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Bass Club Team Grabs 2nd Place Finish
Members of the Coffee County Youth Bass Club traveled to DeKalb County on Saturday to take part in the Tennessee Bass Nation Youth Series on Center Hill Lake. Competing against 121 boats, the Raider anglers fought muddy water, cold temps and windy conditions to land some nice fish.
The team of Isaiah Owens and Garrett Davis had the biggest day for Coffee County. They landed 5 fish, weighing in at 15.93 pounds. The largest bass in that stringer weighed in at 4.45 pounds. That result was good enough for a 2nd place finish overall. Brandon Wells and Dawson Wells landed one keeper that weighed in at 2.4 pounds to nab 43rd place. Colby and Braeden Thurmond were just behind them in 45th place with a 2.05 pound bass.
The Raider anglers are back on their home waters on Saturday when they will take part in a region fishing tournament at Normandy Lake. The tournament will blast off at first light from the boat ramp at Barton Springs.
CCMS Soccer Ties North Franklin
The Red Raider soccer team of Coffee County Middle School traveled to Winchester on Saturday to take on North Franklin. This non-conference friendly was a make-up match from Saturday between conference foes. The Red Raiders battled to a 2 to 2 draw with the Gators.
Javier Rodriguez scored both goals on the match for Coffee Middle. The 6th grader has 4 goals in his first 2 middle school matches on the year. The Raiders will return to the pitch on Monday for a 4:15 conference match with Warren County. That match will take place in McMinnville.
Lady Raider Softball Gains Experience at Rutherford Playday on Saturday
Haley Richardson of CHS softball(File Photo by John St. Clair, stclair-sports.com)
The Lady Raider softball team of Coffee County CHS traveled to Murfreesboro on Saturday for 4 games in the Rutherford County scrimmage play day. Coffee County played 3 varsity and a JV game on the day with a pair of games at Oakland and a pair of games at Siegel. On the day, the Lady Raiders were 1 and 2 in varsity play and 0 and 1 in JV action.
Coffee County got a convincing win over Wilson Central on Saturday afternoon at Siegel. After spotting the Lady Cats a 1st inning run, Coffee County scored 2 runs in the 2nd inning and 3 in the 3rd inning to power to the victory. Freshman Keri Munn got the start and the win in the circle as she surrendered 2 hits while striking out 5. The Lady Raiders had 6 hits on the game with Lauren Tomberlin’s 2 RBI double in 2nd inning giving Coffee County all the runs they would need. Raven Rogers had a 2 RBI single to highlight the 3 run 3rd inning. Haley Richardson had a pair of singles and 2 RBI in the loss to Forrest. Coffee County was held to 3 hits against Oakland as Tomberlin had an RBI double to drive in the Raiders only run. In the JV game against Siegel, Allie Roberts had a double for Coffee County.
The Lady Raiders will attempt to play a scrimmage game, or games, later this week; weather permitting. The time, location and opponent are not finalized. Thunder Radio will keep you updated when that has been finalized. The Lady Raiders will open the regular season at home on Monday, March 12th when they play host to Franklin County. That district game will start at 7 PM and Thunder Radio will be on hand to call all the action with Lucky Knott on the call.
CHS Soccer Get in a Pair of Scrimmages on Saturday
After losing out on hosting their scrimmage play day, the Central High School Red Raider soccer team traveled to Murfreesboro on Saturday for a pair of scrimmage games. Traveling to Central Magnet, the Red Raiders tangled with the Central Tigers and Warren County in a pair of 40 minute halves. Coffee County fought to a scoreless draw with Central before dropping a 1 to 0 decision to Warren County.
Coffee County is set to close out the preseason with a scrimmage at Riverdale on Friday. That match will begin at 6:30 PM at Riverdale. Coffee County opens the regular season at home on Tuesday, March 13th when they welcome Warren County to the Raider Soccer Field. That match will kick-off at 7 PM.
Preds Match Franchise Record Winning Streak with OT Victory
What a trip.
Ryan Ellis tied the game late and Filip Forsberg scored the winner in overtime as the Nashville Predators defeated the Colorado Avalanche by a 4-3 final on Sunday afternoon at Pepsi Center. The victory is Nashville’s eighth in a row, tying a franchise record for consecutive wins. It also gives the Preds a clean sweep of their four-game road trip, not to mention points in 12 consecutive outings away from Bridgestone Arena.
Just as they did in the previous three contests of the trip, the Preds rallied as Ellis blasted home a shot with 1:06 to play in regulation to force OT, after the Avalanche had taken a 3-2 lead moments earlier. And then Forsberg ended it.
“We’ve been playing good hockey,” Ellis said. “It hasn’t been the prettiest of ways we’ve been getting it done, but good teams [find ways] to get points, and today was no different.”
For the first time on the trip, Nashville scored the first goal when Austin Watson’s shot deflected off an Avalanche defender and past Semyon Varlamov early in the opening period, but Colorado defenseman Nikita Zadorov evened the score before the frame was out.
A Kyle Turris power-play blast in the second gave the Preds a 2-1 advantage after 40 minutes of play, but in the third period, the Avalanche got a bounce.
After a Matt Nieto shot was stopped by Pekka Rinne, Kevin Fiala accidentally flubbed the puck into his own net while trying to clear it out of the crease. Later, with the Avs on the power play and less than six minutes to play in regulation, Nathan MacKinnon found Mikko Rantanen for a one-timed rocket and Colorado’s first lead of the contest.
It didn’t last long, however, as Ellis and Forsberg combined to complete the comeback and finish a road trip that will undoubtedly go down as one of the more memorable excursions in recent seasons.
“Right now, the confidence level is really high,” Rinne said. “It shows a lot of character too, and never giving up and coming back every game, it’s unbelievable. Sometimes you have those games once a month or a couple times a month, and now we’ve had one four games in a row. It’s a great road trip for us, and for a while now, we’ve been playing with a lot of confidence and it’s a big push here again.”
Road Warriors:
More than 3,000 miles traveled and four games in six days? No problem.
With an overtime win over the Avalanche on Sunday, the Predators swept their four-game road trip, collecting wins in Winnipeg, Edmonton, Vancouver and Denver, all while celebrating a number of momentous occasions.
One day after being traded to Nashville from Chicago, Ryan Hartman scored the game-winner in Winnipeg with one-minute remaining in regulation for a 6-5 victory. Two nights later in Edmonton, Preds General Manager David Poile collected his 1,320th career win – he’s got 1,322 now – to become the NHL’s winningest GM of all-time.
And if that wasn’t enough, Mike Fisher completed his comeback on Friday in Vancouver, scoring a goal in the process to help Nashville to a 4-3 overtime win.
Add another comeback victory to the list, and the Predators find themselves sitting atop the Western Conference and just one point back (with a game in hand) of the Tampa Bay Lightning for the League lead.
Not bad for a week away from Tennessee.
Denver, CO – March 04: Filip Forsberg #9 of the Nashville Predators celebrates with teammates Colton Sissons #10 and goaltender Juuse Saros #74 after scoring the game winning goal in overtime against the Colorado Avalanche at the Pepsi Center on March 4, 2018 in Denver, Colorado. The Predators defeated the Avalanche 4-3 in overtime.
Denver, CO – March 04: Filip Forsberg #9 of the Nashville Predators celebrates with teammates Colton Sissons #10 and goaltender Juuse Saros #74 after scoring the game winning goal in overtime against the Colorado Avalanche at the Pepsi Center on March 4, 2018 in Denver, Colorado. The Predators defeated the Avalanche 4-3 in overtime. Michael Martin
“It was a good road trip,” Predators Head Coach Peter Laviolette said. “What happened with David (Poile), Mike Fisher coming back, adding to our lineup and the way we won hockey games, the way we utilized our lineup, there’s lot of positive to take from it.”
“I think the biggest things is belief in each other,” Ellis said. “No matter the score, no matter the situation, I think we all trust each other. The playoff run we did last year gave us a lot of experience and confidence in each other, and it’s started to translate over to this year too.”
Now the Preds head back home with a chance to add to their point totals, and even though the postseason is beginning to come into sight with a month to play, that’s the last thing on the minds of those in the Nashville locker room.
“The good thing about our group right now is we’re just really doing a good job of staying in the moment,” Laviolette said. “We’re just playing day to day and not thinking about the games that we won and not thinking about going home and playing games at home. Guys are showing up and they are competing in the moments when we need to show up and compete.”
Notes:
Preds Captain Roman Josi missed his second consecutive game and is day-to-day with an upper-body injury. Forward Craig Smith was scratched due to maintenance, while Mike Fisher and Anthony Bitetto also sat out for Nashville.
After making his season debut on Friday night in Vancouver, Fisher is expected to skate in Smashville for the first time on Tuesday night when the Preds host the Stars. To purchase tickets, click here.
The Preds have won nine consecutive games over the Avalanche, including five at Pepsi Center and three this season.
The Predators will now return home for four at Bridgestone Arena, beginning Tuesday against Dallas before hosting Anaheim, New Jersey and Winnipeg.
Pete Weber’s Postgame Report
Fire at Woodall Grain Company
One of the storage buildings at Woodall Grain Company located near Decherd caught fire early Saturday morning (just after midnight).
All of the Franklin County fire departments responded to blaze. Hillsboro Volunteer Fire Department was placed on standby in case they were needed at the Woodall fire or another location. About two hours later the Hillsboro Fire Department was called to the scene, because their tanker truck was needed.
Firemen fought the blaze for a long period of time before it could be extinguished. No injuries were reported.
Pay Yourself First: TN Lawmakers Look at Statewide Retirement Program
Tennessee lawmakers are considering legislation that would set up a voluntary retirement savings program for employers and employees. (401kcalculator.org/Flickr)
Those two facts are what’s driving a bill in the state Legislature that would create a voluntary retirement savings program available to employers and their employees. Small business owner Tom Piech owns ValuePetSupplies.com and said it wasn’t easy to set up a 401(k) program for his employees.
“As a small business person, I know how difficult it is to set up a retirement savings plan for your employees,” Piech said. “It would be just another tool in our financial toolkit to help us all save for retirement.”
AARP of Tennessee is among those supporting the legislation, which is sponsored by members of both parties. The organization released the results of a survey this week showing 89 percent of registered voters in the state wish they’d saved more for retirement, and 77 percent support a state retirement savings option.
According to the AARP Public Policy Institute, if Tennesseans are able to save $1,000 a year, the state could save $260 million in future years by spending less on social services.
Shelley Courington, advocacy director at AARP Tennessee, said a voluntary savings plan could benefit the entire state.
“It’s going to be a game changer for the state,” Courington said. “If we can start to make that shift for these million folks who don’t have access to retirement savings through their job, just think about what that will be when they have the ability to save and don’t rely exclusively on Social Security.”
Piech said many people may feel like they can’t save for retirement, but a few dollars a week adds up over time.
“It’s the old story of ‘Pay yourself first,’” Piech said. “And at first, when you start saving just a few dollars a week, it doesn’t seem like very much. But all of a sudden, at the end of the month, at the end of the year, at the end of three years, four years, you have a little pile of money there, and that alone is incentive to keep on saving.”
California, Illinois, Oregon, Connecticut, Maryland and Massachusetts have a state-run retirement savings program. Tennessee’s program would be the first in the country to be voluntary – programs in other states are mandated.
Applications now being accepted 2018 Grants from Bonnaroo Works Fund
Bonnaroo Works Fund (BWF), the charitable arm of the Bonnaroo Music & Arts Festival, is now accepting online applications for the 2018 grant cycle. Committed to advancing art, education and environmental causes, the BWF focuses its grant awards on Tennessee organizations while also allocating financial support to several national nonprofits. The deadline for applications is May 18, and grants will be announced in July. The application process and distribution of funds is coordinated by the Community Foundation of Middle Tennessee, and applications can be found at https://www.cfmt.org/giving-and-investing/become-a-donor/give-to-a-fund/bonnaroo-works-fund/.
Established in 2009, BWF grants reflect the charitable commitment of festival founders, attendees, fans and partners, and since the festival’s inception, more than $7 million has been awarded to worthy causes by Bonnaroo Works Fund and Bonnaroo Music & Arts Festival. Last year, BWF awarded more than $225,000 to deserving organizations, with more than 75 percent of grants distributed to Tennessee-based organizations.
Fisher Scores in Return, Preds Come Back to Beat Canucks in Overtime
Nashville Predators captain Mike Fisher [Photo courtesy of nhl.com]
The 37-year-old forward scored in his return to action after initially walking away from the game of hockey in August. Fisher’s first of the year sparked the Preds as they erased a multiple-goal deficit to win in the third consecutive game for the first time in franchise history.
After Fisher started the comeback late in the second period, Calle Jarnkrok completed it, scoring 43 seconds into overtime to give the visitors the win on on Friday night against the Vancouver Canucks at Rogers Arena.
“It was fun getting back out there and getting some shifts out of the way,” said Fisher, whose goal sent the Preds into the third period only down one. “This team played a solid game. We felt like we played pretty good once we got the first 10 minutes out of the way and guys just never gave up. We felt like we always had a chance and that was a fun game.”
“Just getting that first goal and making it 2-1 and again putting life back on the bench, it’s not as much of a deficit when you’re going into the third period,” Nashville Head Coach Peter Laviolette said. “We felt like if we won a period we could win a game. To go down once they scored on the power play [in the third], I still think there were lots of guys on the bench saying there was still time left. We stuck to the game plan and ended up getting the equalizer.”
Bo Horvat gave the Canucks a 1-0 lead after one period of play, and Brandon Sutter made it 2-0 Vancouver with 4:56 to go in the second stanza. But, less than three minutes later, Fisher turned and fired a shot down low past Jacob Markstrom.
In the third period, with the teams playing 4-on-4 due to a major penalty to Ryan Johansen for spearing and a roughing minor to Sutter, Kevin Fiala wristed home his 21st of the season to even the score. But with the Canucks working on what was left of the Johansen major, Daniel Sedin gave his club the lead back once more.
However, the Predators kept pushing, and Ryan Ellis evened the score at 3-3 with just 2:15 remaining in regulation to force overtime. Juuse Saros made 24 saves to collect his seventh victory of the season, a key cog in the end result.
Friday’s game saw a bit of different look in the Nashville lineup with Roman Josi, Craig Smith, Scott Hartnell and Yannick Weber all being made healthy scratches with Fisher, Miikka Salomaki, Anthony Bitetto and Matt Irwin dressing for the Preds. Coach Laviolette reiterated all of his players were available to play, but rather the scratches should be considered “maintenance.”
And just as they’ve done throughout the balance of the season, the Predators found a way to get it done, no matter who was on the roster.
“We have a great team and we keep finding a way to win hockey games,” Jarnkrok said. “It’s all good.”
Don’t Call it a Comeback:
Mike Fisher said prior to Friday’s contest – his first piece of NHL action since last June after deciding to come back out of retirement – that it may take him a few games to feel completely comfortable once more.
It didn’t seem like that was the case.
Fisher scored in his season debut and was 11 of 13 in the faceoff circle in 10:45 of ice time, hardly the look of a statline for someone who hadn’t played in eight months. But there he was, creating chance after chance alongside Colton Sissons and Austin Watson, his No. 12 flapping in the breeze.
“I felt pretty good,” Fisher said following the contest. “I’ve still got a little bit to come, I think, but overall I felt OK. I think my endurance later in shifts will come just over time.”
“You wouldn’t have known that he hadn’t played,” Laviolette said of Fisher. “He was awesome. His faceoffs, his play, his battle, his defense, is offense, he was terrific.”
For those observing from afar, there was no denying the impact Fisher had on the game, not only on the scoresheet, but on Nashville’s morale as well. And that can continue down the stretch and into the postseason, there’s no telling where his presence may lead.
“Everybody’s getting a boost from it,” Laviolette said. “Everybody’s excited Mike’s back. He was such a big part of our team. Our team was doing well, but to add him back, I think just strengthens the room, strengthens the depth, strengthens our play on the ice… To add him to the locker room and to the group of guys that we have is a real positive influence.”
Notes:
Nashville’s four-game road trip concludes on Sunday afternoon in Colorado against the Avalanche before returning home to host a four-game set of their own, beginning on Tuesday night when the Dallas Stars come to Bridgestone Arena.
Saturday Prep Schedule
First Light – CHS Bass Club at State Trail Tournament – Ragland Bottoms, Center Hill Lake
9:00 AM – CHS Claybusters at AIM Tournament – Big Springs, Christiana
9:30 AM – CHS Softball vs Forrest – Rutherford Playday at Oakland(Scrimmage)
11:00 AM – CHS Softball vs. Oakland – Rutherford Playday Oakland(Scrimmage)
12:00 PM – CCMS Boys’ Soccer at North Franklin
2:00 PM – CHS Softball vs. Wilson Central – Rutherford Playday Siegel(Scrimmage)
3:00 PM – CHS Baseball at MTCS(Scrimmage)
3:30 PM – CHS Softball Siegel – Rutherford Playday Siegel(Scrimmage)
CHS Boys’ Soccer – Red Raider Jam Scrimmage Playday – CANCELLED