Jason Wood has been named the manager of the Nashville Sounds as announced today by the Texas Rangers. Wood is the 29th manager in franchise history.

Joining Wood’s staff in Nashville will be hitting coach Howard Johnson, pitching coach Brian Shouse, bench coach Geno Petralli, bullpen coach Eric Gagne, athletic trainer Carlos Olivas and strength and conditioning coach Al Sandoval.

Wood, 49, will manage at the Triple-A level for the fifth consecutive season. He was Triple-A Round Rock’s manager from 2015-18 and compiled a 280-283 (.497) record. He led the Express to the 2015 American Southern Division title and a berth in the 2015 Pacific Coast League Championship.

Prior to 2015, Wood managed Double-A Frisco in 2014 and Advanced-A Myrtle Beach from 2011-13. He guided his team to the playoffs in each of those four seasons. In his managerial career, Wood has a 582-536 (.521) mark.

As part of an 18-year professional playing career, Wood played for the Sounds in 2000 and 2001 and becomes the second Sound player to return and manage the Club (Marty Brown, player in 1988-89, manager in 2001-02). With Nashville, the infielder played in 201 games and hit .240 (167-for-695) with 86 runs, 37 doubles, 15 home runs and 83 RBI. Wood played in 153 Major League games with Oakland (1998), Detroit (1998-99) and Florida (2006-08).

The California native attended Fresno State University, where he was named All-American while leading the Bulldogs to the College World Series in 1991.

Johnson, 58, will serve as the Sounds’ hitting coach. Johnson had a 14-year big league career and spent time with Detroit (1982-84), New York – NL (1985-93), Colorado (1994) and Chicago – NL (1995). He was a National League All-Star in 1989 and 1991, when he led the National League in home runs (38) and RBI (117).

Following his playing career, Johnson has held several positions including manager, first base coach, hitting coach and scout. Most recently, Johnson was Triple-A Round Rock’s hitting coach in 2018. He managed in the Texas organization in 2016 and 2017 and was named California League Manager of the Year in 2016.

The Nashville resident has held several Major League coaching positions including hitting coach of the Seattle Mariners (2014-15) and first base coach and hitting coach of the New York Mets (2007-10).

Shouse, 50, will serve as the Sounds’ pitching coach. Shouse played parts of 10 seasons in the big leagues with Pittsburgh (1993), Boston (1998), Kansas City (2002), Texas (2003-06), Milwaukee (2006-08) and Tampa Bay (2009).

The Illinois native spent the 2018 campaign as the pitching coach for Triple-A Round Rock and carried the same role in 2016 and 2017 with Double-A Frisco. Shouse instructed pitchers with the AZL Rangers from 2012-15.

Petralli, 59, will serve as bench coach for the Sounds. Petralli played parts of 12 seasons in the big leagues with Toronto (1982-84) and Texas (1985-93).

The Texas native enters his fifth season coaching for the Rangers’ Triple-A team.

Gagne, 43, will serve as Nashville’s bullpen coach. The 2003 National League Cy Young Award winner played parts of 10 seasons in the big leagues with Los Angeles (1999-2006), Texas (2007), Boston (2007) and Milwaukee (2008). He pitched in two games for the Sounds in 2008.

Gagne recorded 187 saves in his career and still holds several major league records for the closer role, including the longest consecutive save streak in major league history (84 straight from 8/28/02 to 7/3/04) and highest career save percentage among pitchers with at least 150 chances (91.7%).

The Montreal native began his professional coaching debut in 2018 as the pitching coach for the Arizona League Rangers. Gagne also had a stint as the pitching coach for Team France during the World Baseball Classic Qualifiers in 2012.

Olivas, 41, enters his first season as athletic trainer for the Sounds. The New Mexico native spent the previous three seasons in the same role for Triple-A Round Rock.

Prior to his time in Round Rock, Olivas spent the previous five seasons with Double-A Frisco, where he was named Texas League Athletic Trainer of the Year by the Professional Baseball Athletic Trainers Society (PBATS) in 2012 and 2013. Olivas spent eight seasons in the Los Angeles Dodgers organization prior to joining the Texas organization in 2009.

Olivas graduated from the University of New Mexico in 2000 with a B.S. in athletic training.

Sandoval, 33, enters his first season as strength and conditioning coach for the Sounds. The Colorado native spent the 2018 season in the same role with Triple-A Round Rock.

Prior to his one season in Round Rock, Sandoval spent the 2017 season with Advanced-A Down East. Before joining the Texas organization in December 2016, Sandoval spent five seasons in the Los Angeles Angels organization, including three seasons (2014-16) as the Club’s minor league strength and conditioning coordinator. Sandoval began his baseball career in the Colorado Rockies organization, working as a strength coach from 2008-11.

Sandoval is a 2008 graduate of Colorado State University-Pueblo, where he was a three-year varsity letter winner for the Thunderwolves baseball team.

The entire 2018 Nashville Sounds field staff led by Manager Fran Riordan will be in Las Vegas, the new home for the Oakland Athletics’ Triple-A team.

The 42nd season of Nashville Sounds baseball begins on Thursday, April 4 when the Nashville Sounds host the Iowa Cubs at First Tennessee Park. Season ticket memberships are available now by calling (615) 690-4487 or by visiting www.nashvillesounds.com.

The Coffee County Raider and Lady Raider basketball teams return home on Friday to begin a six game home stand as they welcome Franklin County to the Joe Frank Patch Memorial Gym.  This 6 game district home stand will feature the last regular season home games of the year for the CHS teams.  Special events have been scheduled for each night of the home stand and the public is invited to come out and celebrate with the Raiders.

On Friday night, the basketball teams will recognize members of the North Coffee Elementary and the Coffee County Middle School basketball teams, coaches and cheerleaders.  Each will be a guest at CHS and will receive free admission to the game.

On Tuesday, January 15^th, members of the East Coffee Elementary basketball teams, coaches and cheerleaders will be the guests of honor as Coffee County hosts Shelbyville.

Friday night, January 18^th, has been designated as First Responders Night as Lawrence County visits The Patch.  First responders, along with a guest, will be admitted to the game for free and will be recognized.  Additionally, members of the Westwood Elementary basketball teams, coaches and cheerleaders will be introduced.

Tuesday, January 22^nd Coffee County will host Columbia.  That night will be the CHS/CCRA Club Night as members of CHS and CCRA clubs can get into the game for $1.  Additionally, members of the Hillsboro Elementary basketball teams, coaches and cheerleaders will be introduced.

On Tuesday, January 29^th, Lincoln County will visit CHS for another district game.  Members of the Hickerson Hawks basketball team, coaches and cheerleaders will be the honored guests.

The home stand closes out on Friday, February 1^st as Tullahoma visits the Patch for Senior Night.  Special guests for that game will be the Rockets and Lady Rockets of Westwood Middle School.

It all begins this Friday night, tip-off for the girls’ game is set for 6 PM and Thunder Radio will bring you live coverage beginning with the Char-El Apartments and Home Rental pregame show at 5:50.

Filip Forsberg

You could say Filip Forsberg is back.

The winger shined on Wednesday night in Chicago, scoring twice, including a dazzling individual effort in overtime to win the contest for the Nashville Predators. The 4-3 victory in extra time gives the Preds points in six straight and seven out of a possible eight on their current road trip.

The contest was only Forsberg’s second since returning from an injury that forced him to miss 17 games. No. 9 was nearly a point-per-game player to open the season in his first 27 games and with a goal in the second period and overtime on Wednesday, he quickly jumped back to his original pace.

“Great effort,” Forsberg said of Wednesday’s game. “A tough late goal, and the guys fought back and had a few looks [in overtime], even before we scored the winner. It’s a great win.”

“We ended up kicking up the lead there late in the third, and you have to fight for the point,” Preds Head Coach Peter Laviolette said. “I liked everything about the overtime, from the opening faceoff to the way we handled the offensive zone and the line change… Fill got out there fresh and he made just an incredible move, really strong play.”

Colton Sissons got the scoring started in Chicago, beating goaltender Collin Delia less than seven minutes into the contest for his ninth of the season – which ties a career high – and his second in as many games.

Chicago evened the score late in the opening period on the power play, but just eight seconds later, P.K. Subban sprung Viktor Arvidsson in on a partial break, and No. 33 went to the backhand for a slick tally and his fifth in his last eight games.

In the second, it was Forsberg who struck on the power play with one of his oh-so-familiar snipes to the back of the twine for his first since returning from injury. The Blackhawks pulled back to within one late in the frame when Jonathan Toews capitalized while shorthanded.

Both teams had their chances in the final period, but with less than three minutes to play in regulation, it was Artem Anisimov who beat Pekka Rinne five-hole to force overtime.

Things turned out just fine, however, as Nashville controlled the puck for the entirety of the session until Forsberg ended it by picking the top corner on Delia and sending his teammates flying over the boards with jubilation.

“I just tried to fire it off,” Forsberg said of his winner. “Once I got close, it was pretty open short side, so I just tried to lift it.”

Sounds simple, doesn’t it?

For a team that suffered a string of road woes for the better part of almost two months, they seem to have found their way again, winners of three straight and four of their last five away from home.

“We’ve been more consistent in our game,” Arvidsson said. “Just playing better defense, not letting as many goals up and protecting our net more… Now, we have almost everyone healthy, so we’ll just keep going from there.”

Scoresberg:

Just moment’s after he walked to the net, picked a top corner and got his team their 27th win of the season, Filip Forsberg admitted he’s still a bit rusty.

That’s understandable, especially given he missed 17 games due to injury. But, if scoring two goals, including the game-winner, is what he looks like rusty, just give it a couple of months.

“There were a couple passes that I missed and stuff like that, but it’s getting better,” Forsberg said. “Just trying to work hard and a lot of things worked today.”

So humble, right?

You wouldn’t expect anything less from the soft-spoken Swede, but in reality, he made a major statement in showing why he’s consistently one of Nashville’s most important pieces night after night.

“He’s a great player,” Arvidsson said of his linemate and friend. “He knows what he’s good at, and he does it to his best of his abilities. You can see it on the ice; he’s really comfortable, and he’s having fun.”

Forsberg, Arvidsson and Ryan Johansen, Nashville’s top trio, certainly seemed to be enjoying themselves on Wednesday night, combining for three of the club’s four goals, 18 shots and a myriad of chances throughout the evening.

And if Arvidsson is the workhorse and Johansen the playmaker, Forsberg established himself as the finisher once more.

“Fil is a huge part of the team,” Laviolette said. “He’s been our top scorer for the past two years, and that line has been very good… Arv and Fil were both out for a long time, so they’re probably going to shake off a little bit of rust, but the more they play, the better they’re going to feel. They had a big impact in the game tonight, all three of them.”

Notes:

Preds defenseman Mattias Ekholm extended his point streak to four games and recorded his 150th career point in the process with an assist on Colton Sissons’s goal.

Defenseman P.K. Subban extended his point streak to four games on the night, and Kevin Fiala’s stretched to three.

Nashville will play the fifth contest of their six-game trip on Thursday night in Columbus against the Blue Jackets before finishing up on Sunday afternoon in Carolina.

Pete Weaber’s Postgame Report

U.S. Soccer announced in December that the U.S. Women’s National Team will return to Nashville as a part of it preparations for the 2019 FIFA Women’s World Cup. In a 10-game build up to the World Cup dubbed “Countdown to the Cup,” the U.S. WNT will play England at Nissan Stadium on March 2, 2019 in the SheBelieves Cup.

Nashville SC Season Ticket Members will have exclusive presale access to tickets for the game.

A four-team round robin tournament, the 2019 SheBelieves Cup will include the U.S., England, Brazil and Japan, playing doubleheaders in three cities from February 27 through March 5. Brazil and Japan will open up the March 2 doubleheader at Nissan Stadium at 1 p.m. CT while the U.S. and England will play at 3:30 p.m.

“This schedule checks a lot of important boxes in our preparation for the World Cup,” said U.S. WNT head coach Jill Ellis. “We’ll get to experience a variety of teams in regard to their strengths and styles of play and almost all of countries will be in their World Cup preparation as well. We are playing tough games in Europe, which is vitally important, and also get to play quality opponents in front of our home fans at venues all across the USA. It will go fast, but these games will be a major factor in pushing us to be at our peak once we arrive in France next summer.”

The U.S. WNT is 3-0 all-time at Nissan Stadium, taking down Canada in 2004 and France in 2016 by identical 1-0 scores. The USA also beat Scotland 3-1 in 2013.

As a part of the SheBelieves Cup, U.S. Soccer will hold a Girls’ Fantasy Camp in Nashville from March 1-4. It will include training sessions with former Women’s National Team players, premium match tickets, behind-the-scenes access and more. The camp is open to girls born in 2005, 2006 and 2007. For more information, contact fantasycamp@ussoccer.org.