GLADEVILLE -- Pepsi Beverages Company and Save-A-Lot Food Stores are partnering to host a 5K walk/run - the “Save-A-Lot Yellow Ribbon Run 5K” - to benefit the Tennessee National Guard Combat Casualty Relief Fund.

The event will be held 8 p.m. Friday, August 6 at the Nashville Superspeedway. Registration on the day of the event begins at 5 p.m., but pre-registration at www.yellowribbon5k.com is encouraged.

The Save-A-Lot Yellow Ribbon Run 5K will take place on the property of the Nashville Superspeedway. The course will finish at the NASCAR track’s start/finish line.

Participants can register online at www.yellowribbon5k.com for the 5K walk/run. The registration fee for adults is $25. Children under the age of 12 may participate at no cost with their guardian(s). All registered participants will receive t-shirts and gift bags, and additional t-shirts will be sold for $10 at the event.
 
“While this isn’t the first time Pepsi and Save-A-Lot have partnered to support members of the military in Tennessee, it’s the first time we’ve organized such a large, charitable event for these heroes, and we couldn’t be more proud,” said Pepsi Beverages Company Senior Customer Marketing Manager David Huckleberry. “Proceeds from the 5K will support local Tennessee military families, offsetting financial hardships incurred as a result of combat-related injuries or casualties while serving our country.”
 
In January, Pepsi launched the Pepsi Refresh Project, a challenge to Americans to “refresh their communities,” Huckleberry said. Working closely with Save-A-Lot Food Stores, Pepsi Beverages Company’s Tennessee Market Unit formed the “Save-A-Lot Yellow Ribbon Run 5K” to help inject financial and public support for the Tennessee National Guard and the 22 men and women in the Tennessee National Guard who have given their lives for their country, as well as the hundreds of injured soldiers.   
 
“Honoring fallen and injured soldiers, and providing support to their families is something our company feels strongly about,” said Save-A-Lot Food Stores Owner David Burnett. “Tennessee is the Volunteer State, and that is what these men and women have done….they have volunteered to protect our country, even at the expense of their own lives, and that’s something our team at Save-A-Lot does not take for granted. “
 
More than 20 Tennessee National Guard soldiers currently deployed to Kuwait will virtually run the “Save-A-Lot Yellow Ribbon Run 5K” on a 5K course created by soldiers at a military base in Kuwait.
 
“While there are many exciting elements of the Yellow Ribbon 5K, the most exciting is the fact that we have a group of strong-willed, dedicated soldiers, determined to support their comrades, and though deployed they are running the race from Kuwait in conjunction with the race participants in Tennessee,” said Race Director Tawni Fite. Nashville Superspeedway will broadcast the virtual 5K from Kuwait on large screens at the track simultaneously on race day. 

To keep local runners and walkers hydrated, Aquafina and Gatorade stations will be on-site and along the course, as well as food stations, provided by Save-A-Lot Food Stores.

Race-day registration begins at 5 p.m. with the race starting at 8 p.m. For a course map, please visit www.yellowribbon5k.com. For more information on the Save-A-Lot Yellow Ribbon Run 5K, please call Race Director Tawni Fite at (479) 831-9900 or e-mail This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it , or visit www.yellowribbon5k.com.
 
NASCAR returns to Nashville Superspeedway on Aug. 7 with the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series. The Truck Series will be on track for practice beginning at 10 a.m., with final practice schedule for 11:45 a.m., qualifying at 4:05 p.m., and the 200-mile race starts at 8 p.m.

For information, or to purchase tickets, call 1-866-RACE-TIX or visit www.nashvillesuperspeedway.com.

By TOMMY BRYAN, sports editor
The Lebanon Lions Club Babe Ruth Baseball League will host the 15 year-old state tournament beginning today at Eskew Field in the Baird Park Complex. Host Lebanon will take on Johnson City in tonight’s 8 p.m. final game.

Tournament play in the double-elimination event begins at 12 Noon as Manchester takes on Lafayette, followed by Livingston vs. Elizabethton at 2:30 p.m. Tullahoma battles Giles County at 5 p.m. followed by the Lebanon - Johnson City matchup.

The tournament winner will advance to the Southeastern Regional Tournament Aug. 5 in Matthews, North Carolina. Admission is $5 for adults; $2 for children aged 12-5 with youngsters under five admitted free.

The Lebanon 15s rolled through their district tournament, hammering host Livingston 10-0 in the finals. The Lions sent 13 batters to the plate in the bottom of the first -- scoring nine runs. Lebanon thumped Lafayette 14-4 Saturday as Zimmer Hunn drilled a walk-off grand slam home run.

The local squad opened tournament play with a 12-2 victory Friday over Livingston. Chase Meador ripped two doubles, scored twice and knocked in a run as Lebanon pounded out 13 hits.

Lebanon’s 14s open state tournament play today at 12 Noon in Winchester as they take on Columbia. The 14s won their district, defeating Cookeville 9-4 Sunday in McMinnville.

The Lebanon 13s, who won their district title 4-3 over Cookeville Sunday in Sparta, open state tournament play Saturday afternoon after drawing a first round bye.

Six Wilson County prep athletes have been named to All-State baseball and softball teams by the Tennessee Sports Writers Association. Here's the list.

Tennessee Sports Writers Association
All-State Baseball team
Class A
Pitchers: Stephen Gant, Decatur-Riverside; Brennan Swindoll, Friendship Christian; Bryan Smith, Eagleville.
Catcher: Matt Beaty, Dresden; Hunter Huffman, Peabody; Lucas Jolley, Rockwood
Infielders: Ryne Bivens, Decatur-Riverside; Drew Chambers, Unaka; Will Erwin, Adamsville; Lee Maasen, Friendship Christian; Cruise Smith, Oliver Springs
Outfielders: Chris Hall, Friendship Christian; Trey Hill, Marion Co.; Trey McCalla, Boyd-Buchanan; Brice White, Decatur-Riverside
Utility: Cody Bullwinkel, Cloudland; Andrew Crow, Boyd-Buchanan; Josh Carroll, Adamsville

Class AAA
Pitcher: Logan Gray, Mt. Juliet; Robert Hansen, Beech; Daniel Norris, Science Hill; Philip Pfeifer, Farragut; Nick Williams, Farragut.
Infield: Garrett Baugh, Ooltewah; Ethan Gross, Mt. Juliet; Nicky Delmonico, Farragut; Matt Kirkland, South Doyle; Cole Brand, Bradley Central; Zach Stephens, Soddy-Daisy
Outfield: Tyler Dixon, Collierville; Corderius Dodd, Jackson North Side; Zac Carter, Houston
Catcher: Ethan Bennett, Farragut; Ryan Shelton, Brentwood;
Designated Hitter: Clinton Freeman, David Crockett; Bryce Beeler, Halls; Brycen Roberts, Anderson Co.; Shane Riley, Houston.

Tennessee Sports Writers Association
All-State Softball team
Class A
Pitcher: Lindsey Fadnek, Coalfield; Haley McKinney, South Fulton; Shelby Stinnett, Forrest; Ellen Renfroe, TCA; Lacye Walker, Grace Academy;
Catcher: Haley Elliott, TCA; Andrea Foster, Coalfield; Cassi Pickett, Marion Co.;  Paxton Sisson, South Fulton.
Infield: Laurel Burroughs, Friendship Christian; Lexie Dean, Grace Academy; Amy Johnson, TCA; Alex Richardson, Midway
Outfielder: Erica Casey, East Robertson; Jessica Murrell, Boyd Buchanan; Kaylee Watson, Coalfield

By RICHIE BOUTON, The Wilson Post
LEBANON -- There’s a saying that goes something like “you go into battle with the army you have, not the one you wish you had.”

No one knows that more than McClain Christian Academy Athletic Director Shawn O’Conner. Barely out of his own rookie year teaching at MCA, O’Conner has taken on the task of fielding the school’s first football team. And, ready or not -- the team’s first game is a little  over a month away.

No stranger to the rigors of a busy athletic schedule in addition to academics, O’Conner played freshman football at Lebanon High School, then played basketball and baseball after transferring to Watertown High School.

O’Conner also played jayvee basketball for Cumberland University and did a three-year stint coaching Amateur Athletic Union hoops.

Adding “football coach” to his resume, O’Conner is also the MCA boys basketball coach and says getting the football program going has been humbling and a learning experience.

“It hasn’t been easy,” says O’Conner who jokingly adds that black coffee has been a huge help in getting through the 16-hour days. The amount of support from the MCA parents and community has been overwhelming, but we still have a long way to go.”

Fortunately, O’Conner isn’t going it alone. Volunteering their time, a handful of MCA parents and even a grandparent have stepped up to help with rigors of daily practice.

His assistants are an eclectic mix of old and new that O’Conner says has worked well so far in molding a team on the practice field.

Notable in the MCA coaching staff is former Lebanon High School head football coach David Petty, who was in charge of the Blue Devil program in the early 1970s following the tenure of Jim Meyer and before Ralph Overton. Under Coach Petty, the Blue Devils reached the Mid-State Bowl in 1972, falling to McGavock High.

Petty, a former fullback at Middle Tennessee State University where he played for the legendary Charles “Bubber” Murphy, will run the MCA defense.

“Having access to Coach Petty and his experience has been an incredible resource both on and off the field,” said O’Conner.

O’Conner says one thing his staff has in common is their desire to see the team win their first football game. But before that first win, there had to be practice. And with practice, the specter of injuries showed its head.

The football program was literally days old and O’Conner had a handful of players sitting out with an assortment of injuries.

For established teams with a 40-plus player roster, three or four on the injured list may seem trivial.
For MCA, four or five players sidelined with injuries is a significant percentage of the team. 

“Any injury is one too many,” says O’Conner. “But, injuries are an unfortunate part of the game and we have to address them as they happen.

Taking all the stress involved in starting a football team into consideration, O’Conner has nothing but praise for his fledgling team.

“We literally started with nothing and these young men have given the program an incredible amount of effort,” said O’Conner. “I am very proud of them for stepping up and setting such a good example for our school.”

O’Conner adds that the fact that they are playing on the school’s first football team is important too.
“I hope this is an experience they carry with them for the rest of their lives,” said O’Conner.

MCA will be competing as a junior varsity squad in the Middle Tennessee Athletic Conference, a league composed of approximately 15 similar-sized schools across the state.

“We’re looking at a roster of 16-20 players,” O’Conner said, “we’ve got one senior, two sophomores and the rest of the team is mainly seventh and eighth graders.”

Play in the league is eight-on-eight and not the traditional 11-man format. The school’s athletic teams share the “Bulldog” moniker with partner school Cumberland University.

With a six game regular season slated, the MCA football Bulldogs have their first game scheduled at home against Providence Christian Academy on August 19.

“We have a football field adjacent to our school and hope to have the goal posts installed within the next couple of weeks.

MCA players reported for the start of camp Monday, July 19 with an out-of-two retreat planned for July 23, 24 and 25. The team will visit Sacred Heart School Saturday, July 31 for a scrimmage.

FRONTIER LEAGUE TEAM IN MICHIGAN
Former Cumberland baseball All-Americans Matt Greener and Kris Miller both signed contracts with the Kalamazoo (MI) Kings in the Frontier Independent Baseball League last Friday, playing their first games over the weekend.

Greener was named the NAIA Player of the Year after batting .461 with 26 doubles and leading the nation in hits (116), RBIs (101), total bases (225) and tying Miller for the national lead in home runs (27).

Miller was a First Team All-American and ranked second nationally in total bases (196) and third in RBIs (89) while batting .367. Miller tripled and drove in a run in his first game on Friday for the Kings, singled and collected two RBIs Saturday and recorded one hit Sunday.

Greener singled and scored Friday, added two hits and one RBI Saturday and also singled Sunday.

The Frontier League has 12 teams in Michigan, Illinois, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Missouri, Indiana and Kentucky. More information on the league may be found at www.frontierleague.com/index.php.