Category: Sports

In their first team shoot of 2019, the Coffee County Claybusters traveled to Christiana on Saturday to compete at Big Springs.  All 3 Raider teams captured first place titles.  For individual honors, the Claybusters captured 5 individual titles and 2 runner-up finishes.

The Coffee County Team #1 won the Junior Division, Class A & B as they shot a high overall score of 470 out of 500.  Team #1 was led by Hayden Jacobs and Colter Smith who each broke 96 of 100 clays.  Cheyenne Martin.  Tucker Carlton shot down 93 while Alexus Stacey shattered 91 clays.

The Coffee County Team #2 won Class A&B in the sub-junior division with a score of 453.  Landon Meadows led Team #2 with a perfect 100 score.  Logan Meadows added 94 clays and Emma Mathews knocked down 90.  Aubrey Payne had 87 clays and Braden Davenport dropped 82.

Team #3 won the Class D of the Junior Division with a score of 424.  Team #3 was led by Victoria Majors who shot 96 clays.  That performance was good enough to give her the Lady Championship.  The Meadows twins captured the top individual titles in the sub junior class.  Landon was the champion and Logan captured the runner up title.  Coffee County got a ½ sweep in the Junior class as well as Hayden Jacobs nabbed the title followed closely by Colter Smith.  Hayden Jacobs captured the Doubles title while Tucker Carlton won the Class A championship.

The Claybusters will return to match play on Saturday when they travel to Tullahoma for an Individual Shoot.  That shoot will take place at the Highland Rim Shooters Club.  Shooting will begin at 9 AM.

CCMS softball coach Lana Creek(left) works on a fielding drill on Monday

With surprisingly warmer temperatures on Monday and the rain holding off, several of the middle school teams hit the practice field on Monday.  Thunder Radio did a quick tour and grabbed a few pictures as most of the teams began their 2^nd week of preseason practice.  The spring season opens officially on February 23^rd.

Westwood Middle soccer coach Jonathan Graf(right) works on a defensive team drill on Monday

CCMS tennis coach Clarissa Deal(right) signs up boys at tennis tryouts on Monday

Westwood coach Amanda Sullivan(top right) instructs the Westwood softball team during a bunting/baserunning drill on Monday

CCMS assistant baseball coach Reed Wolfe works on a fielding drill on Monday.

CCMS head soccer coach Ryan Wood(left) and assistant coach Jamie Norris(2nd from left) demonstrate a footwork drill on Monday

2019 Coffee County CHS senior Cheerleaders, basketball players and dance team members

Before a capacity crowd at the Joe Frank Patch Memorial Gym on Friday night, the Coffee County basketball teams swept Tullahoma on Senior Night.  Both Raider teams locked up regular season district titles as both teams dominated the Wildcats.  The Lady Raiders won 65 to 41 while the Red Raiders dropped the Cats 63 to 49.

After taking the lead with 23 seconds remaining in the first quarter, the Lady Raiders never trailed again as they won their 9^th straight game.  Leading by 7 points entering the 4^th quarter, Coffee County outscored Tullahoma 26 to 9 in the final frame to coast to the blowout win.  Coffee County was led in scoring by junior Jenna Garretson who had a game high 24 points as she played a big role in neutralizing the post players of Tullahoma.  Bella Vinson added 19 points and Ellie Graham finished with 8 points.  The game was the final home game of the regular season for Chloe Spry, Jacey Vaughn, who scored 7 points, and Abby Morgan who had 6.  For her tremendous effort, Garretson was named the Crazy Daisies player of the game.  The win moves the Lady Raiders record to 24 and 3 overall and 10 and 0 in district play.  The win also gives the Lady Raiders their 2^nd straight regular season district title.

The Red Raiders scored 10 straight points in the 1^st quarter to seize control of the boys’ game 6 minutes into the contest.  Leading by 14 at the half and 20 points entering the 4^th quarter, Coffee County held off a late Tullahoma charge to grab their 9^th straight win and also clinch the regular season district title.  Senior Darius Rozier led all scorers with 29 points as he earned Crazy Daisies player of the game award.  Kyle Farless added 9 points while fellow seniors Harley Hinshaw scored 8 points and Chase Simpkins added 6.  The 4^th Red Raiders senior is Andrew Mahaffey who was injured and did not play.

The Raiders and Lady Raiders will hit the road for the final week of the regular season.  The road trip begins on Tuesday night as Coffee County visits Franklin County.  The regular season finale will be in Shelbyville on Thursday.  The girls’ game will tip off at 6 PM both nights, Thunder Radio’s live coverage will begin with the Char-El Apartments and Home Rental pregame show at 5:50.

Calle Jarnkrok of the Nashville Predators[Photo courtesy of NHL.com]

A record crowd of 17,722 at Bridgestone Arena saw the Predators put 39 shots on Stars netminder Anton Khudobin, but they were only able to beat him once, and with less than five minutes to play in regulation, the Stars went ahead for good.

On a night where the Predators honored an all-time fan-favorite in Jordin Tootoo, who was known for his feisty play, Saturday’s skirmish also had a bit of snarl to it, which made it that much more frustrating to come out on the wrong end of such a hotly contested meeting.

“We played great, and we were all over them, especially the first half of the game,” Preds goaltender Pekka Rinne said. “Khudobin played really well, and it’s disappointing when you play a game like that and end up losing the game.”

“They’ve been playing well lately; playing fast and hard,” Preds forward Ryan Hartman said. “We knew it was going to be a battle coming into tonight, but they ended up getting two points out of it.”

It was Calle

who gave the Preds a 1-0 lead midway through the opening period, but Tyler Seguin evened the score less than two minutes after that – a tally that held through the first 40 minutes of the contest.

The Predators acknowledged a slow start to the third after a solid effort through the first two frames, but they caught back up to the Stars and the game was rather even the rest of the night, but a defensive breakdown led to Comeau being all alone in front to beat Rinne late.

“It was a fast game; it was a tight game for two periods,” Preds Head Coach Peter Laviolette said. “When they scored the second goal, I didn’t feel like we were in danger like I did in the first four minutes of the third period. It was a breakdown that ended up in the back of the net, and that was the difference.”

Dallas added another before the night was out to see the Predators drop a Central Division matchup that meant a little more than most.

“That’s why you feel disappointed; you feel crushed after,” Rinne said. “It’s Saturday night in Nashville and it’s a division game and we only have 28 games left. It goes by quick, and I’m not worried about our game, but obviously it feels disappointing to lose again.”

Notes:

Defenseman Yannick Weber was Nashville’s lone scratch on Saturday night.

Nashville’s three-game homestand continues on Tuesday night when the Arizona Coyotes come to town before the Stars return on Thursday evening.

Pete Weber’s call of Calle Jarnkrok’s goal

Viktor Arvidsson of the Nashville Predators

It may have taken until the third period, but the Nashville Predators eventually found the scoresheet.

Viktor Arvidsson hit the 20-goal mark for the third consecutive season, and Filip Forsberg added a pair of assists, as the Preds exploded to score four goals in the final 20 minutes to defeat the Panthers by a 4-1 final on Friday night in South Florida.

The result gives Nashville their third consecutive win overall – and also their third-straight on the road – with all four of their markers on the night coming in the final frame.

Arvidsson tallied twice on the night to give him 21 goals in just 29 games this season.

Jonathan Huberdeau scored the game’s only goal through the first two periods when he beat Juuse Saros on the power play, but that was the only goal surrendered by the Nashville netminder in his brand-new Golden pads.

Nashville caught fire in the third. First, Preds Captain Roman Josi evened the score when he picked a corner and beat Roberto Luongo, and then Arvidsson fired home his 20th of the season to give Nashville the only lead they’d need.

Kevin Fiala put the Preds up by two late in the period, and Arvidsson added an empty-netter to give Nashville their 31st victory of the season.

After retuning to the ice from an nine-day hiatus, and with just 30 games to go in the result season entering Friday night, the Predators were all about starting the right way and collecting that first win after the break.

One down, 29 to go.

Notes:

Defenseman Matt Irwin was Nashville’s lone scratch on Friday night.

The Predators will now return to Tennessee and begin a three-game homestand on Saturday night against the Dallas Stars. It’s Jordin Tootoo night as the former fan favorite will be honored prior to and during the evening.

Super Bowl Sunday has become a traditional holiday in America during its 53 year history.  Thunder Radio will continue its very on tradition by bringing you Westwood 1’s coverage of Super Bowl 53 from Atlanta.  Super Bowl 53 features a rematch of Super Bowl 36 as the New England Patriots take on the Los Angeles Rams.  Kickoff is set for 5:30 PM from Mercedes-Benz Stadium in downtown Atlanta.

Live coverage will begin at 1 PM here on Thunder Radio with Westwood 1’s Super Bowl Preview Show.  Pregame coverage continues with the Super Bowl Insider show at 2 PM followed by Super Sunday at 3 PM.  Westwood 1’s Pregame Show begins at 4 PM from Atlanta as Kevin Harland, Kurt Warner and Mike Holmgren will bring you the call of the game.  Sideline reporters will be Ed Werder and Tony Boselli.  Jim Gray and Scott Graham will also provide insight to the broadcast which can be heard at 107.9 FM, 106.7 FM and AM 1320.  Due to NFL regulations, Thunder Radio is unable to carry the broadcast on our stream or the Thunder Radio app.

The Coffee County baseball team will be hosting their annual Spring Baseball Clinic on Saturday, March 9th.  Players will utilize the facilities at Powers Field and the Crethan Hansert Hitting Facility on the campus of Coffee County Central High School.  Campers will work with Red Raiders head coach David Martin and his staff along with members of the CHS varsity baseball team.  Each camper will receive age appropriate, hands-on instruction in all aspects of the game.

The clinic is open to boys and girls ages 5 to 17 who wish to learn more about hitting, defense, base running and pitching.  Campers should bring with them a bat, glove, tennis shoes, cleats, hat and batting helmet to the camp which will run from 9 AM to Noon.   Concessions will also be made available at Powers Field on the day of the clinic.

Cost for the clinic is $20 per player if paid in advance.  Cost of the clinic, if not paid before March 9^th, will be $25.  A siblings discount of half price will apply for any additional campers.  If you have questions or wish to pre-register, contact Jamie Spry at: jamie.o.spry@adjent.com or call him at 931-273-2265.

Coming up on Saturday’s Coffee Coaches Show we will keep you up to date on winter sports and continue to look ahead at spring sports which are just around the corner.  Our guests will be: Coffee County CHS wrestling coach Roger Barlow as he keeps us updated on the wrestling team in the postseason including the state berth won last weekend by Mary Anne Walker.  Coffee County Middle School athletic director Kyle Harris will also be a guest as he talks about a successful year thus far including a sectional semifinal appearance by the Lady Raider basketball team.  He will also bring along Clarissa Deal who will be the new tennis coach at Coffee Middle.  We will get to know her a little better and bring you her plans for this year’s tennis team.  We will also talk to Coffee County CHS track coach Nathan Wanuch who will open spring workouts in a little over a week.  Coach Wanuch will catch us up on any and all new developments with the track program including a full slate of home meets this season at Carden-Jarrell Field.

The Coffee Coaches Show is broadcast live each Saturday morning from 10 to 11 AM from the showroom at Al White Ford/Lincoln.  Fans are invited to come out and join us each Saturday at Al White and enjoy some free coffee and join in on the fun.  If you can’t make it out to Al White, you can tune in the Coffee Coaches Show exclusively on Thunder Radio.

Friday night the Coffee County CHS basketball teams will welcome their old rival Tullahoma to the Joe Frank Patch Memorial Gym.   Friday night will be the final home game of the regular season for Coffee County and it will also be Senior Night.  A capacity crowd is expected for the home finale.

Advance tickets will be on sale at the CHS office until 2 PM on Friday.  Beat the rush and avoid the expected delay at the gate by getting your ticket early.  Tickets are $6 for adults and all Coffee County fans are encouraged to wear Red.  Coffee County CHS students who wear a red shirt and show their school issued ID will get in the game free.

Thunder Radio, the exclusive home of Coffee County sports, will be on hand to bring you the broadcast.  The girls’ game will tip off at 6 PM, Thunder Radio’s live coverage will begin with the Powers Storage pregame show at 5:50.

Chloe Gannon of CCMS basketball

The Coffee County Middle School Lady Raider basketball season came to a close on Wednesday night.  Taking on conference rival White County in the TMSAA Section 2 Tournament semifinals, the Lady Raiders came up short against the CTC champions at Stewarts Creek Middle School.  Coffee Middle fell by a final score of 38 to 22.

The Lady Raiders got off to an ice cold start as they were held to 1 field goal in the first quarter and single digits in the first half.  Coffee County was led in scoring by Chloe Gannon and Aleayia Barnes who each had 6 points.  Maggie Crouch added 4 points and Holli Hancock finished with 3 points.  The Lady Raiders finish the season with a record of 15 and 8.