolinski hit a go-ahead solo homer in the eighth inning and Chad Pinder had a perfect night to guide the Nashville Sounds to a thrilling 6-5 win over the Sacramento River Cats in front of 7,407 fans Thursday night at First Tennessee Park.
With the scored tied 5-5 in the bottom of the eighth, Smolinski hit the third pitch of the inning from Steven Okert over the center field wall to give the Sounds (21-19) a 6-5 lead.
The blast came just moments after the River Cats (16-25) plated two runs on three consecutive two-out hits in the top of the inning to even the game.
It was a back-and-forth game all night as the River Cats jumped out to an early lead on Mac Williamson’s solo homer in the top of the second.
Their lead didn’t last long as the Sounds scored three runs in the third to take a 3-1 lead. Rangel Ravelo and Pinder were on base when Renato Nunez smashed a double off the center field wall to score two. Smolinski followed with his own two-bagger to the gap in right-center to make it 3-1.
Sacramento scored runs off Nashville starter Eric Surkamp in the fourth and fifth innings to even the game at 3-3. Jarrett Parker belted a solo homer in the fourth and Mitch Delfino doubled in a run in the fifth.
It remained tied until Pinder came through with his fourth hit of the night in the seventh. With Ravelo at third and Joey Wendle at second following a double, Pinder lined a base hit to left field to score both runners giving the Sounds a 5-3 lead.
Sacramento bounced back with two-out magic of their own. Parker, Williamson and Grant Green produced three straight hits off Aaron Kurcz to square the game at 5-5.
Kurcz struck out Miguel Olivo to end the inning and escape the jam without further damage.
That set up Smolinski who wasted little time getting the lead back for Nashville. It was the third home run of the season for Smolinski who finished 3-for-4 with a pair of runs knocked in. Pinder finished 4-for-4 – his second four-hit game of the homestand.
Kurcz picked up the win in relief and Steve Okert was charged with the loss. Tucker Healy worked a perfect ninth to earn his second save of the season.
Game two of the four-game series is set for Friday night at First Tennessee Park. Right-hander Daniel Mengden (1-0, 0.45) starts for Nashville against right-hander Chris Heston (0-3, 4.94) for Sacramento. First pitch is scheduled for 6:35 p.m.
The 2016 season is the Sounds’ 19th 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.
5/19/16
Birthdays:
Andra Spears, 32 — Pizza Winner!
Pam Riddle
Bobby Wiseman, 50
Abigail Taylor, 16
Dava Ramsey
Jessica Sizemore, 30
Derek Gilliam
Sandra Pinegar
Anniversaries:
Signe & Aaron Williams
Free and Reduced-price Meals at School might be Reduced
The Education and Workforce Committee voted this week to back the bill that some Republicans have backed. The bill would have fewer students receiving free and reduced-price meals at school. The legislation would allow a trial period of so-called block grants for school meals in three states — meaning those states would no longer receive unlimited federal dollars for students who qualify for the free and reduced-price lunches, and states wouldn’t have to follow most federal nutrition standards.
The legislation, which the full House will consider, would also roll back some healthier school nutrition rules championed by first lady Michelle Obama.
Some schools say they are too restrictive and the healthier meals are not appetizing enough to students. Four schools in Coffee County would be effected; Deerfield Elementary, East Coffee, Hickerson Elementary and Hillsboro Elementary. In Manchester; Westwood Elementary and in Tullahoma, Bel Aire, East Lincoln Street, Farrar and Robert E. Lee.
The measure still has to go to the full legislature before it can become law. Congressman Jim Cooper said that nearly 25% of Tennessee children suffer from hunger. Some school leaders say that for many students, school meals are the only food they get each day.
Tennessee Maneuvers 2016 declared “Complete Success”
Maj. Gen. Max Haston, Tennessee’s Adjutant General
From May 13-16, more than 600 Soldiers and 20 units from Tullahoma’s 30th Troop Command completed a series of grueling disaster preparedness exercises throughout Middle Tennessee testing the Guard’s ability to provide military assistance in the event of a catastrophic emergency. Soldiers worked alongside many state and local emergency agencies designed to test the abilities of all involved.
Manchester Woman facing charges after allegedly Spitting On and Biting Officers
Janice Rena Castillo… Photo provided by the CCSD
Janice Rena Castillo, 35, of Murfreesboro Highway Manchester was charged with assault, aggravated assault, disorderly conduct, resisting arrest and criminal impersonation by Manchester Police Officer Daryn Gadeken and correction officers at the jail.
According to warrants, she was arrested after she was found to have the odor of an intoxicant and slurred speech. The warrant alleges that when the officer attempted to arrest her she attempted to resist and had to be restrained. She was also accused of providing a false name to the officer who learned her real identity.
When the officer got her to the jail, she allegedly spit on a corrections officer as well as hitting the officer.
When one of the officers attempted to place a “spit mask” on her she allegedly bit the officer on the finger and cursed them.
She was booked into the Coffee County Jail under a $25,000 bond and is to appear in Coffee County General Sessions Court June. 6.
Unemployment Rate Down in Tennessee
Tennessee’s unemployment rate for the month of April was 4.3 percent, a decrease of two-tenths of a percentage point from the March rate of 4.5 percent. That’s according to Tennessee Labor Commissioner Burns Phillips.
The U.S. rate for April was 5.0 percent, remaining unchanged from the previous month.
Over the past year, Tennessee’s unemployment rate decreased from 5.9 percent to 4.3 percent, while the national rate declined from 5.4 to 5.0 percent.
Some Republican Lawmakers want special session on Bathroom Bill
Gov. Bill Haslam
Haslam told reporters on Wednesday that it’s unclear what the strategy or purpose of a special session would be. GOP lawmakers have engaged in a letter-writing campaign since the Obama directive was issued, demanding that the state join lawsuits challenging their implementation.
A Tennessee bill seeking to require students to use restrooms and locker rooms corresponding to the gender listed on their birth certificates was withdrawn in the waning days of the legislative session last month.