The Coffee County Youth Golf League hosted their 2^nd week of matches on Monday night at Willowbrook.  The league, sponsored by the Coffee County Junior Golf Association, plays each Monday evening through July at Willowbrook Golf Club.  Four teams make up the league with 2 sets of head to head, 9 hole matchups each week using the Junior PGA flag scoring system. 

On Monday, Team Respect doubled up Team Sportsmanship 8 to 4 in Match A. Zach Tidwell, Jaxon Phillips, Thompson Lowe. Danica Fleenor and Ryan Brown all scored single flags while Dax Carney and Rylan Melson each added a ½ flag for Team Respect.  Brayden Kessling and Caleb Jarrell earned full flags while Thomas Keith and Kira Jarrell each gobbled up a ½ flag for Team Sportsmanship.

In Match B, Team Perseverance and Team Sportsmanship battled to a 6 to 6 draw.  Grabbing full flags for Team Perseverance were Grant Kuhn, Luke Wilson, Tallan Crosslin and Eli Williams.  Avery Hill, Brylee Chansky, Gavin Smith and Cade Williams each won full flags for Team Sportsmanship.

The league resumes play on Monday, July 20th at Willowbrook Golf Club.  

The pictures, material and information contained in this story may not be republished, rebroadcast, rewritten, or redistributed, for commercial gain, without the express written consent of Coffee County Broadcasting.

The Manchester Youth Baseball Association will host their final full night of games for the regular season on Thursday night.   Nine games fill the schedule as teams in the 6U and 10U divisions play their final games of the regular season.  The 8U and 12U divisions close out the regular season on Friday with 1 game apiece and the 18U division closes out their regular season on Monday with a doubleheader.  Play in the postseason tournament is set to get underway next week in all age divisions with championship games scheduled for Monday, July 27^th.  All the games will be held at Fred Deadman Park.

Thursday MYBA Schedule

6U Division at T-Ball Field

5:00 PM – Manchester Tire & Brake vs. Cooper Sports

7:30 PM – Lovelady Auto Parts vs. Star Physical Therapy

8U Division at Fast Pitch Field

5:00 PM – KK’s vs. Freedom Automotive

7:30 PM – Dr. Jay vs. Lions Club

10U Division at National League Field

5:00 PM – State Farm vs. Viam

7:30 PM – Viam vs. State Farm

12U Division at Aaron Miller Field

5:00 PM – Bush Insurance vs. Clower Automotive

7:30 PM – Peoples Bank vs. Shelter Insurance

18U Division at Looney Riddle(Babe Ruth) Field

6:00 PM – Christiana Braves vs. Yankees

The pictures, material and information contained in this story may not be republished, rebroadcast, rewritten, or redistributed, for commercial gain, without the express written consent of Coffee County Broadcasting.

By Jim Wyatt – TennesseeTitans.com

The Titans have agreed to terms on a multi-year contract with running back Derrick Henry. Earlier this offseason, Henry signed a one-year franchise tag and the two sides began working on a long-term deal.

The deal got done Wednesday prior to the NFL’s deadline for extensions with franchise-tagged players. Henry turned in the best year of his NFL career in 2019, when he was named the FedEx Ground Player of the Year and a Pro Bowler for the first time.

Henry was also named second-team All-Pro by the Associated Press after leading the NFL with a career-best 1,540 rushing yards on 303 carries. Henry indicated earlier this offseason he wanted to remain with the Titans.

“I want to stay with the Tennessee Titans,” Henry said. “They are the ones that took a chance on me – 31 teams passed on me on the draft and they selected me. I have a lot of love for Tennessee. I have a lot of love for everyone in that organization.

“And we have grown from the time I got there. (In 2016) we just missed the playoffs, (in 2017) we got into the playoffs and went into the second round. This year we went to the AFC Championship. We have grown as an organization and as a team and I think that speaks volume for the direction we’re headed.”

Henry ranked third in NFL with 18 total touchdowns in 2019, and he ranked second in the AFC and fourth in the NFL with 1,746 yards from scrimmage.

Henry was a real workhorse in the postseason, setting a franchise playoff record with 182 rushing yards at New England (1/4/20) before resetting it with 195 rushing yards at Baltimore (1/11/20). Henry gained 69 yards on 19 carries in the AFC title game loss at Kansas City.

Henry was the only running back in the NFL to average more than 100 rushing yards per game (102.7) this season. From Weeks 10-13, he joined Pro Football Hall of Famers Jim Brown (1985), Eric Dickerson (1984) and O.J. Simpson (1976), as well as Adrian Peterson (2012) as the only players to record at least 145 rushing yards and a rushing touchdown in three consecutive games in NFL history.

Over the past three seasons, Henry has tallied seven touchdowns – five rushing and two receiving – that have gone for 65 yards or more, which leads the NFL (Tyreek Hill, 5) and his 28 rushing touchdowns over the last two years rank second in the NFL (Todd Gurley, 29).

For his NFL career, Henry has rushed for 3,833 yards and 38 touchdowns in 62 games for the Titans. He also has added 630 rushing yards and three touchdowns in five postseason contests. Henry joined Tennessee as a second-round selection in 2016, as a Heisman-trophy winner from the University of Alabama.

Jim Wyatt is the Senior Writer and Editor for TennesseeTitans.com

Free-agent outfielder Yasiel Puig has agreed to a deal with the Atlanta Braves, a source told MLB.com’s Mark Feinsand on Tuesday afternoon. The reported deal is pending a physical, as well as a negative test for COVID-19 before Puig could join the club at camp.

The Braves are waiting on Puig to pass his physical before formally announcing the signing. 

Puig, a 29-year-old outfielder, played for both Ohio teams last season, hitting .252 with 22 homers and 61 RBIs in 100 games for the Reds before being dealt to the Indians in a three-team trade at the Trade Deadline. He hit .297 over 49 games for Cleveland, with a couple of home runs and 23 RBIs over 182 at-bats.

Puig should bolster the corner outfield in Atlanta after veteran Nick Markakis elected not to play in 2020. He’ll join a Braves outfield corps that includes Ronald Acuña Jr., Ender Inciarte, Adam Duvall and fellow free-agent addition Marcell Ozuna.

Puig’s addition to the Braves’ roster could also give the defending National League East champs more flexibility with the designated hitter position. The bat-first Ozuna, for example, might fit best at DH.

The Orioles were the only other team known to have made Puig an offer, as Feinsand reported on Saturday.

One of the bigger names left on the open market, Puig spent his first six big league seasons with the Dodgers, bursting onto the scene during the 2013 campaign, for which he finished second in NL Rookie of the Year Award voting.

Over seven big league seasons, Puig has hit .277 with 132 homers and 415 RBIs. He’s put up a .823 OPS in 3,376 plate appearances, accumulating 18.9 WAR (according to baseball-reference) during his career.

The Manchester Youth Baseball Association hosted 9 games on a hot Tuesday night at Fred Deadman Park. 

In the 6U division, Cooper Sports bounced Star Physical Therapy 21 to 13 and Manchester Tire and Brake tripped up Lovelady Auto Parts 26 to 5.  In the first game, Cooper erupted for 9 runs in the 4^th inning to blow open a tight game and get the win.  Levi had 2 doubles and a single to lead Cooper and Blaine hit a grand slam in the big 4^th inning for Cooper.  Laine Jones had a homer and 2 singles and scored twice for Star.  In the 2^nd game, division leading Manchester Tire and Brake stayed perfect as they banged out 26 hits.  Kasen Shelton, Trey Stevens and Knox Cashion all had home runs for MT&B.  Owen, Kayde, Jax, Patrick, Dominic and Madison all had singles for Lovelady. 

In the 8U division, Dr. Jay’s dusted off KK’s 16 to 3.  Dr. Jay’s scored in every inning and their defense held KK’s scoreless until the 5^th inning.  KK’s strung together 4 hits to plate their 3 runs in the 5th inning rally. Jackson led Dr. Jay’s in hitting with 2 singles, a triple and a home run while scoring 3 times.  Kolton also had a homer for the Doc squad.  Walker had 3 singles and scored once for KK’s.  The win for Dr. Jay’s sets up a match up with Freedom Automotive on Friday for the division championship.

In the 10U division, State Farm spilled Coffee County Bank 15 to 8 and First National Bank dropped Chico’s Bail Bonds 9 to 8.  In the early game, State Farm scored 7 runs in each of the 1^st two innings to take a commanding lead.  Xander Meeks had a home run and Randall Harrison added a triple to lead State Farm.  Clayton Keele had a 3 RBI triple to lead the Coffee County Bank attack.  In the nightcap, First National Bank built a 9 to 4 lead entering the 4^th inning and had to hold off a frantic Chico’s rally to grab the win.  Chico’s came up just short as they had the tying run at 3^rd base.  Preston Alford had a single, a double and 2 RBI and Keldon Jolly added a 2 RBI single for First National.  For Chico’s, Kaden Brewer had a 2 run home run and Aaden Spry ripped a double. 

In the 12U division, Bush Insurance topped Shelter Insurance 10 to 9 and First Vision Bank held off Powers Storage 8 to 7.  In the 1^st game, Bush built a 10 to 2 lead before Shelter grabbed a pair of runs back in the bottom of the 3^rd and struck for 5 more in the 4^th before the time limit caught up to them.  Ashton Radenmacher had a solo home run and Sy Owens and Kasen Shores each added a double and a single for Bush.  Matt Moore had a triple and a double and scored 2 runs for Shelter.  In the 2^nd game, Powers Storage pushed across 2 runs in the top of the 5^th inning to tie the game but First Vision plated the winning run in the bottom of the frame to get the upset win.  Keith Hayter had a triple and a single while Boone Floyd added a double and a single for First Vision.  Trevor Jesse had 2 doubles and a single to pace Powers. 

In the 18U division, the Mets scalped the Christiana Braves 9 to 4 and the Yankees cancelled the Expos 8 to 6.  In the opener, the Mets started strong with 4 runs in the 1^st inning and held off a late rally from their Rutherford County competitor.  Griffin Meeker got the win on the mound for the Mets.  Trent Thompson had a triple, double and a single and scored 3 times for the Mets.  Ty Reynolds had a double and a 2 RBI single for the Braves.  In the nightcap, the Yankees pushed 5 runs across the plate in the 2^nd inning and made it stand up against the Expos from Murfreesboro.  Dylan Koon had a double and a single while Wyatt Nugent added a pair of singles for the Yankees.  Walker had a double and a single and scored twice for the Expos. 

By Mark Bowman – MLB.com

It will be hard for Mike Soroka to top what he did last year when he drew National League Cy Young Award consideration and finished second in NL Rookie of the Year balloting.

But the 22-year-old hurler delivered an exciting message for Braves fans after throwing four innings in an intrasquad game at Truist Park on Monday night.

“To be honest, my stuff has never felt better,” said Soroka, who is expected to draw his first Opening Day start on July 24, when he’ll likely match up against Mets ace Jacob deGrom at Citi Field.

Soroka certainly has the potential to continue improving this early in his career. It will be a challenge for him to top last year’s 2.68 ERA, which ranked third in the NL. But if he starts this season like he did 2019, he will again be a strong candidate for postseason awards.

With this year’s schedule reduced to 60 games, most starting pitchers will not make more than 12 starts. So there will be a desire to get off to a hot start, like Soroka did last year, when he posted a 1.38 ERA through 10 starts and a 2.12 ERA through 12.

But Soroka knows dwelling on last year’s success could prove detrimental.

“Going back to that time last year, I didn’t know if I was going to make my next start, in the sense we were all kind of battling for that spot,” Soroka said. “So, I think it will be important to put myself back in those shoes and understand the only game that matters is the first one, and then move on from there.”

Ozzie Albies and Marcell Ozuna both recorded a pair of singles to account for the four hits Soroka allowed. Incidentally, Ozuna recorded both of the hits Soroka allowed while limiting the Cardinals to one run over seven innings in Game 3 of their NL Division Series last year.

‘A slow process’ for Hamels

When triceps tendinitis prevented Cole Hamels from throwing a side session on Saturday, he told the Braves it was a minor issue he’s often experienced during Spring Training. His explanation seemed to hold true, based on what he said to manager Brian Snitker on Monday.

“He’s feeling better,” Snitker said. “Everything is progressing. It’s just going to be kind of a slow process for him.”

This has been an extremely slow process for Hamels, who did not throw a pitch in Spring Training because of left shoulder inflammation. It likely would have sidelined him through May had the season started on time. When the Braves opened Summer Camp on July 3, Hamels was not ready to throw batting practice like the other top rotation candidates. So he was already behind schedule before this bout with tendinitis.

Still, Snitker was not ready to rule out the possibility of making the Opening Day roster. With active rosters consisting of 30 players through the season’s first two weeks, the Braves could choose to carry the 36-year-old lefty even if he were ready to throw only two or three innings as part of the piggyback system they plan to use.

COVID-19 updates

With Opening Day a little more than a week away, the Braves are preparing for the possibility of beginning the season without MVP candidate Freddie Freeman and offseason acquisition Will Smith.

For now, Snitker is choosing not to provide any details about Freeman, Smith, Touki Toussaint and Pete Kozma, who all tested positive for COVID-19 when Summer Camp opened.

Freeman has felt good for more than a week. But like Smith, Toussaint and Kozma, he will not be permitted to rejoin the team until he tests negative twice within a span of more than 24 hours.

“They’re all still in that protocol,” Snitker said. “Really, it’s beyond how they feel and all that. Until they’re cleared, they’re away. When they get here, I’ll know they passed all the protocols. But until then, there’s not a whole lot to say about it.”

Pache scare

Top prospect Cristian Pache gave the Braves a scare when he jammed his right ankle while attempting to steal second base on Monday. He remained on the ground in pain, and the medical staff called for a cart on the field.

Pache rose to his feet, walked toward the cart, then made his way toward the clubhouse under his own power. Snitker said the young center fielder will likely be available to play in Tuesday’s intrasquad game.

“It looked to me when he walked off, he probably could have kept going,” Snitker said. “It looked to me like it was just something that scared him a little bit.”

Pache doubled off the top of the left-field wall against Josh Tomlin in the second inning. It brought back memories of 2018, when Pache surprisingly hit two homers off Sean Newcomb while playing against the big leaguers in a spring exhibition game.

Before that, Pache had never homered in his professional career. The 21-year-old outfielder now ranks as baseball’s No. 13 prospect, per MLB Pipeline.

Mark Bowman has covered the Braves for MLB.com since 2001.