Category: Sports

Major League Baseball issued a 60-game schedule Tuesday night that will start July 23 or 24 in empty ballparks as the sport tries to push ahead amid the coronavirus following months of acrimony.

A dramatically altered season with games full of new rules was the final result of failed financial negotiations. But for fans eager to see any baseball this year, at least now they can look forward to opening day.

The announcement by MLB came while more players continue to test positive for the virus — at least seven on the Philadelphia Phillies alone. And a stark realization remained, that if health situations deteriorate, all games could still be wiped out.

“What happens when we all get it?” Milwaukee pitcher Brett Anderson tweeted Monday.

One day after the players’ association rejected an economic agreement and left open the possibility of a grievance seeking hundreds of millions of dollars in damages, the bickering sides agreed on an operations manual. Baseball Commissioner Rob Manfred then unilaterally imposed the schedule, his right under a March agreement with the union.

In a twist, the sides expanded the designated hitter to games between National League teams for the first time and instituted the radical innovation of starting extra innings with a runner on second base.

Playoff teams remain at 10 for now — there is still talk of a possible expansion. The rejected deal had called for 16 teams.

Players will start reporting for the resumption of training on July 1. It remains to be seen which players will report back to work — high-risk individuals are allowed to opt out and still receive salary and service time, but others who sit out get neither money nor the service credit needed for eligibility for free agency and salary arbitration.

Each team will play 10 games against each of its four division rivals and 20 total games against the five clubs in the corresponding regional division in the other league, according to details obtained by The Associated Press.

This will be MLB’s shortest season since 1878, a schedule of such brevity that some fans may question the legitimacy of stats and records.

No matter what, the season will be among the most unusual ever for a sport that takes pride in the race for titles being a marathon and not a sprint: Washington started 19-31 and 27-33 last year but finished 93-69 to earn a wild card and won a seven-game World Series for its first title.

“There’s a lot more pressure because in a 60-game schedule, I think that you have 25% more teams that can compete, that had no idea they were going to compete for 162 games,” said Hall of Fame pitcher John Smoltz, now a broadcaster.

The trade deadline will be Aug. 31 and the deadline to be in an organization for post-season eligibility is Sept. 15. Teams can resume making trades Friday, when rosters will no longer be frozen.

Active rosters will be 30 players during the first two weeks of the season, 28 during the second two weeks and 26 after that. They will not expand to 28 on Sept. 1, as originally intended this year.

With no minor leagues, teams would be allowed to retain 60 players each, including a taxi squad. Up to three players from the taxi squad can travel with a team to a game, and one of the three must be a catcher.

MLB is keeping the planned innovation that pitchers must face three batters or finish a half inning — players refused to agree a year ago but also waived their right to block.

The injured list minimum for pitchers will remain 10 days rather than revert to 15, as initially intended.

Public opinion shredded both sides as they locked in a ferocious financial battle during a pandemic that has led to more than 120,000 deaths and 2.3 million infections in the U.S. and led to a 14.7% unemployment rate, the highest since the Great Depression.

MLB hoped to be the first U.S. major league to return, at first with an 82-game schedule starting around the Fourth of July, but sniping broke out between management and players who distrust teams’ claims of economic losses following years of franchise appreciation. MLB claimed that without gate-related revenue it would lose $640,000 for each additional regular-season game, a figure the union disputed.

MLB became exasperated with the union’s leadership team, headed by former All-Star first baseman Tony Clark and Bruce Meyer, a litigator hired in August 2018. Manfred and Deputy Commissioner Dan Halem were infuriated when Clark said he considered the result of a one-on-one meeting with Manfred last week a proposal rather than what MLB termed a framework for a deal.

Rather than play 162 games over 186 days, the season will be 60 games over 66 or 67 days, depending on whether there is a nationally televised Thursday night opener. It is scheduled to end Sept. 27, which leaves little margin to make up September rainouts. MLB insisted it needed to complete the World Series in October, avoiding any second wave of the virus.

Players are being given staggered reporting times over several days for intake screening. The time will be used for coronavirus testing ahead of the resumption of workouts, which were stopped March 12 due to the pandemic.

Because of an uptick in infections in Florida and Arizona’s summer heat, 28 teams currently are leaning toward training in their regular-season ballparks. Detroit remained partial to Lakeland, Florida, and Toronto was hoping to gain government permission to work out at Rogers Centre.

Under terms of the deal the sides reached on March 26, which was to have been opening day, players would receive prorated portions of their salaries if the 60-game schedule is not cut short by the virus. Salaries originally totalled $4 billion, and the prorated portion of about 37% reduces pay to $1.48 billion.

Salaries were to have ranged from $563,500 at the minimum to $36 million for Mike Trout and Gerrit Cole at the top, but the spread would now be from $208,704 to $13,333,333.

MLB initially had sought last month in its initial economic plan to reduce pay to about $1 billion, and players vowed not to give up full prorated pay and proposed a 114-game schedule that amounted to $2.8 billion.

The relationship deteriorated back to the level of the acrimonious labour disputes that led to eight work stoppages from 1972-95, and the union has threatened a grievance claiming MLB didn’t fulfil the provision in the March deal requiring the longest season economically feasible, conditioned by several other provisions. MLB would claim the union bargained in bad faith, and the case would be argued before arbitrator Mark Irvings.

That would be a prelude to the expiration of the current labour contract on Dec. 1, 2021, which likely will be followed by a lockout.

Thanks to a heroic effort from the Manchester Parks and Recreation staff, the Manchester Youth Baseball Association was able to play their full schedule on Tuesday night at Fred Deadman Park. 

In the 6U Division, Star Physical Therapy topped Cooper Sports 14 to 8 and Manchester Tire and Brake took down Lovelady Auto Parts 20 to 3.   In the opener, both teams came out hitting the ball as Cooper plated 6 runs in the 1^st inning and Star added 7.  Cooper’s bats went cold in the next 2 innings as they only managed 1 run per inning.  Star added 6 runs in the 2^nd inning and ended it in the bottom of the 3^rd with a run for the mercy rule win.  Zac Siler and Dowell Deadman each had 3 hits and scored twice to lead Star.  Levi Fisher had 2 singles and scored twice for Cooper.  In the nightcap, Manchester Tire and Brake hit 6 home runs to run away with the victory.  Trey Stevens and Jace Spencer each hit a pair of home runs for MT&B while Gunner Floyd and Knox Cashion each had one home run.  For Lovelady, Jett and Kayde each rapped doubles. 

In the 8U Division, Freedom Automotive bested Interstate Auto 19 to 4.   Freedom used their strong defense to limit Interstate from taking extra bases in the win.  Freedom was led in hitting by Davion who had 2 home runs and a single.  Brock, Bryson and Logan all rapped dingers for Freedom.  Interstate was led in hitting by Kaden Spencer who had 2 hits and scored twice.  Keyton Childress knocked a double for Interstate.   

In the 10U Division, Viam got a revenge win over Coffee County Bank 15 to 9 and State Farm blanked Chico’s Bail Bonds 15 to 0.   In the first game, Viam avenged a loss from Monday night against Coffee County Bank by getting off to a red hot start.    Viam scored 7 runs in the 1^st inning and 3 more in the 2^nd to take the upper hand.   Coffee County Bank did rally for 6 runs in the 4^th inning but could not overtake Viam.  In the second game, State Farm held Chico’s to 1 hit as they improved their division-leading record to 6 and 0.  Hyatt Moss hit a solo home run and finished with 2 RBI for State Farm and Xander Meeks added 2 doubles, a single and an RBI.  Kaden Brewer had the lone single for Chico’s. 

In the 12U Division, First Vision Bank got into the win column with a 7 to 2 victory over People’s Bank.  After falling behind 2 to 0 after a half inning, First Vision got 3 runs of their own in the bottom of the first to take a lead they would not relinquish.  First Vision collected 9 walks in the game led by Bryceton Bunch who had 2 walks and scored 2 runs. Riley Evans also walked twice and Eli Hancock got the win on the mound for First Vision.  Josh Harris had a 2 RBI single for People’s. 

Thursday MYBA Schedule

The Coffee County Central High School softball team completed their “pre-dead period” part of their summer with a “closed” intersquad scrimmage on Thursday at Terry Floyd Field.   Dividing the squad into 2 equal teams, the Lady Raiders were able to get in some game action prior to the 2 week mandatory TSSAA Dead Period break. 

“Overall I was pleased” said Lady Raider head coach Brandon McWhorter.  “We wanted to get the girls in some game like situations and really see the younger players against live pitching.  I was very impressed how quickly many of them adjusted.  It also gave the coaches a look at what needs improving going forward like base running and communication between outfield and infield.

Hitting stars for the scrimmage were Riley Phillips who had a triple and a single, Keri Munn who had a pair of hits and 2 RBI and Haidyn Campbell and Justus Turner who each had doubles.  In the circle, Munn pitched 4 innings giving up 2 earned runs and striking out 7.  Kaitlyn Davis pitched 2 innings allowing only 1 hit and walking none.  Campbell pitched 3 innings giving up 2 earned runs and striking out 7.  Emily Schuster also tossed 3 innings allowing no runs and 2 hits. 

In years past, Coach Brandon McWhorter has worked in at least 1 scrimmage with another high school program, but with current COVID restrictions, that was not feasible.  When asked what he has planned for after the Dead Period, Coach McWhorter said: “We will definitely practice, would love to scrimmage but the 50 people max (crowd size restriction) is making it hard.”  Should the restrictions lift, Coach McWhorter plans on a scrimmage before the end of summer workouts.  Should the restrictions remain in place, he plans on another closed intersquad scrimmage. 

Coach McWhorter will be a guest on Saturday’s Coffee Coaches Show to talk about the summer work and his impressions of the scrimmage.  The Coffee Coaches Show is heard live each Saturday at 10 AM from the showroom of Al White Ford/Lincoln right here on Thunder Radio. 

The Titans have agreed to terms on a multi-year contract with quarterback Cole McDonald.

McDonald was a seventh-round pick (224th overall) in the 2020 NFL Draft by the Titans.  He becomes the third member of the six-man draft class to reach a deal with the team, joining defensive lineman Larrell Murchison (fifth round) and safety Chris Jackson (seventh round).

The 6-foot-3, 218-pound McDonald finished his career at Hawaii fourth on the school’s passing yards (8,032) and passing touchdowns (70) lists.  In 2019, McDonald completed 63.8 percent of his attempts for 4,135 yards and 33 touchdowns.

He ranked No. 3 nationally in passing yards, No. 6 in total offense (322.7/gm), No. 7 in passing yards per game (295,4), No. 8 in passing TDs, and No. 9 in points responsible for (242). McDonald threw for a career high 493 yards and accounted for five touchdowns – four passing and one rushing – in UH’s SoFi Hawai’i Bowl win over BYU.

Over his career, he recorded six 400-yard passing games and 13 300-yard games.  After being selected in the draft, McDonald said he knows he needs to improve to have a chance of sticking at the next level.  McDonald will compete with returning quarterback Logan Woodside for the back-up spot behind starter Ryan Tannehill.

“I’ve only heard great things about Ryan, how great of a person he is, how great of a leader he is,” McDonald said of Tannehill. “And ultimately, he wins games, like you saw last year. To be under him, it is going to be an awesome learning experience – I am going to be asking a lot of questions, picking his brain, taking a lot of mental reps behind him and ultimately just trying to get prepared as much as I can to be ready when my name is called.  “I am super-stoked to be a part of the team, to be a part of the organization. And I want to help in any way I can.”

The Manchester Youth Baseball Association opened up their 3^rd week of action on Monday with games in 4 age divisions.  Despite periods of showers, all 8 games got completed without weather delays. 

In the 8U Division, KK’s held off Interstate Auto 22 to 16 and Dr. J’s rolled past Lions Club 25 to 12. In the 1^st game, KK’s scored in every inning to capture the win in a tightly contested game.  Lhane had 2 triples and 2 singles for KK’s while Kynox and a home run and 3 singles.  For Interstate, Eli Baker had 3 home runs and a single.  In the 2^nd game, Dr. J’s broke open a tie game in the 2^nd with 5 runs and never trailed again.  Sterling had 2 doubles, a triple and a single to lead Dr. J’s.  Harrison and Bentley each had 3 singles for Lions Club. 

In the 10U Division, Coffee County Bank edged Viam 14 to 12 and State Farm rolled up First National Bank 15 to 3.  In the opener, Coffee County Bank rallied from a 9 run deficit to claim their first win of the season.  Trailing 9 to 0 entering the home half of the 2^nd inning, Coffee County Bank got back to back 7 run innings as they batted around in each frame.  Coffee County Bank’s Blane Bonner opened the 2^nd inning with a home run to spark the comeback.  Gab Bonner and Clayton Keele each rapped triples for Coffee County Bank.  Ty Stevens had a double, 2 walks and scored 3 times for Viam.  In the nightcap, State Farm jumped out to a 7 to 0 lead in the first inning to roll to the big win.  Hyatt Moss had a triple, a single and a walk to lead State Farm.  Gavin Smith had a home run for First National Bank. 

In the 12U Division, Powers Storage dropped Bush Insurance 16 to 1 and Clower Automotive eased past Shelter Insurance 11 to 9.  In the early game, Powers lived up to their name as they clubbed 3 home runs in the win.  Powers jumped out to an 8 to 1 lead in the 1^st inning and then led off the 2^nd inning with a pair of solo home runs.  Keaton Rowe finished the game with a pair of homers and Austin Gipson clubbed a home run and 2 singles.  Sy Owens had a pair of singles to lead Bush Insurance.  In the late game, Shelter jumped out to an early lead before a 5 run 2^nd inning put Clower in front for good.  Trace had a double, a single and 5 stolen bases for Clower.  David Featerson and Matt Moore each had a pair of singles for Shelter. 

In the 18U Division, the Yankees and Mets split a doubleheader.  In the opener, it took extra innings, but the Mets handed the Yankees their first loss of the year 7 to 6.  Tied at 2 after the time limit expired, the Yankees scored 4 runs in the top of the 7^th to capture a big lead. But the Mets rallied for 5 runs in the bottom of the 7^th as Timothy Henderson scored the winning run after stealing 3rd base and scoring on a throwing error by the Yankees. Braden Brown had a pair of singles for the Mets.  Wyatt Nugent had a triple and a double for the Yankees.  In the 2^nd game,  the Yankees bounced back to grab a 6 to 1 win.   Remington Banks and Dylan Koon each had triples for the Yankees.  The Mets were led in hitting by Nolan Jernigan who had a pair of doubles. 

Tuesday MYBA Schedule

                6U at T-Ball Field

5:00 PM – Cooper Sports vs. Star Physical Therapy

7:30 PM – Manchester Tire & Brake vs. Lovelady Auto Parts

                8U at Fast Pitch Field

5:00 PM – Freedom Automotive vs. Dr. J.

10U at National League Field

5:00 PM – Coffee County Bank vs. Viam

7:30 PM – Chico’s Bail Bonds vs. State Farm

12U at Aaron Miller Field

5:00 PM – People’s Bank vs. First Vision Bank

                18U at Christiana

6:00 PM – Expos vs. Christiana Braves

8:00 PM – Expos vs. Christiana Braves

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

For the past three months, John Hynes has been preparing to lead his team again, whenever and however that may come about. Now, all that planning will soon be put into motion.

The Preds last played a game on March 10, a victory in Montreal for their third-straight win. Instead of trying for a fourth two nights later in Toronto, Hynes and his team were on a plane back to Nashville, as the NHL went on pause due to the coronavirus pandemic.

But as professional sports leagues all over the world make plans to play games once more, the Predators – and the rest of the NHL’s member clubs – are getting set to return to the ice.

Phase 2 of the League’s Return To Play Plan is underway, and the NHL and NHLPA have agreed upon a July 10 start date for Phase 3 (formal training camps) provided conditions are safe and the two parties have reached an overall agreement on resuming play.

Hired by the Preds in January, Hynes hasn’t had a formal training camp with this group – a chance to really start fresh and provide his team with the education that comes with a traditional camp. In July, he’ll get that chance.

“I love training camp,” Hynes said. “You can make a big difference as a coach in training camp. I think it’s how you plan it out and how organized you are, [and you can] hit the ground running. Players come in knowing the expectations, physically, mentally, how we want to practice… You have an opportunity to teach, install and condition, without games every other day… I’m really excited to get back with the group and build upon some things we liked, but also now we’ve got a chance… to really iron out some things we want to be really good at.”

No formal date has been announced as to when the NHL’s 24-team tournament would begin, but the hope would be to see games sometime in August. When the puck does drop, the Predators will face the Arizona Coyotes in a best-of-five Qualifying Round to determine who advances to the 2020 Stanley Cup Playoffs.

There are plenty of elements that will go into Hynes and his group having a successful summertime training camp, before playing games against the Coyotes, but a few things stick out to the bench boss when it comes to a fast start against the competition.

Hynes listed goaltending, conditioning and special teams as some of the more vital attributes his team will need to have in order to find success, and that first item will be an intriguing storyline to follow.

As the Predators entered the pause, Juuse Saros had just posted the second-longest shutout streak in franchise history and was playing arguably the best hockey of his NHL career. That left Pekka Rinne to watch from the bench, not necessarily because he wasn’t playing well, Hynes said, but because Saros was playing so well that the Preds wanted to let him ride the hot streak.

Regardless of the stat lines three months ago, a decision will eventually have to be made on who will be guarding the Nashville crease.

“We’ve talked to [Rinne and Saros] over this break, and I think both players have to come back with the mindset that they want to have the starting job,” Hynes said. “I don’t think it’s probably smart or fair going into training camp to say that one guy is ahead of the other only because we don’t know how they’re going to come back. Are they going to be ready? Is one guy going to be playing really well and one guy’s not? We believe both guys can help us win, but it’s going to be a bit of a competition.”

There will also be decisions to make on the forward lines and defensive pairings. Hynes has enough familiarity with his group by now to know which combos he likes, but there will also be opportunities for others to step up and fill roles throughout the lineup.

“Our last 10 games prior to the pause, I think there was some pretty good chemistry and it seemed as though, at that point in time, the team was getting into the rhythm and guys were playing to their identity,” Hynes said. “The roles and ice times and who’s playing with whom, it was filtering in the way that it should be… We looked at some analytical stuff just to give me some line pairs and combos that were very effective, and there’s some lines that we think were very effective, some guys we will play together and I think chemistry is going to be really important.

“It’s important to get up and running quickly, so we’d like to put players that are familiar with each other that have had past success together, and let’s try to see if we can pick up right away where there’s good chemistry. I think the quicker we can get to that chemistry, the quicker we’re going to gel as a team and I think that’s really important going from a short training camp right into right into playoff hockey.”

No matter who’s dressed for that first game against Arizona, it will only be the start of what each of the 24 teams hope is a two-month long journey to end the most unique season in NHL history.

The Predators feel they have that chance, and even though the journey on this campaign began long ago, a new beginning could yield excellent results.

“This is a group that has gone through adversity, which I think you have to go through to be a great team,” Hynes said. “To be a championship team, you have to be able to get through it at some point in the season, but can you rebound from tough situations and tough times? These guys have had a pause, I think they feel really good about the game and our team at the pause… I know it’s a hungry group, and I think you’re going to see guys come back that are going to play hard. I think they’re going to have a lot of responses from some guys that have had down years, and hopefully we can get this team clicking at a level that it can click at, because it’s a team that has the potential, and has the talent, to be able to win the Stanley Cup.”

Josh Evans had the time of his life playing for the Titans, although it took him a while – with the help of counseling – to really appreciate it.

While lying in a hospital bed over the weekend, his body and voice weakened by cancer, Evans looked back at his life through 47 years, eight months and 16 days. His voice went up when he talked about his three children, so it came as no surprise when he called them his greatest accomplishments. Evans spent a lot of time beating himself up, even though he’s accomplished many things few around him growing up thought would be possible.

In recent months, Evans has spent way too much time reflecting on his life, while also worrying about his future.

Cancer, unfortunately, has a way of doing that to even big and strong NFL players, too.

“I’ve been scared — I’m scared now,” Evans said in a telephone interview. “I’m fighting hard, man, I promise you that. It ain’t easy. But I’m fighting, and I’m praying I can get through this and I can get myself together. I am not going to give up, regardless of the news I get.

“And I want everybody out there talking to God for me, if they will. Please pray for me. Talk to God for me.”

Evans, a 6-foot-2, 288-pound defensive lineman for the Oilers/Titans from 1995-2001, played in 71 career games with the franchise. He racked up 225 tackles and 14.5 sacks before finishing his career with the New York Jets. Evans was a starter in Super Bowl XXXIV for the Titans during the 1999 season, and he was a big contributor during the postseason that year. Evans had a sack in the team’s Wild Card win over the Bills, and he was credited with a half sack for a safety in the team’s AFC Championship Game win at Jacksonville.

Today, Evans is in a hospital bed at a Cancer Treatment Center in Newnan, Georgia, just outside of Atlanta. He’s down to 189 pounds. During a 20-minute interview, Evans sounded worried and weak, but he also managed to give reminders of the gregarious laugh and smile he was known for during his playing days with the team.

Evans hasn’t had a lot to smile about of late. After being diagnosed with cancer in one of his kidneys back in January, Evans had surgery. What was supposed to be a two-hour procedure turned into 13 hours, and doctors removed his right kidney, part of his pancreas and some of his small intestine in the process. Evans described his condition as dire. He spent a month in hospital, but he got out and was doing well — until pain returned in full force. When Evans checked himself back into the hospital, doctors found cancer in his spine and liver.

Evans has spent the last two weeks in the hospital, but his treatment has been delayed because of the pain. He’s hoping he can begin radiation and chemotherapy soon. At this point, he considers himself lucky, because he’s still alive. Doctors told him if he hadn’t kept himself in good shape they wouldn’t have operated on him, and his family likely would have been forced to put him in hospice care.

“I sometimes ask the doctors: Am I going to die?,” Evans said. “And they obviously can’t answer that. They just say they are going to do the best they can, and I have to do the best I can. I don’t want to die.”

What troubles Evans the most these days, however, isn’t necessarily the pain or the uncertainty of it all. Evans said he hates being an inconvenience to his family.

“I hate it, I really do,” Evans said. “I just feel like I am such a burden on so many people right now. I have been used to taking care of everybody, and making sure everybody is OK, and now I have to rely on so many people — my mother, my kids, my friends. Everybody has been extraordinary to me. But I don’t like being a burden. And it makes me feel down that I have to lean on so many people. My mother and my kids have pretty much had to stop their lives to make sure I am OK and I hate to be a burden for them.

“I cry so much, and I’m trying to understand: “Why me? Sometimes when I go back over my life, I always reflect on all the bad things I did. I could never think of the good things I did, and I’ve always punished myself so much. (With the cancer diagnosis), this has made me reevaluate everything, and now a part of me thinks: ‘Why not me?’ I have a great family. I was able to play in the NFL. I’ve been to Russia and Switzerland. I did things in my life I never thought I would do in life. I had a great life, man. God has given me so much in life. Now, I can’t cry just because I have cancer. I have to fight through this, and with the help of God and my family and friends, I am just going to keep on fighting.”

Evans said he initially didn’t want to talk about what he’s going through “because I didn’t want people to think I’m sitting around thinking, “Woe is me.” He decided to share his story, in part, to get more prayers working for him.

Evans was born in Langdale, Alabama, and he overcame struggles and troubles as a youth. He played collegiately at Alabama-Birmingham, and after going undrafted, he was signed by the Dallas Cowboys in 1995. Evans was released by Dallas the same year, and he joined the then-Houston Oilers. Evans spent the majority of his first season on the team’s practice squad before being elevated later that year. Over the years, he worked his way from being a back up to a starter.

Evans sounded torn when discussing his days with the Oilers/Titans. While he called it the “time of his life”, he also beat himself up for mistakes he made along the way. Evans served several suspensions during his playing days in Tennessee, including a four-game suspension at the start of 1999 for a violation of the league’s substance abuse policy. He was suspended for all of 2000 following a subsequent violation.

Even to this day, he feels badly about it. “For a while, I didn’t even tell people I played ball because I was just ashamed of who I was back then and the things that I did,” Evans said. “I let the organization down, and I let my teammates down. I let my family down because I was so immature. I couldn’t figure it out back then. I messed it up, man. I messed a lot of things up for a lot of people. And the devil has always wanted to remind me of the bad things I did.”

But Evans said the Titans stuck with him, and he’s never forgotten it. “The Titans, they kept standing by me, and my family kept standing by me,” he said. “It wasn’t until having counseling made me let go of my mistakes, and that’s when I started to feel good about myself. … I finally learned to let go of my past and be happy.

“And I’m telling you, those days with the Titans, I had so many good times. Going to the Super Bowl, and everything I experienced. When I talk to God, I know I am so blessed. I had so many great teammates, and I had so many good times. I had the time of my life.”

And he reflected on how much he learned from going against eventual Hall of Famer Bruce Matthews during his early days in the NFL.

“Wash, he is still my coach,” Evans said of Washburn. “He is basically coaching me through this situation right now (with the cancer), and I really appreciate it. He is always sending me words of encouragement. Back in those days, we all got along. You play for your teammates. I still miss those guys. I think about the locker room, and guys picking at each other all the time. I think about (former strength and conditioning coach) Steve Watterson and how he used to have fun picking at everyone. I have so many memories. I’ll tell you, that was the best time of my life. I had some great times, yes indeed.”

As for Matthews, Evans said he learned the hard way. “I got to go up against the best offensive linemen in the NFL every day in Bruce Matthews,” he said. “I remember when I first came in in 1995, I was on the practice squad and I got to go against Bruce every day. He was beating the hell out of me, but I was learning. It was some of the best ass-kickings I ever got, because I learned so much from him.”

Toward the end of the interview, Evans rolled off the names of John Elway, Troy Aikman, Peyton Manning, Brett Favre, Warren Moon, and Dan Marino when discussing great quarterbacks he’d sacked, and hit, during his playing days.

He’s actively looking for pictures from his career so he can show his kids. Yes, these days, Evans is finally giving himself credit. And before the conversation ended, Evans circled back to his three children when talking about what drives him to live. His oldest daughter, Morgan, is studying law and is on track to be an attorney soon. His oldest son, Joshua, is a successful painter. His youngest son, Noah, plays football at Sandy Creek High School. Evans wants to be around for them. He badly wants to live.

“They are all doing good, and that makes me smile,” Evans said of his children on Father’s Day weekend. “When the devil is kicking you, I look back and I see my kids and I realize I am a good father. I took care of my kids, and that is the most uplifting thing for me, knowing my kids are well and the opportunities they have ahead in life. I just want to be around to see them, and I want to see my grandkids. When the devil comes around and says “You did this and that’, I think about my kids and that lifts me up.

“Man, I know I didn’t always do things right, before all this (cancer) stuff happened. But I had finally learned to let go of my past and be happy. I was at a good place, a peaceful place, before all this. Now I am praying I get through this and I can get myself together again. Anybody out there who can talk to God for me, please pray for me. I can use all the prayers I can get.”

The Manchester Youth Baseball Association closed out their 2nd week of action on Friday with 5 games in 4 age divisions. 

In the 6U Division, Manchester Tire and Brake stopped Star Physical Therapy 22 to 6.  Unbeaten Manchester Tire and Brake scored at least 7 runs in each inning in the big win.  After being retired in order in the 1^st inning, Star managed 12 hits in the next 2 innings.  Owen Holder hit 2 home runs and a single plus scored 3 runs for Manchester Tire and Brake.  Jace Spencer also rapped a home run for MT&B.  Connor, Curtis and Jordyn all had 2 hits each for Star. 

In the 8U Division, KK’s rallied to down the Lions Club 16 to 14.  Lions Club started out hot scoring 5 runs in the 1^st inning and taking a 6 to 3 lead into the bottom of the 3^rd inning.  The 2 teams traded the lead 5 times down the stretch before KK’s scored 6 runs in the bottom of the 6^th inning to grab the walk-off win.  Walker was the leading hitter for KK’s as he had 2 singles, a double and a home run.  Logan added a home run and 3 singles for KK’s.  For the Lions Club, Warrick had 4 singles and Mia added a home run and a single. 

In the 12U Division, Powers Storage edged Clower Automotive 8 to 5 in a battle of unbeaten teams  In a game befitting a battle of the two top teams, Powers had to rally in the top of the 5^th inning to grab the come from behind win.  Trailing 5 to 1 entering the 5^th with the time limit looming, Powers strung together 3 hits and 4 walks to plate 7 runs and grab the lead. Keaton Rowe had a 2 RBI double and Justin Franks had a single and a double in the decisive frame.  Rowe came on in relief to get the win on the mound.  Caleb Crouch had a pair of singles for Clower and scored twice. 

In the 18U Division, the Yankees remained perfect on the season with a doubleheader sweep of the Christiana Braves.  In the first game, the Yankees plated 5 runs in the 1^st inning as they rolled to a 10 to 5 win.  Wyatt Nugent had 2 doubles and got the win on the mound for the Yankees.  Skylar Bratcher and Braden Ross each added a single and a double for the Yanks.  Kameron Smusz had a double, a triple and 2 RBI for the Christiana nine.  In the 2^nd game, the Yankees kept the momentum going with an 11 to 6 win to move to 6 and 0 on the season. 

Monday MYBA Schedule

                8U at Fast Pitch Field

5:00 PM – Dr. J vs. Lions Club

7:30 PM – Freedom Automotive vs. Interstate Auto

10U at National League Field

5:00 PM – State Farm vs. First National Bank

7:30 PM – Viam vs. Coffee County Bank

12U at Aaron Miller Field

5:00 PM – Bush Insurance vs. Powers Storage

7:30 PM – Shelter Ins vs. Clower Automotive

                18U at Looney Riddle(Babe Ruth) Field

6:00 PM – Yankees vs. Mets

8:00 PM – Mets vs. Yankees

Unofficial MYBA Standings

A pair of Coffee County Youth Bass Club members traveled to East Tennessee on Saturday to compete in the Tennessee Bass Nation Junior Division State Championship.  Kylan Mantooth and Jonathan Lewis, who captured the Central Tennessee Bass Nation Region Championship on May 30^th, made the long trek to Dandridge to fish Douglas Lake.  The duo ended up faring well on an unfamiliar lake as they finished in 11^th place. 

In 2019, Mantooth also claimed a region title, only to suffer damage to his boat at the state championship regulating him to 26^th place.  Good fortune and good fishing were the order of the day on Saturday as Mantooth and Lewis landed 5 fish, weighing in at 9.45 pounds to claim 11^th place.  Jonathan had the big catch of the day for the team as he reeled in a 3.98 pound beauty.  The result was good enough to give the team a 13^th place finish in the state for the season just 18 points out of the top 10.   

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

by Mark Bowman – MLB.com

Though Bryce Elder slid to the fifth round, the University of Texas right-hander still received the third-round money he was seeking.

Per MLB.com’s Jim Callis, Elder and the Braves agreed to terms on an over-slot signing bonus worth $850,000. Atlanta has now signed each of the four players it selected in the 2020 MLB Draft. The club has not yet confirmed this agreement.

When the Braves selected Elder in the fifth round, it was apparent he would need more than the $336,600 assigned to the slot where he was picked. The club created the flexibility necessary to make this possible by giving under-slot deals to first-round pick Jared Shuster and third-round pick Jesse Franklin.

Shuster agreed to a $2,197,500 signing bonus. This is $542,800 less than the bonus pool slot value assigned to the 25th overall pick this year. Franklin agreed to a bonus worth $497,500, or $101,600 less than the slot value assigned to his third-round selection.

The under-slot sum of these two deals was $644,400. Even after committing $3,146,800 to Shuster, Franklin and fourth-round pick Spencer Strider, the Braves still had $981,000 within their bonus pool allotment. This created plenty of flexibility for Elder, who had hoped to be selected within the first three rounds.

The bonus pool allotments for third-round picks ranged from $577,000 to $857,400.

Earlier this week, Elder reminisced about quitting baseball in the fifth grade and regaining an appreciation for it only after a high school coach permitted him to pitch and be on the school’s golf team at the same time.

“It played out different than I thought,” Elder said. “But I’m comfortable with where I’m at and I’m ready to go.”

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