Category: Sports

The team of Garrett Fellers and Hunter Haley used a stringer of 10 fish with a total weight of 20.71 pounds to capture 9^th place in the TN Bass Nation High School State Championship on Saturday held at Tims Ford Lake.  The team was the highest finisher for the Raider anglers who fielded 6 boats in the state championship against 123 other boats from across Tennessee.

The boat of Issac Turner and Cam Rutledge finished in 28^th place with a total catch of 10.87 pounds.  The team of Blake Mangrum and Jacob Garms finished in 41^st place with a total catch of 8.45 pounds.  Braeden and Colby Thurmond finished in 54^th place, Hunter Sanders and Brayden Majors finished in 79^th place and Shannah Frame and Hogan Scott came in 124^th place.

The championship brought to a close the 2016-2017 TN Bass Nation Points Championship.  The Coffee County team of Braeden and Colby Thurmond finished in 21^st place which qualified them for the BASS Nationals Tournament.  The top 25 teams in the state qualify for the National tournament.  The team of Issac Turner and Cam Rutledge finished in 34^th place as they were the only other Coffee County boat to finish in the top 50.  The Costa Bassmaster High School National Championship will be held on June 22^nd thru 24^th on Kentucky Lake and Barkley Lake.   Official launch point will be Paris Landing State Park.

A three-goal second period helped the Anaheim Ducks to even the Western Conference Final at one game apiece with a 5-3 win over the Nashville Predators in Game Two on Sunday at Honda Center. The result marks just the third loss of the postseason for the Preds, and the first time they’ve given up at least four goals in these playoffs.

Nashville jumped out to a 2-0 lead in the first period, but the Ducks got a power-play goal before the opening frame was out, a moment Preds Head Coach Peter Laviolette said caused the momentum to shift in Anaheim’s favor.

“It’s a 60-minute game, and it’s a good hockey team over there,” goaltender Pekka Rinne said. “I’m happy with how we battled back, but obviously disappointed [we lost]. We had enough chances [to win]…but you have to play a solid 60 minutes to win these games.”

For the second consecutive game, Nashville’s start was excellent, and they had a 2-0 lead to show for it. First, Viktor Arvidsson found Ryan Johansen streaking past the Anaheim defense, and the centerman beat John Gibson for a 1-0 lead. Then it was James Neal with his second goal in as many games, this time tucking one home on the power-play at 8:32. But Sami Vatanen got a power-play goal of his own before the frame was out to get the Ducks on the board, and the goals kept coming in the second.

Anaheim evened the score with a goal from Jakob Silfverberg early in the middle stanza before Arvidsson pulled Gibson out of the net on a partial break, which Filip Forsberg followed and poked the puck over the line for a 3-2 lead. It was Ondrej Kase and Nick Ritchie who tallied before the period was out to give the Ducks a 4-3 advantage after 40 minutes of play.

“After the [fourth] goal, you feel like you could have saved it, but that one for sure, it was bad timing too,” Rinne said. “It’s a tough break, tough play and personally, for sure, I want to have that back.”

Nashville had their opportunities in the third period as they pushed for the equalizer, including a mad scramble in front of Gibson with less than six minutes to play, but that was as close as the Preds came before the Ducks added an empty-netter to seal it.

The goal was to take two games to open the series in Anaheim, but the math says Nashville had to win at least one in California for a chance to advance, and they’ve done that. Now they’ll head home to a building where they’re 5-0 in the playoffs with two chances to collect wins before jetting back to Anaheim.

“We came here to win two games – we got one and it’s a step in the right direction,” defenseman Ryan Ellis said. “We would have liked a different result tonight, but we go home with a 1-1 series and two games at home, and we’re comfortable with that.”

“Now we’re heading home and have an opportunity [in Nashville],” Rinne said. “And that’s the best part of it.”

Notes:

With a goal and an assist in Game Two, Ryan Johansen tied the Nashville franchise record for points in a single postseason with 13 (3g-10a). Colin Wilson (2016 postseason) and Joel Ward (2011 postseason) currently share the record with Johansen.

James Neal scored in the first period of Game Two, giving him 13 playoff goals as a member of the Predators. That ties him with Shea Weber and David Legwand for first in the category in franchise history.

The Western Conference Final now shifts to Nashville with Game Three set for Tuesday night at 7 p.m. CT at Bridgestone Arena. Game Four will take place on Thursday in Nashville before shifting back to Anaheim for Game Five on Saturday.

Pete Weber’s Postgame Report

R.A. Dickey was ultimately undone by the latest pinch-hit home run Tyler Moore has hit off of him. But as the Braves’ knuckleballer exited Sunday’s 3-1 loss to the Marlins at Marlins Park, he could not help but wonder what might have been had he gotten the call he wanted on a 3-2 pitch to A.J. Ellis in the decisive seventh inning.

“The walk to Ellis was big,” Dickey said. “I was going to pitch him carefully to get a forceout for the next guy up. I felt I had controlled the game up until that point.”
Dickey allowed just three hits while blanking the Marlins through the first six innings, then allowed Giancarlo Stanton to open the seventh with a double hit against what the pitcher described as a “flat” knuckleball.
With Stanton on second base and one out, Dickey pitched Ellis carefully knowing he had a base open and could create a forceout or a potential double-play opportunity on a day when he had already induced 11 ground-ball outs. But after recording two straight strikes to get the count to 3-2, he attempted to buzz the top of the strike zone with a knuckler that home-plate umpire Marvin Hudson called a ball.
“A hitter that sees the knuckleball high is much more likely to swing than a guy who sees it low,” Dickey said. “There’s a prevailing kind of agenda for a hitting coach to tell his players to ‘see it high and let it fly.’ That’s the knuckleball mantra for a hitter. I tried to throw one at the top of the zone. I thought it broke down late. Another day with another guy back there, that was strike three. But everybody has their own unique zones and with Marvin today, that wasn’t a strike.”
Ellis’ one-out walk didn’t necessarily hurt the Braves any more than the 12 runners they left on base while attempting to complete a three-game sweep. But it did help extend the inning and provide a chance for Moore to come off the bench to drill his game-winning home run on a first-pitch knuckleball.
Moore, who briefly played in the Braves’ system for Triple-A Gwinnett last year, is 4-for-6 with two home runs off Dickey. The previous homer was also hit during a seventh-inning pinch-hit appearance for the Nationals against the Mets on Sept. 11, 2012.
“[Dickey] was cruising and just a couple calls didn’t go our way,” Braves first baseman Freddie Freeman said. “Then one thing led to another.”
Dickey recorded 12 called strikes on knuckleballs — his second-highest total of the season. He received the call he needed when he froze Stanton on an inside pitch to strand two in the first inning, but his prevailing memories of this game will likely center around the call that didn’t go his way.

The Nashville Sounds settled for a four-game series split after a 6-0 loss to the Albuquerque Isotopes spoiled the day for 9,718 fans on Mother’s Day at First Tennessee Park.

The near-capacity crowd didn’t have much to cheer about as the Sounds (15-18) were blanked for the second time in 2017.

Albuquerque jumped on Nashville starter Paul Blackburn in the second inning. Noel Cuevas reached on an infield single and quickly moved to third when Jordan Patterson followed with a double. Both scored on run-scoring hits by Rafael Ynoa and Collin Ferguson.

Ferguson’s big day was just getting started as the first baseman cracked a two-run homer his next time up to give the ‘Topes a 4-0 lead in the fourth. He finished the day 2-for-3 with 3 RBI in his first career Triple-A game.

Blackburn turned in a 1-2-3 fifth inning but the long ball got him again in the sixth. Cuevas singled to left field and swiped second base before Jordan Patterson belted a two-run homer to the right field seats.

The right-hander was tagged with his fourth loss of the season after allowing six runs on seven hits in five-plus innings.

Meanwhile, the offense was stuck in neutral. The Sounds mustered only four hits on the afternoon, two of which came off the bat of Joey Wendle.

Albuquerque starter Barry Enright kept Nashville off balance for 5 2/3 innings. The right-hander yielded only three hits, didn’t issue any walks, and struck out five in the win.

The bullpen trio of Jerry Vasto, Carlos Estevez, and Sam Moll shut down the Sounds the rest of the way.

The Sounds hit the road for an eight-game trip to California. Game one against the Fresno Grizzles is scheduled for Monday night at Chukchansi Park. Right-hander Chris Bassitt (0-0, 9.00) starts for Nashville against right-hander Casey Coleman (1-1, 8.38) for Fresno. First pitch is slated for 8:35 p.m.

A pair of Opening Day starters who had mostly struggled this season stepped up on Saturday night in a closely pitched contest at Marlins Park. Atlanta’s Julio Teheran, backed by RBI singles from Nick Markakis and Dansby Swanson in the fourth inning, held on for a 3-1 victory over the Marlins.

Teheran threw six shutout innings, scattering three hits and two walks while striking out four. Atlanta’s right-hander continues to have a split season. On the road, his ERA is 0.71 over 25 1/3 innings, compared to an 8.14 ERA in 21 home frames.
“That might be as crisp and as good as I’ve seen Julio since I’ve been here, and he’s pitched some really good games since I’ve been here,” Braves manager Brian Snitker said. “The ball was really coming out of his hand good, and he was changing [speeds] really good. He pitched around some trouble with some guys on second. It was just a really solid outing.”
Miami’s Edinson Volquez, reinstated from the disabled list on Saturday with a right thumb blister, surrendered two runs in six innings, with five strikeouts and two walks. Volquez allowed four hits, and he encountered a bit of bad luck in the fourth when Marcell Ozuna lost Freddie Freeman’s fly ball in the twilight, setting up a two-run inning.
“My blister didn’t bother me today, and I was able to make a lot of good pitches tonight,” Volquez said. “I can’t blame anybody for the loss. Whatever happened over there is part of the game. Nothing to complain about.”
Justin Bour homered for the Marlins off Eric O’Flaherty in the seventh, but Miami has now dropped five straight at home and fell into last place in the National League East.
Doubles by J.T. Realmuto, Ozuna and Derek Dietrich accounted for the only hits surrendered by Teheran, who had allowed 10 earned runs over 11 innings in his past two starts. The Braves’ ace used his two-seamer a little more frequently and found more confidence in his four-seam fastball than he had in recent outings.
“It feels really nice when you have a nice outing after two rough ones,” Teheran said. “I’ve been working hard to get back. That’s how I pitch. I’m happy with how I did today.”
Marlins Park is in its sixth season, and Saturday marked the first time the roof has been open for five straight games. In the fourth inning, it was twilight in Miami, and the conditions helped the Braves open the scoring. Ozuna couldn’t find Freeman’s towering fly ball in the lights/twilight, and it dropped for a two-base hit. Per Statcast™, the hit probability on the fly ball with a 55-degree launch angle was 1 percent. The double set up Markakis’ RBI single, and Swanson delivered a two-out, run-scoring single.
“At that moment, I don’t see it,” Ozuna said. “I saw it when it went off the bat. And then I was, ‘Where’s the ball?’ I lose it because it was yellow and sky blue, light blue mix.”
An inning later, the sky got darker, and visibility wasn’t an issue at that point.
“When it’s dark, it’s easy,” Ozuna said. “But when it’s like this, when the sun is going to sleep, it’s hard to see it.”
Bour is getting a chance to face left-handers this season, and in the seventh inning, Miami’s first baseman connected on his first homer off a southpaw. Bour skied a homer into the second deck in right field against O’Flaherty. It was his first career homer versus a lefty, after his first 45 were off right-handers. Bour has also homered in three straight games. Statcast™ projected the solo shot at 388 feet, with an exit velocity of 97.8 mph and a launch angle of 32 degrees. More >
“I remember a couple years ago, it was the other way and I was getting in trouble on the road. Hopefully we’ll get everything together. At home, it’s been a little weird. But I don’t want to put that on my mind. I know it’s a new stadium and everything is new for everybody. I’m just trying to find myself in that setting.” — Teheran, on his home/road splits
R.A. Dickey will be on the mound when Atlanta and Miami conclude the three-game series at 12:10 p.m. CT on Sunday. Dickey has allowed just one of his eight home runs this year on the road.

The sound of three Nashville home runs lingered in the ears of 11,068 fans Saturday night at First Tennessee Park as the Sounds topped the Albuquerque Isotopes 7-3. The Sounds (15-17) recorded their 13th multi-home run game of the season and took a 2-1 series lead over the Isotopes (18-17).

Pitching on a Major League rehab assignment as he recovers from offseason foot surgery, Daniel Mengden (0-1, 4.91) showed all the ingredients of a big league pitcher through three innings. The 24-year-old kept the Albuquerque hitters off balance the first time through the order but ran into trouble when the Isotopes saw him a second time. He finished his second outing of 2017 with five strikeouts in 3.2 innings.

For the second straight game the Sounds used the long ball to take a first inning lead. With two outs and a runner on first base, Matt Olson launched a towering home run just inside the right field foul pole. The home run was Olson’s sixth of the season. As if that home run was not impressive enough, in the bottom of the sixth inning he demolished a baseball beyond The Band Box onto the concourse in right field for his second two-run bomb of the evening. It was the eighth multi-home run game in Olson’s career.

Sandwiched between the two Olson dingers, Renato Nunez went yard for his team-leading ninth home run of the season. The home run for Nunez gave the Sounds a 4-0 lead that would not last long. Albuquerque’s Tony Wolters got a run back for the Isotopes in the top of the fourth inning as he crushed a payoff pitch into beyond the right field fence. After retiring the next two batters Mengden allowed a scorching double by Jordan Patterson off the right field wall, walked Derrik Gibson, gave up an RBI single to Domonic Smith, and issued a free pass to Rafael Ynoa before being pulled from the game.

The Sounds didn’t need just the long ball to score, however. Second baseman Joey Wendle doubled home the seventh run of the game for Nashville with two outs in the sixth inning after Matt Chapman had walked and swiped second base.

In the win, Sounds shortstop Franklin Barreto saw his career-long 12-game hitting streak come to an end. He did manage to draw a walk and score a run. Another pitcher on a rehab assignment from the A’s was John Axford. The right-hander pitched a flawless sixth inning and recorded a strikeout on just 12 pitches.

Raul Alcantara notched a three-inning save for the Sounds, the first of its kind for Nashville pitching this season. The 24-year-old allowed just a trio of singles in those three frames and struck out two.

The fourth and final game of the series is scheduled for Sunday afternoon at First Tennessee Park. Right-hander Paul Blackburn (1-3, 3.52) starts for Nashville while Albuquerque counters with right-hander Barry Enright (0-0, 0.00). First pitch is slated for 2:05 p.m.

They’ve started off with a bang. Again.

James Neal scored the game-winner in overtime and the Nashville Predators took a 1-0 series lead in the Western Conference Final with a 3-2 victory over the Anaheim Ducks at Honda Center on Friday night. The result marks the third consecutive series that Nashville has taken a 1-0 lead in this postseason, all on the road.

After Anaheim tied the contest at 2-2 in the third, it was Nashville who had a push in the extra session, ended by Neal’s fourth of the postseason, and his biggest yet.

“Game One is a huge opportunity to take home-ice advantage back, and that’s what we’re going out there trying to do,” Neal said. “That’s what we did tonight, and it was a great win.”

“The guys have played well in the first game,” Preds Head Coach Peter Laviolette said. “Tonight, for me, I thought was a game where we came out really well. I thought they pushed back, we pushed back against them, then they pushed back again on us and came back and tied it up. We didn’t play very well in the third, but in overtime we got back to our game and got back to playing again. There’s probably going to be a lot of that [in] this series, but tonight went our way in overtime.”

It was Anaheim who struck first in an opening period dominated by Nashville when Jakob Silfverberg flung a shot to the net that eluded Pekka Rinne. But after hitting the crossbar earlier in the period, Filip Forsberg evened the score when he tipped in a Matt Irwin point shot through the five hole of John Gibson. The goal was Forsberg’s fourth of the playoffs and one of 15 Preds shots in the first frame.

Nashville continued their pressure in the second, and a slick, cross-ice feed from Ryan Johansen made its way to Austin Watson who one-timed a shot toward the net, deflecting off Sami Vatanen and into the cage. It was Watson’s first career postseason tally and gave the Preds a 2-1 advantage after 40 minutes.

Anaheim controlled play in the third period, and Hampus LIndholm got the equalizer at 7:21 of the period, forcing the second overtime for Nashville of these playoffs.

Once the extra session started, the ice tilted in favor of the visitors once more, and after a scramble in front that almost ended it, P.K. Subban found Neal on the near side to seal the deal.

“It just shows a lot of character,” Rinne said of the win. “I thought that tonight we [had] a lot of chances… The guys stuck with it, and we’ve been doing that all playoffs. It’s a great sign for a team.”

As the pressure increases this spring, so does the play of James Neal.

After going scoreless in Round One against Chicago, Neal potted three against St. Louis in Round Two, and on Friday night in Anaheim, he scored what may be the biggest of his career.

“He’s one of those X-factors,” defenseman Mattias Ekholm said of Neal. “[He’s one of] the key guys that can really make a difference in the game and tonight he did. You just see what kind of shot he has and it’s nice to see him going at the right time.”

Just a shift before he ended it, Neal laid a thunderous hit on Anaheim’s Brandon Montour, one of two notable body checks he had on the night. And then, with a rocket to the twine, Neal gave his club a 1-0 series lead for the third consecutive time, just another chapter in what has been quite a story to this point for the Predators.

“Whoever’s picking us as the underdog, that’s fine,” Neal said. “We know what type of team we have tonight in our dressing room. We’ve built a team to try and win a Stanley Cup and we’re continuing to get better every series and every game.”

The underdog labels, the raucous crowds – none of it seems to matter to the hockey club from Nashville.

For three consecutive series in the 2017 postseason, the Predators have gone into a hostile barn – first in Chicago, then St. Louis and now Anaheim – and walked in the house without even thinking to wipe their feet at the door.

“You have to win four games, and we’re one down,” center Ryan Johansen said. “We’ll take it, get some confidence from it and we’re going go to bed feeling good about our game and ourselves. Then, just keep pounding away and trying to get better.”

This third series lead carries the most significance to date, as Nashville has never been to this point of the postseason. But now they find themselves owning a 1-0 lead in the Western Conference Final, and although they’re well aware of what’s still ahead of them, there’s nothing wrong with putting their feet up for the night.

“I think everyone in here is happy,” defenseman Mattias Ekholm said. “Everyone wants to enjoy it tonight, but we know tomorrow, it’s the rest button. We want to grab Game Two as well, and we have a lot of work to do from here. [But it’s] just a nice feeling right now. We have a long ways to go.”

Nashville has now gotten goals from 15 different players in the current postseason, a franchise record.

Matt Irwin, Mattias Ekholm and P.K. Subban all registered assists in Game One, now marking 19 of the last 21 Nashville goals that have had a defensemen factor in on the result. Overall, the Preds have now received 31 points (9g-22a) from the backend.

Game Two of the Western Conference Final is set for Sunday at 6:30 p.m. CT before the series shifts back to Nashville for Games Three and Four, beginning on Tuesday.

Catching up to the fastball was not a problem for Tyler Flowers on Friday night, as the 31-year-old catcher crushed a two-run homer and added a two-run single off heaters in the Braves’ 8-4 victory over Miami at Marlins Park, which snapped a six-game losing streak for Atlanta.

Flowers’ first homer of the season was a drive to left off Jose Urena’s 96.2-mph fastball, and in a six-run seventh inning, Atlanta’s catcher ripped Brian Ellington’s 97.6-mph fastball into right field for a two-run single.
“I was just trying to be ready because that guy throws hard,” Flowers said of his home run. “It was either going to be a heater or a slider. I was banking on the heater. I wasn’t sure how I hit it. I’m still not, honestly. I wasn’t sure if it had backspin, topspin or what. I knew I hit it hard. I was running hard to make sure I got [a double].”
The Braves provided plenty of support for Mike Foltynewicz to collect his first victory in seven outings (six starts). Foltynewicz gave up one run on six hits with four strikeouts over six innings.
“I knew the team needed a win,” Foltynewicz said. “We’re way better than what we are. I was just going to go out there and battle my butt off and try the best I could to get this win and get this thing turned around.”
Justin Bour, J.T. Realmuto and Derek Dietrich each homered for the Marlins, but the game slipped away in the seventh. Miami has now dropped 13 of its last 16. Per Statcast™, Bour’s blast projected at 384 feet with an exit velocity of 108.8 mph. The launch angle of 39 degrees elevated the drive into the second deck.
“It’s a part of growing up,” Marlins manager Don Mattingly said. “It’s a tough time, but it’s really a time where you find out who you are. Are we going to keep playing, or are we going to cave in? To me, I like our club. I like our character, and in my mind, we’re not going to quit.”
Flowers was at the center of the Braves’ big innings, with his homer off Urena having an exit velocity of 109.2 mph, per Statcast™. And in the seventh, he led off and was hit by a Brad Ziegler pitch. Atlanta sent 11 to the plate in the inning, with Flowers capping the scoring on his two-run single.
“It’s really frustrating,” Ziegler said. “It’s probably one of the toughest sequences of my career. … Not that the whole two weeks has been great pitch after great pitch, but I feel like I’ve made some really good pitches in that stretch and don’t have anything to show for it.”
The fourth inning could have potentially gotten away from Foltynewicz, who entered the frame with a two-run lead. But Bour’s big blast cut that margin in half, and with one out, Urena singled. After allowing a hit to the opposing pitcher, the crowd was getting riled up. But Foltynewicz quieted the threat by getting Dee Gordon to bounce into a 3-6-3 double play.
“It was just really good to see him fight through some adversity and have to make pitches in tough situations,” Braves manager Brian Snitker said. “Everything was positive for me.”
Wild seventh breaks things open: A one-run Braves lead ballooned to a seven-run cushion in a wild seventh inning. The Braves capitalized on a hit batter and three walks. It started with Ziegler hitting Flowers with a pitch. Kyle Barraclough walked two, and Atlanta cashed in on a Barraclough balk and an error at third by Dietrich. Brandon Phillips knocked a two-run single, as did Flowers.
“It doesn’t seem like Zig can get a ground ball to somebody,” Mattingly said. “Just out of the reach of Dee and the one up the middle. So that’s going to change. That inning hurt us.”
Flowers’ two-run shot off Urena’s 96.2-mph fastball was the third-hardest pitch hit for a home run by a Braves player and the third-hardest pitch given up for a home run by a Marlins pitcher (each of the three surrendered by Urena) this year. The 109.2-mph exit velocity matched Freddie Freeman for the second-highest produced by a Brave on a home run this season. Matt Kemp produced a 111.4-mph exit velo on a home run hit off Matt Harvey on April 6.
With his pinch-hit opportunity in the eighth inning, Marlins outfielder Ichiro Suzuki appeared in his 2,528th Major League game, tying Ernie Banks for 49th all-time.
Julio Teheran will attempt to get back on track when Atlanta and Miami meet again at 6:10 p.m. CT on Saturday. Teheran has posted an 8.02 ERA over his past four starts, but most of his struggles have come at SunTrust Park. He has a 0.93 ERA in three road starts this season.

Early offense, silky smooth defense, and efficient pitching proved to be a winning formula for the Nashville Sounds Friday night as they edged the Albuquerque Isotopes 3-1. The Sounds offense did all its damage in the opening two innings and Daniel Gossett and the bullpen shut down the Isotopes to snap a four game slide.

Gossett had his finest performance of the season en route to his first victory of the campaign. The 24-year-old notched his first quality start by scattering five hits across six innings while he rung up seven hitters. The six innings worked were a season-high for the right-hander.

Franklin Barreto wasted no time extending his hitting streak to 12 games as he put an 0-2 pitch over the fence for a two-run home run in the first inning. It was the fifth long ball of the season for Barreto, who is now batting .338 for the season.

The Sounds added a little Parm to the winning recipe in the second inning as right fielder Chris Parmelee took Thad Weber deep and give the Sounds a 3-0 lead. It was Parmelee’s fourth home run of the season.

Albuquerque got a run back in the fourth inning when Derrik Gibson scorched a triple over the head of center fielder Ryan LaMarre. It was the only run Gossett and the bullpen would surrender all night.

Jaycob Brugman recorded his second three-hit game of the season while LaMarre reached base safely with a hit for the sixth consecutive game. For LaMarre it was his third straight game with multiple hits as he went 2-for-3 on the evening.

Defensively the Sounds turned two double plays and Matt Chapman made a diving catch.

Game three of the four-game series is scheduled for Saturday night at First Tennessee Park. Right-hander Daniel Mengden (0-1, 4.91) starts for Nashville while Albuquerque counters with left-hander Ryan Carpenter (2-1, 3.68). First pitch is slated for 6:35 p.m.

The 2017 season is the Sounds’ 40th in franchise history and their third as the Oakland Athletics’ top affiliate. Season ticket memberships are available now by calling (615) 690-4487 or by visiting www.nashvillesounds.com.

Needing a pair of wins after a long week of travel to Lawrenceburg, the Coffee County Lady Raider softball team ran out of steam on Thursday night as they fell in the district championship to Lawrence County. Despite a 3 run top of the 1st for the Lady Raiders, Coffee County saw Lawrence County roar back to win by a final score of 10 to 4.
Getting off to a good start was a key for the Lady Raiders and they did exactly that thanks to a 3 run home run off the bat of Haley Hinshaw. Lawrence County, however, responded with a 6 run outburst in the bottom of the inning highlighted by a grand slam. Coffee County was able to cut the deficit to 6 to 4 in the 5th inning with a run but Lawrence County tacked on 4 more runs to claim the District 8AAA title.
Haley Hinshaw was 3 for 3 in the game with 4 RBI to lead Coffee County in hitting as she was named the Crazy Daisies player of the game. Tori Bell was 2 for 3 on the game with a double. Katie Rutledge and Ashley Evans added singles. Coffee County will travel to District 7AAA champion Smyrna in the Region 4AAA semifinals scheduled for Monday at 7PM.  Thunder Radio will be on hand to bring you all the action.
Following the game, Coach Steve Wilder was named the District 8AAA coach of the year for the 2nd straight year. Katie Rutledge was named the District MVP while Haley Richardson, Raven Rogers and Kaylee Skipper were named to the All-District team.
Download the broadcast at: http://www.thunder1320.com/downloads/

2017 District 8AAA All District Team

Coffee County
Steve Wilder (Coach of the Year)
1.) Katie Rutledge (District MVP as well)
2.) Raven Rogers
3.) Kaylee Skipper
4.) Haley Richardson

Lawrence County
Maci Birdyshaw (District Pitcher of the Year)
1.) Georgia Land
2.) McKenna Rose
3.) Kenzie Doss

Tullahoma
1.) Aly Barfield
2.) Madalyn Edde
3.) Shyanne Sheffield

Lincoln County
1.) Anna Marie Thorton
2.) Emma Summers

Shelbyville
1.) Kendall Durard
2.) Taylor Sanders

Columbia
1.) Michaela Gaines

Franklin County
1.) Marissa Turrentine