Category: Sports

Weather played havoc on the 2^nd day of the prep spring sports schedule on Tuesday as 4 events were postponed and a scrimmage game was canceled.

The Coffee County Middle School Baseball and softball teams were set to host their home opener on Tuesday night out at CCMS against White County.  Both teams were coming off of wins on Monday in Sparta.  The conference games were postponed and each will be made up on Saturday, March 4^th, beginning at 11 AM.

The Coffee County Middle School soccer team had their season opening game rained out at Sparta on Tuesday.  That match has been rescheduled for Thursday, March 2^nd, at 5 PM in Sparta.

The Westwood Rockets soccer season opener at Dyer-Bouldin Field was washed out on Tuesday evening.  The two-time defending conference champion Rockets were set to open the season at home against conference rival Cascade.  That match was postponed and a make-up has not yet been scheduled.

And the Coffee County Central High School soccer team had their Tuesday night scrimmage game with Siegel cancelled due to weather.  The Red Raiders were able to schedule a replacement game with Stewarts Creek for Thursday night at the Raider Soccer Field behind the Raider Academy.  The Raiders will host the Red Hawks in a pair of games with a varsity game at 5 and a JV match at 7 on Thursday night.

Remember to keep up with schedule changes and cancellations, “Like” Thunder Radio on Facebook.  We will give you up to the minute schedule information on your favorite social media platform.

Filip Forsberg is amazing his Nashville teammates with his recent scoring surge.

”He’s the best player in the league right now, the way he’s playing,” Predators defenseman P.K. Subban said. ”Whatever he’s doing, I don’t know what it is. Just continue doing it.”

Forsberg scored 2:45 into overtime and the Predators came back to beat the Buffalo Sabres 5-4 on Tuesday night for their fourth straight win.

Forsberg had a goal and an assist in the final nine minutes of the third period to lead the Predators back from a 4-2 deficit. Forsberg has 10 goals and four assists during a six-game point streak. He has scored in five straight games.

”He’s been outstanding,” Predators coach Peter Laviolette said. ”There’s nobody else that you’d want the puck on their stick in the closing minutes of the third period to get it to overtime. And then in overtime, that’s the guy who has to have it on his stick.”

Forsberg didn’t agree with Subban’s assessment that he’s the best player in the NHL right now.

”No, I can’t say that,” Forsberg said. ”There’s too many good players.”

From the other corner of the locker room, teammate Austin Watson yelled, ”yeah you are.”

Forsberg scored the winning goal on a 2-on-1 break, beating Robin Lehner with a wrist shot from the right circle. It was the first shot of the extra period for the Predators, who spent the first 1:57 of overtime killing a boarding penalty on Viktor Arvidsson.

Forsberg got the tying goal with 2:23 left in regulation, maneuvering around Sabres defender Rasmus Ristolainen and scoring from the right slot. It was Forsberg’s 25th goal of the season.

Forsberg set up Ryan Johansen’s goal that cut Buffalo’s lead to 4-3 with 8:44 left in the third.

Colin Wilson and Mike Fisher also scored for the Predators.

Kyle Okposo, Brian Gionta and Jake McCabe each had a goal and an assist for the Sabres. Evander Kane also scored and Lehner made 36 saves. Buffalo has lost four in a row.

 

Kane scored his 22nd of the season to give the Sabres a 3-2 lead at 5:35 of the second period. Receiving a pass from Gionta on a 2-on-1, Kane sent a wrist shot from the right circle past Pekka Rinne.

McCabe made it 4-2 in the first minute of the third period. Playing 4-on-4 after Kane and Subban both took roughing penalties, McCabe collected a long rebound of Okposo’s shot from the point and snapped a shot into the top corner of the net.

The Sabres jumped out to a 2-0 lead before the Predators scored twice in a span of 3:20 around the first intermission to tie the game.

Wilson scored the Predators’ first goal, his 11th of the season, on a power play 2:09 into the second.

Johansen’s shot from the right circle was blocked and dribbled to the far side of the net where Wilson buried a wrist shot into a wide-open net.

The Predators made it 2-1 with 1:11 left in the first period when Fisher chased a dump-in and Lehner came out of his crease to play the puck but dove over it, leaving the net wide open for Fisher to tap in his 16th.

The Sabres scored two goals within 1:34 of the first to take a 2-0 lead.

Gionta got his 13th goal of the season when he backhanded a bouncing puck from behind the net off the back of Rinne’s right pad.

Okposo kicked the rebound of McCabe’s broken-stick shot from the point with the toe of his skate, spun around and slipped a backhand from the left side of the net past Rinne for his 19th of the season.

NOTES: This is the Predators’ first four-game win streak of the season. They had won three in a row four times. … Kane has 16 points in his past 17 games. … Lehner returned to the lineup after missing one game with a neck injury. … Buffalo acquired D Mat Bodie from the New York Rangers for forward Daniel Catenacci in a trade of minor-leaguers on Tuesday.

The Predators continue their road trip on Thursday night in Montreal as they take on the Canadians.  Face-off is set for 6:30 PM and THunder Radio will bring you exclusive local coverage as part of the Fifth Third Bank/Nashville Predators Radio Network.

Pete Weber’s Post Game Report

The Nashville Sounds Baseball Club announced its full promotional schedule for the 2017 season today. The 71-game home schedule at First Tennessee Park features bobblehead and t-shirt giveaways, theme nights, special guest appearances and 14 musically-themed fireworks shows.

Dueling pianos presented by First Tennessee take center stage on Opening Day when the Sounds welcome the Oklahoma City Dodgers on Tuesday, April 11. The Opening Day festivities include the first post-game fireworks show of the season.

Opening weekend continues with a magnet schedule giveaway on Friday and Saturday presented by RE/MAX. The first Friday of the season showcases the brand-new red jerseys and hats the Sounds will sport for every Friday home game. The first homestand concludes on Monday, April 17 with a black “Music City” t-shirt giveaway.

Music City Mondays will feature bobblehead giveaways of Franklin Barreto (June 19), Barry Zito (June 26), Buck Showalter (July 31), Prince Fielder (August 14) and Don Mattingly (August 28). The Showalter and Fielder bobbleheads are presented by Middle Tennessee Hyundai Dealers.

A Mother’s Day Celebration takes place on May 14 with a special freezer mug giveaway presented by Coca-Cola. The Sounds are home for a Father’s Day Celebration on June 18 featuring a camo hat giveaway presented by Advance Financial.

On Friday, June 30, the crowd on hand to see the Sounds and Dodgers will be invited to attempt to break the Guinness World Record for largest air guitar ensemble presented by First Tennessee.

July 3 is the Sounds’ Independence Day Fireworks Celebration presented by Nashville International Airport. The 7:05 game will also feature a Don Mattingly throwback t-shirt giveaway.

The force is with First Tennessee Park for Star Wars Weekend from July 7-9. Friday features a light saber giveaway and Star Wars themed fireworks show. Sunday features special Star Wars characters in addition to the Shoe-bacca shoe drive benefiting Soles4Souls.

The final homestand in August features a number of promotions including the Eclipse Party on August 21. The first total solar eclipse to span the continental United States in 99 years will occur that afternoon and Nashville is the largest U.S. city in its path.

Other signature promotions during the 2017 season include: Throwback Thursday summer tour t-shirt giveaway presented by Ashley HomeStore (April 13), Harry Potter scarf giveaway for children 12 and under (April 30), sunglasses giveaway presented by Family Leisure (May 7), Bark in the Park Night dog frame with leash holder giveaway presented by Tito’s Handmade Vodka (May 9), super hero cape giveaway for children 12 and under presented by Monroe Carell Jr. Children’s Hospital at Vanderbilt (May 28), and Aug-Toberfest boot stein with lanyard giveaway presented by Brauer Material Handling Systems (August 24).

Five Faith and Family Nights presented by Trevecca Nazarene University are spread throughout the 2017 home schedule. Other crowd pleasers include Peanut Free Night presented by Allergy, Asthma and Sinus Center and 615 Night presented by First Tennessee.

Single-game tickets will be available for purchase at the First Tennessee Park ticket office, online at www.nashvillesounds.com, or by phone (615-690-HITS ext. 2) beginning Friday, March 10 at 9:00 a.m.

The Sounds’ weekly promotions are listed below:

Music City Mondays and Kroger Plus Mondays (11 Occurrences): Presented by 96.3 JACKfm, every Monday, the Sounds wear their black ‘Music City’ jerseys and celebrate 40 years as Nashville’s first professional sports team with special giveaways featuring current and past players. Additionally, the Sounds and Kroger have teamed to offer fans the opportunity to purchase a “Family 4-Pack” which includes 4 Select section tickets, 4 hot dogs and 4 fountain sodas for just $44 when they show their Kroger Plus card at the Sounds Box Office. The “Family 4-Pack” is available for advanced purchase only – subject to availability.

Tuesday Night Live (11): Live from Music City, it’s Tuesday Night Live presented by The Tennessean. Enjoy special ballpark guest entertainers and fun theme nights at First Tennessee Park.

Wednesday College Nights (6): Every Wednesday is College Night presented by First Tennessee. Local universities take over the ballpark and fans enjoy a special hat giveaway of the featured university. Additionally, all seniors (60 and older) receive discounted Corner or Select tickets – subject to availability.

Throwback Thursdays (9): Presented by iHeartMedia, go retro every Thursday as the Sounds wear their 1978 throwback uniforms to commemorate the team’s original uniform style. Fans can purchase Coca-Cola fountain soda and Budweiser products at a discounted rate.

FOX 17 Friday Fireworks (10): We light up the Nashville sky every Friday night with FOX17 Fireworks presented by Koorsen Fire & Security.

Saturdays at the Park (12): First Tennessee Park is the place to be on a Saturday night in Nashville. Enjoy the roar of the crowd and the numerous entertainment options of The Band Box located in right field.

Military Sundays and Family Fun Days (12): Bring the family to celebrate Military Sundays presented by Piedmont Natural Gas and Tennessee 811 as the Sounds extend their military appreciation with special military green jerseys and discounted Corner or General Admission tickets for active and veteran men, women and families – subject to availability. In addition, fans can enjoy a pre-game autograph session with select Sounds players and kids 12 and under run the bases post-game, presented by First Tennessee.

The 2017 season will be the Sounds’ 40^th in franchise history and their third as the Oakland Athletics’ top affiliate. Opening Day is scheduled for Tuesday, April 11 as the Sounds host the Oklahoma City Dodgers at 6:35 p.m. at First Tennessee Park. Season ticket memberships are available now by calling (615) 690-4487 or by visiting www.nashvillesounds.com.

The Coffee County Middle School baseball team opened the 2017 season and the Brock Freeze era with a win on Monday night in Sparta.  The Red Raiders banged out 9 hits to capture a hard fought 5 to 1 win over White County.

Leading 2 to 1 entering the 7^th inning,  Coffee County plated 3 runs on 3 hits, 2 walks and a pair of Warrior errors.   The Red Raiders were led in hitting by Kyle Farless, Nick Watkins and Trey Rogers who all had 2 hits.  Farless had 3 RBI and Conner Shemwell walked twice and scored a pair of runs.  Braden Brown picked up the win on the bump and Curtis Tudor got the save.

Coffee County will have their home opener on Tuesday as the White County Warriors will visit CCMS.  The varsity game will get underway at 5 PM.

The Coffee County Middle School softball team got a strong pitching performance as they opened the regular season on Monday with a win at White County.  The Lady Raiders plated 3 runs in the top of the 5^th inning to capture a 6 to 1 win.  Keri Munn went the distance in the circle throwing a 3 hitter to get the victory.

The Lady Raiders used 5 walks, including 3 in the 5^th inning, to claw out the opening day win.  The Lady Raiders were held to 2 hits on the night.  Munn struck out 8 batters in the command pitching performance.  Amber Ingleburger had a pair of walks and scored once for the Lady Raiders.

Coffee County will have their home opener on Tuesday as White County will visit CCMS.  The varsity game will get underway at 5 PM.

Battling blustery conditions on Saturday, the Coffee County Youth Bass Club got their spring season underway fishing a club tournament at Normandy Lake.  Pushing off from Normandy Dam, the prep anglers had a strong performance on the water.

Hunter Haley and Garrett Fellers captured 1^st place with a stringer totaling 10.46 lbs.  Blythe Petty and Maddie Harryman came in 2^nd with a total catch of 7.70 lbs.   Hunter Sanders and Brayden Majors were 3^rd weighing in at 5.78 lbs.  Taylor Fletcher and Blake Mangrum placed 4^th at 4.90 lbs. and Shannah Frame was 5^th with a catch of 4.58 lbs.   Maddie Harryman won big fish honors as she landed a lunker weighing in at 4.10 lbs.

The next Tennessee Bass Nation Trail event is set for Saturday at Center Hill Lake.  The next club fishing tournament is set for March 18^th on Woods Reservoir.   If you want more information about the Coffee County Youth Bass Club, visit their Facebook page at:

https://www.facebook.com/Coffee-County-Youth-Bass-Club-1227052340639230/

The CHS Lady Raider basketball season came to an end on Friday night as Coffee County fell to Stewarts Creek in the quarterfinal round of the Region 4AAA tournament.  Turnovers in the first and third quarters proved to be the deciding factor in spoiling the Lady Raiders upset bid over the District 7AAA runner-up Lady Red Hawks.  Coffee County fell by a final score of 59 to 34.

A three point basket with 4:55 left in the first quarter gave Stewarts Creek a 5 to 2 lead and allowed them to get into their full court press as they raced out to a 21 to 6 lead.  Coffee County clawed the deficit down to 10 points at intermission as they trailed 29 to 19.  Stewarts Creek turned up the pressure again in the 3^rd quarter as they closed out the last 3:11 on a 14 to 3 run to put the game out of reach.

Coffee County was led in scoring by senior Aerial Williams who finished with 12 points to be named the Crazy Daisies player of the game.  Jenna Garretson came off the bench to score 6 points while Bailey Morgan and Jacey Vaughn each added 5 points.  With the loss, Coffee County will close out the season with a final record of 21 and 8.

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Filip Forsberg scored for the fourth straight game, Viktor Arvidsson got the go-ahead goal and the Nashville Predators beat the Edmonton Oilers 5-4 on Sunday night.

Ryan Ellis, Vernon Fiddler and Colin Wilson also scored for Nashville, winners of three straight. James Neal had three assists.

Connor McDavid, Milan Lucic, Mark Letestu and Jordan Eberle scored for Edmonton, which has lost three of four.

Pekka Rinne made 28 saves for Nashville, extending his winning streak against the Oilers to nine games.

On the winner, Neal had the puck in the low slot and slipped a blind backhand pass to Arvidsson on the left side. Arvidsson tapped in his 21st of the season 1:19 into the third on a power play.

Edmonton challenged the play, thinking Arvidsson was offside. Officials reviewed it for over seven minutes before confirming the goal.

Cam Talbot allowed five goals on 28 shots for Edmonton.

Ellis scored the first goal at 4:55 of the opening period. After Edmonton was whistled for a too many men on the ice, P.K. Subban sent a pass from the right point to Ellis above the left faceoff circle, where he sent a one-timer by Talbot. The goal was the tenth of the season for Ellis, matching a career high.

McDavid evened the game 28 seconds later. Edmonton’s captain picked up the puck in the neutral zone and drove down the right side, flying by defenseman Roman Josi and beating Ellis as he cut to the middle. He beat Rinne with a wrist shot to the far side.

Forsberg made it 2-1 at 14:34 of the first on a power play. Neal had the puck low on the right side by the goal line and sent a spinning backhand pass to Forsberg in the left circle, where he beat Talbot with a one-timer. Forsberg has eight goals and three assists in his last five games, including consecutive hat tricks against Colorado and Calgary.

Fiddler scored at 7:29 of the second on a wrist shot from the right side. It was his first goal since being traded to Nashville on Feb. 4.

A wild five-minute stretch late in the second period including four goals, three by Edmonton.

Lucic scored on the power play at 14:12 on a redirect of a shot by McDavid.

Wilson then scored at 15:21 with a backhand from the low slot. The goal was initially waived off by referee Tim Peel and play was allowed to continue. Nashville’s Craig Smith was whistled for a tripping penalty and play was stopped, and at that stoppage, the goal was confirmed on replay.

The penalty also stood, as per NHL rules, and Letestu scored on the ensuing power play. Eberle closed out the period’s scoring with an even-strength marker at 19:00.

NOTES: Subban and Josi each had two assists. … Nashville C Ryan Johansen extended his assist streak to four games. In those four games, he has seven assists. … The Predators have defeated the Oilers in all three matchups this season. … Edmonton D Darnell Nurse returned to the lineup after missing 37 games with an ankle injury.

Pete Weber’s Postgame Report

Roman Josi scored twice as the Nashville Predators topped the Washington Capitals, 5-2, on Saturday evening at Bridgestone Arena. It’s win No. 30 on the season for the Preds, giving them sole possession of third in the Central Division and 69 points overall.

Nashville came through with flying colors against the club with the best record in the NHL, keeping up with and then overtaking the Capitals in all facets.

“It’s a big thing for us, to see how good we can play,” Preds goaltender Juuse Saros said. “I think it’s a really solid game from us, we didn’t give them a lot and I think the whole game was good for us.”

Tom Wilson gave Washington a 1-0 lead early in the first, but as they’ve done throughout the season, Nashville owned the second period. Goals from Josi, Filip Forsberg and Mike Fisher gave Nashville three in the column before the frame was out and a 3-1 lead after 40 minutes.

Josi gave the Preds some insurance with his second of the game – a power-play marker – at 12:07 of the third, and after Washington got their second, Viktor Arvidsson iced it with an empty-netter and Saros made 24 saves to give Nashville the win over the NHL’s top team.

“It’s an important time right now,” Josi said. “Everybody’s stepping up. I thought we played really well the last couple games. Even the Calgary game, I thought we had a pretty good couple bounces come our way, but we have to keep going.”

No one in the Preds locker room can quite put their finger on what it is about the second period that leads to their best hockey most nights, but they kept up the trend on Saturday, scoring three goals in the middle frame, the only three Nashville needed.

The Predators have now outscored their opponents by 31 in second periods, 78-47, the highest in the NHL. Their 78 second-period goals are the most in the League.

“I have no idea, honestly,” Josi said of the second-period play. “It’s been good to us. Even today we weren’t that happy with our start. With our first period, we thought we could’ve played a little better. It kind of gives us a wakeup call in the first intermission, but the second period is definitely good to us this year.”

For the first time in three games, Filip Forsberg failed to record a hat trick. The Preds will live with that though, because the Swede continued to torch the team that drafted him.

Forsberg tallied a goal and added two assists on Saturday, giving him nine points – including five goals – in five career games against the Capitals. The tally in the second period also raised his goal total to seven in his past three outings.

“I think we played great,” Forsberg said. “I think the first period we [weren’t doing well] but after that I think we were playing really well. The second period led the way for sure.”

Filip Forsberg may have stolen the offensive star recently, but it was Roman Josi who produced a multi-goal effort on Saturday, scoring Nashville’s first and fourth tallies in the 5-2 win. Ever since returning from injury, Josi has been outstanding, recording 12 points (6g-6a) and four multi-point efforts in his past nine games.

But that’s what has come to be expected from the stud blueliner, who also led the Preds in shots for and blocked shots on Saturday.

“Roman’s always at his best when he’s attacking the game, and it was the next game [after returning from injury] where he was jumping right back into it, so it didn’t take him long at all,” Nashville Head Coach Peter Laviolette said. “He’s been able to get going with his skating and offense. To me, he’s a guy that can push the pace from the backend, breakouts to the offense and brings a good dimension to our attack that makes it more difficult to defend.”

Notes:

With his goal on Saturday, Preds Captain Mike Fisher passed Jason Arnott for 10th on the Preds all-time points list and tied Patric Hornqvist for fifth on all-time goals list.

The Preds have won four of their previous five home games against the Caps, and have earned at least one point in six of their last seven home games against Washington.

The Predators conclude their four-game home stand Sunday afternoon when they host the Edmonton Oilers at 4 p.m. CT.

Hoping to improve their overall team score from this time last year, the College Street Cougar Archery team visited Tullahoma on Thursday afternoon for an elementary target archery friendly with East Lincoln Elementary.  “I thought we could get 2,800 points but we almost reached 2,900” said College Street coach Bill Bratner.  Combining the top 12 individual scores, the Cougars scored 2,898 points in the match in the 2^nd year of the program.  The Cougars are building up to the state competition to be held in Murfreesboro on March 30^th and 31^st at the Miller Coliseum.

Coach Bratner brought archery to College Street last year as part of the National Archery in the Schools Program(NASP).  The program is managed by the Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency and is in it’s 3^rd year at East Lincoln under Jeff Hale.  Thursday’s friendly saw 16 College Street archers compete against 16 archers from East Lincoln at a range of 10 meters.   Each shooter fired 30 arrows at a target 10 meters down range.  Targets are marked with 10 evenly spaced concentric rings, which have score values from 1 through 10 assigned to them.  The smallest ring, or “bull’s eye”, is worth 10 points.

Leading the way for the Cougars was Colter Neel on Thursday as he fired a 275.   That score was the top overall boys score and placed him in a 3^rd place tie overall for individual honors.  Rounding out the top 3 shooters for College Street were Kirby Vandenbossche(score of 261) and Rylee Clark(257).  The top 3 male shooters for College Street were: Neel(275), Gabe Sanders(255) and Ryder Alford(229).  The top 3 female shooters for College Street were  Kirby Vandenbossche(261), Rylee Clark(257) and Chayna Wright(250).