Except for a few afternoon clouds, mainly sunny. High around 85F. Winds S at 5 to 10 mph..
Tonight
Partly cloudy skies early followed by increasing clouds with showers developing later at night. Low around 65F. Winds light and variable. Chance of rain 70%.
Brendon Sheppard takes a swing for the Red Raiders in their Thursday night tilt against Moore County. Sheppard had one hit and one RBI in a Coffee County win.
On Thursday night, the CCCHS Red Raiders scored four runs in the bottom of the sixth inning to lift them over Moore County 7-6 in the first game of the Crethan Hansert Classic.
The game would start with a scoreless first inning, then both teams scored a run in the second inning, with Isaiah Deadman scoring on a single by Brendon Sheppard for Coffee County to tie the score at 1-1.
Moore County would score three times in the top of the third inning to retake the lead, 4-1.
Coffee County would chip away at the lead, as Deadman scored on a sacrifice bunt by Brady Daugherty in the bottom of the fourth, and Bird Fellers scored on a ground out by Nate Rutledge in the bottom of the fifth inning to make the score 4-3.
The visiting Raiders would extend their lead to 6-3 with two runs scored in the top of the sixth, but the Red Raiders responded with four runs of their own in the bottom of the inning, including a double by Cole Pippenger that sent in two runs to knot the score at 6-6 and a single by Colter Neel that allowed Trevor Jesse to score what would be the game-winning run.
Coffee County would hold on to win 7-6, ending a six game losing streak.
On the bats, Cole Pippenger and Brady Daugherty each had one hit and two RBIs, Nate Rutledge, Colter Neel and Brendon Sheppard each had one hit and one RBI, Blake Hillis had two hits and Bird Fellers, Trey Turner and Trevor Jesse each had one hit for the Red Raiders.
Brady Daugherty would get the start on the mound, but he was pulled after pitching 2.1 innings, allowing four runs on one hit, committing three errors, striking out two batters and walking six on 59 pitches.
Beau Murray would throw nine pitches and allow two hits in relief, Davis McKenzie would earn the win on the mound after pitching 3.2 innings, allowing two runs on three hits, committing one error, striking out one batter and walking another on 57 pitches and Nate Rutledge would get credit for a save after pitching one inning, striking out three batters and walking one on 17 pitches.
The Red Raiders are scheduled to take on Central Magnet in game two of the Crethan Hansert Classic on Friday, Apr. 19 at 6:00 pm.
The New York Giants on Wednesday signed free agent defensive back David Long Jr., who played for three NFL teams and started for two in 2023. Long, 26, has played primarily cornerback, starting 12 of 66 regular-season games for the Los Angeles Rams (2019-22), Las Vegas Raiders (2023), Carolina Panthers (2023) and Green Bay Packers (2023). He started one game each for the Raiders and Packers. He has 96 career tackles and eight passes defended. The Rams selected him in the third round of the 2019 NFL Draft out of Michigan. He started in Super Bowl LVI, a 23-20 victory over the Cincinnati Bengals. Long and veteran free-agent signing Jalen Mills are expected to bring experience to a Giants secondary that added safety Tyler Nubin and cornerback Andru Phillips in the draft last weekend. --Field Level Media
Ex-Florida Atlantic star Johnell Davis announced Wednesday that he has committed to Arkansas and new coach John Calipari. Davis posted a picture of himself in an Arkansas uniform with the word COMMITTED on his Instagram page. Davis is also going through the NBA draft process for the second straight season. Last year, he pulled out and returned to Florida Atlantic. One of the top guards in the transfer portal, Davis scored 1,431 career points in four seasons at FAU. He averaged 11.2 points, 4.9 rebounds and made 132 3-point baskets in 128 games (53 starts). He also accumulated 155 steals. Davis averaged 18.2 points, 6.3 rebounds and 2.9 assists in 34 games this season for the Owls. He was named American Athletic Conference Co-Player of the Year. Davis emerged as a known commodity late in FAU's epic program-best 35-4 season in 2022-23. The Owls advanced to the Final Four but failed to reach the national title game when San Diego State's Lamont Butler hit a game-ending basket. Davis leaves Florida Atlantic after coach Dusty May departed to become Michigan's new coach. Joining Arkansas earlier this offseason were forward Jonas Aidoo (Tennessee) and Zvonimir Ivisic (Kentucky). Former Wildcats recruits Boogie Fland, Karter Knox and Billy Richmond also have followed Calipari to Arkansas. --Field Level Media
Dayton transfer Koby Brea, one of the nation's best 3-point shooters, announced his commitment to Kentucky on Wednesday. Later in the day, point guard Kerr Kriisa also joined the Kentucky program, raising the number of newcomers to nine since Mark Pope became coach of the Wildcats. Kriisa played three seasons for Arizona before spending 2023-24 at West Virginia. He is a native of Estonia and confirmed his decision to ESPN. Brea, a 6-foot-6 guard, drained 100 treys at a national-leading 49.8 percent clip during his fourth season with the Flyers in 2023-24. He averaged 11.1 points, 3.8 rebounds and 1.2 assists in 33 games (four starts). The two-time Atlantic 10 Conference Sixth Man of the Year chose the Wildcats over Duke, North Carolina, Kansas, UConn and others. "Growing up, I was told I was dreaming too big whenever I'd say my dream was to play for the University of Kentucky," Brea told ESPN. "I feel like God does everything for a reason, and He has put me in a position where I'm able to play for my dream school in my last year of college, while playing for something bigger than myself." Brea averaged 7.9 points and 3.1 rebounds and shot 43.4 percent from behind the arc over 113 games (21 starts) at Dayton. He made 224 treys and just 86 two-point baskets. Pope recruited Brea on two occasions during his stint at BYU but came up empty both times. Brea is a good fit for Pope, whose BYU squad ranked third in the country last season in 3-pointers made per game (11.1). Kriisa sports career averages of 9.7 points and 4.7 assists and has knocked down 238 3-pointers in 99 games (93 starts). In his lone season at West Virginia, he averaged 11 points and 4.7 assists in 23 games (all starts). He made 61 3-pointers after twice making 80 or more for Arizona. Brea and Kriisa become the sixth and seventh transfer additions for Pope, along with guards Lamont Butler (San Diego State) and Otega Oweh (Oklahoma) and forwards Andrew Carr (Wake Forest), Brandon Garrison (Oklahoma State) and Amari Williams (Drexel). In addition, incoming freshmen guards Collin Chandler and Travis Perry have joined the program. --Field Level Media
Marcus Outzen, who stepped in at starting quarterback to lead Florida State to the first BCS National Championship game in 1999, died Tuesday after a battle with a rare immune deficiency disorder. "The Rooster" was 46. Outzen was recently diagnosed with HLH (Hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis), a severe inflammatory syndrome that prevents the immune system from functioning properly, the Tallahassee Democrat reported Wednesday. "Rest In Peace @MarcusOutzen. I love you so much Dad," his son Colton Outzen posted to X. Outzen played at FSU from 1996-2000 as a career backup to QB Chris Weinke. However, a neck injury to Weinke late in the 1998 season thrust Outzen into the starting role. He led the Seminoles to wins over Wake Forest and archrival Florida and into the inaugural BCS National Championship game in Tempe, Ariz., where they lost to Tennessee, 23-16. Outzen threw for 145 yards and rushed for a touchdown against the Volunteers. Outzen returned to a backup role behind Weinke, who led FSU to the BCS Championship title over Virginia Tech the following year at the 2000 Sugar Bowl. Outzen finished his career with 1,074 yards passing and five touchdowns against six interceptions. Outzen lived in the Tampa Bay area with his wife and children. "Marcus was a good friend to a lot of people," former FSU teammate Bobby Rhodes told the Democrat. "People liked him, on and off the field. This is so sad." --Field Level Media
The New Orleans Saints agreed to terms on a one-year deal with former Detroit Lions defensive back Will Harris, NFL Network reported Wednesday. Harris, 28, appeared in 81 of a possible 83 regular-season games over the last five years with the Lions. Detroit drafted him in the third round in 2019 and he has lined up at both safety and cornerback. Harris had 18 tackles, one interception and one fumble recovery in 17 games (two starts) last season. His career totals include 246 tackles, two picks, two forced fumbles and 1.5 sacks. --Field Level Media