Simpson hired for McCallie staff

Friday, January 1, 1904

Cory Simpson has been hired to coach receivers for McCallie's football team.

"I know Cory from his playing days, and I got to know him this past winter when the announcement was made that I was coming back," said head coach Ralph Potter, who is back at McCallie after four seasons at Brentwood Academy. "He has done a great job at Red Bank and has a great way with kids. I think he'll be a great addition."

Simpson was an all-state player at Red Bank, graduating in 1991. He then played at Middle Tennessee State and wound up coaching at Red Bank for 10 years.

"I felt like it was time for a change," he said. "This is a good opportunity for me to add something to my coaching resume, and I'm looking at it as a challenge.

Simpson spent all of his Red Bank coaching years working under Tim Daniels, who resigned Thursday, and alongside defensive coordinator Kenny Cobble, who just finished his first season as head coach at Jefferson County.

"I'm grateful to Coach Daniels for giving me that opportunity" Simpson said. "I learned a lot from him and Coach Cobble."

Bruning picks Motlow

Marion County's Keli Bruning recently signed a softball scholarship with Motlow State Community College. She got to practice with the team last fall.

"The girls were so nice and welcomed me," Bruning said. "It was like I was already part of the team. I love that it's a small campus. Basically there's not anything I didn't like about it."

Coach Chris Thomas said Bruning held up well as his only catcher last season. With freshman Tori Hansard on this year's team, he hopes to give Bruning a few days off from behind the plate and play her at second base.

She hit better than .400 as the Lady Warriors' No. 2 batter last season. Thomas recalled a stretch she had in summer ball when she went 109 at-bats without striking out.

"She's definitely good for making contact," Thomas said. "Ninety-five percent of the time she's going to put the ball in play. We've always been able to depend on her bat."

Lewis All-American

Baylor junior lacrosse player Coy Lewis has been named to the 2012 Brine National High School All-American team.

With his selection, Lewis automatically receives an invitation to play in the Brine National Classic to be played June 30-July 3 in Boyds, Md. The defensive middle player will compete for the Tennessee/Southeast team.

He will be one of 400 players competing on one of 16 teams.

Lady Hawks canceled

Hamilton Heights' scheduled basketball doubleheader tonight against visiting Soddy-Daisy has been reduced to a boys' game only.

Soddy-Daisy informed Hamilton Heights headmaster Duke Stone that because the Lady Trojans participated in the Hoops for Hope Classic in December, they won't be able to compete in any more regular-season games this year or they will exceed the TSSAA limit.

The boys will tip off at 6:30.