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CCMS Baseball Ties Blackman on Saturday
Tristan Grissom of CCMS baseball
The Coffee County Middle School baseball team finished 4th in the Blaze Challenge Tournament in Murfreesboro on Saturday. The Red Raiders ended the tournament with a win and a tie after a 1 to 1 stalemate with Blackman on Saturday morning. The semifinal and final rounds were cancelled on Saturday night and Sunday due to wet fields.
On Saturday against Blackman, Coffee County rallied with a run in the 4th inning to tie the contest at 1. The Red Raiders outhit Blackman 6 to 3 but stranded 7 runners in the game. By the tournament tie-breaker rules, Coffee County finished in 4th place behind Blackman who ended up in 3rd. Tristan Grissom finished the game with 2 hits and drove in Coffee Middle’s lone run. Jacob Holder added a double. Connor Shemwell and Jacob Sherrill combined to pitch the 7 inning 3 hitter for the Raiders.
The Red Raiders will hit the field again on Monday when they travel to Winchester to take on South Franklin. First pitch is set for 5 PM at the Winchester City Park.
High-Scoring, Spirited Affair Ends in Shootout Loss
A high-scoring and spirited affair between the Nashville Predators and Winnipeg Jets had to be decided in a shootout, with Winnipeg picking up the extra point in a 5-4 victory at Bell MTS Place.
Nashville held leads of 2-0, 3-1 and 4-3, but after Blake Wheeler’s 20th forced an overtime that saw both teams hit iron, Mark Scheifele scored the lone goal in the shootout to decide the game. The single point added to the Predators’ total puts them at 107 on the season, five points up on the Jets with five games to play.
The Preds finished their weekend set with Minnesota and Winnipeg at 0-1-1, but were much more pleased with their performance in the second half of the back-to-back games.
“I thought the guys played hard, especially in the situation playing the night before,” Predators Head Coach Peter Laviolette said. “We battled hard in the game against a really good team and lost in breakaways.”
“[Tonight’s effort was] much better,” Nashville defenseman Ryan Ellis said. “The last two games, I think we just weren’t ourselves. We didn’t look like anything we’ve been this whole year and tonight, on a back-to-back versus arguably one of the best teams in the League, to put that effort out and get a point out of it – it’s not [the result] we wanted – but it was much better by everyone involved. Much better effort.”
Nashville took a 1-0 lead midway through the first when Roman Josi blasted home a shot past Connor Hellebuyck, and then with 0.2 ticks to play in the opening frame, Kyle Turris converted on the power play to give the Preds a 2-0 advantage after 20 minutes.
It was all Winnipeg as the second period began, and if it weren’t for the play of Preds goaltender Juuse Saros, the damage could have been worse, with the Jets ultimately outshooting the Preds 25-8 in the middle frame.
After Kyle Connor got the Jets on the board, Ellis got Nashville’s two-goal lead back shortly thereafter. The Jets kept coming, however, and Dustin Byfuglien and Bryan Little combined to tie the game at 3-3. It was Viktor Arvidsson who tallied the final marker of the second, jamming a loose puck in the crease over the line for his team-leading 28th and a 4-3 lead.
It took Wheeler just 59 seconds into the third period to even the score once more, and after 19 more minutes of regulation – and both teams hitting the post in overtime – Scheifele scored the only goal in the shootout to put Winnipeg on top.
The two clubs combined for 41 goals though five games to close out the season series, a pure show of force between a pair that have demonstrated time and time again why they’re the ones battling for the Central Division crown.
And like any good duel, it appears it may take until the final weekend to determine who wins the division – and the West.
“It’s two of the top teams in the League right now,” Ellis said. “They’re a high-flying team, we think we’re a high flying team too, and whatever it is, one team seems to score and the other team seems to come right back.
“But the effort is better. It’s not about X’s and O’s so much, it’s about being on the puck first, hitting guys first and initiating stuff like that. Tonight, on a back-to-back versus that team, it was a good game for both sides.”
Notes:
The Predators announced the following updates regarding their personnel prior to Sunday’s game. Defenseman Yannick Weber, who left Saturday’s game in Minnesota and did not return, was scratched on Sunday due to maintenance. Forward Austin Watson, who also left the game on Saturday, suffered an upper-body injury and will be re-evaluated back in Nashville. In addition, defenseman Alexei Emelin is now listed as day-to-day with an upper-body injury.
The Predators now return to Nashville for a three-game home stand, beginning Tuesday against Minnesota. They then host San Jose and Buffalo to round out the week before embarking on their final road trip of the regular season.
Preds ‘Get Away From Their Game’ in Loss to Wild
The home team scored four unanswered goals as the Nashville Predators fell to the Minnesota Wild on Saturday night at Xcel Energy Center. The 4-1 loss is the second consecutive defeat in regulation for the Preds, bringing their franchise-record road win and point streaks of nine and 15 games to a close.
Nashville took a 1-0 lead to open the contest, but the Wild took over from there, as the Preds got away from their game, allowing Minnesota to come away with two points.
“We weren’t good,” Predators Head Coach Peter Laviolette said. “[As the game went on] we got worse.”
“The first period was good… We just didn’t play up to our potential the last two periods, for whatever reason,” Nashville Captain Roman Josi said.
Ryan Johansen gave the Predators a 1-0 lead after 20 minutes when he followed up his own rebound and beat Devan Dubnyk for his 13th of the season, but goals from Joel Eriksson Ek and Nino Niederreiter in the second stanza saw Minnesota take their first lead of the evening.
Jason Zucker gave the Wild a two-goal advantage early in the third, and Zach Parise iced it to hand the Predators just their second regulation loss on the road in the 2018 calendar year.
“We started the game really well and dictated the pace, and then for whatever reason got away from it,” Johansen said. “We took a few too many penalties… but we have to stay out the box and have better discipline. We’ll look at [the video], but we just have to play like we did in the first and we got away from it a little bit, so it’s frustrating.”
The Predators have little time to dwell on Saturday’s loss, as they get set to face the Jets, the club challenging Nashville for the Central Division crown, on Sunday evening in Winnipeg.
“We’ll use [this loss] as some motivation here,” Johansen said. “We have to get back to our winning ways, so we’re looking forward to tomorrow and the drop of the puck. That’s a good thing about this situation, we get to play tomorrow night.”
Notes:
Predators defenseman Yannick Weber left the game on Saturday and did not return after taking a hit in the first period. Austin Watson also exited the game in the second period. Laviolette did not have updates on the condition of either player following the game.
Defensemen Alexei Emelin and Matt Irwin, as well as forward Mike Fisher, were all scratched for Nashville in Minnesota.
The Predators now head to Winnipeg to face the Jets on Sunday evening before returning to Nashville for a three-game home stand, beginning on Tuesday against the Wild.
Former Baseball Coach’s Trial Moved to April
Bradley Newton Weir
The 47-year-old Weir is facing a 16-count indictment after being charged with having sex with a 15-year-old Coffee County student in 2015.
The trial never started on Monday because Weir’s attorney reported to District Attorney General Craig Northcott that Weir was unable to be in court because Weir had suffered a gunshot wound to his leg on Sunday night at his home in East Ridge, TN.
D.A. Northcott says that a conference call was conducted at his request and Coffee County Judge Vanessa Jackson agreed to move the date forward. The D.A. added that the trial has been moved from the courthouse on the square to the Coffee County Justice Center.
Jury selection will begin during the morning of April 4 with the trial expected to begin later that day.
Giving False Name to Highway Patrolman leads to man receiving Multiple Charges
Demonte L Fletcher… Photo provided by the CCSD.
When the trooper checked he learned that the man was Demonte L. Fletcher, 21, of Nashville and that there were warrants for his arrest, he handcuffed him and placed Fletcher in the back of the patrol car.
While in the back of the patrol car, Fletcher began to attempt to destroy and damage the inside of the patrol car. The officer took him out of the patrol car and Fletcher allegedly started “yelling and cursing,” according to warrants. He also started to kick the door of the car. He was subdued and placed back in the car.
Fletcher was charged with disorderly conduct, vandalism, criminal impersonation, resisting arrest and violation of conditions of community supervision. He was booked into the Coffee County Jail on the charges and held under a bond of $13,500. He is to appear in Coffee County Generals Sessions Court June 12.
Interstate 24 Closed for 5 Hours after Friday Crash
Photo from Rutherford County EMS Special Operations
The crash happened around 10:30 Friday morning when a Corvette became pinned underneath the semi with multiple people inside. Vanderbilt Medical Center’s Lifeflight was called to the scene.
The Tennessee Highway Patrol had the roadway shut down until 3pm while they investigated the crash.
Rutherford County EMS Special Operations team officials report the extrication was difficult, but they worked alongside Murfreesboro Fire and Rescue to get the people out quickly and safely.
The driver of the Corvette was transported to Vanderbilt Medical Center by LifeFlight, the passenger by ground. Both patients were in critical condition. Their names were not provided.
Grundy Co. Man Found Passed Out in His Vehicle now Facing Drug Charges
Cory Shawn Caldwel
On Thursday, (March 22, 2018), Grundy County Deputy Billy Harris received a call regarding a male subject passed out in his vehicle at the Hwy 399 car wash.
Through the course of the investigation, Deputy Harris found approximately 20 grams of meth, numerous pills, and marijuana. He also seized $1,608 and a Honda Civic.
Items found. Photo provided
Bald Eagle Released to Fly Again
Photo of the eagle provided by the TWRA
Tennessee Wildlife Officer, Larry Thurston was alerted to the animal in distress on Saturday, March 17. After rescuing the eagle, he took it to the Shelbyville Animal Hospital where the Dr.’s Anderson and Stimpson cared for the animal overnight. On Sunday officer Thurston transported the eagle to Walden’s Puddle Rehabilitation Center where the eagle recuperated.
At the time the eagle was rescued it appeared weak and lethargic. Although there was no trauma indicating that the animal had been shot, an x-ray of the animal shows a small round object in the wing which resembles the shape and size of a shot gun pellet. Walden’s Puddle staff confirmed that it was a pellet but that the injury was old. It is not clear at this time what caused the eagle to become ill, but after spending a week in rehab it had regained its strength.
CHS Baseball Rallies Twice to Best Central Magnet
Skylar Bratcher of CHS baseball
The CHS baseball team welcomed Central Magnet out of Murfreesboro to Powers Field on Friday. In a game you heard here on Thunder Radio, the Raiders were able to gain the upper hand in the 3rd inning and hold off a late Tigers rally. The Red Raiders came out on top 8 to 7.
After surrendering a pair of runs in the top of the 1st inning, Coffee County rallied back to take a 3 to 2 lead in the bottom half of the first inning. The visiting Tigers plated 3 more in the top of the 3rd but once again, the resilient Raiders added a 4 spot to take a 7 to 5 lead. After scoring an insurance run in the 4th, the Raiders had to battle out of a jam in the 6th to capture the win.
Coffee County was led in hitting by Skylar Bratcher who was 2 for 2 a walk, a sacrifice fly and 2 RBI. For his performance, Bratcher was tabbed the Crazy Daisies Player of the game. Fellow freshman Ryan Stephens was 2 for 3 with an RBI as was senior, Jacob Langham. Scottie Duke came on in relief to get the win on the mound for the Raiders. Zack Milan got the final 4 outs to register the save.
The Red Raiders are back at home on Saturday, weather permitting, when they host Middle Tennessee Christian. First pitch will be at 3 PM at Powers Field.
Download the broadcast at: http://www.thunder1320.com/downloads/
CHS Softball Clubs 5 Home Runs in Friday Action
Raven Rogers of CHS softball[File Photo]
Against Ardmore, the Lady Raiders had 3 home runs as they scored in every inning to get the 5 inning win. Keri Munn and Haley Richardson combined to throw a no-hitter in the game for Coffee County. Sarah West had a pair of home runs as she finished the game going 3 for 3 with 5 RBI. Katie Rutledge was 3 for 4 with a home run and 4 RBI. Kasarah Scheller and Raven Rogers each finished with 3 hits for Coffee County.
The Lady Raiders turned around to take on Carl Sandburg out of suburban Chicago. In a back and forth affair, the Lady Raiders scored 5 runs in the 5th inning to take a 10 to 8 lead which they held into the 6th. In the bottom of the 6th, Sandburg pushed across 4 runs before the time limit expired. Keri Munn had a pair of home runs for Coffee County as she went 2 for 3 with 4 RBI. Shelby Scrivnor was 3 for 3 with an RBI while Haley Richardson finished 2 for 3 with 3 RBI.
Coffee County returns to Murfreesboro on Saturday for 3 games. The Lady Raiders open up at 8 AM against South Elgin out of Illinois. At noon Coffee County take on Smyrna before the Lady Raiders close out the day at 2 PM against Evansville North out of Indiana. All 3 games will be played at the McKnight Park complex.