Mandi Turner's extra work too good
Unfortunately for her Lady Panthers in the first couple of weeks of the softball season, Sale Creek coach Mandi Turner must be a little too good at her side job.
"I guess that was the problem," she said.
Turner has been a pitching instructor for the last 12 years, and Red Bank freshman Alli Murray and Arts & Sciences junior Liana Rodrigues have been among her students. Both threw shutouts recently against Sale Creek, leaving the coach more saddened about her team's effort than anything.
"If our girls played to their potential, that would be one thing," Turner said. "If we played our best and got beat, that would be OK."
Meigs, Hixson events
Meigs County and Hixson plan to host softball tournaments this weekend. Meigs' Lady Tiger Classic is scheduled at the Market Street Complex in Dayton, while the Lady Wildcat March Madness is scheduled at Hixson High and Hixson Middle.
Meigs has 16 teams lined up, including Pine Forest from Pensacola, Fla. Four fields will host the action scheduled to begin today with four pool-play games on each starting at 4 p.m. After eight more pool-play games Saturday morning slated at 10 and 11:30, single-elimination is set to begin at 2 p.m.
The top two teams in each of the four pools will compete in the Black bracket and the others will play in the Orange bracket. Both championship games are set for 6:30 p.m.
At Hixson, five pool-play games are scheduled today between the two fields starting at 4:30 p.m. Play resumes Saturday morning with pool games at 10:30 and 12:15 on both fields. Single-elimination is scheduled to begin at 3 p.m., and the final is set for 6:30.
Scheduling alterations may have to be made. Rain is forecast for the weekend, the highest-percentage chance being during the daytime today.
Ooltewah a winner
Ooltewah was one of the four winning schools in the Fans Face-Off contest at this year's boys' state basketball tournament in Murfreesboro. The other three receiving $1,000 donations from BlueCross BlueShield of Tennessee were Jackson County, Fayette Academy and Father Ryan.
Fans in each division of the tournament voted for their school on the BCBST Champions Facebook page.