The Steve Wilder era as head coach of the CHS Softball team got underway on Saturday with 4 scrimmage games at Shelbyville. The Lady Raider varsity team had an even record at 1 win, 1 loss and a tie on the day. The JV team got a 5 to 4 win over Community to complete the first scrimmage action of the spring for Coffee County. Coach Wilder was pleased with the performance of his pitching staff. “(The pitchers) threw all pitches for strikes” said Wilder. Offensively, the highlight of the day was a mammoth homerun from Tori Bell against Moore County. Coach Wilder also wants to see improvement offensively with his team on timing and getting some defensive repetition for is young outfielders this week prior to next weekend’s scrimmages.
The Lady Raiders travel to Murfreesboro on Saturday for 3 more scrimmage games as part of the Rutherford County Playday. The Lady Raiders have games scheduled for 8 AM, 12:30 PM and 2 PM at Riverdale High School.

Beautiful weather and big crowds bolstered a good performance from the CHS Soccer teams on Saturday as they hosted the Red Raider Jam at the Raider Academy. The varsity squad finished 2 and 2 on the day while the JV squad was unbeaten on the day. Coach Robert Harper was pleased with the efforts “I am very happy with how both teams played.  John Parigger played well in goal for us as he had some good saves and handled the goal kicks well.” Coach Harper also got some good performances from some of his younger players in his sophomore class. The Red Raiders will complete their preseason games this week with a pair of trips to Rutherford County. On Thursday the Raiders travel to Smyrna to take on the Bulldogs in a 5 PM match and follow that up with a Saturday varsity/JV doubleheader at Stewarts Creek.

The spring weather has hampered all the CHS spring sports teams and that was evident for the CHS Red Raider baseball team on Saturday as they dropped a scrimmage to defending state qualifier Central Magnet on Saturday in Murfreesboro. Head coach David Martin was impressed with the performance of his pitching staff but remarked that being limited to 3 practice days outside contributed to his team’s defensive miscues. Offensively, Martin was happy with the offensive performances of Nathanial Tate and Alan Rob on the day. The Raiders will host a scrimmage play day on Saturday where they will take on Grundy County and Marion County at Powers Field. The first game gets underway at 11:00 AM.

Pete Weber’s Postgame Report

Filip Forsberg

Filip Forsberg’s second natural hat trick in the past three games and Pekka Rinne’s fourth shutout propelled the Nashville Predators to a 5-0 win against the St. Louis Blues at Bridgestone Arena on Saturday.

Nashville (31-21-11) has won four games in a row and has at least one point in nine consecutive games (6-0-3).

Forsberg scored three times in the second period, his 24th, 25th and 26th, equaling his total from his rookie season last season.

Forsberg gave the Predators a 2-0 lead 54 seconds into the period on a rebound. Defenseman Petter Granberg took the original shot from the point, and Forsberg shot the rebound past Jake Allen for his 24th goal.

Forsberg gave the Predators a 3-0 lead at 5:39 on a wrist shot from the left faceoff circle. Craig Smith made a drop pass on the rush to Forsberg, who shot it past Allen.

Forsberg’s third of the period game Nashville a 4-0 lead at 14:49 on a one-timer from the left faceoff circle on the power play. Ribeiro made a cross-ice pass that Forsberg one-timed past Allen for his 12th goal in the past 11 games.

Forberg had three goals in a 3-2 win against the Toronto Maple Leafs on Tuesday.

St. Louis (35-20-9) has lost three games in a row in regulation for the first time this season.

Smith and Colin Wilson also scored for the Predators. Rinne made 28 saves for his 40th career shutout.

Goaltender Pheonix Copley made his NHL debut, replacing Allen in the second period. Allen made 19 saves; Copley made five saves.

Nashville captain Shea Weber missed his third consecutive game with a lower-body injury and is listed as day-to-day.

The Predators continue their homestand on Tuesday when they host the Dallas Stars at the Bridgestone Arena.  Face-off is set for 7 PM and Thunder Radio will bring you the broadcast on the Fifth Third Bank/Nashville Predators Radio Network.

The Tennessee Sports Hall of Fame announced today that The University of the South 1899 football team will be honored as the Historical Achievement Award recipient at its 50th Anniversary Banquet on Saturday, June 18, 2016, at the Omni Nashville Hotel.

The University of the South in Sewanee, Tennessee made its place in the history of College Football in 1899. That year the Sewanee Tigers went 12-0-0, produced a College Football Hall of Famer HB Henry G. Seibels, and outscored their opponents 322 to 10. The 10 points were scored by a John Heisman coached team at Auburn. Ten of their twelve victories were against Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Association opponents, which put Sewanee in the record books for most conference games played and most won in a season. What further distinguishes the Sewanee Iron Men in college football history is the remarkable schedule they played. Sewanee took the ultimate road trip to play five games in six days, and all five games were won in shutouts. The Tigers travelled over 2500 miles on a train defeating Texas, Texas A&M, Tulane, Louisiana State, and Ole Miss. This amazing team shut out the five best teams in the southern half of the United States.

In conjunction with our Honoree Class, the Tennessee Sports Hall of Fame will be inducting, posthumously Tennessee Titan’s great Steve McNair and Baylor Golf Coach King Oehmig. Additional inductees include Conrad Graham, University of Tennessee All-American defensive back; Missy Kane, University of Tennessee Middle Distance Runner and bronze medal recipient at the Pan American Games; Mike Taylor, UT-Martin football player and current SEC football official; Ernest Gray, All-American and NFL star wide-receiver from the University of Memphis; Mike Curb, legend in automobile racing; Joe Biddle, longtime middle Tennessee sport writer; Lester McClain, first African American football player at Tennessee; the six Canale Brothers, football legends from the University of Tennessee and Mississippi State University, and Milligan College Athletic Director and longtime coach Duard Walker.

Other award recipients include Keenan Reynolds, United States Naval Academy Quarterback for his outstanding accomplishments achieving a FBS record in touchdowns and rushing yards by a quarterback, while demonstrating leadership and integrity both on and off the field; Coach Doug Dickey, the recipient of the 2016 Pat Summitt Lifetime Achievement Award for his major contributions in establishing the Tennessee Sports Hall of Fame in its current format.
The Tennessee Sports Hall of Fame, which held its first induction banquet in 1966, has as its goal to enshrine successful teams and individuals who display sportsmanship, good character and success, creating a legacy for others to follow. The Tennessee Sports Hall of Fame is housed in the Bridgestone Arena in Nashville.

The Tennessee Sports Hall of Fame, a 501-C3, pays tribute to all those who have made an impact through sports in Tennessee. The Hall subscribes to the principle that sports serve society’s highest ideals by educating youth through sports. It promotes the virtues of competition, fair play, friendship, solidarity, mutual understanding and respect for human dignity. The best way to honor our sports legends is to pass this legacy down to future generations.
For tickets to the 50th Anniversary Induction Banquet contact
Lynn Powell Toy, TSHoF (615) 202-3996 lynnpowelltoy@gmail.com
Tennessee Sports Hall of Fame, 501 Broadway, Nashville, TN 37203

Lincoln County High School senior Breanna Owens recently became the first softball player this year to sign a National Letter of Intent to continue her career as a student-athlete next season at Motlow State Community College. Joining Breanna for the ceremony are, seated left to right; her mother Jennifer Owens, Breanna, and father Eric Owens. Standing from left; Ron McElyea, grandfather; Brady Owens, brother; Maurice Hambrick, Lincoln County assistant coach; Janice Morey, Motlow State head coach; and Troy Smith, Lincoln County head coach. Photo provided.