Jorge Mateo launched an opposite-field two-run homer in the 10^th inning to break a 6-6 tie and propel the Nashville Sounds to an 8-6 victory and a series win over the El Paso Chihuahuas Friday night at Southwest University Park. The Sounds had blown a 6-3 lead in the bottom of the ninth before Mateo’s heroics in the 10^th helped the team regain control, and Jeremy Bleich got a save in the bottom half.

The Sounds grabbed the game’s first run in the top of the second against former Sound Dillon Overton. Anthony Garcia led off with a single, and Beau Taylor laced a double to the gap in left-center to make it 1-0. El Paso answered that with two runs – one earned – in the bottom half against Eric Jokisch. That was all Jokisch allowed over 6 2/3 innings, and the lefty struck out 11 to tie his career-high. It was his third consecutive quality start, and the second time in a row he left with a lead and ended up with a no-decision.

Fueled by four doubles, the Sounds rallied for a 4-2 lead with three doubles in the fifth against Overton. BJ Boyd, Steve Lombardozzi, Nick Martini and Ramon Laureano each smacked a two-bagger. Martini’s moved his hitting streak to 17 games, the longest by a Sound since 2014, and moved his consecutive games on-base streak to 48, the longest by a Sound since the team joined the Pacific Coast League in 1998. Laureano’s double was his fourth of the series and accounted for his fifth RBI in the set.

After El Paso’s Allen Craig homered off Ryan Dull in the 8^th to make it 4-3, the Sounds scored two in the ninth on RBIs by Beau Taylor and Sheldon Neuse to go ahead 6-3, only to see the Chihuahuas storm back in the bottom of the ninth and take advantage of a costly error by Dean Kiekhefer on a dropped catch. Kiekhefer was credited with the win thanks to the Mateo homer in the 10^th off Colten Brewer, and Bleich notched his first save of the year.

The Sounds continue their seven-game road trip Saturday night with the opener of a four-game series against the Albuquerque Isotopes. Right-hander James Naile (5-5, 3.41) is scheduled to start for the Sounds against Brett Oberholtzer (2-4, 5.73). First pitch is scheduled for 7:35 p.m.

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.

Rack up another state title for the Coffee County Claybusters! The Coffee County Claybusters Junior team bagged the AIM State Championship in Nashville on Tuesday and Wednesday.  The Junior Division team successfully defended their 2017 title as they outdistanced 2^nd place Macon County by 11 clays.  The Sub-Junior Division team finished as a runner-up and 5 Claybusters captured individual medals.

The Junior Division gunners shot a 962 out of a possible 1,000 to capture the trophy.  The Junior Division team shooters were: Hayden Jacobs(197), Colter Smith(190), Victoria Majors(185), Zach Bonee(193) and Austin Schaller(197).  Hayden Jacobs and Austin Schaller tied for individual runner-up in the division with Jacobs coming out on top in the tie-breaker.  Schaller finished in 3^rd place.

The Class A Sub-Junior Raider team finished in 2^nd place with a score of 926.  The Claybusters came in 2^nd place behind Tennessee Smoke by 12 clays.  Shooting for the sub-junior Claybusters were: Lexi Stacey(169), Logan Meadows(184), Tucker Carlson(194), Landon Meadows(193) and Emma Matthews(186).  Landon Meadows won the individual title for the division and Tucker Carlson finished in 3^rd place.

Neil Slone was the other individual winner for Coffee County as he finished in 2^nd place in the Gold Junior Division with a 190.   The Claybusters return to the Nashville Gun Club on June 21^st through the 23^rd for the Tennessee Scholastic Clay Target Program (SCTP) state tournament.

The Coffee County American Legion Post 78 17U baseball team opened up play on Thursday in the 14^th Annual Crethan Hansert Memorial Tournament.  The Red Raiders used a 12 run first inning in Game #1 against Marion County to roll to a 13 to 0 win which was called after 3 ½ innings due to the Mercy Rule.  The Red Raiders fell in the 2^nd game to Tullahoma, 10 to 3.

Against Marion County, Coffee County sent 16 batters to the plate in the 1^st inning as they banged out 10 hits and got the benefit of 4 walks.  Owen Neel and Skylar Bratcher each had a pair of doubles in the first inning.  Neel finished with 3 RBI and Bratcher added 2.  Ryan Stephens had a single, a double and an RBI.  Gage Edwards and Zach Milan each had a single and 2 RBI.  Bratcher got the start on the mound has he surrendered 1 hit and struck out 4.

Against Tullahoma, the Raiders could not get their offense engaged against a hot hitting Wildcat squad.  Tullahoma only outhit Coffee County 8 to 4 but picked up 9 walks to get the win.   Ryan Stephens had a double for Coffee County while Bryson Hullett and Kyle Farless each had a hit and scored a run.

Coffee County will play a pair of games on Friday in the wood bat tournament.  Coffee County will take on Marshall County at 9 AM and Grundy County at 3:30 PM.  The tournament will conclude on Saturday.

The Coffee County CHS basketball team closed out the MTSU basketball camp on Thursday in Murfreesboro.  The varsity team was perfect on the day finishing with a 3 and 0 record.  The JV team won 2 of their 3 games.

The varsity won games over White House Heritage, Tallulah Falls, GA and Murphysboro, IL.  The JV captured wins over Huntland and Providence Christian.  The JV Raiders fell to Knoxville Webb.

Coffee County returns home on Friday, June 22^nd when they welcome Cannon County and Moore County to the Joe Frank Patch Memorial Gym for a day of scrimmages.

The Coffee County Central High School athletic department will welcome two new head coaches this year to head up a pair of co-ed programs.  Coffee County CHS co-athletic director Rebecca Koger announced the hirings on last week for new swim and tennis coaches for the 2018-2019 school year.  Josh Inzer will take over the tennis program from Mike Ray and Becky Behrendorff will be the new swim coach replacing Lana Ray.  Both hirings were approved on June 5th by the Coffee County School Board upon recommendations from the respective

search committees.

Behrendorff is a former student at Tullahoma High School who is currently a swim coach for the local Makos swim program.  Behrendorff is a stay-at-home mom who teaches swimming lessons in her spare time.  In her prep days, Becky competed for the Tullahoma Swim Club and earned a scholarship to swim collegiately at Gardner-Webb University.  When contacted by Thunder Radio on Wednesday, Behrendorff was excited for the opportunity to coach a large number of athletes that are also involved in her club swim program.  It appears the swimmers are excited too. “The kids are excited to get someone they know(as coach)” said Behrendorff.  “We feel her experience and ability will be an asset to our student-athletes” added Koger.

Inzer, a former CHS tennis player, takes over for Mike Ray who will remain on staff at CHS and continue to coach the golf teams.  Inzer is currently a math teacher at the Coffee County Raider Academy.  “We are excited about the energy and enthusiasm that Coach Inzer brings to the tennis team” said Koger.  “We feel he will be a great fit for our program” added Koger.  When contacted by Thunder Radio, Inzer was looking forward to getting to work on Thursday.  “I have watched (some of the Raider tennis players) and I look forward to working with them” said Inzer.

Coach Behrendorff, along with Rebecca Koger have accepted invitations to be guests in an upcoming edition of the Coffee Coaches Show.The Coffee Coaches Show is broadcast each and every Saturday morning LIVE from the showroom of Al White Ford/Lincoln.  The Coffee Coaches Show is heard exclusively here on Thunder Radio beginning at 10 AM.

Nick Martini drilled a three-run homer in the top of the eighth inning to lead the Nashville Sounds to a come-from-behind 7-5 win over the El Paso Chihuahuas Thursday night at Southwest University Park.

Things looked bleak for the Sounds who trailed 5-1 entering the seventh inning. Two-out magic was the theme of the night as Nashville used four straight baserunners in the seventh to draw within a pair of runs at 5-3. Jorge Mateo and BJ Boyd collected infield singles and Martini drew a walk before Ramon Laureano doubled down the left field line to make it a two-run game.

Ryan Dull faced the minimum in the bottom of the seventh to keep the game at 5-3. The comeback continued when Franklin Barreto started the eighth inning with a walk. After Bruce Maxwell flied out for the first out, Sheldon Neuse singled and Steve Lombardozzi walked to load the bases.

Jorge Mateo hit a sacrifice fly to right-center to make it a 5-4 game. El Paso turned to left-hander Tyler Webb to face Martini who hit the first pitch he saw down the right field line for a three-run homer and 7-5 lead for the Sounds.

Martini’s 2-for-4 night extended both his hitting and on-base streak. When he singled in the fifth, he extended his hitting streak to 16 games and the on-base streak to 47 games.

Dean Kiekhefer and Josh Lucas combined to strike out the side in the eighth, and Lucas worked the ninth to pick up his third save of the season. Jeremy Bleich and Ryan Dull combined for three shutout innings out of the bullpen with Dull picking up his first win of the season.

One night after combining to go 7-for-10 with 5 runs and 3 RBI, Martini and Laureano combined to go 4-for-8 with 5 RBI, 2 runs and 2 walks.

The third and final game of the series is scheduled for Friday night in El Paso. Left-hander Eric Jokisch (1-7, 4.95) starts for the Sounds against left-hander Dillon Overton (3-2, 2.50) for the Chihuahuas. First pitch is scheduled for 8:05 p.m.

Post-Game Notes

• With tonight’s 7-5 win, the Sounds improved to 31-33 on the season.
• Fran Riordan earned his 900^th career managerial win tonight.
• Nick Martini extended his consecutive on-base streak to 47 games when he singled in the fifth inning. Martini’s streak is the longest by a Nashville player in the Pacific Coast League era and is the longest active streak in Minor League Baseball. Since April 14, Martini has reached safely in every game he has played in. The single extended his hitting streak to a career-long 16 games.

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.