1st National Bank and Thunder Radio will once again join forces this fall as we continue to highlight local athletes and teams. The highly acclaimed 1st National Bank Hometown Sports Series returns for its 5th season as we highlight middle school football action from Westwood and Coffee County Middle, along with girls’ soccer and volleyball at the middle schools and at Coffee County Central High.

A special treat this year will be a pair of matchups between Westwood Middle School and Coffee County Middle School.  On August 6^th, we visit CCMS as the Lady Raider volleyball team plays host to Westwood’s Lady Rocket volleyball squad.  On September 17^th, the Lady Raider soccer team from Coffee Middle will take on the Lady Rockets from Westwood at the high school soccer field behind the Raider Academy.

Beginning on August 7th and continuing through the end of September, Thunder Radio will bring you a series of 15 regular season contests as we strive to spotlight Manchester’s incredible school and community spirit.  The Hometown Sports Series will continue into the postseason for the high school volleyball and soccer teams as well as any middle school football championship games in October.   Just another example of why Thunder Radio is your leader in Manchester and Coffee County sports coverage.

The tentative schedule is as follows:

Looking to defend their 2017 district and region titles, the Coffee County CHS golf team will open the 2018 season on the road on Thursday.  The Red Raider golfers, coming off a 6th place finish in the state last year, will travel to Eagleville for an 18 hole tournament at Champions Run Golf Course.   The Red Raiders, who finished with a match record of 52 and 8 last year, will square off against several of the best teams in the region as they look to repeat as region champions.

Coffee County will be led by an experienced foursome of senior golfers, with some talented younger players pressing to make it to the top of the scorecard.  Senior Austin Farris was the top individual finisher last season as he shot a 2nd day score of 3 under par 69 to finish in 33rd place.  Senior Samuel Prater had a 3 over par score of 75 in Day #1 of the state tournament to finish in 47th place.  Fellow seniors Matthew Hale and Josh Perry round out the senior foursome as Hale came home in 53rd place in the state while Perry finished in 55th place.

The Raider linksters will travel to Lawrenceburg on Monday for an 18 hole tournament.  Coffee County will also play a pair of tournaments in Cookeville, on Tuesday and Monday, August 6th before their first home match.  The Raiders first home match will be on Tuesday, August 7th at Willowbrook when they welcome Warren County for a 9 hole match.

The Coffee County Lady Raider volleyball team will host a scrimmage play day on Thursday at the Joe Frank Patch Memorial Gym.  Ten teams in all will be in action beginning at 8:30 AM.  Action will take place on all 3 courts so spectators are encouraged to bring their own lawn chair.

Coffee County will take on Tullahoma at 8:30 AM.  They will follow that up with a 10AM match against Oakland.  The Lady Raiders will close out play with a 1 PM match against former district rival White County.

The complete schedule is as follows:

When Nashville SC needed a spark, Taylor Washington brought the fire.

The 24-year-old New York native scored his first professional goal in the 80’ minute as Nashville snapped a two-match losing skid with a 1-0 victory over Atlanta United 2 at First Tennessee Park. Nashville held their own against a beefed-up ATL UTD 2 roster that featured plenty of MLS talent.

90 in a Nutshell

The first half was a grudge match between the two sides with both teams gaining chances on either end. In his first USL start with the club, goalkeeper CJ Cochran did a solid job for Nashville and cleared an early chance for Atlanta. As the half wore on, Nashville’s Lebo Moloto had some golden opportunities on goal but his first chance was into the arms of Atlanta’s keeper and the second was pushed wide. The half ended with zeros on either side.

The first few minutes of the second half looked a lot like the first with Atlanta gaining a few early opportunities. Nashville nearly broke it open in the 70’ minute but a Ropapa Mensah header rang off the far post. Washington subbed on in the 74’ minute and immediately got to work. In the 80’ minute, Ish Jome sent a low cross through the box from the right side. Brandon Allen let it go to Washington who buried it into the empty goal frame. It was his first-ever professional goal. From there, Nashville locked it down and held on for the win.

Goals

80’ – Taylor Washington (assisted by Ish Jome)

Quotable

Head coach Gary Smith

“The key was always going to be how do we find a breakthrough. A couple of chances, I think Ropapa hit the post, I couldn’t quite see, I didn’t know whether the goalkeeper got a hand on it or not, and clear-cut chances were always going to be at a premium. In the end, of course, absolutely delighted that Taylor can seal the deal. But, I genuinely felt we were the better side. We created the better chances and I’m very, very pleased in the conduct of the group again.”

Key Stat

Atlanta United 2 – One shot on target. Nashville was able to keep ATL UTD 2 to the perimeter for most of the match despite a few set piece chances. Cochran stood up to the one shot he faced to earn his first clean sheet for Nashville SC.

Standings Update

With the win, Nashville SC now has 30 points and moves up to sixth place in the Eastern Conference standings. The result of Indy Eleven’s matchup on Thursday could shake up the standings again prior to Nashville’s next match.

First Goal of Pro Career

It took three years, but the game winner scored by Washington was his first as a pro. Winger Ish Jome played a low cross through the box. Forward Brandon Allen let it go through his legs to Washington who buried it into the open net.

Much Stronger Opponent

Although Nashville beat Atlanta United 2 3-0 just 26 days ago, this Atlanta side was a much different team, featuring five starters who have played for Atlanta United of MLS this season, including forward Romario Williams who has played 13 games and has a goal for Atlanta’s MLS side.

Cochran’s First USL Start

With a minor injury to starting keeper Matt Pickens, CJ Cochran received his first start in net for Nashville SC in USL play. He didn’t disappoint as he recorded the clean sheet to preserve the 1-0 win. It’s his second clean sheet of the season after he snagged one with Fresno FC while on loan in June.

First Pro Appearance

With Nashville’s depth being tested on the backline following an injury to Bradley Bourgeois and a suspension to London Woodberry, rookie Jordan Dunstan subbed into the game in the 90’+1 minute, making the first appearance of his professional career. He immediately made an impact, clearing a dangerous cross in late the game to seal the victory.

Short Turn Around

Nashville will take on its second MLS2 side of the week on Saturday night when it travels to Rochester, N.Y. to take on Toronto FC II. Toronto is still looking for its first win of the season at 0-15-3, so Nashville stands a good chance to pick up another result on the weekend.

Up Next

Nashville will have yet another quick turnaround as the club travels to Rochester to take on Toronto FC II on Saturday night at 5 PM.

The Las Vegas 51s came from behind to defeat the Nashville Sounds 6-3 in 10 innings Wednesday night at Cashman Field. Zach Borenstein’s walk-off three-run home run in the 10^th inning evened the three-game series.

Two rarities occurred Wednesday night in Sin City. The game saw a pitcher’s duel at hitter-friendly Cashman Field and featured a 19-minute rain delay in the middle of the second inning. Nashville’s Daniel Mengden went seven innings and allowed just two runs, one earned on three hits while striking out four. It was the second night in a row the Sounds starting pitcher lasted seven innings. Mengden’s counterpart, Chris Flexen also yielded just a pair of runs in seven innings of work.

Ramón Laureano had his name stamped all over the game as he teed off on Las Vegas for the second straight night. The center fielder went 3-for-3 with three runs, a double, a home run, and a walk in the loss. He got the game started with a double and came in to score two batters later on a wild pitch. Two innings later he drilled a two-out solo blast for his 11^th home run of the season and double Nashville’s lead.

The 2-0 lead was short-lived as Las Vegas evened the score in the home half of the third inning. Colton Plaia launched a solo home run to begin the frame. A two-out error by second baseman Franklin Barreto allowed Luis Guillorme to reach and proved costly. Borenstein drove in Guillorme as he yanked a triple down the right field line.

In the ninth inning it was Laureano’s leadoff walk against former Nashville closer Bobby Wahl that led to the go-ahead run. Laureano then swiped second base and advanced to third on Steve Lombardozzi’s perfectly placed second sacrifice bunt of the game. Beau Taylor pulled a single past the outstretched glove of Las Vegas first baseman Peter Alonso to drive home Laureano and put the Sounds in front 3-2.

Kevin Kaczmarski’s two-out RBI single for Las Vegas in the bottom of the ninth sent the game into extra-innings. Barreto, the designated runner for the Sounds, tried to score from second base on Sheldon Neuse’s hard-hit single to right field but was gunned down at the plate by Patrick Kivelehan. In the bottom of the inning Josh Lucas plunked Guillorme to put runners on first and second before Borenstein put an end to the game with a three-run home run to left field.

The third and final game of the series is scheduled for Thursday night at Cashman Field. Left-hander Eric Jokisch (3-8, 4.43) starts for the Sounds against right-hander Drew Gagnon (1-4, 5.16) for the 51s. First pitch is scheduled for 9:05 p.m.

Post-Game Notes

• With Wednesday night’s 6-3 loss, the Sounds dropped to 50-52 on the season.
• Ramón Laureano is now 7-for-9 with 4 runs, 2 doubles, 2 home runs, and 4 RBI in two games against Las Vegas.
• With Daniel Mengden’s seven-inning outing, Sounds starters have gone at least six innings in nine of the last 12 games.
• Steve Lombardozzi laid down two sacrifice bunts to become the first Sounds player with multiple sacrifice bunts in a single game this season.
• The Sounds hit into five double plays to set a new season-high.
• Sheldon Neuse extended his hitting streak to a season-high 10 games with a single in the 10^th inning. His career-long hitting streak is 11 games.
• The Sounds are now 6-5 in extra-inning games this season.

The 2018 season is the Sounds’ 41^st in franchise history and fourth as the Oakland Athletics’ top affiliate. Single-game tickets are available now by calling (615) 690-4487 or by visiting www.nashvillesounds.com.