Jefferson Street Intersection Improvements at 21st and 28th Ave N- Public Meeting Tuesday, May 14

Community Invited to Discuss Improvements to Jefferson Street Intersections at 21st and 28th on Tuesday, May 14

Members of the community are invited to a public meeting on Tuesday, May 14 from 5:30 p.m. - 7:30 p.m. at the Hadley Park Community Center, 1037 28th Ave N, to discuss improvements to two Jefferson Street intersections. This project will impact Jefferson Street at 21st and 28th Avenues.

Those who live, work, and own property in the area are encouraged to attend this meeting, ask questions and offer feedback.

The Jefferson Street Intersection Improvement project is currently underway via Metro Public Works and a team led by KCI technologies.

Questions about this project can be directed to Cortnye Stone, Metro Nashville Public Works Communications and Community Engagement Officer, 615-862-8779.

TNECD ACCEPTING APPLICATIONS FOR RURAL HOSPITAL TRANSFORMATION PROGRAM

• Program designed to help rural hospitals develop strategic plans
• Tennessee Rural Hospital Transformation Act passed in 2018
• Application deadline is May 3

NASHVILLE, Tenn. – The Tennessee Department of Economic and Community Development is now accepting applications for the Rural Hospital Transformation Program.

Originating from the Tennessee Rural Hospital Transformation Act of 2018, the program is designed to provide rural hospitals with technical assistance and strategic plans to preserve health care services in rural Tennessee communities.

“Hospitals are a vital part of the economic fabric of rural Tennessee, and it’s critically important that we ensure they remain a viable source of both quality jobs for residents and essential care for patients,” TNECD Commissioner Bob Rolfe said. “I’m encouraged by the efforts of the Rural Hospital Transformation Program and the possible solutions we can find to strengthen and sustain Tennessee’s rural hospitals.”

Rural hospitals are eligible to apply. TNECD will accept applications through Friday, May 3, 2019. Recipients will receive consulting services from Navigant Consulting, LLC. In collaboration with the local hospital and stakeholders, Navigant Consulting will identify new delivery models, strategic partnerships and operational changes that will enable the continuation of health care services.

TNECD administers the Rural Hospital Transformation Program in consultation with an advisory committee made up of committee members in seven state departments and three non-profit organizations.

For more information, applicants can go here.

About the Tennessee Department of Economic and Community Development 

The Tennessee Department of Economic and Community Development’s mission is to develop strategies that help make Tennessee the No. 1 location in the Southeast for high quality jobs. To grow and strengthen Tennessee, the department seeks to attract new corporate investment to the state and works with Tennessee companies to facilitate expansion and economic growth. Find us on the web: tnecd.com. Follow us on Twitter and Instagram: @tnecd. Like us on Facebook: facebook.com/tnecd.

11th Annual Shoney's 5K Family Fun Run Benefiting the MNPD is Saturday, May 18

Nashville, Tennessee - Chief Steve Anderson and Shoney’s CEO David Davoudpour today announced that the 11th Annual Shoney’s 5K Family Fun Run, Walk & Festival benefiting the Metropolitan Nashville Police Department will be held on Saturday morning, May 18, at Nissan Stadium.

“Shoney’s continues to be tremendously proud to show its commitment to Nashville and the men and women who keep us safe,” said Davoudpour. “It is my sincere hope that folks from neighborhoods across the city will join us for our 11th annual Family Fun Run & Festival as we raise money for the Nashville Police Support Fund and just have a good time.”

The Nashville Police Support Fund, a component of the Community Foundation of Middle Tennessee, was established primarily to help defray costs for officers working to complete higher education degrees. Through the generosity of Shoney’s CEO Davoudpour, who personally matches entry fees dollar for dollar, nearly $200,000 has been raised for the fund since the 5K Family Fun Run, Walk & Festival began in 2009. Seventy higher education grants totaling $90,570 have been awarded from the fund.

“The annual Shoney’s 5K and Festival is a late spring tradition for our police department and gives families a chance to interact with our officers in a relaxed, fun environment,” Chief Steve Anderson said. “We will have a number of our resources on display, including a helicopter, SWAT gear, a bomb disposal robot, police horses, and specially equipped vehicles. All of that is on top of a great Shoney’s breakfast that will be served on site. We are very grateful to David Davoudpour for sponsoring this tradition for the 11th consecutive year.”

The Family Fun Run & Festival will be based in Nissan Stadium’s Lot T, which is adjacent to the Seigenthaler Pedestrian Bridge. Registration for the run will begin at 7 a.m. and the 5K will start at 8 a.m. The 3.1 mile route includes parts of downtown. There will be a Kids’ Fun Run/Walk following the race. Shoney's Fun Run online registration form

The entry fee is $30 through May 17th and $35 on race day. Teams of 3 or more are $20 per person. The entry fee for students (ages 11-18) is $5. Kids 10 & under are free.

At the conclusion of the 5K, a buffet breakfast will be served in Lot T as part of one of the best post-race festivals in the city. The festival will feature live music, random drawings, the display of police vehicles & equipment, and special activities for children (face painting, giant inflatables, games, a balloon artist and an appearance by Shoney Bear).

Prizes for the 5K top finishers in the male and female categories are $500 cash. Male and female first place winners in each age category will receive a $25 Shoney’s gift card.

Second place winners in each age category will receive a $10 Shoney’s gift card. The age categories include 9 and under, 10-14, 15-19, 20-29, 30-39, 40-49, 50-59, 60 and up.

Precinct-Based Undercover Detectives Charged 75 Persons This Week

Nashville, Tennessee - Undercover detectives assigned to the department’s eight precincts charged 75 persons this week with mostly drug and prostitution offenses as the result of investigations in various Nashville neighborhoods.

Midtown Hills Precinct detectives charged 5 persons as the result of investigations on Sidco Drive, Harding Place, and Charlotte Avenue. Seized were 4.5 grams of cocaine, 2.5 grams of heroin, and seven grams of MDMA.

South Precinct detectives charged 10 persons as the result of investigations on Lafayette Street, Lincoln Street, Perkins Street, Bell Road, Lutie Drive, Harding Place, and Wallace Road. Detectives seized 2.5 grams of cocaine, six grams of heroin, one gram of methamphetamine, four grams of marijuana, and one Suboxone strip.

Hermitage Precinct detectives charged 17 persons as the result of investigations on Donelson Pike, Lafayette Street, Old Hickory Boulevard, and Bell Road. Detectives seized two grams of heroin, 15 grams of marijuana, 20 pills, and two guns.

West Precinct detectives charged 4 persons as the result of investigations on Cheyenne Boulevard, Joyce Lane, and 40th Avenue North. Detectives seized 274.2 grams of marijuana, 29.1 grams of methamphetamine, 11.2 grams of heroin, three handguns, and $11,536 cash.

North Precinct detectives charged 8 persons as the result of investigations on Brick Church Pike, Trinity Lane, Dr. D.B Todd Boulevard, Whites Creek Pike, Clay Street, Cockrill Street, and 23rd Avenue North. Detectives seized 58 grams of cocaine, 2.3 grams of marijuana, and two grams of methamphetamine.

Madison Precinct detectives charged 11 persons as the result of investigations on Gallatin Pike, Ewing Lane, Brick Church Pike, and Saunders Avenue. Detectives seized 2.5 grams of heroin.

East Precinct detectives charged 8 persons as the result of investigations on Dickerson Pike, Trinity Lane, Gallatin Pike, Seymour Avenue, and Hart Avenue. Detectives seized 37.3 grams of marijuana, 3.5 grams of heroin, 13.3 grams of cocaine, seven grams of methamphetamine, one gun, and $1,651 cash.

Central Precinct detectives charged 12 persons as the result of investigations on Lafayette Street, 2nd Avenue South, 8th Avenue South, Bass Street, and 6th Avenue South. Detectives seized five grams of cocaine, 12 grams of marijuana, one gram of heroin, and $332 cash.

Citizens suspecting drug activity in their neighborhoods are urged to call the police department’s 244-DOPE hotline. Callers to the hotline can remain anonymous.

Captain David Corman Named New West Precinct Commander; Will Succeed Retiring Commander Marlene Pardue Next Month

Nashville, Tennessee - Chief Steve Anderson today announced the appointment of Captain David Corman, a 24-year MNPD veteran, as the new Commander of the West Precinct effective May 15th, the day that present Commander Marlene Pardue retires from nearly 31 years of service to Nashville’s families. Pardue has served as the West Precinct’s Commander since November 2011.

Corman presently heads the police department’s Custom Services Division, which includes Special Events Planning, Secondary Employment Unit, Coordination of School Resource Officers, Coordination of Field Training Officers, MDHA Task Force, and the Surveillance & Investigative Support Unit. Prior to his promotion to captain in 2015, Corman served as the department’s special events coordinator, Traffic Section supervisor, evening shift supervisor at the East Precinct, undercover narcotics detective, and a patrol officer at the Central Precinct.

Corman will be spending time with Commander Pardue over the next few weeks to become acquainted with the West Precinct’s neighborhood leaders and its 140 neighborhood watch and business groups. The West Precinct spans 109 square miles and makes up about 21% of the MNPD’s coverage area.

“I am sincerely grateful for this opportunity to work with the very talented men and women of the West Precinct and our community partners to continue making West Nashville as safe as possible for all,” Corman said. “Commander Pardue has a number of innovative programs and strong community relationships in place. I realize that I have big shoes to fill, and I am ready to embrace this new responsibility.”

GOVERNOR LEE, COMMISSIONER ROLFE ANNOUNCE CLAYTON TO ESTABLISH SUMNER COUNTY OPERATIONS IN WESTMORELAND

National home builder will invest $14 million in Supply facility and create nearly 110 jobs

Clayton Supply Westmoreland in Sumner County will produce panels and trusses

Headquartered in Maryville, Tenn., Clayton employs 5,400 Tennesseans

NASHVILLE, Tenn. – Tennessee Gov. Bill Lee, Department of Economic and Community Development Commissioner Bob Rolfe and Clayton officials announced today that the home builder will establish a Clayton Supply® facility in Westmoreland.

Clayton will invest $14 million in Sumner County. The company will hire nearly 110 new team members over the next two years. Clayton anticipates operations in Westmoreland will begin in early 2020.

The supply facility will be dedicated to the launch of a new division of pre-manufactured assemblies for on-site home builders. Clayton plans to manufacture wall panels and trusses for single and multifamily residential site-built homes

Headquartered in Maryville, Tenn., Clayton is one of the largest homebuilders in the nation and offers

Bristol Tennessee Police Department hosts a Prescription Drug Take-Back event

The Bristol Tennessee Police Department will be hosting a “Prescription Drug Take-Back” event on Saturday, April 27, 2019 from 10:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m. in the Municipal Parking Lot located at 801 Anderson Street, Bristol, Tennessee (Courthouse parking lot). People are asked to bring their old, unwanted, unused, or expired medications (prescription, over-the-counter, and supplements) to this secure drop-off site. This is a “no-questions-asked” event and participants will not need to produce any identification. All items will be properly disposed of by incineration by the Bristol Tennessee Police Department.

The Police Department is encouraging individuals to rid their households of unused medications that pose a safety hazard and can contribute to prescription drug abuse. Additionally, proper disposal is much safer for the environment and the water supply as flushing or throwing away medication puts our waterways and aquatic life at risk. Liquids and syringes will not be accepted.

The Drug Take-Back initiative is for the general public. Doctor’s offices, clinics, or other medical offices should follow the guidelines set by the Drug Enforcement Administration. The guidelines for disposal can be found at http://www.deadiversion.usdoj.gov/index.html.

For further information, please contact Lt. Keith Feathers (423) 989-3409 or kfeathers@bristoltn.org.

MONSTER JAM is Racing Back to NISSAN Stadium June 22nd, 2019!

Save 20% per ticket plus save on service fees!  Deadline to Order: June 17, 2019 at 11AM CT Offer Description (MONSTER JAM): • Details and Special Instructions: Enjoy 20% off per ticket and save on service fees when MONSTER JAM races to NISSAN Stadium this Summer! To order, simply call 866-248-8740 Option 1 to reach a personal concierge representative who can assist you. For questions or seating information, feel free to email felddirectgroups@feldinc.com or call 866-248-8740 Option 1. The deadline to order is June 17, 2019 at 11AM CT. • Offer Restrictions and Other Notices: Ordering deadlines are strictly enforced. No double discounts. All sales are final. No refunds or exchanges. A $3 per ticket facility fee and a one-time $5 order processing fee will apply. Orders of 50 or more require a one-time $15 for FedEx Shipping. Offer cannot be redeemed at the box office. Facility fees and a processing fee will apply. Ordering Deadlines are Strictly Enforced. To learn more about us, visit our website at: www.feldentertainment.com

King University 2019 Spring Commencement Exercises

Dr. Craig McDonald to Serve as King’s Spring Commencement Speaker
BRISTOL, Tennessee — Dr. Craig McDonald, a retired faculty member who enlightened King
University students for more than three decades with his vast knowledge of English grammar and British Literature, will serve as guest speaker for the university’s Spring 2019 Commencement exercises on Saturday, April 27.

The 10 a.m. ceremony will be held on the Campus Oval and will honor more than 350 graduates who
have earned undergraduate, graduate and professional studies degrees. Craig Streetman, assistant
professor of Philosophy, will serve as faculty marshal.

McDonald began his teaching career at Glenville State College in West Virginia and came to King in 1982. Although he left for a brief time to serve as head master at Sullins Academy, a nearby private school, he returned within two years to continue teaching at King until his retirement in 2017. During his long tenure at King, he was well loved and highly respected by students for his focus on the fundamentals of good writing and his lessons on Shakespeare

McDonald holds degrees from Davidson College, the college of William and Mary, and the University of York. The title of his address is “The Janitor at the Gate.”

Other highlights of the ceremony include the presentation of the M. Jeffrey Byrd Distinguished Service Award, the Algernon Sydney Sullivan Award, and the R.T.L. Liston Award for Academic Excellence.

Those unable to attend the ceremony are invited to view it via live streaming at
http://webcast.king.edu.

Nashville: 56th Annual State of Metro Address

Nashville, Tennessee - Mayor David Briley invites you to attend the 56th annual State of Metro Address. This is a free, public event.

Members of the public are encouraged to attend, but are asked to RSVP for counting purposes. Seating will be on a first-come, first-served basis.

Anyone requesting accommodations due to disabilities should contact Jerry Hall, ADA Coordinator, at 615-862-8960 or Jerry.Hall@nashville.gov

Location
Nashville Public Library
615 Church Street
Grand Reading Room
Nashville, TN 37219

Most City of Bristol Offices closed in observance of Good Friday

Bristol, Tennessee - Most City offices will be closed Friday, April 19, in observance of Good Friday. Police, Fire, and Solid Waste services will continue as normal.

Please take note of the following changes in other City services and programs:

· Refuse collection services will operate on their normal schedule and routes.

· Job Access vans will operate on their normal schedules.

· City buses and para transit will not operate on Friday, April 19, but will return to their normal operations on Monday, April 22.

· Parks & Recreation’s Slater Center will not be open.

If you should have a service request or concern while offices are closed please complete an online service request by visiting the City’s website at www.bristoltn.org, and click on the Request Tracker icon at the top of the page. All requests for City services will be addressed the next business day.

For more information about the City’s holiday schedule and any other services that may be affected, contact Community Relations at 423-764-4171

Tennessee 7 Day Weather Forecast

Monday

A 30 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms, mainly after 1pm. Partly sunny, with a high near 94. Heat index values as high as 98. Calm wind becoming west southwest around 5 mph in the afternoon.

Monday Night

Mostly clear, with a low around 74. Southwest wind around 5 mph becoming calm.

Tuesday

A 30 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly sunny, with a high near 92. West southwest wind around 5 mph.

Tuesday Night

A 50 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Partly cloudy, with a low around 74. West southwest wind around 5 mph becoming calm in the evening.

Wednesday

Showers and thunderstorms likely. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 88. Calm wind becoming west around 5 mph in the morning. Chance of precipitation is 60%.

Wednesday Night

A 50 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 72. Calm wind.

Thursday

Showers and thunderstorms likely. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 88. Calm wind becoming west around 5 mph. Chance of precipitation is 60%.

Thursday Night

A 40 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 71.

Friday

A 40 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Partly sunny, with a high near 89.

Friday Night

A 30 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 70.

Saturday

A 30 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Partly sunny, with a high near 90.

Saturday Night

A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Partly cloudy, with a low around 70.

Sunday

A chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly sunny, with a high near 90.

Tennessee 7 Day Weather Forecast

Tonight

Showers likely and possibly a thunderstorm before 8pm, then a chance of showers and thunderstorms after 8pm. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 69. North northwest wind 5 to 10 mph. Chance of precipitation is 60%. New rainfall amounts of less than a tenth of an inch, except higher amounts possible in thunderstorms.

Monday

A 30 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 84. North wind 5 to 10 mph.

Monday Night

A 30 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms before 8pm. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 68. North wind 5 to 10 mph.

Tuesday

A 30 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms after 8am. Partly sunny, with a high near 87. North wind around 5 mph.

Tuesday Night

A 30 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms, mainly before 8pm. Partly cloudy, with a low around 71. North wind around 5 mph becoming calm in the evening.

Wednesday

A 30 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms, mainly after 8am. Mostly sunny, with a high near 90. Calm wind becoming north around 5 mph in the afternoon.

Wednesday Night

A 30 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms before 8pm. Partly cloudy, with a low around 70. North wind around 5 mph becoming calm in the evening.

Thursday

Sunny, with a high near 92. Calm wind becoming north northwest around 5 mph.

Thursday Night

Mostly clear, with a low around 71.

Friday

A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly sunny, with a high near 93.

Friday Night

A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Partly cloudy, with a low around 71.

Saturday

A 30 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Partly sunny, with a high near 91.

Saturday Night

A 40 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 71.

Sunday

A chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 88.

WOMEN'S TRACK AND FIELD POSTS BLAZING TIMES AT MONTREAT COLLEGE INVITATIONAL

Photo Credit: Jan Yinger

Black Mountain, NC- The women's track and field team returned to the track looking to build on the success the team saw in their first meet. Tennessee Wesleyan saw three school records fall at the Montreat College Invitational.

The Saturday meet started off with Rachel Gallison in the 3000m Steeplechase, jumping over the hurdle and through the water in 12:55.94, slotting her in second place in the event. The 1500m Race saw a 5-6 finish by the Lady Bulldogs as Hannah Rhodes (5:02.95) and Keupper Feehan (5:06.07) crossed the line back-to-back, respectively.

Gracie Smith used a 17.38 second time to go the 100m distance over the hurdles, finishing fifth place in the event. In the 400m Race, Tranico Parson was the fifth person to cross the line, coming in at a time of 1:02.21. Malika Reviere finished 12th in the event with a time of 1:09.00.

The school record holder in the 100m Dash, Alexandria Johnson, came in fourth place at the meet, running a time of 12.40 to accomplish the spot. Alexis Lankford, the Indoor 100m Dash record holder, finished in 11th place in 12.86 seconds. Representing TWU in the 800m Race was Rosa Cisneros, who finished 12th with a time of 2:34.33 and Bailey Condone with a time of 2:38.42 to finish in 15th.

One of the three school records which fell on the day came in the 200m Dash. Johnson added her name to another place in the record books, previously breaking the school record in the 100m Dash the week before, as her 25.43 time in the event, good enough for third place, etched her name as the top time. Four other members of the team finished in the top 20 of the event: Els Van Hooijdonk (5th, 25.84), Parson (12th, 27.68), Bri Williams (14th, 28.00) and Dasha Varner (20th, 29.31).

The final track event was the 4x400m Relay and it was the second school record to fall on the day. The team of Feehan, Johnson, Hooijdonk and Rhodes crossed the finish in 4:03.18, giving the team a second place designation. The second team of Parson, Cisneros, Condone and Karlie Yinger used a 4:23.53 time to finish seventh in the event.

On the field side, the day started with the jumping events: the Triple Jump, Long Jump and High Jump. In the High Jump, Smith used a 1.45m mark to finish seventh. It was a rough outing in the Long Jump for Williams as her 4.27m mark placed her 17th. Redemption came for Williams in the Triple Jump though, as she finished in the top 10 with her mark of 9.56m to give the Lady Bulldogs a second member in the top 10 to go along with Hooijdonk's fourth place finish (10.43m).

The star shining the brightest though belonged to Rachel Lawhorn. Competing in three events, Lawhorn saw her name in the number one spot on all three. In the Discus, the third school record to fall, Lawhorn threw a 41.84 to shatter the record and finish in first. Her next event, the Shot Put, saw her throw a 12.82m mark to come out on top in the event. The Javelin saw three throwers in the top 10, beginning with Lawhorn's throw of 33.13 meters, winning the event by 4.11 meters. Olivia Fisher (23.22m, 7th) and Rhodes (21.76, 9th) joined Lawhorn in the top 10. The performance by Lawhorn earned her Appalachian Athletic Conference Women's Field Athlete of the Week for the second time in a row.

The team takes a week off before returning to the University of Cumberlands Invitational in Williamsburg, KY. The meet is set for April 13-14.

Milligan College Team effort leads to big AAC sweep

Recap, photo courtesy of Milligan College

MILLIGAN COLLEGE, Tenn. (April 6, 2018) – The Milligan College softball team won their eighth straight, fourth straight sweep, of the season against Allen University on Friday afternoon after honoring three seniors, Rachel Coffey, Jenna Gilbert and Cayley Shoemaker. The Buffs (18-10, 11-3 AAC) won both games in five innings, 19-0 and 21-0.

GAME ONE
Freshman Neelee Griffith blasted a two-run home run over the left field fence, her sixth of the season, on a 1-1 count in the bottom of the first to get Milligan started off on the right foot. Nonetheless, similar to game one at Bluefield earlier this week, fellow freshman Kaylee Frascatore piggybacked off Griffith's homer with one herself over the left field fence. Three hits later Milligan touched home five more times to put them at an eight-run advantage.

Frascatore led off the second inning with another homer over the left field fence, her sixth of the season. The Buffs worked to score six more runs and six more hits that inning. Allen held Milligan to just one run in the third and registered three hits in the top of the fourth. Freshman Megan Grose hit a two-run home run deep down the right field line while fellow freshman Morgan Overholser homered over the center field fence to round out Milligan's game one runs.

GAME TWO
Milligan's momentum carried over into the bottom of the first of game two as the Buffs connected for 12 runs and 12 hits featuring Milligan's only home run of the game by Gilbert, over the left field fence, in which scored Tori Tipton. The Buffs touched home two more times in the bottom of the third but the Yellow Jackets held Milligan in the fourth.

NUMBERS
In game one, Frascatore led with three hits (3-for-3 effort) and three RBI'S. Griffith went 2-for-3 while tallying four RBI's. Gilbert and Kassi Butcher earned two hits apiece. The Buffs altogether registered 18 hits.

In game two, Madison Grindstaff led with a 3-for-3 effort and three RBI's alongside Erica Roller who went 4-for-4 while Gilbert went 3-for-4 and tallied three RBI's. Kirstan Beaver, Coffey, Savannah Nocera, Shoemaker and Tipton all earned two hits apiece. Coffey and Shoemaker also registered two RBI's apiece.

PITCHING
Butcher was given the win in game one allowing just two hits and earning five strikeouts moving her to 9-4 on the season. Josie Milam pitched the last two innings allowing three hits and striking out two.

Shoemaker earned the win in game two striking out four and allowing three hits while Jaclyn Jenkins closed out the game striking out five of seven batters and allowing one hit.

UP NEXT
The Buffs are back on the road for two more AAC doubleheaders on Tuesday, April 10, at Tennessee Wesleyan starting at 2 p.m. and on Saturday, April 14, at St. Andrews, beginning at 1 p.m. Milligan will return to Anglin Field on Monday, April 16, to face Reinhardt University in a doubleheader at 3 p.m.

Buffs claim Union series with big win in finale

Recap, photo courtesy of Milligan College

MILLIGAN COLLEGE, Tenn. (April 6, 2018) – Jeffrey Mefford struck out eight in his third complete game of the season to lead the Milligan College baseball team to a victory in the rubber game of an Appalachian Athletic Conference series versus Union College Friday afternoon at Anglin Field. After the Buffs won the opener Thursday night, the two teams split Friday's twin bill, Union taking game one 6-4 but Milligan bouncing back to take the finale 7-2.
 
Milligan improved to 14-20 (8-10 AAC) having now won four of the last five and six of the last eight games. This included wins in each of the two most recent series.
 
MEFFORD'S EFFORT | GAME TWO
Mefford scattered seven hits and two earned runs in the seven innings he pitched. Although he walked five, Mefford struck out eight and induced a couple of ground balls for double plays in key situations.
 
In the fifth inning of game two Mefford saw the first two reach base, but a 6-3 double play up the middle helped him get out of the jam. Similarly in the sixth, Union put two runners on with one out, but the junior got a 4-3 double play to end the threat.
 
MILLIGAN'S OFFENSE | GAME TWO
After Union worked to even the series at a game apiece, Milligan put together timely hitting to win the rubber game. Bryan Soto hit a two-out single in the bottom of the first which scored Cameron Harper who had reached on a bunt single. Soto's hit was followed by a two-out, two-RBI double from Chris Patterson which made it 3-0 two batters later.
 
Milligan scored three more runs in the sixth to put the game out of reach. Clayton Connergot the scoring going in the inning with a double to the right-center field gap which scored Hunter Suggs. Conner then came around to score on a Jascanel Ferreras single, and a Thomas Miller ground ball rounded out Milligan's scoring, making it 7-1.
 
LEADERS | GAME TWO
Ferreras recorded three hits in the win, going 3-for-4 with two RBI's. Conner also had a multihit game as he was 2-for-2 with two runs and an RBI.
 
Mefford's final line as the winning pitcher was seven innings, seven hits, two earned runs, five walks and eight strikeouts. He improved to 4-3 with a team leading ERA of 3.03.
 
UNION'S FAST START | GAME ONE
Union opened the doubleheader on Friday by loading the bases in the top of the first inning. Although Harper, Milligan's starting pitcher, looked to get out of the inning with only one run of damage, a two-out single brought two more runs home to make it 3-0.
 
MILLIGAN'S RALLY BACK | GAME ONE
Milligan trailed 4-0 midway through the sixth inning but stormed back with a four-run sixth. Harper started the inning with a single, and Ferreras followed with a walk. Two batters later Soto drew a bases-loaded walk to score one, then Bailey Russell hit a sacrifice fly to score another.
 
Suggs and Miller had the biggest hits of the inning with run-scoring singles. Suggs' made it 4-3 and Miller's tied the game at 4-4 in a pinch hit at-bat.
 
UNION'S FINISH | GAME ONE
Union responded to Milligan's four-run sixth with a run in the ensuing inning, going ahead 5-4 and leading the rest of the way. The Bulldogs added another run in the top of the ninth off reliever Jacob Littleton to round out the scoring.
 
UP NEXT
Milligan heads to Kentucky Christian University for a nonconference doubleheader on Monday to start a 10-game road swing. The next time the Buffs are scheduled to be home is Friday, April 27, for the start of the final series of the regular season, a three-game set versus Tennessee Wesleyan University.

Clarke's Six RBIs Powers Bulldogs to Game One Win Against Bluefield

Recap, photo courtesy of TWU

Athens, TN- The baseball team returned to Athens Insurance Stadium this afternoon, less than 24 hours since the thrilling victory against #2 Georgia Gwinnett College. The receiving-votes Bulldogs welcomed the Bluefield College Rams, an Appalachian Athletic Conference foe, to Athens on Thursday for the opening of a three-game series which was originally set to begin on Friday.

The hangover from beating the second-ranked team reared its ugly head in the first inning as Tennessee Wesleyan gave up five runs to the visiting Rams. Dakota Phillips hit his eighth home run of the season in the second inning to make a minor cut into the deficit, starting a streak of seven-straight innings with a score for the Bulldogs.

With the offense warming up, a pitching change in the form of Carson Bach stabilized the defense for TWU. Tristan Clarke's two-run dinger with Tyler Halas on-base brought the Bulldogs within two runs and made the score 5-3.  The biggest damage came in the fourth inning, which started with a Phillips single. Mosley's fielder's choice forced Phillips out but kept a runner on first and Grant Lang used a walk to put runners on first and second. Sid Kumar gave Tennessee Wesleyan three home runs on the day with this three-run blast, giving the Bulldogs their first lead of the day, 5-3. Two more runs came off Clarke's second home run of the day joining Malik Stephens crossing the plate to extend the lead to four runs, 7-3.

TWU added a run each in the fifth, off a Grant Lang homer, and in the sixth inning from Tyler Halas' run off a Collin Ridout single. Another four runs came for the Bulldogs in the seventh inning as Halas' scored a pinch-running Alfred Cruz off a single, Clarke scored Kumar and Halas off another single and Clarke scored on an opposing player's bobble. A second run from Cruz in the eighth along with a third run from Kumar gave Tennessee Wesleyan the amount of runs needed to end the game according to the mercy rule with a final score of 16-6.

Bach came in in the first and went 6.1 innings deep and only gave up two runs on one hit while striking out eight batters and surrendering no walks. Clarke finished the day 4-5 with two runs scored, two home runs and six RBIs. Kumar also aided the offense with three hits, three runs scored and four RBIs.

The Bulldogs (22-16, 11-5) are currently riding a five-game winning streak and looking to continue it in the first game of a doubleheader on Friday. The weather could play a factor in the start time but it is currently scheduled for 1:00 PM. Stay tuned to the athletic website and Tennessee Wesleyan Athletics' social media (@twbulldogs) for all the updates concerning start times.

Five-Run Eighth Helps Bulldogs Spring Upset of #2 Georgia Gwinnett

Recap, photo courtesy of Tennessee Wesleyan

Athens, TN- A tough schedule peaked once again for (RV) Tennessee Wesleyan (21-16, 10-5) on Wednesday when they were back on Jack Bowling Field. Sitting in the other dugout of Athens Insurance Stadium was the second-ranked Georgia Gwinnett College Grizzlies.

In a game where the teams combined for 31 hits on the day, runs did not start to roll in until the fourth inning. Georgia Gwinnett scored two runs to make it a deficit for the Bulldogs when they came to bat. Tristan Clarke began the inning with a single but was forced out on Collin Ridout's fielder's choice. The second out of the inning occurred before a Dakota Phillips single moved Ridout to third give the hope of scoring a run. Ridout scored on the next batter's, Braden Mosley, single to cut the deficit to one, making the score 2-1 in favor of the visitors.

A run in the fifth inning by the Grizzlies set up TWU's two-run sixth inning which tied the game 3-3. A double from Ridout was followed by a double by Phillips, scoring Ridout's second run of the game. Phillips' game-tying run came on a Grant Lang ground out after Mosley's second hit of the game moved Phillips to third, forcing the tie at the end of the inning.

The scoring continued for the Bulldogs, taking their first lead of the game in the seventh inning. Malik Stephens started the inning with a double to right field and advanced to third on a Tyler Halas bunt single. A sacrifice fly by Clarke pushed the go-ahead run in Stephens across home plate to make the score 4-3. It would not remain a one run lead for Tennessee Wesleyan though as Georgia Gwinnett scored a run in the top of the eighth inning to tie the score once again. But losing the lead did not hold the Bulldogs from making the march back to the top of the scoreboard.

A five-run inning started with a Mosley walk and was followed by a pinch-hitting Adrian Gonzalez's bunt single. A second consecutive bunt single by Chris Baetzel loaded the bases. The momentum stalled temporarily with the next two batters striking out. A Clarke single restored the drive for TWU to take the lead as Mosley scored to give the Bulldogs a 5-4 advantage. A hit by pitch for Ridout as the bases remained loaded scored Gonzalez to extend the lead to two. Aloysius Cruz come to the plate and hit a ball in the air which hit off the right fielder's glove as it came down, unloading the bases with pinch-runner Kyle Tunnell, Clarke and Ridout scoring to expand the lead to 9-4. Tennessee Wesleyan held on to win the game by a final score of 9-6.

Jack Granath pitched his way to nine strikeouts in seven innings of play, giving up just one earned run in the game. On the offensive side, the Bulldogs finished with 15 hits in the game, led by Ridout's 3-4 from the plate with three runs scored and a RBI.

Thursday sees the beginning of a three-game series, originally set to begin on Friday but moved up with the potential for torrid rain over the weekend, against Bluefield College. The matchup between the Appalachian Athletic Conference opponents in Athens Insurance Stadium is set for a single-game to begin at 3:00 PM.

Lady Bulldogs Follow Split With Sweep of Montreat

Athens, TN- The short rest between games did not affect the softball team on Tuesday, as they were playing less than 24 hours since their split against Maryville College. The team was back at Athens Regional Park for an Appalachian Athletic Conference (AAC) doubleheader against the Montreat College Lady Cavaliers.

It was a slow start for the Lady Bulldogs though in the first game of the doubleheader against Lady Cavaliers when the visitors scored a run to lead 1-0 after the second inning. Tennessee Wesleyan took over in the third inning, beginning with Olivia Housewright's single. A Baylee Sutton double put runners in scoring position with Housewright moving to third. A run from Housewright did not come to fruition when she was caught in a rundown but Sutton moved to third on the rundown and scored on a wild pitch after a Courtney Black walk to give TWU a 1-1 tie, who moved to second on the wild pitch.

Two walks from Briana Muller and Allee West loaded the bases before a third consecutive walk by

Royals Baseball picks up 3 conference wins on the weekend

Recap, photo courtesy of Johnson University Tennessee

The Royals Baseball team took to the diamond over the weekend looking to gain momentum going into the month of April, and they did just that.  The defending Mid-East Regional Champions, Alice Lloyd College, traveled to Knoxville for a weekend series that included four games.  

Game 1 Recap - The Royals pushed two runs across in the first inning when Chandler Viscardis (SO/Knoxville, TN) lead off with a double to left field.  He would then score on a triple from Riely Cooper (SO/Powell, TN).  Dalton Pruitt (SO/Danville, VA) would then follow with a double to score Cooper and give the Royals the early advantage.  Alice Lloyd would counter with three runs of their own in the second inning, and score a pair of runs in the seventh inning.  The Royals would threaten in their half of the seventh inning but couldn't capitalize and fell to the Eagles, 3-5.   

Game 2 Recap - Senior, Max McCoig (SR/Knoxville, TN) got the start for the Royals as he would again prove to go the distance against conference foe for the second time in as many weeks.  The Royals and Eagles would go back-and-forth in the first two innings, each scoring a run in their respective half of the inning.  Chandler Viscardis and Jonathan Howard (SR/Oconee, GA) each reached on a hit, when Chase Burke (SR/Ringgold, GA) would ground into a fielder's choice to plate Viscardis.  In the second inning, Timothy Howard (SO/Oconee, GA) reached on a double and Josh Stahlman (FR/Summerville, PA) reached with a base hit to score Howard.  The Royals would open up the game in the fourth inning.  Timothy Howard reached with a base hit, when Jonathan Howard would later score him on a base hit of his own. Chase White (SR/Whitwell, TN) would push a run across with an RBI hit, and a pair of errors and walks would help the Royals to a six run inning and eventually win with a final score of 8-4.  McCoig picked up the win as he allowed six hits and four runs over seven innings, striking out four.

Game 3 Recap - Both the Royals and the Eagles would come out swinging in the third game of series.  It wasn't until the third inning when the Royals offense would score.  Chase White would get things going when he scored a pair of runs on his second triple of the game.  Dalton Pruitt would later score White with a base hit to give the Royals the lead.  In the fourth inning, the Royals scored early when Luke Shepherd (JR/Knoxville, TN) connected with a two-run homer to right field.  A pair of walks would also plate two more runs for the Royals as they led 7-4.  Chandler Viscardis would score two runs for the Royals with a base hit and the bases loaded and Riely Cooper would follow with a base hit of his own to plate another run, and the Royals eventually held their lead to pick up their second win, 12-10.

Game 4 Recap - The Eagles held an early lead until the fourth inning when Jonathan Howard and Timothy Howard would both reach base to start the inning.  Luke Shepherd would score Jonathan Howard on a base hit, and Chandler Viscardis would plate another run on a base hit of his own.  In the fifth inning, Jonathan Howard would again reach base and advance to second on a sacrifice bunt by Timothy Howard.  Luke Shepherd scored Jonathan Howard with another base hit.  With runners on, Riely Cooper would triple to score a pair of runs for the Royals.  The Eagles would battle back as the Royals defense struggled in the seventh inning, and eventually tied the game at 9-9 leading into the bottom half of the inning.  With no outs, Chase White would load the bases with a hit to centerfield, when Chase Burke would score the winning run on a sacrifice fly to centerfield to walk it off for the Royals.