Author's posts
Pinder’s Walk-Off Double Wins it for the Sounds
Chad Pinder’s double scored Joey Wendle in the bottom of the ninth inning to give the Nashville Sounds a 7-6 win in walk-off fashion over the New Orleans Zephyrs in front of 4,695 fans at First Tennessee Park Tuesday night.
It was a back-and-forth game that featured five lead changes between the two teams. With the game tied 6-6 to start the bottom of the ninth, Wendle hit a popup on the infield that fell untouched. Pinder got a 1-0 pitch from Greg Nappo and rifled it down the left field line. Wendle, celebrating his 26th birthday, scored just ahead of the throw to give the Sounds a win in the series finale.
The Sounds had a 2-0 lead in the top of the third when Robert Andino’s RBI double off Zach Neal made it a one-run game. The next batter, Xavier Scruggs, launched a two-run homer to give New Orleans a 3-2 lead.
They upped it to 4-2 before Nashville answered with three in the fifth. Max Muncy drove in Wendle to make it 4-3, and Renato Nunez clubbed a two-run homer to give the Sounds a 5-4 lead after five.
Neal turned in a scoreless sixth and struck out Adrian Nieto on his 104th pitch of the night to end the inning.
The Zephyrs weren’t done as they scored two runs in the seventh to regain the lead. They put two runners on against Eduard Santos before Patrick Schuster relieved the right-hander. Schuster hit Don Kelly with a pitch to load the bases before Isaac Galloway made it hurt with a two-out, two-run single to give New Orleans a 6-5 lead.
Nashville answered back right away when Muncy led off the seventh with a mammoth solo home run into The Band Box in deep right field to even it at 6-6. It was Muncy’s fourth home run over his last seven games.
Schuster worked a scoreless eighth before he combined with Ryan Brasier to put up a zero in the top of the ninth, clearing the way for Pinder’s game-winner.
Wendle celebrated his birthday in style with a 3-for-4 night. Pinder went 2-for-4 and drove in a pair of runs. Brasier picked up the win and improved to 1-1 on the season. Nappo was tagged with the loss to drop his record to 2-1.
The Sounds have an off day Wednesday before heading to Round Rock, Texas for a four-game series with the Express set to begin on Thursday. First pitch of game one is scheduled to begin at 7:05 p.m.
4/26/16
Birthdays:
Ethan Beaty, 12 — Pizza Winner!
Robert McCart, Sr., 58
Glenn Espy, 68
Barry West, 68
Joanna Thomas
Mandy Taylor, 15
Man Charged 10th Time for Driving on Revoked
Christopher Charles Shaw… Photo provided the CCSD
Shaw’s bond was set at $19,000 and he’ll be in court on May 10, 2016.
Behind Bars: 1 in 10 TN Children Has an Incarcerated Parent
Improving access to community support for children and families of incarcerated parents can help lesson the lifelong impact of jail time on generations, according to a new report from the Annie E. Casey Foundation. (kconnors/flickr.com)
Linda O’Neal, executive director for the Tennessee Commission on Children and Youth, explains why the rate is so high.
“One of the challenges in Tennessee is, we need to take a look at our criminal justice system and be sure we’re saving those resources for people who are really a danger to society,” says O’Neal. “Our system too frequently incarcerates people for relatively minor offenses or probation violations, when they’re really not a threat to society.”
O’Neal says in recent years the state has made some progress in providing more mental-health and substance-abuse treatment, as opposed to incarceration for some people, but there is more work to be done.
Among the recommendations in the report is considering children and families in the sentencing decision, providing communities with resources to support impacted families, and providing financial support to children and families during confinement.
Scot Spencer, associate director for advocacy and influence for the Annie E. Casey Foundation says early-education centers, schools, child welfare agencies, community-based health centers and other local and faith-based organizations should offer programs that foster children’s mental and emotional well-being.
“There is the potential for the ‘quiet whispers’ that may not be so quiet that a child would hear about a missing parent,” Spencer says. “And so, supporting those centers to be able to provide the services and the knowledge, so that they can be equipped to help that child navigate the tough times.”
O’Neal says addressing the issues created for children with incarcerated parents is a proactive way to make sure the cycle doesn’t continue.
“We know when parents are incarcerated, it provides toxic stress for the developing brains of young children and it often goes along with other stressors like mental illness or substance abuse or child abuse,” says O’Neal. “And we really need to prevent those from occurring whenever possible.”
The Casey report says inmates make from 40 cents to $1 a day for their work, making it impossible for them to save enough money to help sustain themselves and their children after their release.
Dixie Line Days is Friday and Saturday
Dixie Line Days is coming to Wartrace this Friday and Saturday April 29th and 30th. It’s a festival of trains large and small with operating model railroads, dealer swap tables, model contests, and how-to clinics. The train show takes place in several locations in downtown Wartrace from 10:00 AM to 6:00 PM on Friday and from 9:00 AM to 2:00 PM on Saturday.
Photographers and book authors will make their presentations on Saturday from 10:30 AM to 2:00 PM in the Smith House Dinner Theater downtown.
The full sized trains of CSX Transportation will also make occasional appearances through the heart of downtown. For more information call 1-800-465-0448 or visit www.dixieflyertrains.com.
Lady Raider Softball Tames Lions on Monday Night
Haley Hinshaw (Photo by John StClair – JohnStClairPhoto.com)
Kaylee Skipper held the Columbia Lady Lions to 2 hits on Monday night as the Coffee County Lady Raider softball team got an 11 to 0 win in the district match-up in Columbia. The Lady Raiders built a 6 to 0 lead heading to the fifth before a 5 run outburst ended the game early due to the mercy rule.
Coffee County banged out 12 hits on the night led by Haley Hinshaw who was 3 for 3 with a walk, 2 doubles and 3 runs scored. Raven Rogers also had a pair of doubles in 3 at bats with a walk, 2 runs scored and 2 RBI. Rhianna Roberson also added 2 hits and 2 RBI and Tori Bell had a 2 RBI double for Coffee County.
“We hit the ball well from the start and Kaylee(Skipper) was on again” said coach Steve Wilder after the game. “We fielded the ball well too. (I am) very pleased with the effort tonight” added Wilder.
The Lady Raiders return home on Tuesday night when they take on Tullahoma in a 7 PM game at Terry Floyd Field. A win by Coffee County on Tuesday would sew up the regular season district title for the Lady Raiders. A special edition of pregame festivities will get underway at 6:30 PM. Thunder Radio will bring you the broadcast of that game beginning with the pregame show at 6:50.
CCMS Track Closed Out Regular Season with Home Meet on Monday
Jenna Garretson
The Coffee County Middle School track team closed out the regular season when they hosted a tri-meet with North Franklin and South Franklin on Monday at Carden-Jarrell Field. With the conclusion of the CCMS soccer, softball and baseball seasons last week, the track team had its full complement of team members on hand as they spilt the meet with the visitors from Franklin County. The girls had strong showings in the field events as they won the meet 54 to 47 over South. North came in 3rd at 23. Despite a personal best in the discus from Brandon Jernigan, The Red Raiders were edged out by South with a final score of 52 to 43.5. North finished in 3rd place at 24.5 points.
Individual Medalists were:
Girls
Shot Put: Marissa Douglass-1st, Marley Perry-4th
Discus: Marissa Douglass-2nd, Marley Perry-3rd
High Jump: Julia Duncan-2nd, Jenna Garretson-3rd (Tie)
Long Jump: Jenna Garretson-1st, Julia Duncan-2nd
4x100m relay: 2nd-Macy Tabor, Laura Bogard, Ashley Evans, Marissa Douglass
1600m: Katie Christian-2nd, Shelby Watkins-4th
100m: Marissa Douglass-2nd, Karie Wooten-4th
4x200m relay: 2nd-Willow Hobbs, Macy Tabor, Mady Gravitt, Kayla Johnson
400m: Ryan Green-2nd, Gracie Pippenger-3rd
800m: Olivia Evans-2nd, Jasie Willis-4th
200m: Willow Hobbs-2nd
4x400m relay: 1st-Journey Arnold, Emilee Roberson, Ryan Green, Jade Arnold
Brandon Jernigan
Boys
Shot Put: Brandon Jernigan-2nd, Gilberto Infante-3rd
Discus: Brandon Jernigan-1st, Gilberto Infante-3rd
High Jump: Hayden Skipper-2nd (Tie), Blanton Brown-4th
Long Jump: Hayden Skipper-1st, Blanton Brown-2nd
1600m: Larson Meltzer-1st, Ethan Welch-4th
100m: Christian Alvarez-3rd
400m: Jalen Morris-1st, Ethan Beaty-3rd
800m: Ethan Welch-4th
200m: Christian Alvarez-4th
4x400m relay: 2nd-Larson Meltzer, Gabe Sons, Ethan Beaty, Jalen Morris
The Raider track teams will host the CTC conference meet on Saturday morning at Carden-Jarrell Field. Teams from Warren County, North Franklin, South Franklin, East Tullahoma and West Tullahoma will competed for the CTC crowns. The meet will begin with the field events which get underway at 10 AM.
Westwood Golfers Have Strong Showing at Monday Match
Olivia Lewis
Maci Lawrence shot the low round of 60 on Monday as the Westwood Middle School Lady Rockets edged Coffee County Middle School at WIllowbrook in a 4 team match. North Franklin finished in 3 place and South Franklin was 4th. Olivia Lewis had the second lowest round of the day as she shot a 67 for Coffee County. Also for Westwood, Elizabeth Brown carded a 70 and Brayden Gray finished with a 78. For Coffee County, Olivia Howell came in at 75.
Christopher Robinson
For the boys, the Westwood Rockets got a 6 stroke advantage over Coffee County to finish 2nd in the boys competition. North Franklin got 3 scores of 51 or better to race away with the win. Christopher Robinson carded a 53 to lead the Rockets while Nicholas Johnson shot a 61, Gavin Prater got around in 76 and Andrew Green carded a 79. For Coffee County, Logan Hale had a 51, Xavier Bartley shot a 71, Isaac Pauley carded a 76 and Caleb Jarrell came in at 77.
The middle school golf teams will be back in action on Thursday when they travel to Tullahoma to take on the Wildcats. Tee time is set for 4 PM at Lakewood Country Club.
CCMS Netters Get a Split at Warren County on Monday
Alise Clark
The Coffee County Middle School tennis teams made their final road trip of the season on Monday as they traveled to McMinnville to take on Warren County and came away with a split. In singles action, Anna Amado(by a score of 5-1) and Alexis Clark(5-4) got match wins while the doubles team of Macy Brown/Mary Anne Walker(5-1) won in doubles as the Lady Raiders fell by a final score of 4 to 3. In bonus matches, the Lady Raiders got 3 victories as the teams of Caitlin Callahan/Lindsey Cauble(5-4), Lexie Bryan/Arianna Hanson(5-0) and Sydney Bell/Mary Anne Walker(5-2) all got wins.
Luke Irwin
The Red Raiders swept the doubles matches and won 4 of the 5 singles matches to claim the 6 to 1 team win. Joseph Sadler(5-0), Luke Irwin(5-2), Jaden Talley(5-2) and Ben Davis(5-3) got singles wins while the doubles teams of Sadler/Irwin(5-0) and Talley/Davis(5-1) scored wins in the doubles matches. The Red Raiders also won both extra matches as the team of Zachary Leroux/Loren Hansen(5-3) won while Leroux captured a 5 to 1 win in singles play.
The Raider netters will end the season on Friday when they play host to Warren County at the Raider Academy. First serve is set for 4 PM.
Preds Force a Game 7 with Monday’s Win
Pekka Rinne
The Nashville Predators are headed to their first Game 7 in franchise history after holding off the Anaheim Ducks 2-1 on Monday night to force the maximum in this first-round series. The teams will next play Wednesday night in Anaheim.
The Predators went up 2-0 in the second period on goals from Mattias Ekholm and James Neal, taking a lead they would not relinquish. Predators head coach Peter Laviolette loaded up his top line by adding Filip Fosberg to the unit of Ryan Johansen and Neal. The top-heavy trio had an impact and found the scoresheet on a pretty play when Johansen feathered a perfect pass to Neal on a two-on-one break for the eventual game-winner.
Corey Perry had a glorious chance in the slot to tie the game with about 6 minutes, 40 seconds to go in the third period but was denied by Pekka Rinne. Perry had a few dangerous chances in this game but couldn’t connect. He has yet to score in this series. Head coach Bruce Boudreau had resisted throughout the series but he finally reunited Perry with Ryan Getzlaf for a few shifts in the third period in an attempt to find some offense.
Rinne had a very strong game, which the Predators needed from their starting goaltender. He had been outplayed by his counterpart Frederik Andersen in the three previous games. He finished the night with 26 saves.
“Oh no, not again,” is what some Ducks fans no doubt are saying. Anaheim has let a 3-2 series lead evaporate in the past three playoffs, dating back to their losses to the Detroit Red Wings in 2013, Los Angeles Kings in 2014 and Chicago Blackhawks last year. That will be the narrative now heading into Game 7 that the Ducks weren’t able to finish it off in six games yet again.
The Predators have made the playoffs nine times in the past 12 years but have never played in a Game 7. They’ll get their shot now and can relish in being the underdog trying to pull off the upset Wednesday night. No question the Ducks will be feeling more pressure.
The series now shifts back to Anaheim for Game #7. Face-off is set for 9 PM CT and Thunder Radio willl bring you that broadcast as part of the Fifth Third Bank/Nashville Predators Radio Network.