While it would be nice for everything to immediately come together every year, it doesn’t seemingly work that way too often in the baseball world. Thus, there is a need for the patience the Braves will continue to show while hoping to steadily feel better about both their offense and pitching staff.   Max Fried enhanced some of the optimism as he delivered a second straight strong start since returning from the injured list. But his effort went for naught as a work-in-progress bullpen faltered again for the Braves in their 4-1 loss to the Blue Jays on Wednesday night at Truist Park. ...

Keri Munn Coffee County dispatched of Lawrence County 6-0 Tuesday night in Fayetteville – moving the CHS Lady Raiders into the District 8-AAA championship game and securing a spot in the Region 4-AAA tournament. Coffee County used 7 strong innings in the circle from Keri Munn and two hits and a pair of runs scored from Kiya Ferrell to easily get past the Wildcats of Lawrence County. Munn has thrown 13 consecutive district tournament innings without allowing a single run. THIS GAME WAS BROADCAST LIVE ON THUNDER RADIO. CLICK HERE TO LISTEN TO THE REPLAY. Munn struck out 10...

Coffee County got the tying run into scoring position in the top of the 7th with two outs Tuesday night. But the Raiders couldn’t get any closer, falling to Lawrence County 2-1 in a loss that ends the season for the Raiders. Trailing 2-1 with two outs in the final inning, Brady Nugent was hit by a pitch and managed to steal second base. But a ground out ended the game in the loser’s bracket finals of the District 8-AAA tournament. A win would have pushed the Raiders to the district championship and a region tournament trip for the...

Red Raider senior CJ Anthony on Friday, May 7, signed a letter of intent to play football at Cumberland University. — Thunder Radio photo by Josh Peterson Coffee County senior CJ Anthony officially signed to play collegiate football with Cumberland University. The Cumberland Phoenix is an NAIA school located in Lebanon. The school just wrapped up its spring season at 2-5, a season that was pushed back due to COVID-19. “I feel like this is the best fit for me,” Anthony told Thunder Radio. “It feels like another Manchester, very hometown environment (and) a lot of support from the...

Griffin Meeker is hugged by teammates after pitching 7 shutout innings to defeat Tullahoma Monday night in the District 8-AAA tournament in Shelbyville. Pictured are, from left, Lane Spry, Meeker, Nolan Jernigan and Carter McKenzie. — Thunder Radio photo by Holly Peterson Griffin Meeker shall now be known as Mr. Clutch. The senior right-hander etched himself into Red Raider baseball lore on Monday night when he took the ball in an elimination game and tossed a four-hit, complete game shutout against cross-county rival Tullahoma to lead the Red Raiders to a 4-0 win and extend their season. Tullahoma had...

Pekka Rinne made 30 saves for his 369th NHL win for the Nashville Predators, 5-0 against the Carolina Hurricanes on Monday. Rinne tied Tom Barrasso for 19th place in NHL history. He has two shutouts this season, 60 in the NHL, which is 19th all time. Matt Duchene scored two goals and Tanner Jeannot and Ryan Johansen each had a goal and an assist for the Predators (31-23-2), who swept the two-game set to end the regular season. Nashville finished fourth in the Discover Central Division and Carolina finished first. They will play each other in the first round of the Stanley Cup Playoffs. You...

Westwood Middle School golf defeated Harris 6.5 to 5.5 flags on Monday at WillowBrook Golf Course. The win advances Westwood to the championship. For the Rockets, the team of Jack Stowe and Leah Kate Sullivan picked up 1 flag. Meanwhile, the team of Landon Collins, Ziya Dillard an Peyton Evans notched 2.5 flags. Thompson Lowe, Alyssa Harvey and Colin Bryant cleaned up, claiming 3 of 3 flags to give Westwood the advantage. The Rockets will take on Tullahoma in the Championship on Tuesday at Lakewood Country...

The Coffee County Central Track & Field team had four athletes to qualify for the TSSAA state meet at Friday’s sectinal event. Kelvin Verge took second place in boys high jump, Travis Martin 2nd in pole vault, Ethan Welch 3rd in pole vault and Jacob Rutledge 4th in the 1600 meter run – all qualifying for the state meet that will be May 27 at Rockvale High...