Category: Sports

Garcia’s Monster Game Leads Sounds over Chasers

Nashville Sounds designated hitter Anthony Garcia knocked in eight runs in an 11-1 win over the Omaha Storm Chasers in front of 8,476 fans at First Tennessee Park Tuesday night.

Garcia’s big game started in the first inning when he gave the Sounds a 1-0 lead with a groundout. He drove in Steve Lombardozzi who tripled to the gap in right-center.

The Sounds sent 11 to the plate in a seven-run second inning. Jorge Mateo started the frame with a walk and promptly stole second base. He scored on a base hit to right-center by Brett Vertigan. The next four batters reached as Nashville built a 4-0 lead with run-scoring base hits by Ramon Laureano and Lombardozzi.

Garcia came to the plate with the bases loaded and launched a grand slam off Omaha starter Zach Lovvorn to make it 8-0. It was Garcia’s second grand slam of the season and highlighted Nashville’s second-largest inning of the season.

Sounds starter Frankie Montas had more than enough run support. The right-hander held the Storm Chasers to three hits over five shutout innings. He walked a pair and struck out three in his second win of the season.

Garcia’s night continued with his second home run of the game in the sixth. After Beau Taylor doubled down the left-field line, Garcia drilled his 17th homer of the season to give the Sounds a 10-0 lead. The blast gave Garcia seven RBI on the night, matching a franchise record.

He came to the plate with the bases loaded in the eighth and drew a four-pitch walk to bring in another run and push his RBI total to eight on the night.

Laureano, Lombardozzi, Taylor and Garcia scored two runs apiece in the win.

Game three of the four-game series is scheduled for Wednesday night at First Tennessee Park. Right-hander Chris Bassitt (2-3, 6.10) starts for Nashville against left-hander Jake Kalish (3-4, 3.89) for Omaha. First pitch is scheduled for 7:05 p.m.

Post-Game Notes

– With tonight’s 11-1 win, the Sounds improved to 46-48 on the season.

– The seven-run second inning for Nashville was their second-largest scoring frame of the season. The Sounds scored eight runs in the first inning against Colorado Springs on May 10.

– Anthony Garcia hit his second grand slam of the season in the second inning. He has both of Nashville’s grand slams in 2018. It was also Garcia’s third multi-homer game of the season.

– Garcia’s eight RBI is the most by a Sounds player in a single game in franchise history. The previous record of seven RBI was held by eight players.

– Beau Taylor matched a Sounds franchise record by drawing four walks. He is the 18th player to draw four walks in a game, and first since Matt Olson on July 19, 2017 at Iowa.

The 2018 season is the Sounds’ 41st in franchise history and fourth as the Oakland Athletics’ top affiliate. Single-game tickets are available now by calling (615) 690-4487 or by visiting www.nashvillesounds.com

Manchester Makos Swim to 5th Straight Summer Team Title

Photo from www.manchestermakosswimteam.com

The Manchester Makos swim program completed their 2018 summer meet season on Saturday to cap off another phenomenal year. The Makos won their 5th consecutive Summer Race League Championship as they finished the year undefeated. The Makos rolled up 2,356 points to outdistance 2nd place Sewanee who had 1,611. Tullahoma finished in 7th place with a total of 858.5 points in the meet held at the University of the South.

Both the Makos boys and girls won their divisions on Saturday as they each outdistanced 2nd place Sewanee. The Makos captured 5 first place finishes in team relays while adding 15 individual first place finishes.

Capturing 1st place team finishes were:

> Mixed 11 – 12 year old 100M Medley relay team consisting of David Everett, Julianna McNew, Isaac Lee & Cora Fulks

> Mixed 15 to 18 year old 100M Medley relay team consisting of Ashley Slayton, Jack Beachboard, Ryan Farless and Caitlyn Slayton(setting a new meet record of 56.55)

> Boys’ 11 – 12 year old 100M freestyle relay team consisting David Everett, Colin Harward, Brayden Kesling & Isaac Lee

> Girls’ 13 – 14 year old 100M freestyle relay team consisting Madeline DeWolfe, Clancy Sand, Emily Williams and Kennedy Norman-Young

> Girls’ 15 to 18 year old 100M freestyle relay team consisting Caitlyn Slayton, Lauren Lee, Lily Jenkins and Ashley Slayton(setting a new meet record of 53.91)

Capturing 1st place individual finishes were:

> Isaac Lee in 11 – 12 year old boys’ 50M freestyle(setting a new meet record of 28.01)

> Kennedy Norman-Young in 13-14 year old girls’ 50M freestyle

> Caitlyn Slayton in 15 to 18 year old girls’ 50M freestyle

> Ryan Farless in 15 to 18 year old boys’ 50M freestyle
> Madeline DeWolfe in 13 – 14 year old girls’ 50M breaststroke

> Kaylee Williams in the 15 to 18 year old girls’ 50M breaststroke

> Isaac Lee in 11 – 12 year old boys’ 100M IM(setting a new meet record of 1:07.87)

> Madeline DeWolfe in 13 – 14 year old girls’ 100M IM

> Ashley Slayton in 15 – 18 year old girls’ 100M IM(setting a new meet record of 1:06.97)

> Nick Bogle in the 13 – 14 year old boys’ 50M backstroke(setting a new meet record of 31.67)

> Ashley Slayton in the 15 to 18 year old girls’ 50M backstroke(setting a new meet record of 31.56)

> Jack Beachboard in the 15 to 18 year old boys’ 50M backstroke(setting a new meet record of 29.69)

> Isaac Lee in 11 – 12 year old boys’ 50M butterfly (setting a new meet record of 30.48)

> Madeline DeWolfe in 13 – 14 year old girls’ 50M butterfly

> Ashley Slayton in 15 – 18 year old girls’ 50M butterfly (setting a new meet record of 30.37)

The Makos are a year round competitive swim team which trains at the Manchester Recreation Complex. For more information, visit their website at:

http://www.manchestermakosswimteam.com

Predators Sign Ryan Hartman to One-Year Contract

Ryan Hartman of Nashville Predators[Photo courtesy of NHL.com]

Nashville Predators President of Hockey Operations/General Manager David Poile announced Monday that the team has signed restricted free-agent forward Ryan Hartman to a one-year contract worth $875,000.

Hartman, 23 (9/20/94), had six points (3g-3a) and 14 penalty minutes in 21 games last season with Nashville after being acquired from Chicago on Feb. 26. He recorded a combined 31 points (11g-20a) in 78 games with the Predators and Blackhawks during the 2017-18 regular season, his second as a full-time NHL player. Hartman featured in nine playoff games for the Predators and tallied two goals and an assist, including the game-winning goal in Game 2 of Nashville’s Western Conference First Round series against Colorado. The 6-foot, 181-pound winger notched the game-winning goal in his first contest with the team on Feb. 27 in Nashville’s 6-5 win at Winnipeg.

Originally drafted by the Blackhawks in the first round (30th overall) of the 2013 NHL Draft, Hartman spent two seasons with the American Hockey League’s Rockford IceHogs from 2014-16, posting 79 points (31g-48a) in 139 games before jumping to the NHL. The Hilton Head Island, S.C., native competed for the Plymouth Whalers in the Ontario Hockey League from 2012-14, where he finished second on the team in scoring in his rookie season with 60 points (23g-37a) and played in the CHL’s Top Prospects Game. Prior to his time in the OHL, Hartman played for the U.S. National Team Development Program in Ann Arbor, Mich., from 2010-12. He won gold with Team USA at the 2013 World Junior Championship in Russia and 2012 Under-18 Championship in the Czech Republic.

Sounds Walk Off On Storm Chasers in Extras

Melvin Mercedes provided the offensive heroics for the Nashville Sounds while Ben Bracewell was superb on the mound as they came from behind to defeat the Omaha Storm Chasers 5-4 in 11 innings.

Trailing 4-3 in the 11^th inning, Sheldon Neuse squeaked a single past an outstretched Ryan O’Hearn at first base to knot the game at four runs apiece. After a sacrifice bunt from the birthday boy, BJ Boyd moved Neuse to second base, Mercedes came through in a major way. He found the hole on the left side of the infield to drive in Neuse from second and clinch the series-opening win.

Bracewell shined on the mound for the Sounds as he retired the final 11 batters he faced and matched a career-high by tossing eight innings.

Omaha was the first team to light up the scoreboard as they broke through in the third inning. Bracewell walked Terrance Gore to lead off the frame. Bracewell then continued to be the thorn in his own side as he threw away a pickoff attempt, allowing the speedy Gore to advance all the way to third. Willing to trade in a run for an out, the middle of Nashville’s infield played regular depth as Billy Burns grounded out to shortstop Jorge Mateo, allowing Gore to score from third and put the Storm Chasers in front 1-0.

The Storm Chasers doubled their lead in the fourth inning and held the 2-0 advantage until the sixth inning when Nashville evened the score as Omaha’s Arnaldo Hernandez and Richard Lovelady became erratic. Hernandez yielded a single and issued two walks before being relieved of his duties. Lovelady entered and immediately induced a 1-2-3 double play to put the inning in-doubt. Lovelady then walked two batters and hit another to drive in two runs.

Bobby Wahl was outstanding in his lone inning of work as he struck out the side on just 10 pitches in the ninth inning. Carlos Ramirez earned his first win of the season as he was called upon for both of the extra frames. He allowed a pair of unearned runs.

Nashville and Omaha traded runs in the 10^th inning before the Sounds plated two in the 11^th.

Game two of the series is set for Tuesday night at First Tennessee Park. Right-hander Frankie Montas (1-5, 4.39) starts for the Sounds against right-hander Zach Lovvorn (1-2, 6.61) for the Storm Chasers. First pitch is scheduled for 7:05 p.m. at First Tennessee Park.

Post-Game Notes

With tonight’s 5-4 win, the Sounds improved to 45-48 on the season.
Nashville’s errorless streak of 53 2/3 innings was snapped in the first inning as second baseman Melvin Mercedes committed an error to allow Omaha’s lead-off man, Billy Burns to reach base.
Nashville’s pair of runs in the sixth inning snapped a streak of 17 straight scoreless innings.
Sounds starter Ben Bracewell matched a career-high with eight innings pitched. He set career-highs with 108 pitches and 77 strikes.
With his eight-inning performance, Bracewell became the fourth Sounds pitcher record a start of seven or more innings. After James Naile’s seven-inning outing Sunday afternoon, Monday night marked the second time this season the Sounds had starters last seven or more innings in back-to-back starts. Naile went seven on May 13 before Frankie Montas went eight on May 14.
The 11-inning game matched the longest game of the season for the Sounds. They also played 11 innings on April 12 against Iowa.
The walk-off victory was the sixth of the season for the Sounds. They are 6-2 in walk-off games this season.

The 2018 season is the Sounds’ 41^st in franchise history and fourth as the Oakland Athletics’ top affiliate. Single-game tickets are available now by calling (615) 690-4487 or by visiting www.nashvillesounds.com.

Manchester Post 78 Bows out of State Tournament on Saturday with Extra Inning Loss

A bases loaded walk in the bottom of the 8^th inning ended the season for the 15U Post 78 American Legion baseball team on Saturday. Taking on McMinnville Post 173 in the American Legion State Tournament in Tullahoma, Manchester dropped the loser’s bracket game 9 to 8 on Saturday night.

In a back and forth battle delayed by lightning, the Raiders and the Pioneers traded blow after blow. After Post 78 got a run in the 1^st inning, McMinnville answered back to build a 4 run lead. Trailing 5 to 1 entering the 4^th inning, the Raiders rallied for 4 runs to tie the game at 5. Trey Rogers had the big hit as he drilled a 3 RBI triple. After McMinnville scored twice, Manchester tied the game at 7 in the 6^th inning. After McMinnville took a 7 to 6 lead into the 7^th inning. The Raiders rallied to tie the game as Jacob Sherrill executed a safety squeeze bunt to score Braxton White to send the game to extra innings. McMinnville was able to load the bases in the 8^th inning with 1 out before a walk ended the game and the Legionnaires’ season.

Five Claybusters Named to All-State Squad

The Tennessee Wildlife Federation announced the 2018 Tennessee Scholastic Clay Target Program (SCTP) Scholastic All-State athletes in a press release on Saturday. Five members of the Coffee County Claybusters received recognition to the All-State team.

To be named a Scholastic All-State athlete, Tennessee SCTP athletes must meet a set of achievement criteria, which was screened through an application process. All-State athletes must exhibit academic excellence by posting a year-end grade average of 92 or better. Each also need to have logged an average score of 92 in regional and state competitions, and have demonstrated outstanding community involvement.

Named to the SCTP team from Coffee County were: Lindsey Dickson, Victoria Majors, Landon Meadows, Logan Meadows and Neil Slone. The All-State athletes and scholarship recipients will be recognized at an awards banquet in Montgomery County on August 11.

Sounds Drop Series Finale in Des Moines

A strong start by James Naile wasn’t enough for the Nashville Sounds in a 2-0 loss to the Iowa Cubs Sunday afternoon at Principal Park.

Naile tossed seven innings and limited the Cubs to two runs on just four hits. It was Naile’s eighth quality start of the season, and his first outing since his 2018 Triple-A All-Star Game appearance on Wednesday.

Nashville’s offense never materialized and went 1-for-9 with runners in scoring position. They left the bases loaded in the fourth, and runners on in the sixth, seventh, eighth and ninth innings.

The Cubs took a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the third on a run-scoring groundout by Chesny Young. A second run came in the fourth when Bijan Rademacher doubled and Ryan Court knocked him in with a base hit to left field to make it 2-0.

Nashville had a chance to even the game in the later innings but couldn’t push across any runs. Sheldon Neuse flied out to right with a pair of runners on base and two outs in the eighth. With two outs and runners at first and second in the ninth, Ramon Laureano hit a deep drive into left-center but it was run down by Chris Coghlan to end the game.

The Sounds managed only five hits – two of them being doubles by Melvin Mercedes and Laureano.

The Sounds return home Monday as they host the Omaha Storm Chasers in the start of a seven-day, eight-game homestand. Right-hander Ben Bracewell (2-3, 4.88) starts for Nashville while Omaha has not named a starter. First pitch is scheduled for 7:05 p.m. at First Tennessee Park.

Post-Game Notes

With today’s 2-0 loss, the Sounds dropped to 44-48 on the season.
Nashville was shut out for the eighth time this season. The eight shutouts are tied for the most in the Pacific Coast League with Iowa and Albuquerque.
James Naile recorded his team-leading eighth quality start of the season (7.0 IP, 4 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 3 BB, 3 K). He threw a career-high 102 pitches.

Sounds Let Late Lead Slip in Loss to Iowa

Ramon Laureano hit a tie-breaking homer in the seventh inning on Saturday night, but the Iowa Cubs answered with a two-run homer in the eighth and beat the Nashville Sounds 5-4 at Principal Park. The five-game series is even at two wins apiece, as the Sounds have dropped consecutive games.

Laureano’s two-out smash to left off Jen-Ho Tseng in the seventh was his fourth homer in 13 games in July, and it broke a 3-3 tie. But Jake Sanchez, who worked around trouble in the bottom of the seventh, gave up a two-out two-run shot to Taylor Davis in the eighth to account for the 5-4 final.

The Sounds first had gotten a lead in the fourth. Down 1-0 against Tseng, BJ Boyd and Jorge Mateo delivered consecutive run-scoring hits, and Boyd scored on a double play for a 3-1 advantage. Iowa scored single runs in the fourth and sixth to make it 3-3 against Raul Alcantara, who turned in a quality start in the no-decision. Sanchez suffered the loss, and Cory Mazzoni retired all six batters he faced to notch the win for Iowa.

The five-game series concludes Sunday afternoon at 1:08 p.m. James Naile (5-8, 4.30) is scheduled to start for the Sounds, and Trevor Clifton (0-1, 4.23) will make the start for Iowa. The Sounds return to First Tennessee Park on Monday night to begin an eight-game, seven-day homestand at 7:05 against the Omaha Storm Chasers.

Manchester Post 78 Legion Teams Fall in State Tournament Games on Friday

American Legion Vets salute the flag during Friday night’s national anthem prior to Post 78 game at Grider Stadium in Tullahoma

Both Manchester Post 78 American Legion baseball teams were in action on Friday in their respective American Legion State Tournaments with both teams squaring off against Columbia’s Post 19 . The 15U Raiders dropped a 6 to 2 decision to Columbia in Tullahoma. The 17U Raider squad saw their state tournament come to a close with a 12 to 2 loss to Post 19 in Gallatin.

Despite getting on the board early, Coffee County’s 17U Legion squad saw Columbia roar to the 12 to 3 win. Manchester’s Post 78 finished with 6 hits on the game but could not keep pace with the Lions. Gage Edwards had a hit and 2 RBI. Owen Neel finished with a hit, an RBI and a run scored. Griffin Meeker had a hit, a walk and 2 runs scored and Noah Bradshaw contributed a hit and a walk.

The 15U team got a 2 out RBI single from Braxton White to take a 1 to 0 lead in the top of the first inning. After Columbia tied the game in the bottom of the first, they tacked on pairs of runs in the 2^nd and 3^rd to seize control. White finished with 2 hits and both Coffee County RBI. Trey Rogers had a hit and scored both Post 78 runs. Luke Beachboard added a single in the 7^th before Columbia snuffed out any potential Raider Rally.

The Post 78 15U team will be back in action on Saturday afternoon at 5 when they take on the loser of Friday’s late game between Tullahoma and McMinnville. Opening ceremonies for the tournament will get underway at 4 PM at Grider Stadium.

Sounds Split Doubleheader with I-Cubs

The Nashville Sounds couldn’t hold an early lead Friday night and ultimately lost 5-3 to the Iowa Cubs in Game 2 of a doubleheader at Principal Park. The Sounds had won the first game of the day-night twinbill 8-3 to move their win streak to five. That matched a season-high, and it’s the second time this season their five-game win streak has been snapped by Iowa.

Franklin Barreto got the Sounds rolling in the first inning with a long two-run homer to left off Eddie Butler. It was Barreto’s 10^th home run of the year in 50 games for the Sounds.

The 2-0 lead held up until the bottom of the fourth inning. Daniel Mengden, making a second rehab start for the Sounds, retired the first two hitters in the frame before five consecutive I-Cubs hitters reached base. Jason Vosler tied it 2-2 with a two-run homer, and Trey Martin’s RBI single gave Iowa a lead it never gave back. Mengden yielded four runs on five hits in four innings in the loss, and Carlos Ramirez gave up one run in the fifth.

The Sounds fought back in the sixth against Iowa’s bullpen. Bruce Maxwell doubled and later scored on a sacrifice fly by Melvin Mercedes to cut the deficit to 5-3. Steve Lombardozzi, who has reached base safely in 17 games in a row, singled in the seventh, but Barreto and Anthony Garcia each popped out against Dakota Mekkes to end the game.

The five-game series continues Saturday night when Raul Alcantara (4-1, 4.35) opposes Jen-Ho Tseng (2-10, 7.14). First pitch is scheduled for 7:08 p.m.