The Manchester Park Partners are hosting the Third Annual Indoor Shootout  at the Manchester Recreation Complex on Saturday, January 30, 2016.

The Tournament is open to all age divisions  down to U8.  The U8 thru U12 divisions will play 5 on 5(including keeper) while U13 and above will be 4 on 4(including keeper).  There will be a boys’ division and a girls’ division. Co-ed teams will play in the boys’ division.  Cost to enter is $120 per team with 8 man max for U8-U12 and 7 max for U13-up.   Deadline for entry is January 24, 2016

For more information and a registration packet contact:
Lee Brooks (931) 273-8016, soccercoachcffc@charter.net  OR
Jodi Amado (931) 743-0279, jamado@blomand.net

All proceeds benefit the Coffee County soccer complex.

The Nashville Sounds, in accordance with recommendations issued by Major League Baseball, have extended the protective netting behind home plate to cover the seating area behind both dugouts at First Tennessee Park for the 2016 season.

First Tennessee Park has been outfitted with new protective nets – at the same height as the already-existing backstop behind home plate — that run the length of each dugout.

“Based on the proximity of our Premium seats to the playing field, the reaction time to a foul ball directly behind the dugouts is almost non-existent, and fan safety is of utmost importance to us,” said Garry Arthur, Sounds COO & General Manager.

Earlier today, the team began contacting its season ticket members to educate them about these fan safety improvements.

“The Sounds remain committed to delivering the best possible game day experience for our fans,” Arthur added. “In that spirit, we have added new netting that enhances fan safety while preserving the unique sightlines of our ballpark; the new netting is the same gauge and size that we had on our backstop last season, through which thousands of fans enjoyed watching our games.

“Our staff is proactively reaching out to season ticket members most affected by these changes. We understand that fans differ in relation to their opinions about sitting behind protective netting and will do our best to accommodate the varying preferences. Ultimately, we believe that most of our fans will understand these measures taken with their best interests at heart.”

On Wednesday, December 9, 2015, at the Baseball Winter Meetings in Nashville, MLB Commissioner Rob Manfred addressed fan safety, specifically netting, at ballparks around the country. Prior to the commissioner’s speech, the Sounds had been already working on plans to add to the protective netting at First Tennessee Park.

The 2016 season will be the Sounds’ 19th year in the Pacific Coast League and their second as the Oakland Athletics’ top affiliate. The Sounds begin the season at First Tennessee Park when they host the Oklahoma City Dodgers on Thursday, April 7 at 6:35 p.m. Season ticket memberships are available now by calling (615) 690-4487 or by visiting www.nashvillesounds.com.

Aerial Williams of CHS Basketball

A pair of halftime leads were not enough on Tuesday night as both Coffee County teams saw 2nd half rallies from Franklin County ruin the 1st home games of 2016 at the Joe Frank Patch Gymnasium. Six turnovers in a 7 possession stretch of the 3rd quarter erased a 9 point halftime lead for the Lady Raiders as they fell 41 to 40 to the Rebelettes. Coach Herb Horton’s young Lady Raider squad had trouble with the Franklin County press but committed a handful of unforced errors in a 3rd period that saw Franklin County score 19 points. Aerial Williams led the Lady Raiders in scoring with 10 points as she was named the Gateway Tire & Service Center Player of the Game. Holli Smithson added 7 points as Coffee County falls to 1 and 4 in district play.

Stephen Sullivan of Coffee County basketball

The Red Raiders saw a 7 point lead in the 4th quarter disappear thanks to critical misses at the free throw line and a controversial offensive foul call in the final 10 seconds. Franklin County tied the game at 37 with 2 seconds left in regulation before hitting a 3 pointer as the clock struck zero in overtime to hand the Red Raiders a heart breaking 44 to 41 district loss. Grant Sadler led Coffee County in scoring with 10 points while Wyatt Day and Boone Riddle each finished with 7 points. Stephen Sullivan was named the Gateway Tire & Service Center Player of the Game.
The Lady Raiders are off until Saturday when they play host to Siegel in a 4:15 PM game at The Patch. The Red Raiders will join the Lady Raiders on Tuesday night as both teams return to district action in Tullahoma. As always, Thunder Radio will be there to bring you the action both evenings. Tuesday’s doubleheader tips off at 6 PM from West Coffee. We begin our broadcast with the Powers Storage Pregame Show at 5:50.

Pete Weber’s Postgame Report

Filip Forsberg scored late, but Nashville’s rally fell short, as the Predators lost 3-2 to the Chicago Blackhawks on Tuesday night at United Center.

Forsberg’s goal came with 36 seconds remaining on the clock, almost capping off what would have been comeback from a 3-0 deficit, but Corey Crawford stopped Ryan Johansen with seconds remaining to secure the win for Chicago.

“We’re just kind of playing; we’re not playing good, we’re not playing poor, but it’s not good enough,” defenseman Roman Josi said. “Again, the first two periods, even the third, we’re playing, but we’re not playing well enough to win. We’re not attacking the game; it’s just playing so-so, and that’s not going to get a lot of wins.”

Before the opening period was out, Andrew Shaw put the Hawks in front 1-0 after a scramble in front of the net ended with the puck sliding under Pekka Rinne and into the cage.

Shaw claimed his second of the night at 6:14 of the second period before Brent Seabrook gave Chicago a 3-0 advantage 7:04 later. On the very next shift, however, Mike Ribeiro got one back and put the Preds on the board, scoring from an almost impossible angle below the goal line, roofing the puck over the shoulder of Crawford.

The Predators continued to generate chances in the third period, after registering 20 shots in the second period alone, but were unable to even the score.

“It’s a team effort at the end of the day,” Ribeiro said. “The only way to beat teams is to out work them and play harder than them, and we do that for a period, but it’s a game, and you need to do that for three periods. I think that’s the biggest difference is a full 60. Work harder than the other team, and you’ll win.”

Nashville continues a stretch of games within the Central Division on Thursday when they travel to Winnipeg to face the Jets to finish off their four-game road trip. Winless thus far on the excursion, the Preds know they have to build off of the positives and execute before heading home.

“It’s a matter of regrouping and come out the next game and win,” Ribeiro said. “It doesn’t matter how you’re going to win, but find a way to get points and find a way to win a game.”

Nashville finishes off their four-game road trip on Thursday in Winnipeg against the Jets.  Face-off for that game is 7 PM and you can hear all the action here on Thunder Radio.