The Nashville Sounds managed just five hits in a 7-1 setback to the Round Rock Express Sunday afternoon at Dell Diamond. Nashville (2-2) missed early opportunities in the first and second innings when they left a combined five runners on base, and the offense went stale for the rest of the day until the ninth inning. The quiet offense wasted a solid effort from Nashville starter Paul Blackburn. The right-hander made a quality start in his first career Triple-A outing. The 23-year-old allowed two runs (one earned) on five hits in six innings. He was tagged with the tough-luck...

Gregory Polanco racked up four hits, and R.A. Dickey was marred by costly defensive miscues as the Pirates made the most of their opportunities and turned four double plays while claiming a 6-4 win over the Pirates on Saturday night at PNC Park. Polanco singled to begin a two-run second inning, doubled during a two-run third inning and capped a two-run sixth inning with a RBI single off Ian Krol. The Pirates took advantage of two errors and the three passed balls charged against Kurt Suzuki, who had trouble handling the knuckleball in his first official game as Dickey’s...

Franklin Barreto and Jaff Decker had six of the Nashville Sounds’ 14 hits in an 8-3 win over the Round Rock Express Saturday night at Dell Diamond. One night after the duo combined to go 7-for-9 at the plate, they went 6-for-9 with four runs scored and three driven in. The tandem at the top of the lineup fired up a first inning rally in which the Sounds (2-1) went on to score four runs to set the tone. Barreto was hit by a Dillon Gee pitch, and Decker doubled to the opposite field to put runners in scoring...

CMS Tennis defeated Westwood – Girls won 7 to 0; Boys won 5 to 3. CHS Softball lost to Baylor – 5 to 3 CCMS Softball beat Westwood – 11 to 0 CCMS Soccer lost to Mt. Juliet – 10 to 0 WMS Soccer defeated Whitworth-Buchanan – 9 to 0 CCMS Soccer lost to Avery Trace – 7 to 0 WMS Soccer lost to Algood – 3 to...

For the second night in a row, the Coffee County Central High School softball team welcomed a defending state champion to Terry Floyd Field on Friday night.  Featuring the support of a large group of Special Needs Kids, the Lady Raiders welcomed Baylor to Terry Floyd Field in a game you heard here on Thunder Radio.  After taking an early lead, the Lady Raiders ended up falling by a final score of 5 to 3 in 9 innings. Coffee County got on the board first in the 1st inning as Haley Hinshaw doubled home Ashley Evans.  Baylor bounced back...

Westwood and Coffee County Middle also slugged it out on the softball diamond on Friday night as the Lady Rockets visited Lady Raider Field at CCMS.  Both teams, who are enjoying winning seasons, feature coaches who played softball together at Coffee County Central High School in the 1990’s under legendary coach Jeff Breeden.   The Lady Raiders banged out 11 hits to drop their Manchester neighbors 11 to 0. Keri Munn had the best game of her season as she pitched a complete game 2 hitter to get the win for Coffee County.  At the plate, Munn was 4 for...

Cross town rivals Westwood and Coffee County Middle battled it out on the tennis courts on Friday at Fred Deadman Park.  Westwood, in its 3rd year to have a program, took on a Coffee County team in its 2nd season. In boys’ play, the Red Raiders swept the Rockets 7 to 0.  Coffee County got singles wins from Jayden Talley, Luke Irwin, Landon Booth, Tyler Rigney and Loren Hansen.  The doubles teams of Talley/Irwin and Booth/Rigney picked up doubles wins for the Red Raiders. In girls’ play, Coffee County stopped Westwood 5 to 3.  Coffee County got singles wins from...

Ivan Nova did not return for days like this — 37 degrees, with snow falling as he threw his first pitch — but the Pirates brought back the veteran right-hander for performances like this. Supported by back-to-back homers in the fifth and a few key defensive plays, Nova tossed six strong innings and led the Bucs to a 5-4 win over the Braves on Friday at their home opener at PNC Park. Nova looked like the resurgent starter who pitched for Pittsburgh down the stretch last season: efficient, in command and confident in the defense behind him. He limited...