Leo Botello prepares to strike a penalty kick in the 2nd minute of Saturday’s conference championship match.

“As long as it takes!”  Those were the words of Westwood soccer coach Jonathan Graf prior to Westwood’s 4 to 1 conference championship win Cascade on Saturday.  Graf was reminding his team that they needed to be prepared to play as long as needed to earn a championship.  After being pushed to overtime on Friday night before scoring, the Rockets got a first half hat trick from Leo Botello to carry a 3 to 1 lead into the half.  After trading penalty kicks in the first 5 minutes, Westwood imposed their will on Cascade offensively and defensively.  The Westwood defense was so strong they held the Champions to 3 shots, all of which were turned back by keeper Cailan McLean.  On offense, Westwood got off 23 shots with 14 of them being on frame.  Leo Botello opened the scoring on a penalty kick in the 2^nd minute as he was taken down in the box on Westwood’s first offensive rush.  Cascade answered with a penalty kick of their own at 5 minutes after a collision at the top of the 18 yard box.  The Rockets took the lead on an incredible play at the 12 minute mark.  Felix Salinas sent a beautiful feed deep in the 18 yard box that Botello flicked past the Cascade keeper on a sliding kick.  A 2^nd rush two minutes later saw Andres Cavalie have a shot blocked by the Champions keeper only to end up on Botello’s foot.  Leo punched it home and Cascade never mounted an effective attack the rest of the way.  Cavalie managed to get off 3 shots in the first 15 minutes of the second half scoring on the 3^rd shot in the 44^th minute.  The win improved Westwood’s final record to 11 and 2 on the season and a perfect 7 and 0 in conference play.

Westwood soccer teams celebrates after their conference championship win.

Colton Kerber comes into 3rd base standing up after hitting a triple in early season baseball action

Needing a win to earn a 3^rd place seed in the upcoming CTC conference tournament, the CCMS baseball team got a strong offensive performance up and down the lineup along with a complete game from starting pitcher Harley Hinshaw on their way to a 7 to 2 win over Warren County.  The game, originally slated to be held at Warren County, was moved to Coffee County and the home dugout suited the Red & Gray just fine as four Red Raiders banged out a pair of hits and the defense was sterling.  Colton Kerber was 2 for 4 with a triple and stole home for Coffee County.  Andrew Mahaffey was 2 for 4 with a home run while Clayton Lowell and Cody Esslinger were 2 for 4 on the day.  Hayden Skipper and Hinshaw each added hits to avenge a 5 to 2 loss on Tuesday night which sullied the 8^th Grade Appreciation ceremonies.  With the win, Coffee County will open conference tournament play on Thursday with a 5 PM game at White County High School.

Westwood’s Andres Cavalie from early season action

Andres Cavalie found the back of the Fayetteville net in the 5th minute of overtime period to give Westwood a 1 to 0 win over the Tigers in the CTSC Tournament semifinals on Friday night at Westwood. Westwood out shot Fayetteville 24 to 2 on the night with 11 shots being on frame for the Rockets forcing the Tigers keeper into a save. Cavalie found the ball at his feet off of a deflection as the Rockets rushed the net in the overtime period. Cavalie easliey converted on the lone mistake of the game by the Tigers to propel Westwood to the victory. With the win, Westwood will host Cascade at noon on Saturday for the CTSC Tournament championship at Dyer-Bouldin Field.

CHS Soccer seniors were honored prior to the game

The victorious CHS soccer team poses with the Coffee Cup trophy after beating Tullahoma 2 to 0

Senior Night is supposed to be about a team’s seniors.  On Thursday night, that was exactly the case as seniors Ernesto Gomez and Cole Hawkins had 2^nd half goals to lead the Coffee County CHS soccer team to their first victory over Tullahoma in the program’s history.  Perhaps even more importantly, senior Lafredo Ramirez was spectacular in goal as he had 12 saves including 2 saves in each the last 5 minutes of each half to ensure the win.  After a scoreless 1^st half in which Tullahoma out shot Coffee County 8 to 5, the Raiders dominated play in the second half to retain the Coffee Cup Trophy.  Ernesto found the back of the goal first in the 46^th minute from the top of the 18 yard box.  Cole Hawkins rang a shot off the goal post in the 48^th minute as the Raider offense peppered the Tullahoma keeper with shots.  Hawkins got a 2^nd chance 2 minutes later on a corner kick as he headed the crossing kick into the top of the Tullahoma net that gave Coffee County a lead they would not relinquish.  With the win, Coffee County finishes the season with a 6 and 1 record in district games earning a home game and the 2^nd seed for the upcoming District Tournament.  Coffee County closes the season at Warren County on Tuesday in a 7:00 PM match.

In middle school soccer, a first half hat trick by Drake Medina and a penalty kick off the toe of Briggs Haithcock were the only points the Coffee County Middle School soccer team needed as they dropped South Franklin on Thursday night in the first round of the CTC conference tournament. The win advances Coffee County to the semifinals of the conference tournament which will be held at Shelbyville. The Raiders will take on top seeded Warren County on Saturday morning in a 10:45 AM game.