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Westwood Softball Claims First Conference Title
Looking for their first ever DRVC Softball Championship, the Lady Rocket’s hosted the championship game on Saturday afternoon. Taking on a Moore County team that had to play a pair of games in the loser’s bracket on Saturday morning, Westwood dominated the game winning 10 to 0.
A diving catch in the first inning by Brooklyn Blake set the tone for a strong defensive performance by Westwood. In the bottom half of the frame, Westwood pushed across the only run they would need. Westwood entered the bottom of the 6th leading 6 to 0. The Lady Rockets used 2 walks, 3 singles and a double to plate 4 runs and end the game to the Mercy Rule.
Emma Kidder was the star of the day as she had 4 hits and pitched a complete game 1 hitter. Kidder finished with 2 RBI and 5 strikeouts in the circle. Abby Clark had the only extra base hit and it drove in the winning run. Kara Beth Patton added a pair of singles.
The Lady Rockets will be guests on Saturday’s Coffee Coaches Show to talk about the season. The Coffee Coaches Show is broadcast live each Saturday morning at 10 AM from the showroom of Al White Ford Lincoln. The Coffee Coaches Show is heard exclusively on Thunder Radio.
Coffee County Tennis Collects Hardware in District Tournament on Saturday
Coffee County’s Benedict Edinger(left) and Tyler Rigney(right) brought home single’s titles on Saturday[Photo by Nicole Rigney]
In the varsity singles bracket, Edinger advanced to the finals with a 6-1/7-5 win over Cole Norris of Franklin County. In the finals, Edinger squared off against Nathan Randolph who needed 3 sets to squeak by the Red Raiders Jaden Talley to reach the finals. Edinger disposed of Randolph 6-1/6-4 to claim the title.
Coffee County’s Jaden Talley(left), Coach Josh Inzer(center) and Benedict Edinger(right) show off their regular season honors that were announced on Saturday[Photo by Nicole Rigney]
In varsity men’s doubles, the Coffee County team of Jonah Rollman and Jonathan Welch fought hard in their semifinal match but came up short 5-7/5-7 in the loss. In varsity girls’ singles, Lauren Perry saw her Cinderella bid stopped in the semifinals as sshe dropped a 3 set match to top-seeded Alexa Hooton by scores of 6-2/2-6/5-7. In girls’ doubles, the team of Natalie Elzeer and Wren Lawson also drew the tournament’s #1 seed in the semifinals. Elzeer and Lawson fell to the eventual champs 1-6/0-6. In JV girls’ singles play, Maci Lawrence advanced to the semifinals before falling to Emily Moore of Lawrence County 5 to 3.
With the win, Edinger will advance to the singles Regional tournament in Murfreesboro on May 13th. Edinger will also lead the Red Raider team into the team district tournament on Tuesday. The Red Raiders will host Shelbyville at 4 PM with a berth in the team regional tournament on the line.
Following the match, Edinger was named the District 8 AAA MVP for boys while Jayden Talley was tabbed for the all-district team. Wren Lawson was named to the girl’s all-district team and Lauren Perry was named to the girls’ all-tournament team for her phenomenal performance. Raider tennis coach Josh Inzer was named the district coach of the year.
Coffee County Baseball Ends Regular Season With Senior Night WIn
Coffee County baseball seniors and coaches(Left to Right): David Martin, Harley Hinshaw, Kael McCall, Matt Shepherd, Bryson Hullett, Gage Edwards and Steve Wilder
Hosting Central Magnet of Murfreesboro on Saturday, the Coffee County baseball team celebrated Senior Night. Honoring the 4 seniors in the best way possible, the Red Raiders finished out their career at Powers Field with a win. Despite getting outhit, the Red Raiders won 4 to 1.
In the 4th inning, Bryson Hullett got aboard with an error in the 4th inning and was singled home by Harley Hinshaw. In the 5th inning, a walk and a pair of singles helped produce 3 insurance runs. Hullett added a single and an RBI in the 5th. Kael McCall also finished with a single and an RBI.
The Red Raiders will open up District tournament play on Wednesday when they travel to Tullahoma to take on the Wildcats. Thunder Radio will be on hand to bring you the broadcast. First pitch will be at 6 PM, Lucky Knott will begin live coverage with the pregame show at 5:50.
CCMS Soccer Closes out Strong Season With Finals Berth
The Coffee County Middle School soccer team capped off their most successful season of the decade. Coffee County advanced to the CTC tournament finals with a 3 to 2 win over Tullahoma on Saturday afternoon. In the finals the Red Raiders were stopped by Harris 3 to 0.
Against Tullahoma, Javier Rodriquez got Coffee Middle on the board in the 1st half to make the score 1 nil at the half. In the second half, Julius Norris potted a pair of goals to build the Raider lead to 3 nil. Tullahoma scrapped their way back into the match with a pair of goals late but could not catch up to Coffee County. The win avenged a 6 to 2 regular season loss to Tullahoma.
In the finals, Coffee County took on a Harris team that blitzed through the conference all season long including an 8 to 0 win in Shelbyville. Coffee County played exceptionally well but fell 3 to 0. After the match, Coffee County’s Peyton Pobanz, Isaiah Campbell and Javier Rodriquez were named to the all-conference team.
Coffee County CHS Softball Falls to Lawrence County on Sunday
Coffee County Lady Raider seniors (Left to Right): Haley Miller, Erin Ferrell, Haley Richardson, Alexcia Barnes, Katie Rutledge and Lexi Holder
The Coffee County CHS softball welcomed Lawrence County to Terry Floyd Field on Sunday. Sunday was set aside as Senior Day as the six Lady Raiders were honored prior to the game. A poor defensive performance by Coffee County cost them a regular season district title as they fell to the visits Lady Cats 5 to 0.
Six errors allowed Lawrence County plate 5 unearned runs in only Coffee County’s 2nd district loss of the season. Offensively, the Lady Raiders banged out 3 extra base hits but could not string together hits especially I clutch situations. Keri Munn, Gracie Pippenger and Justus Turner all ripped doubles while Erin Ferrell had Coffee County’s only other hit. Munn went the distance in the circle as she struck out 12 to be named the Crazy Daisies player of the game.
Next up for the Lady Raiders will be the District 8AAA tournament in Shelbyville. The Lady Raiders first round opponent and game time will be announced on Monday.
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Coffee County Middle School Baseball Falls to Tullahoma on Saturday, Plays Again on Monday
Jacob Holder of CCMS Baseball[File Photo]
Tullahoma got on the board first in the top of the first inning when they pushed across an unearned run. The Wildcats added 3 more runs in the 3rd inning and stretched the advantage to 5 in the 4th inning. Starting pitcher Jacob Holder did not give up a hit but walked 5 and struck out 9 while allowing 4 unearned runs. The Red Raiders out hit Tullahoma 6 to 4 but were saddled with the hard luck loss.
Coffee Middle had 6 different players get singles as Dayne Crosslin and Aiden Robertson were credited with RBI singles. Hayden Garr and Nolan Jernigan had singles and scored the Red Raiders 2 runs.
Coffee County now falls into the loser’s bracket where they will take on North Franklin on Monday night at Tullahoma’s Waggoner Park. First pitch is set for 5 PM. A win would advance the Raiders to the championship and a rematch with Tullahoma. That game would begin at 7 PM. Thunder Radio will be on hand to bring you the broadcast of both games as part of the Gilley Crane Hometown Sports Series. Our live coverage begins at 4:50 exclusively here on Thunder.
Bond Denied for Manchester Man Accused of Murder
James Richard McCoy Jr.. Photo provided
Judge Jackson denied the bond request made by McCoy’s attorneys Doug Aaron and Bobby Carter. His charges will be treated as eligible for capital punishment.
On September 9, 2018, 46-year-old Lisa McCoy of Manchester was found deceased by Manchester Police. She had been shot several times and dismembered at her home on Duck River Road. The woman’s husband, James Richard McCoy, Jr., was charged with the crime.
McCoy, Jr will remain housed at the Coffee County Jail until his trial. The trial date will be set at a later time.
County Unemployment Rates Go Up
County unemployment numbers for the month of March indicate the unemployment rate went up in 69 counties, decreased in 17 counties and stayed the same in nine counties in Tennessee.
In Coffee County, the unemployment rate for February was 2.9 percent and in March the rate rose to 3.1 percent. Coffee County has 820 people unemployed.
Warren County’s unemployment rate for March was 3.9 percent, which is up slightly from the February rate to 3.7.
Franklin County went up from 2.9 percent to 3.2.
Moore County also went up from 2.4 to 2.7 percent.
Over in Bedford County, their unemployment rate for March went up from 3.3 percent in February to 3.6.
Grundy County went from 3.9 to 4.3 percent. Cannon County went from 2.7 to 3.0 percent.
Williamson County had the state’s lowest unemployment rate at 2.4 percent, while Clay County had the highest at 6.0 percent.
Bedford County Inmate Escapes Driving Sumner County Deputy’s Car
Dreon Key
21-year-old Dreon Key managed to take control of the officer’s car and flee.
Officers from Rutherford County Sheriff’s Department pursued the stolen car on I-24 toward Nashville but discontinued their chase at the Davidson County line.
The stolen vehicle is a white 2011 Chevrolet Impala labeled as a Sumner County deputy’s car.
The man was being transferred to Bedford County to face multiple charges from a previous case and will now be charged with escape and theft of a vehicle in Sumner County.
As of late Sunday afternoon, police were still searching for Key.
Motlow Opens New Automation & Robotics Training Center
Motlow State President Dr. Michael Torrence cuts the ribbon Friday morning at the grand opening of the College’s new Automation & Robotics Training Center in McMinnville. A crowd of over 200, including industry leaders, McMinnville, Warren County and state representatives, and Tennessee Board of Regents Chancellor Dr. Flora Tydings (left of Torrence), joined in the festivities. An open house for the public will be held May 8, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
The grand opening was an invitation-only event for business and industry leaders. An open house will be held May 8 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. for the public to get a first-hand look at the ARTC. The 12,500-square-feet facility is located on 4.5 acres of land, donated by the Warren County Commission, adjacent to the Motlow State and Tennessee College of Applied Technology campus.
According to Terri Bryson, Vice President of Workforce Innovation, the umbrella division of the College’s short-term robotics training program, “At the ARTC our short-term objective is to provide a highly skilled work force that is second-to-none in robotics, automation, and advanced manufacturing systems. This will attract new and expanding businesses into our region. Ultimately, our long-term mission is to create new employment opportunities for our students by literally growing the number and quality of jobs available to them.”
The ARTC is unique in the fact that it houses robots and training equipment from the top three international robot manufacturers. There are currently more than 7,000 robots in operation within a 70-mile radius of the ARTC.
The new facility opened with six teaching laboratories. In addition, the ARTC offers automation training, including digital systems, sensors, electronics, hydraulics, programming and alarm management. Robotic training can be realized through two distinctive pathways: training for industry and job seekers, and instruction for college credit.
Dr. Michael Torrence, Motlow president, continues to reach out to industry and community partners to keep the program growing. “The ARTC’s launch was funded through a Drive to 55 grant,” said Torrence.
Robotics degrees and robotics industry-recognized training credentials will fuel workforce development for industry, meet existing demand for workers, create new high-wage, high-demand jobs in robotics and automation, expand the tax base for the region, and help Tennessee reach its “Drive to 55” education goals.
Initial corporate industry credentialing and certification opportunities begins at the ARTC in early May. Beginning in fall 2019, students will be able to take courses leading to a Mechatronics degree with a concentration in Robotics. For additional information on the ARTC, visit RoboticsTraining.com.