Category: Sports

Kelly Johnson’s two-run homer fueled the early offensive uprising the Braves used to cool off the red-hot Brewers and claim a 5-3 win Monday night at Miller Park. Milwaukee had won its past eight games.

The Braves, who have won five of their past six games, tallied a pair of runs in each of the first two innings against Kyle Lohse, who was fortunate to only allow four runs while surrendering 11 hits over five innings. Lohse surrendered hits, including a pair of A.J. Pierzynski doubles, to nine of the first 14 batters he faced, but he did not allow a run after the second.
“He hasn’t been able to get on a roll,” Brewers manager Craig Counsell said of Lohse. “He hasn’t had that start where it all kind of comes together. He’s had to fight his way through starts in almost all of his starts, especially recently.”
After gaining a 4-1 lead before he threw his first pitch in the second, Matt Wisler minimized the potential damage he encountered during the fifth and sixth. The Atlanta right-hander, who was making his fourth career start, limited the Brewers to three runs and seven hits over 5 2/3 innings.
“Getting those runs and jumping on them early kind of puts the momentum in our favor,” Wisler said. “It allowed me to go out there with a little more confidence knowing I didn’t have to go out there and shut them out.”
Johnson got the Braves rolling with his first-inning, two-run homer, which Statcast™ projected to travel 435 feet into the right-field seats. The veteran utility man added a second-inning RBI single to give him his second three-RBI game in the past three days. He entered Saturday with three RBIs over his past 59 at-bats. Brewers outfielder Gerardo Parra got Milwaukee on the board in the first, smacking his eighth career leadoff home run into the right-center-field bullpen. It was his third leadoff homer this season. Parra, a potential trade candidate, entered Monday batting .335 (74-for-221) since April 25, ranking him behind only Bryce Harper (.365) and Paul Goldschmidt (.360) in the National League.
After a line drive single and stolen base by shortstop Jean Segura in the fifth, pinch-hitter Shane Peterson blooped a two-out single into left field, scoring Segura. It was only Milwaukee’s second of three runs. The Brewers had averaged over seven runs a game during their eight-game winning streak, never scoring fewer than four.
“I don’t think we had that big rally, necessarily,” Counsell said of Milwaukee’s offense. “We put a runner on base in a couple of innings, but we were still some damage away from making something happen.”
After retiring 13 of the first 15 batters he faced after Parra’s leadoff homer, Wisler retired just three of the final nine batters he faced. Andrelton Simmons’ strong pinpoint throw to the plate prevented Peterson from scoring a second run for the Brewers in the fifth. The Braves’ rookie starter followed Ryan Braun’s sixth-inning leadoff double with consecutive strikeouts, but then allowed Carlos Gomez’s RBI single. His effort was preserved by Atlanta’s bullpen, which worked 3 2/3 scoreless innings.
Pierzynski doubled in his first two at-bats and later added a pair of singles to give him his second four-hit game of the season. The 38-year-old catcher had not recorded two four-hit games in a season since 2012.
Manny Banuelos will take the mound when Atlanta and Milwaukee resume he three-game series Tuesday at 7:10 p.m. CT. Banuelos completed 5 2/3 scoreless innings against the Nationals in his Major League debut Thursday. He was forced to exit because of dehydration that cause his fingers and left calf to cramp. Thunder Radio will bring you the broadcast of Tuesday’s game beginning with the pregame show at 7.

The Sounds threatened late, but were unable to complete the comeback, falling 6-4 to Round Rock at Dell Diamond on Monday night.

The Sounds got off to a quick start in this one, as Craig Gentry was the perfect leadoff man, singling and stealing his team-leading 13th base to start the game. The outfielder then came around to score on Ryan Roberts’ 20th double of the season. With the run, Nashville is now outscoring their opponents 41-21 in the opening frame of games this season.

Trailing 2-1 in the fifth, Round Rock went to work on Sounds starter Brad Mills. With one out in the inning, Ed Lucas homered to tie the game at two. Brett Nicholas, Hanser Alberto and Ryan Stausborger then all reached to load the bases. Next batter, Tomas Telis grounded to Nate Freiman who threw home to get the force out at the plate and there was hope for Mills and the Sounds getting out of the inning relatively unscathed. Rangers top prospect Joey Gallo had other ideas however, he doubled to drive in a pair and the Express led 4-2.

The Sounds wasted no time trimming the lead scoring a run in the next half inning when Max Muncy doubled and scored on a Freiman RBI single. Unfortunately for the Sounds, the Express would immediately pick up a pair of runs, punctuated by a Thomas Field homer. The second baseman has now homered in all three games during the series.

The Sounds did not go down without a fight however. Having used closer Jon Edwards the past two nights, Round Rock turned to Francisco Mendoza to close out the ninth inning. The right-hander walked Bryan Anderson and Gentry to start the frame before Joey Wendle doubled down the opposite field line to score Anderson. Next batter, Roberts was unable to advance the runner grounding out to Mendoza for the innings first out. Round Rock then turned to PCL All-Star Jimmy Reyes to try and get Sounds All-Star Jason Pridie out. Pridie almost won the battle, nearly wrapping a three-run homer around the right field foul pole, but after seven pitches he popped out to third. Dayan Viciedo would groundout to Field to end the game. Mills took the loss, his record now at 3-9.

The two teams will finish their four-game set on Tuesday night. After scattering just two hits over seven scoreless innings in his last start, Nate Long (1-1, 3.09) will get the ball. Rehabbing Rangers starter Martin Perez will make his first start in an Express uniform this season. First pitch is scheduled for 7:05 p.m.

The Coffee County Fastpitch League will close out its regular season on Wednesday and Thursday with 8 makeup games. The league will play a triple-header on Wednesday night at Fred Deadman Park. On Thursday night, the league will play a doubleheader at Fred Deadman Park and a triple-header at Terry Floyd Field at CHS. The league will hold its closing ceremonies on Monday, July 13th at 7:00 PM at CHS. New Coffee County Central High softball coach Steve Wilder will be on hand to help retired CHS coach Terry Floyd hand out awards and meet the next generation of Lady Raider softball players.
This week’s schedule is:
Wednesday @ Fred Deadman Park:
5:00 PM – Elite Conditioning vs. LKQ (10U)
6:20 PM – David Clark Homes vs. Elite Conditioning (10u)
6:40 PM – Mid-Town Medical vs. David Clark Homes (8U)

Thursday @ Fred Deadman Park:
5:30 PM – H&H Farms vs. Harley Davidson (6U)
6:30 PM – John Roberts Nissan vs. LKQ (10U)

Thursday @ Terry Floyd Field(CHS)
5:00 PM – K&D Rebar vs. Re/Max (6U)
6:20 PM – People’s Bank vs. Re/Max (6U)
7:40 PM – David Clark Homes vs. People’s Bank (8U)

The Coffee County CHS basketball team will hold a skills camp for children in grades 3 thru 8 on July 13th thru 16th at the Joe Frank Patch Memorial Gym. Cost for the 4 day camp is $50 and camp sessions will go from 9:00 AM to noon each day. Campers will grouped by age and skill level and will receive daily instruction from the Red Raider basketball team and coaches. There will be games and contests and each camper will receive a free camp T-Shirt. If you have questions, you can contact head coach Micah Williams at: williamsm@k12coffee.net or call him at: 931-492-2123. Coach Williams will be a guest on Saturday’s Coffee Coaches Show to talk about the camp. The Coffee Coaches Show is broadcast live from Al White Ford/Lincoln at 10 AM on Saturday and can be heard on Thunder Radio.

The Sounds got on the board first on Sunday night, but Round Rock answered and edged Nashville 4-2 at The Dell Diamond.

Cody Martin made his Sounds debut tonight under the lights against Round Rock. The right-hander was acquired earlier in the week by Oakland and allowed two runs over 4 1/3 innings. The hurler fanned five and walked three during his first start in the Pacific Coast League, but took the loss.

After an abundance of offense on Saturday night, both teams produced just seven hits apiece. The Sounds took the lead in the second inning when Dayan Viciedo, who hit his first homer of the season last night, doubled and scored when Jake Smolinski stole second and forced an errant throw.

The home team quickly responded by tacking on two in the third. Jared Hoying and Joey Gallo produced back-to-back doubles to tie things up. Later in the inning the Express pulled ahead when Thomas Field singled Gallo in. Round Rock would not trail at any point following the single.

The Sounds tried to make it interesting when Carson Blair followed Smolinski’s double with his own two-bagger to get the score at 3-2 in the seventh. Field went yard off Brock Huntzinger in the eighth though, and the Express secured a two-run victory to even the series.

The two teams are back at it on Monday night at The Dell Diamond. Lefty Brad Mills (3-8, 3.52) faces Jerad Eickhoff (6-3, 4.23) in the 7:05 p.m. contest.

After Cole Hamels and Shelby Miller produced a pitching matchup that lived up to expectations on Sunday afternoon at Turner Field, Ryan Howard helped the Phillies claim a 4-0, 10-inning win over the Braves courtesy of the sacrifice fly he produced against Dana Eveland.

Before Nick Masset loaded the bases with none out in the 10th inning, this was a pitchers’ duel being waged between two teams that had recently gone in different directions. The Phillies had lost six straight and the Braves had won their past four games.
Miller escaped a bases-loaded jam in the first inning and then kept the Phillies scoreless while scattering seven hits and notching eight strikeouts over 6 1/3 scoreless innings. The All-Star candidate lowered his ERA to 2.07, but he remains winless over his past nine starts. The Braves have not scored a run while he has been the pitcher of record in any of his past four starts.
Hamels also escaped a first-inning, bases-loaded threat on the way to keeping the Braves scoreless over seven innings. After surrendering A.J. Pierzynski’s one-out double in the fourth inning, the Phillies’ left-hander recorded consecutive strikeouts against Pedro Ciriaco and Jonny Gomes.
The Phillies loaded the bases with no outs in the 10th inning against Masset and Howard followed with a sacrifice fly to right field to score the first run of the game. Carlos Ruiz and Freddy Galvis followed with hits to score three insurance runs.
Miller recorded three strikeouts during a 24-pitch first inning that remained scoreless thanks to Ciriaco’s ability to knock down Ruiz’s two-out single before it reached left field. After pitching around two singles and a walk in the first, Miller proved sharp enough to keep the Phillies off the board.
Hamels allowed six hits and struck out six in seven scoreless innings, but got the no-decision. It was the eighth time in 17 starts this season the Phillies have not scored to score a run for Hamels while he has been the pitcher of record, explaining his 5-6 mark.
After Pierzynski’s one-out single gave the Braves runners at the corners with one out in the ninth, the Phillies utilized Cody Asche as an extra infielder and saw Luis Garcia escape the jam. Ciriaco lofted a fly ball that was not deep enough to score Kelly Johnson and Garcia concluded the inning by striking out Juan Uribe.
Cesar Hernandez swiped his 10th and 11th bases, and Galvis stole his sixth Sunday off of Pierzynski. Those steals — plus Odubel Herrera’s mistake on the bases in the fifth inning — brought Pierzynski’s caught-stealing percentage to 16 percent (41 of 49 have been successful), which is essentially the same as turning baserunners into Billy Hamilton (41-for-47, 87 percent).
Matt Wisler will take the mound when the Braves open a three-game series on Monday night against the Brewers at Miller Park. Wisler has impressed in two of his first three career starts. First pitch is set for 7:10 p.m. CT .  Thunder Radio will have the broadcast of the game beginning at 7:00 PM.

The Nashville offense provided the fireworks on Independence Day, launching four solo home runs in their 7-4 (in 10 innings) victory over Round Rock at Dell Diamond.

For the second straight night, Jake Smolinski gave the Sounds a 1-0 lead. The solo blast came in his first at bat against his former team. The outfielder joined the Sounds after Oakland claimed him off waivers from Texas on June 21.

The Sounds came into the night’s action owners of the league’s lowest home run total, a stat that is hard to believe after what happened in the sixth. In a span of just four pitches, Jason Pridie, Dayan Viciedo and Max Muncy all went deep off of Express starter Alec Asher, extending the Sounds lead to 4-1.

Sounds starter Zach Neal had it going on Saturday night. The right-hander used just 77 pitches, 59 of which were strikes, to get through seven innings. Neal didn’t walk an Express batter and struck out three. His only blemish on the night was a solo homer to Thomas Field in the fifth.

Arnold Leon recorded the first two outs of the eighth, but then surrendered three straight hits, including an RBI single to Jared Hoying, before striking out highly-touted Rangers prospect Joey Gallo to get out of the jam. Ryan Cook came in for the save and looked to have things locked up – till they were not. With two-outs and a runner on, Chris Gimenez hit his 5th homer of the season to send the game into extra-innings.

The Sounds wasted no time reclaiming the lead off of PCL All-Star Jon Edwards. Smolinski delivered the go-ahead RBI, doubling in Muncy, who had doubled the at bat prior. Smolinski then scored on an RBI single by catcher Carson Blair. Blair also would come around to score on a double by Joey Wendle. The steady second baseman had a nice night, going 3-for-6 with two doubles.

Jim Fuller retired the top of the Express order 1-2-3 to record his first save. Cook earned the win, improving to 4-1.

The teams will play the second game of the series Sunday. Cody Martin (0-0, 0.00) is expected to make his Sounds’ debut. The right-hander was acquired for international bonus slot 53 from Atlanta on Thursday. Phil Klein (1-0, 1.50) will get the ball for Round Rock. First pitch is scheduled for 7:05 p.m.

CHS senior softball pitcher Brianna Jones. Photo by John St. Clair www.JohnStClairPhoto.com

Coffee County senior pitcher Brianna Jones was named to the Tennessee Sports Writers Association All-State team for Class AAA. Jones, who just completed her sterling career at CHS, was the only member of District 8AAA to be included on the All-State team and one of 3 team members from Region 4-AAA.
The Class AAA team is as follows:
Briana Jones, Coffee Co., senior P
Morgan Powell, Wilson Central, senior P
Katie Eakes, Wilson Central, junior 1B
Savannah Sanders, Mt. Juliet, senior P
Morgan Marshall, Volunteer, junior P
Sarah Higgins, Riverdale, senior 3B
Ashley Scott, Dickson Co., junior, IF
Brooklin Lee, Dickson Co., junior, P
Jordan Spicer, Beech, senior 1B
Veronica Westfall, Siegel, junior P
Libby Sugg, Franklin, senior C
Haley Bearden, Clarksville, senior C
Jenna Cotter, Houston, senior P
Bayleigh Wisher, Collierville, senior P/1B
Caylan Arnold, Maryville, junior P
Katie Corum, Halls, senior IF
Dana Steinbacher, Bearden, senior P
Kaleigh Wynne, Hardin Valley, junior P
Hallie Davis, Walker Valley, senior SS
Heidi Smith, Cookeville, junior SS/3B
Gracie Osbron, Henry Co., P/IF
Seeley Layne, Brighton, junior P/OF
Kayla Bosman, Ooltewah
Alli Fulcher, Sr., SS, Station Camp
Lexee Lamoree, Farragut sophomore catcher

The other members of the Tennessee Sports Writers Association all-state teams are:

CLASS A

Katie Warrick, Forrest, senior 3B/P
Kiyoko Puca, Forrest, senior CF
Briar Mays, Forrest, senior LF
Samantha King, Forrest, sophomore 1B
Lainey Mays, Forrest, sophomore SS
Jessica Webb, Grace Christian, senior P
Bethany Hunt, Grace Christian, senior
Courtney Jones, Oliver Springs, senior P
Robin Ann Hoard, Gordonsville, junior 3B
Kaylyn Graham, Nashville Christian, senior 3B
McKenna Morgan, Sale Creek, junior P
Cheyenne Childress, Huntingdon, sophomore 3B
Diana Ratcliffe, Coalfield, junior P/IF
Ivey Westbrook, Union City, pitcher
Aalia Bivens, South Fulton, IF
Gabby Morris, Adamsville, junior P/CF
Chay Poynor, Gibson County, junior C
Madelyn Dycus, Goodpasture, so. SS
CLASS AA

Jordan Fortel, Greeneville, senior P
Nadalynn Sauceman, Greeneville, senior C
Samantha McDaniel, Lexington, sophomore 1B
Kaitlyn Kelley, Lexington, freshman 2B
Tiffany Laughren, Unicoi, senior P
Hannah DeVault, CAK, junior IF
Allison Zimmerman, CAK, sophomore P
Beth Reece, Happy Valley, sophomore C
Dani Meadows, DeKalb Co., jr. C
Briana Muller, Polk County, senior 2B/SS/P
Aly Walker, South Gibson, junior CF
Kaitlyn Martin, South Gibson, junior P
Sara Hooten, Camden, senior P
Caitlyn Turner, Greenbrier, so. SS
Madison Caldwell, Dyersburg, SS/P
Neely Glenn, Covington, junior SS/OF
Bailey Kimball, Carter, senior 3B
Kaili Crawley, Chattanooga Central, freshman C
Division II-A

Tana Whited, Friendship Christian, senior SS
Courtney Miles, Friendship Christian, junior C
Courtney Petty, Friendship Christian, junior P
Brittany Edmondson, Ezell-Harding, senior OF
Haven Taylor, King’s Academy, junior P
Taylor Weekly, King’s Academy, sophomore 3B/IF
Regan Weekly, King’s Academy, 8th 2B/INF
Rachel Whitley, Tipton-Rosemark, freshman P
Ally McFarland, USJ, junior P
Addison Dunn, USJ, junior OF
Anna Pearson, USJ, junior 2B
Rebekah Moffatt, Fayette Academy, senior
Division II-AA
Savannah Lewis, Pope John Paul II, junior C
Alexis Williams, Pope John Paul II, sophomore SS
Caitlyn Brinkley, Pope John Paul II, freshman OF
Lizzie Ryan, St. Benedict, senior OF
Kendal Pearson, St. Benedict, senior P
Alexis Bonanno, Briarcrest, senior P/1B
Lauren Lewis, Baylor, senior DH
Cheyenne Lindsey, Baylor, freshman IF
Kayla Hughes, Baylor, junior P

Rain forced the cancellation of games for the second night in a row for the Coffee County Fastpitch League on Thursday night.  The league will try to get back to action on Friday night with a pair of 8U games that are scheduled for Fred Deadman Park.  Friday’s Schedule looks like this:

5:00 – K&D Rebar vs. ReMax (8U)
6:20 – Mid-Town Medical vs. David Clark Homes (8U)

Center fielder Cameron Maybin chopped a single over the third base bag with one out in the ninth inning to drive in the winning run and give the Atlanta Braves a 2-1 victory over the Washington Nationals on Thursday night at Turner Field. The Braves started the rally when pinch-hitter Pedro Ciriaco beat out an infield grounder to shortstop, only the fourth hit against Washington starter Max Scherzer.  Ciriaco went to second on a sacrifice and scored on Maybin’s single. Scherzer (9-6) had his three-game winning streak snapped. He allowed five hits and struck out nine in 8 1/3 innings.

The winning pitcher was Jason Grilli (3-3), who pitched a scoreless ninth and struck out one.Atlanta starter Manny Banuelos, making his first appearance in the major leagues, was in control until the sixth inning.  With two outs, he had retired 13 straight batters. But when Banuelos hit back-to-back batters with a pitch, catcher A.J Pierzynski motioned to the dugout that something was wrong.  Manager Fredi Gonzalez and the trainer went to the mound and removed the young left-hander, who was suffering from cramps and dehydration. In 5 2/3 scoreless innings, he struck out seven.  Right-hander Nick Masset came on and retired third baseman Yunel Escobar on a soft liner to third base to end the threat.

The Nationals tied the score 1-1 in the seventh against reliever David Aardsma.   Right fielder Bryce Harper led off with a double on a hooking fly that Maybin ran down but could not keep in his glove. Catcher Wilson Ramos drove him home by poking a single to right field.Banuelos showed no nerves in his major league debut.   He allowed a single to center fielder Denard Span to lead off the game but retired the next three batters to end the threat.In the second, Banuelos gave up a leadoff single to Ramos, but he was immediately erased in a double play.

Scherzer’s chance for another no-hitter was erased in the third when No. 8 hitter Eury Perez singled up the middle. Banuelos sacrificed him to second with two outs, but Scherzer retired second baseman Jace Peterson on a lazy fly to center to end the inning.  Atlanta scored a run in the fifth, becoming the first team in four starts to take a lead against Scherzer.   Third baseman Juan Uribe led off with a double down the third base line and scored with one out on a looping single to left by shortstop Andrelton Simmons.

The Braves begin a three-game home series against Philadelphia on Friday.  First pitch is scheduled for 6:20 PM and Thunder Radio will have the broadcast beginning with the pregame show starting at 6:00 PM.  The starting pitchers are Atlanta’s Julio Teheran (5-4, 4.94 ERA) vs. Philadelphia’s Adam Morgan (1-0, 1.59).