Stories from Wednesday, June 18, 2014

The Marshall County Dusters (15-4) captured their second straight Crethan Hansert Memorial Tournament title on Sunday night when they defeated the Stewarts Creek Red Hawks 11-7 in the championship game at Coffee County High School. Stewarts Creek had beaten Marshall County 6-5 in their pool game on Thursday, but the Dusters turned the tables on the Red Hawks in Sunday's contest and built an 8-4 lead through the first four and a half innings of play.

The Middle Tennessee Mudcats continued their winning ways Monday night in Chapel Hill, coming away with a pair of tight wins, beginning with a 6-4 victory over Columbia, followed by a dramatic 9-8 last-inning triumph versus Spring Hill. The Mudcats (8-5-1) fell behind 1-0 in the first inning of the late afternoon contest versus Columbia as Hayden Dodson walked with one out, stole second, and went to third on a passed ball before scoring on an RBI base hit by Terrance Seaton.

The Middle Tennessee Mudcats, coming off an eight-day break due to bad weather, returned to the diamond on Thursday for a double-header versus Shelbyville in Chapel Hill and came away with an extra inning 2-2 tie in game one, followed by a wild 4-3 win in the nightcap. The Mudcats looked a little rusty on offense, garnering just seven hits in the two ballgames, but a couple of strong pitching performances saved the day for the Middle Tennessee nine.

The Marshall County Dusters (14-4) advanced to the championship game of the Crethan Hansert Memorial Tournament for the second consecutive year when they defeated tourney host Coffee County 2-1 on Sunday afternoon. Marshall County trailed 1-0 through the first three innings of play, but plated two runs in the top of the fourth to seize a 2-1 advantage before Duster starting pitcher Lane Whitesell held the Red Raiders scoreless the rest of the way.

A-Plus Collision Center (8-1) regained sole possession of first place in the Marshall County Babe Ruth League standings by defeating the Elks 8-5 on Thursday night at Jonathan D. Hollingsworth Memorial Park. With the two teams having split their first two games of the season, APCC took control of Thursday's contest early and built a 6-1 lead through the first two innings of play before holding off a late rally by the Elks (7-2) to claim the three-run victory.

Marshall Medical Center (2-7) snapped a five-game losing streak by defeating Nichirin 8-0 in five innings on Thursday night at Jonathan D. Hollingsworth Memorial Park. Starting pitcher Trent Richardson went the distance on the mound for MMC to earn the victory and limited Nichirin (1-8) to just three hits and a walk in the contest while piling up eight strikeouts.

After defeating the Elks 8-5 the previous day to claim sole possession of first place, A-Plus Collision Center (9-1) reduced their magic number to clinch the Marshall County Babe Ruth League title to one by whipping Marshall Medical Center 8-1 on Friday night in six innings. Having won all three previous meetings between the two teams this season, APCC held a 3-1 lead through the first five innings of play before exploding for five runs in the bottom of the sixth to bring the mercy rule into effect.

Having already earned a spot in the semifinals of the Crethan Hansert Memorial Tournament, the Marshall County Dusters (13-4) wrapped up pool play by defeating the Tullahoma Wildcats 11-3 in five innings on Saturday night. Despite being without several of their normal starters, Tullahoma hung tough for much of the contest and trailed just 5-3 through the first four and a half innings of play. Marshall County, however, brought the game to a swift conclusion in the bottom of the fifth by pushing across six runs in the frame to bring the mercy rule into effect.

The Elks' hopes of repeating as Marshall County Babe Ruth League champions took a major hit on Friday night when they suffered a shocking 5-3 loss to last place Nichirin in six innings. Having defeated Nichirin handily in each of their three previous encounters, the Elks (7-3) appeared to be on track for another victory after taking a 3-1 lead into the sixth inning.

After splitting their first two games at the Crethan Hansert Memorial Tournament, the Marshall County Dusters improved to 2-1 in pool play by defeating the Lawrence County Wildcats 14-1 in six innings on Friday afternoon at Tullahoma High School. With Lawrence County exclusively playing their underclassmen, the Dusters (12-4) had little trouble disposing of the Wildcats and built an 8-1 lead through the first five innings of play before pushing across six runs in the top of the sixth to bring the mercy rule into effect.

Doris "Nell" McKnight Cromer Collick, 86, passed away peacefully at her home in East Jordan, Mich., on June 13, 2014. Nell was the fifth of eight daughters born to Andrew and Sadie McKnight of Murfreesboro. She was a graduate of Central High and a member of East Main Church of Christ in Murfreesboro. ...

Randall Rogers, 60, of Lewisburg, passed away on Thursday, June 12, 2014, in Maury Regional Medical Center in Columbia. A native of Marshall County, Mr. Rogers was the son of the late Odell Rogers and Lou Dalton Rogers. He was an auto body technician working in paint and bodywork...

David Newton Burgess of Waynesboro departed this life on Thursday, June 12, 2014, at his home, at the age of 76 years, eight months, 28 days. He was born Sept. 15, 1937, in Cornersville, the son of the late Claude Lee and Ina Lou Poarch Burgess. He was united in marriage to Judy Brewer on June 18, 1973...

Randall A. "Randy" Janoski, 62, of Chapel Hill, died Saturday, June 14, 2014, at Vanderbilt Hospital in Nashville, from complications of a rare lung disease. Born in Fort Knox, Ky. to the late Michael P. and Rosetta Janoski, Mr. Janoski was a U.S. Army veteran, and a professional photographer and saxophonist...

By Karen Hall Editor Incoming Emergency Management Agency Director Steve Callahan has hired his administrative assistant. She will be Valerie Staggs, who has experience as a police officer, fire fighter, and office manager. Callahan announced his choice to members of the EMA committee Thursday evening...

By Rachel Cook Staff Writer Yet another Internet fad has made its way into the offline world, but unlike Angry Birds, this is no game. The Cold Water Challenge reportedly began in April in order to raise money for a cancer patient's treatment, and it's still going strong now, spread via word of mouth and status update to places all over the country. ...

By Karen Hall Editor As they do every year on June 14, the Robert Lewis Chapter of the National Society of the Daughters of the American Revolution held a Flag Day ceremony at the log cabin on Cornersville Road. "I never turn down an opportunity to speak for my country," said Col. Wayne Coomes, the featured speaker...