The Motlow Bucks overcame an eight-run deficit and notched their third consecutive victory when they beat visiting Calhoun Community College 14-13 Tuesday afternoon at the Driver Baseball Complex.

The Bucks (17-27, 4-14) swept the visiting Cumberland University JV 9-7, 15-4 on Sunday. Motlow will continue its home stand when Tennessee Community College Athletic Association (TCCAA) rival Southwest Tennessee visits this weekend. The Bucks and Saluqis will play a nine-inning contest Friday at 2 p.m. and a pair of seven-inning games Saturday beginning at noon.

Calhoun jumped out of the gate Tuesday, scoring three in the first, one in the second and four in the third. Bucks starter Drew Jarrett lasted 2.1 innings and allowed eight runs, although only one was earned. Shaq Thompson relieved Jarrett, pitching 1.2 innings and giving up four runs.

Down 8-0 heading to the bottom of the third, the Bucks stormed back with seven runs in the inning. Aaron Hobbs opened with a single, Josh Bankston, J.D. Robertson and Spencer Mossburg all drew walks, scoring Hobbs. Dylan Stark then singled in Robertson and Bankston. Hunter Nance drove in Mossburg with a single, Peyton Meeker singled to drive in Stark, and Brody Thomasson’s sacrifice fly scored Nance. After Meeker advanced to second on a passed ball, Camron Harper drove him in with a single. After three innings the Bucks trailed 8-7.

Calhoun came right back with four more runs off Thompson in the top of the fourth, but the Bucks matched them with four in the bottom of the inning. Nance and Harper both singled in runs and Meeker drove in Nance with a double. After four innings of play the Bucks trailed 12-11.

Cameron Isley (1-0) then took the mound for Motlow and shut the door on the Calhoun offensive onslaught to get the win. In his four innings of work he allowed only six hits and one run with two strikeouts. JR Gilmer secured his second save of the season by pitching a perfect ninth inning.

Down 13-11 in the bottom of the sixth, the Bucks tied the game when Meeker reached on an error and advanced to second. He scored as Thomasson also reached on an error and he eventually scored on Hobbs’ RBI single. Mossburg drove in the winning run in the bottom of the eighth inning after Camron Harper was hit by a pitch, Hobbs singled and Carl Parker singled to load the bases for Mossburg.
The Bucks slammed five home runs during their doubleheader sweep of Cumberland. Meeker hit one to raise his team-leading homer total to 10 and his RBI count to 43. Mossburg, Thomasson, Stark and Parker each hit round trippers during the victories.

Visit the official website of Motlow Athletics at <www.motlowsports.com> for rosters, schedules, stats and more. Interact with Motlow Athletics at <Facebook/MotlowSports> and <Twitter@MotlowSports>.

Motlow Lady Bucks basketball coach Bart Walker

Motlow State Community College has named Bart Walker the new head coach of the women’s basketball program effective Apr. 13, according to C. Scott Shasteen, Motlow athletic director. He is the 12th head coach of the program, which began competition in 1974.

Walker comes to Motlow after serving the previous four years as an assistant women’s basketball coach at Tennessee Tech University in Cookeville. He served under Head Coach Jim Davis, who recently announced his retirement from coaching.

“We are thrilled to have a coach with the credentials that Bart Walker possesses joining our coaching staff at Motlow State,” said Shasteen. “He has proven himself to be a winner at every stop in his coaching career. He is a tireless recruiter who understands the challenges of junior college and has consistently produced quality programs and quality student athletes.”

Prior to his stay in Cookeville, Walker was the head basketball coach at Northwest Florida State College in Niceville, Fla. from 2008-2010. He compiled a 38-16 overall record, with his team being ranked as high as No. 4 in the nation.

Walker was women’s head coach at Chattanooga State from 2004-2008, where he led the Lady Tigers to the 2006 Tennessee Community College Athletic Association (TCCAA) Region VII tournament championship and a berth in the National Junior College Athletic Association tournament, where they advanced to the Elite Eight.

He began his head coaching career at Hiwassee College in Madisonville, Tenn. In 2000. The Lady Tigers were 81-35 during his four seasons. Hiwassee was a member of the TCCAA during Walker’s time as head coach, winning the tournament championship and advancing to the national tournament in 2003 and 2004, advancing to the Elite Eight both seasons.

Walker began his coaching career in 1992 as a volunteer assistant at Walters State Community College in Morristown, Tenn., serving on Bill Carlyle’s staff for seven years. He played for Carlyle at Walters State and graduated with an associate’s degree in 1991. He earned his bachelor’s degree in business administration in 1992 and his master’s degree in education in 2000 from Lincoln Memorial University in Harrogate, Tenn.

As a player at Lincoln Memorial he was the team captain and a recipient of the Lincoln Memorial Academic Award.

In his 10 years as a head coach, Walker has compiled an impressive 217-71 record with three Elite Eight appearances. He has recruited and developed six All-Americans and has won four Coach of the Year awards. Sixty of his players have gone on to become student-athletes at four-year universities.

Walker inherits a Lady Bucks’ program that completed the 2015-16 season with an 11-16 overall record, including 7-11 in the TCCAA.

Visit the official website of Motlow Athletics at for rosters, schedules, stats and more. Interact with Motlow Athletics at <Facebook/MotlowSports> and <Twitter@MotlowSports>.

Davis Green

Coffee County battled back from a 2 run deficit to earn a sweet 5 to 3 come from behind win over Columbia on Wednesday night on the road. In the process, the Red Raiders earned some sweet revenge for a disappointing Tuesday night loss to the Lions and they earned a split of their 3rd district series this year. The win also helped Coffee County even their record at 5 and 5 in district play and place the Raiders in the heat of a logjam for 2nd place in the district standings. Davis Green continued his strong pitching string as he earned the win on the bump. The junior allowed 3 runs in 6 innings as he struck out 2 and scattered 7 hits. Noah Anderson came on in relief in the 7th to tack down the big win for Coffee County. Deandre Wakefield laced a pair of doubles with 1 RBI to lead Coffee Co in hitting. Jacob Langham added a pair of singles and Anderson added a 2 RBI double in a 3 run 4th inning to highlight the Raider comeback. The Raiders will now turn their attention to non-district play this weekend as they travel to Coalmont on Thursday evening for a 5:30 PM game with Grundy County in the opening game of the Mountain Valley Tournament. Coffee County will play Marion County and Cumberland County on Friday night in Jasper before ending pool play in the tournament on Saturday with an 11 AM game in Grundy County against Lookout Valley.