Category: Sports

Pekka Rinne

The Nashville Predators are headed to their first Game 7 in franchise history after holding off the Anaheim Ducks 2-1 on Monday night to force the maximum in this first-round series. The teams will next play Wednesday night in Anaheim.

The Predators went up 2-0 in the second period on goals from Mattias Ekholm and James Neal, taking a lead they would not relinquish. Predators head coach Peter Laviolette loaded up his top line by adding Filip Fosberg to the unit of Ryan Johansen and Neal. The top-heavy trio had an impact and found the scoresheet on a pretty play when Johansen feathered a perfect pass to Neal on a two-on-one break for the eventual game-winner.

Corey Perry had a glorious chance in the slot to tie the game with about 6 minutes, 40 seconds to go in the third period but was denied by Pekka Rinne. Perry had a few dangerous chances in this game but couldn’t connect. He has yet to score in this series. Head coach Bruce Boudreau had resisted throughout the series but he finally reunited Perry with Ryan Getzlaf for a few shifts in the third period in an attempt to find some offense.

Rinne had a very strong game, which the Predators needed from their starting goaltender. He had been outplayed by his counterpart Frederik Andersen in the three previous games. He finished the night with 26 saves.

“Oh no, not again,” is what some Ducks fans no doubt are saying. Anaheim has let a 3-2 series lead evaporate in the past three playoffs, dating back to their losses to the Detroit Red Wings in 2013, Los Angeles Kings in 2014 and Chicago Blackhawks last year. That will be the narrative now heading into Game 7 that the Ducks weren’t able to finish it off in six games yet again.

The Predators have made the playoffs nine times in the past 12 years but have never played in a Game 7. They’ll get their shot now and can relish in being the underdog trying to pull off the upset Wednesday night. No question the Ducks will be feeling more pressure.

The series now shifts back to Anaheim for Game #7.  Face-off is set for 9 PM CT and Thunder Radio willl bring you that broadcast as part of the Fifth Third Bank/Nashville Predators Radio Network.

Jackie Bradley Jr.’s solo homer blemished Julio Teheran’s best start of the season and provided Rick Porcello all the support he needed while helping the Red Sox claim a 1-0 win over the Braves on Monday night at Turner Field.

Bradley’s one-out homer in the seventh sunk Teheran, who notched a season-high eight strikeouts and scattered six hits over seven innings. Mookie Betts’ two-out double in the third inning accounted for one of the three hits recorded through the first six innings by the Red Sox, who didn’t arrive at their Atlanta hotel until 5:30 a.m. ET following Sunday’s 12-inning win in Houston.
Porcello (4-0, 3.51 ERA) scattered four hits over six scoreless innings and former Atlanta closer Craig Kimbrel completed a scoreless ninth against the Braves, who have lost six straight since snapping their 0-9 start with a four-game winning streak.
One night after Bradley delivered the go-ahead run with an RBI single in the top of the 12th in a win at Houston, the center fielder again had the biggest hit in the game for the Red Sox. This time, Bradley jumped on Teheran’s 1-0 changeup for a solo shot. It was Bradley’s first home run of the season.
After his strong effort was marred by Bradley’s homer and further threatened by a Porcello bunt that was misplayed, Teheran recorded a four-pitch strikeout of Betts and then proved victorious in a 10-pitch battle waged against Xander Bogaerts with two outs and the bases loaded. Bogaerts fouled six pitches before Teheran concluded his 115-pitch night with three consecutive 92-mph fastballs, the last of which was lined into center fielder Mallex Smith’s glove to keep the Braves within one run.
Red Sox catcher Christian Vazquez made a strong throw to nail Jace Peterson on a stolen base in the bottom of the fifth. It was significant for Vazquez because it was his first caught-stealing in his comeback from Tommy John surgery. Vazquez had only one chance before Peterson tested him. Vazquez’s throw was at 80.1 mph, according to Statcast™.
Jeff Francoeur’s one-out double accounted for Atlanta’s only extra-base hit and also fueled a seventh-inning rally that was quieted when Freddie Freeman was called out attempting to reach second base on a Drew Stubbs grounder that Dustin Pedroia initially bobbled. Replays showed Freeman got to the bag around the same time as Pedroia’s throw, but the Braves opted not to request a review, despite still having a challenge remaining.
Looking to help Freeman break out of his early-season funk, Braves manager Fredi Gonzalez dropped his first baseman to the sixth spot, marking the first time since July 1, 2012, that Freeman was positioned lower than fifth in the batting order. Freeman laced a second-inning single and beat the shift with a fifth-inning bunt single that pushed his batting average (.203) above the Mendoza mark for the first time since Opening Day. He struck out to end the game, finishing with a .200 average.
Matt Wisler will take the mound for Atlanta during Tuesday night’s finale of this two-game set. Wisler threw a career-high 115 pitches while limiting the Dodgers to one unearned run over 6 2/3 innings on Thursday .

Destin Hood launched a solo homer in the 10th inning to give the New Orleans Zephyrs a 4-3 win over the Nashville Sounds Monday night in front of a sellout crowd of 10,338 at First Tennessee Park.

The home run was the second of the series for Hood who has driven in six runs in the first three games of the four-game set.

Nashville had a great opportunity to even the game in the home half of the inning when Chad Pinder and Max Muncy singled to put runners at the corners with one out.

New Orleans lefty Eric Jokisch buckled down and struck out Renato Nunez for the second out before retiring Jake Smolinski on a fly out to end the game.

Henderson Alvarez started for the Sounds on a major league rehab assignment start and went the first two innings. He allowed an unearned run on one hit with one strikeout.

The right-hander did his job in the first but the defense faltered behind him. Isaac Galloway led off the game with a bouncer to third that Muncy threw away. Two batters later, Alvarez got Xavier Scruggs to hit a ground ball to short, but Pinder threw it away allowing Galloway to score from second.

Nashville jumped in front in the fourth when the first three batters reached. Muncy started the inning with a sharp single to right field. Renato Nunez followed with a ground-rule double to left-center to put Muncy at third.

Smolinski cut into New Orleans’ lead with a run-scoring single to make it 1-1, and Andrew Lambo knocked in Nunez with a 4-6-3 double play.

They added a run in the next inning as Joey Wendle sliced a single down the left field line and Pinder lined a triple down the right field line.

It remained 3-1 until the Zephyrs battled back with a pair of runs in the seventh.

Dillon Overton had retired 11 consecutive batters before four straight reached. Robert Andino started the rally with a two-out double and came around to score on Austin Nola’s RBI single.

The next batter, Elliot Soto, lined a base hit to right to even the game at 3-3. It stayed that way until Hood’s shot in the top of the tenth.

The four-game series concludes Tuesday night at First Tennessee Park. Right-hander Zach Neal (2-1, 3.52) starts for Nashville against right-hander Dylan Axelrod (0-0, 0.00) for New Orleans. First pitch is scheduled for 6:35 p.m.

Members of the Westwood soccer team celebrate with their conference title trophy on Saturday.

For the 2nd year in a row, the Westwood Rockets soccer team earned the title of the Central Tennessee Soccer Conference champions with a 4 to 0 win on Saturday over Webb at Dyer-Bouldin Field. Felix Salinas scored a pair of first half goals and added his 3rd in the second half to secure his 2nd straight hat trick in the tournament. Salinas finished the season with 35 goals as he averaged more than 2 goals per game for the Rockets. Elliot Sain added a goal in the 59th minute to add the final notch on the Rockets’ championship belt. Leo Basurto added a pair of assists for Westwood.
The Webb defense made it a priority to use 4 defenders in the match to try to frustrate a Rocket attack that scored 12 goals on Friday night. Westwood, which was held to 3 shots in the first half, made the necessary adjustments at the half to get 7 shots on frame in the second half.
The Rockets dominated the play in the midfield as Leo Suarez and Basurto neutralized nearly every Webb counterattack. On the outside, Andres Cavalie, Renato Ayala, Samuel Workman and Eric Randolph were effective in making the Webb defense move and get out of position to open up shots in the 2nd half. Reserves Angel Gonzalez, Jalen Shelton and Sain provided much needed energy and momentum off the bench for Westwood.
The Westwood defense was spectacular on the game as defenders Aiden Stowe, Corey Walker and Nicholas Johnson continued to frustrate the talented strikers from Webb and hold the Feet to 2 shots on frame. Keeper Cailan McLean stopped both of those shots to give the Rockets their 12th win of the season.
You can download a copy of Thunder Radio’s podcast of the match at:
1st Half – http://www.podcastgarden.com/episode/westwood-soccer-2016-conference-title-match-with-webb-1st-half-23april2016_76598
2nd Half – http://www.podcastgarden.com/episode/westwood-soccer-2016-conference-title-match-with-webb-2nd-half-23april2016_76599

Members of the Lady Raider softball team celebrating their 2nd place finish in the CTC Tournament on Saturday (Photo provided by Sheila Mukai)

After falling on Friday night to Warren County in the winner’s bracket finals of the CTC Softball Tournament, the Lady Raiders of Coffee County Middle School needed 3 wins on Saturday to claim their 2nd straight conference title. In a scene reminiscent of last season, the Lady Raiders fought and clawed their way back to the championship game before falling to Warren County 10 to 2 on Saturday afternoon.
On Saturday morning, the Lady Raiders opened up with a rematch against Tullahoma as these 2 teams squared off for the 4th time in 11 days. The Lady Raiders jumped out to a 6 to 0 lead only to see the Lady Cats rally in the 5th inning to plate 3 runs. Coffee County quelled the rally with the tying run at the plate to seal the 6 to 3 win. Against the Cats, Ashley Evans was 3 for 3 with 3 runs scored, Gracie Pippenger was 2 for 2 with a double and a sacrifice and Keelie Hillis was 2 for 3 with 2 doubles.
The Tullahoma win set up a rematch with Warren County in which the Lady Raiders needed a win to force an “if” game and a chance at the title. After surrendering a run in the 1st inning, Coffee County got a 3 run rally in the 3rd inning by the bottom of their batting order. Maci Head finished the game with 2 hits in 2 trips to the plate and a run scored to lead Coffee County to the 3 to 2 win. Kyla Craig and Abigail Parker each added a run for the Lady Raiders to set up a winner-take-all championship match.
With one out in the top of the first inning, Gracie Pippenger crushed a solo home run to fill the Lady Raider fans with hope and confidence. Not to be deterred, the regular season champion Lady Pioneers tied the game in the bottom of the first and used a 6 run 4th inning to seal the 12 to 2 win over Coffee County in the 5th conference meeting of the year between these 2 teams. Warren County only lost twice in conference play this season and both losses came at the hands of the Lady Raiders. Evans finished the game going 2 for 3 with a triple and the only other run scored for Coffee County. The Lady Raiders finished the year with a record of 23 and 7.

Noah Anderson

Playing in their 10th game in 11 days, the Red Raider baseball team saw a 6 to 1 lead evaporate in the 5th inning as they dropped a 10 inning contest to Independence in Thompson’s Station on Saturday by a final score of 7 to 6.
With one out in the top of the 3rd, the Raiders plated 6 runs when they strung together 5 hits, a walk, a hit batter and a fielder’s choice to take a 6 to 1 lead. Zach Wise had a double while Jacob Langham, Noah Anderson and Alan Rob each had 1 of their 2 hits on the game as each drove in a Coffee County run. Nathaniel Tate added an RBI single and Gavin Husted earned an RBI on a fielder’s choice.
From that point forward, Coffee County did not get a runner past 2nd base the rest of the game and the Raiders were retired in order in the 8th, 9th and 10th innings. Independence got a 3 run home run in the bottom of the 3rd and added single runs in the 4th and 5th to force extra innings. The Eagles plated the winning run in the 10th inning on a pair of errors to saddle Tate with the loss on the mound.
The Raiders return to district action on Tuesday when they travel to Grider Stadium to take on Tullahoma in a 6 PM rivalry game. On Wednesday, they return to Powers Field for the 2nd game in the season series with Tullahoma. Wednesday night will also be Sponsors Appreciation Night as all of the 2016 sponsors are invited to the game and encouraged to promote their business. Thunder Radio will bring you the broadcast of Wednesday’s game beginning with the pregame show at 5:50.

Kasarah Scheller

The Lady Raider softball team finished up play on Saturday in the Lincoln County Border Battle in Fayetteville missing several upper classman due to Saturday’s prom. Coach Steve Wilder used the opportunity to get some playing time for his younger players as some of them saw their first varsity action of the spring.
In the final game of pool play, the Lady Raiders were blanked by traditionally strong Buckhorn team out of Alabama 4 to 0 on Saturday morning. The Lady Raiders were held to 1 hit as Kasarah Scheller had a 1 out single in the 2nd inning. Raven Rogers pitched well giving up 3 earned runs while striking out 4 in the loss.
The Lady Raiders opened the single elimination bracket play against district rival Shelbyville. After spotting the Eaglettes leads of 2 to 0 and 4 to 1, the mostly JV Lady Raiders ended up giving all the varsity Shelbyville squad a scare in 4 to 3 loss. Lauren Tomberlin had a solo homerun and a single in 3 at bats for Coffee County. Scheller was 2 for 3 with an RBI and Rogers and Haley Richardson had doubles as the Lady Raiders banged out 7 hits.
The Lady Raiders have a busy week ahead culminating in the Coffee County Classic taking place on Friday and Saturday and Terry Floyd Field at Dave King Park. On Monday, the Lady Raiders travel to Columbia to take on the Lady Lions in a 6:30 contest. On Tuesday, the Lady Raiders are home when they play host to Tullahoma in a 7 PM contest. Thunder Radio will bring you the broadcast beginning with the pregame show at 6:50. On Thursday night, Coffee County will play host to Oakland when they host the inaugural “Green-Out Game” to promote Organ Donation Awareness. A special pregame will feature specials guests and everyone is encouraged to wear green. First pitch is slated for 7 PM. On Friday, the Lady Raiders will play Warren County in front of the CHS student body in a 1 PM game at Terry Floyd Field. Thunder Radio will bring you that broadcast, plus other Coffee County games from Friday in the tournament.

Karson Young lands on triple jump at a recent meet

Karson Young got a pair of wins and a 2^nd place finish as the Coffee County Central High School track teams competed at the Tomahawk Chop Team Championship at Riverdale on Saturday.  With Saturday being the CHS Prom, Coach Stan Jarrell suffered from a shortage of depth in both boys and girls events.

Young got wins in the 100M hurdles and the triple jump with a 2^nd place finish in the long jump for 28 points which accounted for more than half of the Lady Raiders 53 team points.   Coffee County finished in a 4^th place tie with Siegel.  Chloe Haggard finished in 3^rd place in the 300M hurdles, Svietlanna Miadzvedzeva had a 5^th place throw in the discus and Carlie Barnes also got a 5^th place finish in the shot put.

The Red Raiders were only able to get points from Eskeil Cummings as he finished in 8^th place in the 400M run.  Cummings also finished in 9^th place in the shot put.  The Raider track teams will be back in action on Saturday when they travel to Tullahoma for the Rudy Hensel Meet.  Field events get underway at 10.

Individual Results from Saturday

After a short night of rest after a long trip on Friday to Lawrence County, the Red Raider soccer team failed to generate much offense in their final district match of the year on Saturday morning against Lincoln County. After being tied at the end of regulation and extra time, the visiting Falcons hit all 5 of their penalty kicks to capture the 2 to 1 win.
Lincoln County opened the scoring in the 20th minute when they converted on a penalty kick to take an early 1 nil lead. Coffee County tied the match in the 24th minute when Leo Botello was able to score off a corner kick from Breyer Taylor. The match remained tied at 1 at the half and at the end of regulation forcing the extra period. In the shootout, the Raiders converted 4 of their 5 PK attempts only to see Lincoln County go a perfect 5 for 5 for the district upset.
The loss drops the Raiders district record to 4 and 2 and a probable 3rd place regular season finish. Coffee County will travel to Oakland on Tuesday for a 7 PM matchup with the Patriots in a rematch from last year’s exciting Region 4AA semifinal which was won by Oakland in extra time. The Raiders finish the regular season at home with a pair of matches beginning Saturday when they welcome Ooltewah for a 1 PM match at the Raider soccer field followed by Senior Night on Monday, May 2nd when Warren County visits the home pitch. The district tournament is tentatively scheduled to begin on Saturday, May 7th.

The 2016 Tennis seniors before Friday’s match. Pictured are(left to right) Coach Mike Ray, Ben Davis, Trevor Ivey-Bodman, Makayla Morgan, Ali Shelton, Maddie Taylor and Coach Audra Brown.

The Coffee County Central High School tennis teams got a pair of 7 to 0 sweeps on Friday night as they dominated Cannon County on Senior Night. The Lions of Woodbury only dressed out 1 male player as Coffee County got the benefit of 6 forfeit wins. Trevor Ivey-Bodman scored an 8 to 1 win in the lone contested boys match.
The Lady Raiders got wins in all 5 of their singles matches as Tori Taylor, Ali Shelton, Makayla Morgan, Kayla Wright and Anna Harrell all won. The Lady Raiders swept their doubles matches to improve to 8 and 5 on the year.
The night began with the recognition of the 5 Raider senior tennis players as senior Red Raiders Will Davis and Trever Ivey-Bodman were recognized and Lady Raiders Makyala Morgan, Maddie Taylor and Ali Shelton were each recognized.

The Raider netters will next be in action on Friday when they travel to Sewanee’s Bruton-Guerry Tennis Courts at the University of the South for the District 8AAA Tournament. Thunder Radio will keep you updated with pairing and times next week.