Category: Sports

The Coffee County Red Raider baseball team got a solid pitching effort from Dallas Bryan and a spirited comeback effort before falling to Columbia by a final score of 9 to 4 in the 2nd round of the District 8AAA tournament. Columbia built a 6 to 0 lead through 4 innings before the Raiders plated 4 runs in the top of the 5th inning. Zach Holder had a 2 RBI single down the right field line to provide the big hit of the inning, but the Raiders could get no closer. Dallas Bryan took the tough luck loss.

Trace Friedlein pitched a complete game 5 hitter to lead Coffee County to a 6 to 1 victory over Lawrence County on Saturday in the elimination bracket of the District 8AAA tournament. Coffee County got 3 unearned runs in the 3 inning as they loaded the bases on defensive miscues and then got 3 straight singles with RBI’s from Kyle Douglas and Tyler Cavender.

The Raiders tallied the final 3 on a 2 out, three run home run from Peyton Meeker in the 6th. Cavender finished the game going 4 for 4 at the plate while Meeker was 3 for 4 with a double and single to go with his dinger. Friedlein was spectacular all afternoon long as he struck out 10, including all 3 outs in the 7th.
With the win, Coffee County advances to take on Lincoln County on Monday night at 6:30 PM at Tullahoma. We will have that broadcast on Thunder Radio beginning at 6:20pm.

Westwood’s soccer team battled a physical South Lincoln team until the final whistle before falling 2 to 1 in the Duck River Valley Conference tournament finals on Friday night in Fayetteville. After controlling the tempo for the first 10 minutes, the Falcons of South Lincoln ramped up the physical play scoring goals in the 27th and 29th minute to take a 2 to 0 lead into intermission. Westwood coach Jonathan Graf made an adjustment in his alignment and the Rockets began to find their offensive flow in the 2nd half. A controversial Red Card against the Rocket’s Tyler Walker in the 38th minute gave South Lincoln a man advantage for the final 22 minutes. Westwood responded with an Ethan Abplanalp header off a corner kick from Juan Carlos Penaloza in the 43rd minute. A potential tying goal from Paco Barrera hit the post in 50th minute and a Lucas McAfee shot was wide in the final 2 minutes but the Rockets could never get the equalizer. With the loss, Westwood finished the season with a record of 8-4-1.

Kaylee Skipper racked up four RBIs on two hits for the Coffee County Central Lady Raiders on Saturday as the ladies defeated Tullahoma 9-2 in the District 8-AAA softball tournament in Shelbyville. Tori Bell added 2 RBI for the Lady Raiders. Brianna Jones recorded the win for the Coffee County. She allowed two runs over seven innings. Brianna struck out 13, walked three and gave up four hits. Skipper was named the Gateway Tire and Service Center player of the game.
Despite winning by 7 runs the Lady Raiders trailed twice in the game, 1-0 and 2-1 before roaring back for their 24th win of the year.
Coffee County will play Lincoln County on Tuesday night at 7pm.

The Red Raider soccer season came to a cruel and abrupt end on Saturday as they fell to Shelbyville by a final score of 3 to 0. The Raiders took the match into the last 4 minutes down 1 to 0 only to see two red cards give the host Eagles a two man advantage which they turned into 2 demoralizing goals. Shelbyville scored their lone even strength goal in the 28th minute on a breakaway up the middle off of a long clearing pass. Abelene Barrera had a chance to tie it in the 37th minute on a beautiful left footer that leaked just wide of the frame. In the 2nd half, several Red Raider chances slipped away on wide shots or the physical play of the Eagles defense.
The game brought to an end the careers of 4 Red Raider seniors, Marcos Villegas, Michael Garcia, Chris Freimuth and David Morgan. Coach Robert Harper acknowledged the contributions of exchange students Pedro Hernandez and Matheo Senegas. The Raiders finished the season with a final record of 8-7-3.

Coffee County took on non district soccer power Siegel on Thursday evening in Murfreesboro. The Raiders spoiled the Stars Senior Night festivities defeating the Stars by a final score of 1 to 0. Cole Hawkins and Marcos Villegas combined to squeeze a goal past the keeper in the 32nd minute off of a David Morgan corner kick. From that point on, the Raider defense played with intensity to hold Siegel scoreless. Coffee County got good play in the midfield and up top but could not convert several 2nd half scoring opportunities. With the win, the Raiders improved their season record to 8-6-3 as they begin postseason play at 6 PM on Saturday traveling to Shelbyville to take on the Eagles.

The Coffee County Red Raider baseball team hosted Franklin County on Thursday night at Powers Field in the District 8-AAA tournament. The Raiders jumped out to a 2-0 lead in the first inning and that’s all they needed to advance in the winners bracket to play at Columbia. Hudson Rollman had a single to knock in the two runs. The hit scored Tyler Bradshaw and Peyton Meeker. Rollman earned the Gateway Tire and Service Center player of the game. Kyle Douglas was the winning pitcher, going the distance striking out 7 and allowed just 2 hits.
The game at Columbia begins Friday at 4pm and Thunder Radio will have the broadcast starting at 3:50pm.

he soccer boys and softball girls will begin their quest for district championships on Saturday. Both will be playing in Shelbyville. The soccer team will play the Eagles and the Lady Raiders will take on the winner of the Tullahoma vs Lawrence County game that will be played on Friday night. Thunder Radio will broadcast the softball game beginning at noon.

The Westwood Rockets soccer team will play for the Duck River Valley Conference title on Friday night in Fayetteville. The Rockets, who enter the game with a record of 8 wins, 3 losses and 1 tie, will take on South Lincoln. The Rockets finished the conference season as the number 1 seed and defeated South Lincoln 5 to 1 on April 4th. South Lincoln, which was severely damaged by a tornado on Monday night, will be playing with a renewed spirit in light of this week’s events. The championship will kick off at 7:00 PM and will be held at Riverside Christian Academy in Fayetteville.

All Star Sports is hosting the first annual All Star Sports Health and Fitness Festival Saturday, May 10 at the Coffee County Fairgrounds. The Festival will feature various amateur competitions for both individuals and teams. The festival will kick-off with a one-mile run at 9 a.m. which is open to all ages. Team competitions will include flag football with five people per-team, soccer with four to a team and basketball, which will be three-man teams. Some of the individual competitions include punt pass kick, bench press, one-on-one soccer, wiffle ball homerun derby and more. Several clinics will also be offered the day of the festival including speed/agility, football, soccer, cheerleading and more.  Special guests will include New Red Raider Coach Sulkowski and the Coffee County Red Raider football team, The Raiderette Dance Team, Manchester Fire & Rescue, The Get Fit Club, and more. Competitors in the pageant will be choosing their best “sports” outfit to compete in. Price of admission is $5 and tickets are available online at www.allstarsportsfest.com or at the door.  The tournaments, 1 mile run, and Miss All Star Pageant require pre-registration and the entry forms can be found on the event website.
Thunder Radio will be broadcasting live including the Coffee Coaches Show with Dennis Weaver.

The Coffee County baseball team finished up their regular season Wednesday in Murfreesboro with a game against Riverdale. The Warriors took a commanding lead of 5-0 before the Raiders scored a run on a Tyler Bradshaw sacrifice fly in the 5th inning. Riverdale dropped the Coffee County record to 13-15 on the year with a 6-1 win.
The District 8-AAA baseball tournament begins Thursday night at 6pm at Powers Field. Hear the game live on Thunder Radio.