Stories from Friday, May 10, 2013

There was just a slight breeze in Murfreesboro Friday afternoon, but blowing in the wind was a familiar sound, an inspiring chant of "Come On" from long-time MCHS tennis coach Dickie Adkins, who was cheering on his last Tigerettes' doubles team of Lauren Blackmon and Cortni Beardsley in the District 11A/AA Tournament final at Old Fort Park. Adkins, along with his long-time trusted assistant Jason Donahue, will retire coaching varsity at the end of the season after a successful 24-year career, mentoring Tiger tennis.

Before the District 9-A winner's bracket final at Huntland Wednesday night, the Forrest coaching staff challenged their youthful squad to be the team, getting off bus ready to play 'Lady Rocket' softball and they did, beating Moore County 7-1 to earn a shot at the district tournament title, while securing a berth in the upcoming Region 5-A Tournament that commences on Monday. "I am very pleased with their effort," said Forrest head coach Becky Cheatham. "We asked them to play focused and they were. We played error free and hit the ball, I am very happy."

The Forrest Rockets have become the latest version of the 'cardiac kids', claiming their second consecutive seventh inning win with the latest heart-wrencher coming via a Landon Jones two-out game winning RBI Wednesday night for a 3-2 win over Community in the District 9-A Tournament Chapel Hill winner's bracket final. Forrest (21-12) will take on MTCS (24-7-1) Thursday night in the tournament title game at 7:00 p.m. in Murfreesboro. The two squads have split this season with Forrest winning 5-4 on April 8 before the Cougars came back the following night with a 9-5 win in Chapel Hill.

The Marshall County Tigers were unable to defend their District 12-AA tournament title, as MCHS suffered an 8-2 road loss to the top seeded Spring Hill Raiders in the championship game on Wednesday night. Marshall County (22-7) had won the last five meetings against Spring Hill and held a 1-0 lead through the first two innings of Wednesday's contest, but the Raiders (22-8) controlled the game from that point on and outscored the Tigers 8-1 over the final five frames to claim the District crown.

Never say die. The Cornersville Bulldogs advanced to the championship game of the District 11-A tournament for the second time in three years after pulling out a dramatic 4-2 win over the top seeded Richland Raiders in nine innings on Tuesday night in Lynnville. Richland had swept the regular season series against CHS and held a 1-0 lead through the first six innings of play in Tuesday's contest, but the Bulldogs (16-13) plated a run in the top of the seventh to send the game into extra innings tied at 1-1.

The Forrest Rockets beat Cascade 3-2 Tuesday night in a game that came down to a bitter ending for the Champions, but oh so sweet for Forrest. "It has not been that long ago since I was in that other dugout," said Forrest head coach Chris Parker. "It's Cascade/Forrest at tournament time, that's all you can say." Left fielder Austin Harmon saved the day for the Rockets, gunning down the potential tying run at home plate to end the game in the top of the seventh inning, securing Forrest a spot in the District 9-A Chapel Hill bracket final.

The Marshall County Tigerettes (22-8) bounced back from Friday's D12-AA Tournament upset loss to East Hickman in a big way on Tuesday, run ruling the Page Lady Patriots 12-2 in five innings at Reese Hambrick Field in Lewisburg. "It was a do or die type of thing, win or go home and the girls have responded to that," said MCHS head coach Holly Cook. "I told them you have to leave everything out on field where there are no regrets if we win or lose, just leave it all out there and I think they did a good job of that today."

On Tuesday night, the Marshall County Tigers punched their ticket to the District 12-AA tournament championship game by defeating the third seeded Summit Spartans 5-2 at home in the finals of their four-team pool. After losing both regular season meetings against Summit, Marshall County (22-6) was locked in a 0-0 tie with the Spartans through the first four innings of play before pushing across two runs in the bottom of the fifth to grab a 2-0 lead.

Coming off an 11-1 defeat at the hands of Columbia Academy four days earlier, the Cornersville Lady Bulldogs kept their season alive on Tuesday night by defeating the Mt. Pleasant Lady Tigers 12-4 at Richland High School in the loser's bracket of the District 11-A tournament. Having blown out Mt. Pleasant in both regular season meetings, the Lady Bulldogs (9-8) once again disposed of the Lady Tigers in relatively easy fashion and built a 10-1 lead through the first two and a half innings of play before coasting to the eight-run victory.

The Cornersville Lady Bulldogs (10-8) narrowly escaped an upset bid by Culleoka on Wednesday afternoon, as they rallied to defeat the Lady Warriors 4-3 at Richland High School to advance to the loser's bracket final of the District 11-A tournament. Having won the last 14 meetings against Culleoka, Cornersville held a 2-0 lead through the first five innings of play, but the Lady Warriors pushed across three runs in the top of the sixth to pull ahead 3-2.

Sherry Lee Leverette, 56, of Lewisburg, died Wednesday, May 8, 2013, at the Christian Care Center of Shelbyville. Miss Leverette was a native of Marshall County, and she was the daughter of Marvin Leverette and the late Nancy Jewell Looney Leverette...

Frank Willard Falcon, 89, of Lewisburg, died Tuesday, May 7, 2013, in Columbia. Mr. Falcon was born in Bedford County, and was a son of the late Frank and Daisy Thorn Falcon. He served in the United States Navy during World War II and was a member of the Veterans of Foreign Wars Post # 223 and the American Legion, both in Lewisburg. ...

Bro. Glen William Cooley, 79, of Martin, died Monday, May 6, 2013, at his residence. Mr. Cooley was born May 17, 1933, in Obion County to the late William and Loudon Jones Cooley. He was a Baptist minister and a maintenance worker for Weakly County Nursing Home. He served in the US Army during the Korean Conflict, and was a member of New Hope Baptist Church...

Jean Hunter, 94, passed away on Wednesday, May 8, 2013, at NHC Oakwood Healthcare in Lewisburg. Miss Hunter was a native of Farmington, and was a reporter at The National Horseman magazine for over 35 years. She never missed attending the Celebration in Shelbyville, from its beginning in 1939, for more than 65 years...

Larry Williams, Fire Chief of Lewisburg Fire Department, is organizing its 22nd Annual Fire Safety and Prevention Program for the children of Lewisburg and Marshall County. Over 2,500 children, ages 4 through 12, will receive fire prevention materials such as manuals, badges, posters and other fire safety handouts geared to the age level of each child...

By Karen Hall Editor The old sign on the front of Parsons Pharmacy is gone, soon to be replaced by a smaller one, to go along with other improvements to the historic building's facade. Owner Gene Douglas Parsons explained the new sign will be 10 feet long, black with white letters. ...

By Karen Hall Editor The city council will be asked to accept the property on the south side of the square formerly known as "Bob's hole" at its monthly meeting Tuesday. Mayor Barbara Woods announced this at a council work session Wednesday. "The deed has been prepared," she said. "The price is $10."...

By Karen Hall Editor A man who has been flying longer than some of us have been alive was recognized for 50 years of safe flying by the Federal Aviation Adminstration at a small ceremony at Ellington Airport Wednesday. Bob Hill of the FAA came to Lewisburg especially to present the Wright Brothers Master Pilot Award to Bob Peters at a luncheon gathering...