Category: Sports

The Coffee County Claybusters enjoyed another award-winning weekend after capturing a pair of division wins and 4 Top 3 finishes on Saturday in Christiana.  Competing in a Scholastic Clay Target Program(SCTP) shoot at Big Springs, the Claybusters #4 and #5 teams captured first place Intermediate and Intermediate Entry titles respectively.

Team #4, consisting of: Logan Meadows(83), Braden Davenport(83), Landon Meadows(88), Emma Matthews(91) and Jonah Wyatt(84), shot a 429(out of a possible 500) to defeat Franklin County and MTCS by 6 targets.

Team #5, consisting of Garrett Taylor(68), Riley Bellomy(61), Hunter Harmon(47), Dylan Hickerson(78) and Xavier Bartley(80) also captured a 1^st place finish in the Intermediate Entry Division.  The team shot a 334 to outdistance 2^nd place MTCS by 18 targets.

The Claybusters Team #3 finished as the runners-up in the Senior Division, Junior Varsity.  The team posted a score of 404 which was 6 broken clays out of first place.  Team members, with their score in parentheses, were: Lexi Stacey(87), Tucker Carlson(98), Brason Fletcher(78), Emily Deford(57) and Cheyenne Martin(84).

The Senior Division, Varsity squad captured a 3^rd place finish on the day.  That squad, Claybusters #1, shot a 450 for the day.  Team members, with their score in parentheses, were: Hayden Jacobs(93), Neil Slone(90), Victoria Majors(89), Lindsey Dickson(88) and Austin Schaller(90).

The Claybusters return to action on Saturday, April 7^th when the will compete at a team shoot at Big Springs in Christiana.  That tournament is set to get underway at 9 AM.

It’s time to rewrite the record books again.

Pekka Rinne posted his eighth shutout of the season and the Nashville Predators saw their point streak hit a record 15 games on their way to defeating the Buffalo Sabres by a 4-0 final on Monday night at KeyBank Center.

Nashville has gone 14-0-1 in their past 15 outings and have won four straight overall, including a clean sweep of their three-game road trip. As for their goaltender, Rinne has been victorious in his last 11 starts to tie a career high and has gone 21-1-1 in his last 23 starts, all while leading the NHL with eight shutouts.

The Predators have also earned points in 15 consecutive road games, which extends a franchise record and have won nine straight away from home, another club record. And on this occasion, the Preds say, the result was thanks to No. 35.

“He was really good tonight,” Predators Head Coach Peter Laviolette said of Rinne. “We gave up too many high-quality chances. There were lots of puck that [Buffalo] threw that had a lot of heat… He seemed like he was right on top of all of them. He was on point tonight.”

After a scoreless opening period, winger Miikka Salomaki floated a shot toward the cage that hit off the sticks of Scott Hartnell and Mike Fisher before finding its way into the net for a 1-0 Predators lead at 12:29 of the second stanza. Nashville pushed their advantage less than five minutes later with Ryan Johansen doubling the the Preds lead by depositing a rebound past Linus Ullmark at 17:03.

Then in the third period, Filip Forsberg and Ryan Hartman both tallied in the final four minutes of regulation to deliver Nashville’s 48th victory of the season.

But the Predators wouldn’t have been in position to seal anything if it weren’t for the man between the pipes who picked up his 40th win of the season in the process.

“He’s unbelievable,” Johansen said of Rinne. “In our opinion, he’s been the most valuable player for us, and definitely will be recognized for sure come award time in Vegas this summer.”

Rinne Wall:

A 15-game point streak (14-0-1). A 15-game road point streak. A nine-game road win streak. And that doesn’t even begin to mention Pekka Rinne’s records (see below).

Get all that?

It’s no secret the Predators have been hot over the past few games – or more like since the calendar flipped to January – but win streaks are one thing. To do it night after night, while quickly establishing themselves as the best Preds team in franchise history, is another.

And as if it wasn’t already, it’s time to jump on the #Pekka4Vezina train.

The NHL leader with eight shutouts, Rinne’s blanking of the Sabres on Monday set a career high and his 11 consecutive wins ties a career high. In addition, Rinne recorded his 40th win of the season, the third campaign in his career he’s hit the 40-win mark.

By doing so on three separate seasons, Rinne is now tied with five other netminders in NHL history for the most 40-win seasons, trailing only Martin Brodeur for the all-time record.

A three-time Vezina Finalist, and at the age of 35 no less, Rinne is putting together his best NHL season. The players in front of him are challenged – almost nightly – with deriving new superlatives to describe his stellar play.

“He’s just so motivated,” Johansen said of his goaltender. “He’s such a professional. He’s such a leader on this team, and he’s the reason [for our place in] the standings. He’s been phenomenal for us all year. He’s a man on mission now, and he’s really enjoying it.”

“He’s just been steady,” Laviolette said of RInne. “He’s been rock steady for us the whole time.”

As humble as they come, Rinne was impressed to hear of his company in the three-time 40-win club, but reaching that number is always something the goaltender has his sights set on. And of course, he wasn’t about to take all of the praise.

“That’s a credit to my teammates big time, and also my coaching staff,” Rinne said. “Over the years they’ve trusted me and let me play a lot of games. Even when you win a lot of games you end up losing some, so you need a lot of people pulling for you.”

As Johansen stood at his stall reflecting on his goaltender’s play this season, the thoughts just kept coming. But he eventually caught himself, realizing he had a plane to catch, another game awaiting, another chance to see Rinne do something spectacular.

“I could go on about Peks forever,” Johansen said. “I’m just happy to see him doing so well.”

Notes:

Mike Fisher now has two goals in seven games since completing his comeback earlier this month.

Austin Watson, Matt Irwin and Yannick Weber were scratches for Monday’s contest.

The Preds next game comes at Bridgestone Arena on Thursday (at 7 p.m. CT) against the Toronto Maple Leafs.

Pete Weber’s Postgame Report

4:00 PM – CCMS Tennis vs. Westwood Tennis at Fred Deadman Park – PPD, Make-up is TBD
4:00 PM – CHS Tennis HOSTS Cannon Co – PPD, Make-up is TBD
5:00 PM – CCMS Baseball at North Franklin – PPD, Make-up is TBD
5:00 PM – CCMS Softball at North Franklin – PPD, Make-up is TBD
5:00 PM – CHS Baseball(JV) at Lincoln Co – CANCELLED
5:00 PM – WMS Softball HOSTS Moore Co – PPD, Make-up is TBD
5:30 PM – CHS Softball at Shelbyville  – PPD, Make-up is April 19th
6:00 PM – CHS Baseball HOSTS Riverdale – PPD, Make-up is TBD

Nine boats from the Coffee County Youth Bass Club hit the water on Saturday morning at Tims Ford.  Competing in the 7^th South Central Tennessee Region BASS Nation high school tournament of the season, the Raider anglers had a spectacular day.  Three boats placed in the Top 12, 4 boats placed in the Top 25 and the boat of Garrett Davis and Isaiah Owens captured the first region win in Coffee County Youth Bass Club history against the field of 63 boats.

Davis and Owens, who have been on a hot streak, landed a maximum 5 fish limit that weighed in at 15.51 pounds.  Their biggest lunker tipped the scales at 3.87 pounds.  The win also placed the Coffee County duo at the top of the region standings with 386 points just ahead of the team of Stuart and Abbigail Roggli of Grundy County.

The team of Hunter Haley and Garrett Fellars finished in 11^th place as they also landed 5 fish coming in at a final weight of 9.95 pounds.  The team of Colby and Braeden Thurmond were a fin behind at 9.85 pounds on their stringer of 4 fish.  Hunter Sanders and Blake Mangrum came in 22^nd place with a total weigh-in at 5.75 pounds.  Jacob Garms and Hogan Scott netted 33^rd place with 2 fish at 3.44 pounds.  Shannah Frame and Jase Rice also caught 2 fish weighing 2.81 pounds to finish in 36^th place.  Isaac Turner and Cameron Rutledge came in 50^th place and Joe White and Adam Petty came in 51^st place.

Following the tournament, the region standings were posted.  Led by Owens and Davis in the top spot, Coffee County has 3 boats in the Top 15, 6 teams in the Top 40 and 9 teams in the Top 50.  Sanders and Mangrum currently reside in 9^th place.  The Thurmond brothers are in 15^th place.  Other Top 40 teams are: Haley/Fellars(30^th), White/Petty(31^st) and Branson and Dawson Wells(38^th).  The teams of Garms/Scott and Turner/Rutledge are tied for 46^th place and the team of Frame/Rice is 50^th.

Members of the Coffee County Youth Bass Club will hit the water again on Saturday, March 31^st when the Tennessee Bass Nation High School State Trail series visits Kentucky Lake.  That tournament will be the 5^th state trail tournament of the season and will blast off from Birdsong Marina in Camden.  Coffee County Junior anglers will take part in a tournament on Saturday at Morris Ferry Dock on Woods Reservoir.  The next high school region tournament will take place on April 21^st on Old Hickory Lake.

Opening their season at Warren County, the Coffee County Middle School track tangled with North Franklin and Warren County in a 3 team meet. Featuring a team which is long on numbers and short on experience, Coach Travis O’Kelly got a look at several athletes competing for the first time. At the end of the day, both Raider teams captured wins.

The Lady Raiders won the girls’ meet with 47 points outdistancing 2nd place Warren County who had 39 points and North Franklin finished with 35 points. The 4x400M relay team of Greenlee Woods, Alyssa McClanahan, Holli Hancock and Madison Rooker finished in 2nd place. Other top finishers for the Lady Raiders were:
Marley Perry – 1st, Discus and 2nd, Shot Put;
Madison Rooker – 1st, 800M and 2nd, Long Jump;
Katie Cotton – 1st, High Jump and 3rd, 200M;
Alyssa McClanahan – 2nd, 400M and 4th, Shot Put;
Kinzie Givens – 2nd, High Jump and 3rd, 400M;
Jayda Wright – 2nd, Discus;
Brianna Shelton – 2nd, 200M;
Jorja Waggoner – 3rd, 800M;
Greenlee Woods – 3rd, 1600M;
Emma Wood – 4th, 100M;
Holli Hancock – 4th, 100M;

The Red Raiders 4x400M relay team of Ethan Beaty, Braison Yancer, Preston Houck and Jacob Rutledge won their race. Other top finishers for the Red Raiders were:
Jacob Rutledge – 1st, 1600M and 1st, 800M;
Ethan Welch – 1st, Discus, 2nd, High Jump and 2nd, 1600M;
Ethan Baker – 1st, 100M and 4th, 1600M;
Ethan Beaty – 1st, 400M;
Kelby Walker – 2nd, 200M, 2nd, 100M and 4th, High Jump;
Braison Yancer – 2nd, Long Jump and 4th, 400M;
Jacob Slabaugh – 2nd, 800M;
Michael Delong – 3rd, Discus;
Elijah Clemmons – 4th, 200M;
Blake Young – 4th, 800M;
Phinehas Rollman – 4th, Shot Put

The Raider thinclads will return to the track next Thursday when they travel to Shelbyville for a 4-way meet with Harris, North and South. That meet is scheduled to begin at 4:30 PM.

The Coffee County Middle School tennis teams traveled to Lewisburg on Friday for their 3rd match of the young season. The Lady Raiders won all 10 of their matches in a clean sweep. The Red Raiders captured a 5 to 1 win.

The Lady Raiders improved to 3 and 0 on the season with the shutout win. Capturing singles wins for Coffee Middle were Jayda Wright(6 to 2), Marley Perry(6 to 4), Anna Amado(6 to 3), Lucy Riddle(6 to 0), Paige Meadows(6 to 3) and Kylie Millaway(6 to 0). In doubles action, Coffee County got wins from the teams of Wright & Perry(6 to 3), Meadows & Riddle(4to 0), Riley Tucker & Claire Rondolett(4 to 1) and Millaway & Malle Fletcher(4 to 1).

The Red Raiders improved to 2 and 1 on the season with their win. Winning in singles play were Jayden Brown(6 to 3), Connor Fox(7 to 5) and Logan Hale(6 to 2). Coffee Middle got their other 2 victories in doubles play. The teams of Brown & Fox(6 to 1) and Hale and Leon Mayo(6 to 4).

Coffee Middle is back in action on Monday when they take on cross town rival Westwood. That match will take place at Fred Deadman Park and will begin at 4 PM.

Playoff berth clinched.

Colton Sissons and Filip Forsberg each scored twice and the Nashville Predators rallied on the road for the sixth consecutive time on Friday night in Denver, prevailing 4-2 over the Avalanche.

As a result, the Predators have punched their ticket to the 2018 Stanley Cup Playoffs, the fourth consecutive season Nashville will appear in the postseason.

“It feels good,” Sissons said of the berth. “That’s what every team suits up for in training camp is to get to the postseason. As we found out last year, as long as you get in, you just never know what can happen. We’re pumped about it, and to be the first… it’s pretty special.”

In addition to a postseason berth, the Predators continue to rewrite their own record books. Nashville now has a point in 14 consecutive games (13-0-1) which ties the mark for the longest overall point streak in club history. Plus, Friday’s win gave the Predators points in 14 consecutive road games to set a franchise record in the category.

Sissons connected on two gorgeous shots to either corner of the net to guide Nashville to the win. Forsberg scored the tying marker early in the second period to make sure the victory was of the comeback variety just one more time.

“I don’t think there’s a lack of confidence we’re going to score goals or that we can win or how to win a game when it comes to the end,” Predators Head Coach Peter Laviolette said. “I think the guys are confident with that, and that’s just the way it’s presented itself on the road… We played the hand that was dealt and the guys played it well.”

Sissons opened the scoring at 17:26 of the first when he collected a cross-ice pass from P.K. Subban, picked his mark and flung the puck over the shoulder of Semyon Varlamov.

The Avalanche offense, which has been dominant of late, put the home team ahead with two goals in four minutes spanning the first and second periods. Nathan MacKinnon’s 36th of the campaign came on a one-timer off the post and in, and at 3:28 of the second, Gabriel Landeskog managed to slip the puck just under Juuse Saros’s pad.

Nashville would trail for exactly three minutes. Forsberg took two swings at a bouncing puck before connecting and swatting it into the net. Later in the frame, Sissons’s blast off a feed from Ryan Hartman gave the visitors the lead.

Saros and his defensemen were excellent as the Avalanche pushed to tie the contest, and then with just over a minute to play, Viktor Arvidsson fed Forsberg for his second of the night and 20th of the season to punch their ticket.

“It’s a good feeling in here, but we’ve got a lot of work to do down the stretch,” Nashville defenseman Ryan Ellis said. “Tonight, on [the second half of a] back-to-back and the travel and everything, it was a good effort by the guys, and we got the win, which was huge for us.”

Denver, CO – March 16: P.K. Subban #76 of the Nashville Predators jumps on teammate Colton Sissons #10 to celebrate a goal against the Colorado Avalanche at the Pepsi Center on March 16, 2018 in Denver, Colorado.
Denver, CO – March 16: P.K. Subban #76 of the Nashville Predators jumps on teammate Colton Sissons #10 to celebrate a goal against the Colorado Avalanche at the Pepsi Center on March 16, 2018 in Denver, Colorado. Michael Martin

Clutch Sissons:

Remember who had a hat trick last May to send the Predators to their first Stanley Cup Final in franchise history?

The stage wasn’t quite as big on Friday night in Denver, but there was still plenty at stake, and just like he did then, Colton Sissons not only showed up, but put up.

Sissons tallied twice in the 4-2 win over the Avalanche, giving the Preds their first goal of the night, and then potting what ended up as the game-winner to help his club become the first in the NHL this season to clinch a playoff berth.

“He’s a competitor,” Laviolette said of Sissons. “Some people rise up in big moments and some people can’t, too, they don’t know how to respond to the big moments. He seems to be proving himself as a guy that steps up in big situations when you need him.”

“I’ve always prided myself on showing up when it matters most and just being counted on upon as a reliable teammate,” Sissons said. “The bigger the stakes, you have to raise your level, and I was able to prove that last year in playoffs a little bit and I’ve continued to build on that this season.”

While the Predators know getting into the playoffs won’t guarantee anything, they can take pride in knowing they were the first to do so in 2018, hopefully the first of many milestones yet to come this spring.

“You take a little pride in that,” Laviolette said of clinching first. “The guys knew with a win tonight they would clinch, and I think they fought hard for it. I really liked our game tonight. We played a fast team that was desperate and competitive and really good at home… they came hard right at the beginning, so I really liked our guys and the way we competed and fought for that win.”

Notes:

The Predators are now 7-1-1 in the second half of back-to-back games this season, the best mark in the NHL.

Defensemen Anthony Bitetto and Alexei Emelin, along with winger Scott Hartnell were healthy scratches for Friday’s contest in Denver.

Nashville travels nearly across the entire country tomorrow morning to prepare for the third and final part of their three-game road trip in Buffalo against the Sabres.

Pete Weber’s Postgame Report