The TSSAA mandated dead period officially ends on Monday, July 12, and that means fall sports teams across the state will begin ramping up efforts for the 2021 campaign.
Golf teams can officially begin practicing on Monday, July 12. Meanwhile, unofficial practice will commence for football, soccer, cross country and volleyball. The first official practice date for these fall sports is Monday, July 26.
Thunder Radio has your sports covered this fall, with broadcasts and online coverage of all Coffee County Central, Coffee Middle and Westwood Middle sports. Have a question or suggestion for sports coverage, email josh.peterson.wmsr@gmail.com
Three CHS Lady Raider sports team up to celebrate last year’s district dominance
This past school year (2020-2021) marked the end of an era for high school sports. It was the final year that Coffee County Central would compete in District 8-AAA as it stood for years.
Three Lady Raider athletic teams marked the end of the era in style and it’s safe to say that other teams will be glad to see the Lady Raiders go.
The CHS Lady Raider basketball team, volleyball team and softball team combined to go a perfect 39-0 in district competition last school year.
Now the teams are celebrating and commemorating that dominance with t-shirt sales. You can purchase a limited edition “district domination” t-shirt from one of the three programs for $15. Proceeds benefit the athletic programs.
To purchase, contact any member of the three teams or coaches. You can email CHS basketball coach Joe Pat Cope copej@k12coffee.net, CHS volleyball coach Andrew Taylor at taylora@k12coffee.net or CHS softball coach Brandon McWhorter at mcwhorterb@k12coffee.net
Rossman named new Coffee County cross country coach
Coffee County Central High School has announced that Matt Rossman will take over as the head coach of the Coffee County Cross Country program. This includes cross country runners at Central High School and Coffee Middle School.
Rossman takes over for Cameron Boyett.
Any athletes interested in running cross country this upcoming fall can attend open facilities (open runs) at the Coffee County Raider Academy beginning on Monday, July 12. Open facility will be from 8-9:30 a.m.
“I just like the running scene,” explained Rossman. “Coach Boyett left and I saw they had a need and I love this. I know a lot of these kids already. I’m at the meets already. A lot of these kids go to my church. I have a former background in student ministry. So I’m like, you know this is a great opportunity to pour into these kids and be there for them. I’m excited about it.”
Rossman joined the Coffee Coaches Show on Thunder Radio Saturday, July 10. You can hear a replay of that entire show here.
Braves’ Acuna done for 2021 with torn ACL
Braves outfielder Ronald Acuña Jr. tore his right ACL and will be out for the season after surgery to repair it, the Braves announced late Saturday night.
Atlanta won 5-4 win over Miami on Saturday at loan Depot park to reach .500 on the season, but it was a costly and the .500 record was short lived.
Acuña exited the game in the bottom of the fifth inning after attempting to corral a ball off the bat of Jazz Chisholm Jr., who ended up with an inside-the-park home run on the play.
The Braves went on to lose 7-4 Sunday to fall to 44-45 at the break and 4 games out of first place in the National League East.
Coffee County Fastpitch champions named
Coffee County Fastpitch Association city tournament has wrapped up with teams earning top spots in their respective age divisions.
Braves can get over .500 before All-Star break with good showing against Marlins
As much of a struggle as the first half of the season has been for the Atlanta Braves, a good showing in this weekend’s series in Miami could put the Braves over .500 for the first time this year as the All-Star Break approaches.
Atlanta plays in Miami Friday, Saturday and Sunday. With a 42-44 record, a 3-game sweep could put Atlanta in good position for a second-half push. The Braves are currently 4.5 games out of first place in the NL Eeast.
Catch the Braves all season long on Thunder Radio.
Westwood boys basketball coach Jerry Brown resigns
Westwood Middle School is now searching for a new head boys basketball coach.
Head coach Jerry Brown resigned from his post on Tuesday, July 6, after completing one full season at the helm of the Rocket program. Brown has accepted a position as a teacher and assistant girls basketball coach at Lighthouse Christian School in Antioch.
“I would like to thank Dr. (Joey) Vaughn, (former Westwood principal) Julie Miller and (athletic director) Jim Dobson for giving me the opportunity to be a part of the Westwood family,” Brown told Thunder Radio sports. “I really enjoyed coaching the boys and having a positive impact on the students at Westwood Middle School.
“I also want to thank Thunder Radio for all of the great coverage of Westwood basketball during my time.”
Brown took over prior to the 2020-2021 basketball season and navigated a tough schedule to take the team to a 9-12 season. He was also integral in helping return the program to the Duck River Valley Conference for the upcoming season.
“I’m really proud that the boys and girls programs are back in the DRVC,” said Brown. “That’s a good thing for the programs and the players here. I think whoever takes over the Westwood boys program will have an opportunity to be successful.”
In addition to his duties at Westwood, Brown also served as an assistant boys coach at Coffee County Central over the past two seasons.
Manchester City Schools Director Dr. Joey Vaughn confirmed Brown’s resignation. He said the school will work vigorously to find a suitable replacement as fast as possible.
Braves rout Pirates to salvage Pittsburgh trip
Thanks to Drew Smyly’s turnaround and the re-emergence of a slumbering offense, the Braves avoided what would have been a demoralizing three-game sweep by claiming a 14-3 win over the Pirates on Wednesday afternoon at PNC Park. You heard the game live on Thunder Radio.
Smyly surrendered Jacob Stallings’ three-run homer and faced every member of the Pirates lineup before ending the first inning. But those three runs would prove to be the only ones surrendered by the veteran lefty, whose effort was supported by Atlanta’s five-run sixth inning.
“The longer he was out there, the better he threw,” Braves manager Brian Snitker said. “It was a long first inning for him, but he regrouped. I told him, ‘We’re going to score some runs for you and get you that win.’”
After tallying just one run in both of the first two games of the series, the Braves offense awoke just in time to make sure not all was lost in Pittsburgh. This three-game set will be viewed as a missed opportunity. But by securing the one win, Atlanta kept itself in position to possibly take a winning record into the All-Star break..
SOFTBALL: 3 Lady Raiders named to NFCA South All-Region Team
Continue to add postseason accolades for the Coffee County Central Lady Raider softball team following the teams historic 2021 season.
The National Fastpitch Coaches Association revealed that 158 student-athletes have been voted to the 2021 NFCA High School All-Region team.
In the South Region – Coffee County had three players selected.
Coffee County’s Keri Munn was named first team pitcher. Meanwhile, Lady Raider catcher Kiya Ferrell was named second team and second baseman Justus Turner was also named second team.
California’s Shelton High in the West Region led all schools with six players selected.
Munn, who graduated in May and has signed to play collegiate softball at MTSU, led Coffee County in the circle with a 27-4 record and 268 strikeouts.
Turner also graduated in May and helped to anchor the Lady Raider offense all season, hitting at a .377 clip with 9 doubles 7 home runs and 36 RBIs.
Ferrell was just a junior this spring for Coffee County and was the table setter for the offense all season. Ferrell hit at a .473 clip and led the team with 53 hits and 47 runs scored.
The Lady Raiders went 34-7-1 on the season and finished runner-up in the TSSAA Spring Fling State Tournament — best finish in program history.
Thunder Radio is your home for Coffee County Central Lady Raider softball.
Justus Turner 
Kiya Ferrell
Titans’ AJ Brown excited to take his game to next level
A.J. isn’t A-OK just yet, but he’s getting close.
Titans receiver A.J. Brown wasn’t able to practice with his teammates in offseason workouts, which concluded two weeks ago.
Instead, he’s focused on getting healthy, and getting ready for what’s ahead after gutting through injuries in 2020.
But the rising third-year pro hasn’t allowed himself to get frustrated. He’s too excited about what’s ahead to let it get him down.
“I am not getting impatient, but excited,” Brown said. “I am excited…
Continue reading this story by clicking here.
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