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Fisher's goal helps Predators edge Ducks 4-3
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NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — The Nashville Predators may bend. They're trying to prove they've learned to bounce back and finish what they started.

Mike Fisher broke a tie at 10:21 of the third period, and the Predators took advantage of Bobby Ryan sitting out the first of his two-game suspension by beating the Anaheim Ducks 4-3 on Sunday for a 2-1 lead in the Western Conference first-round playoff series.

The Predators outshot Anaheim 37-16 overall and led 2-0 after the first period before Teemu Selanne scored two goals 30 seconds apart late in the second to tie it.

"That could've been a real dagger if we let that one slip away," Nashville captain Shea Weber said. "They didn't really have a lot of chances, but the chances they had they scored."

The NHL suspended Ryan on Saturday for stomping Predators defenseman Jonathon Blum's foot late in the Ducks' 5-3 victory Friday night. Ryan also will miss Game 4 on Wednesday night in Nashville when the Predators have a chance to take their first 3-1 lead in their short history.

"It's a big game," Weber said. "Obviously, we can't have any letdowns. I think Game 2, we came out a little sloppy, took too many penalties and really gave them the momentum back."

Martin Erat had a power-play goal and an assist, David Legwand and Jordin Tootoo also scored, and Ryan Suter had two assists to help Nashville improve to 4-0 in Game 3s on home ice.

Corey Perry had two assists on Selanne's goals. Matt Beleskey also had a goal in another physical and tight game between the teams, tying it 1:23 after Legwand gave Nashville a 3-2 lead early in the third.

Fisher put Nashville ahead to stay at 4-3 with his third goal of the series, scoring off a nice pass from Sergei Kostitsyn with a wrister near the post that appeared to go off goalie Ray Emery.

"It was an unbelievable play by my linemates," Fisher said. "Sergei made a great pass, and I buried it."

Saku Koivu hooked Blum with 2:20 left, putting Nashville on the power play and keeping the Ducks from pulling Emery for an extra attacker until it was too late. That scenario brought back memories for Nashville, which blew a one-goal lead in Chicago while trying to finish the game late with the man advantage. This time, the Predators sealed the win.

"I think we exorcised a little ghost there," Nashville coach Barry Trotz said.

"We handled it well ... You always get tested a lot of different ways and maybe the best thing that could happen we came out and hand to battle to the end."

The Predators are looking for their first playoff series' victory in their sixth postseason in seven years. With Ryan out, the Predators had to seize the opportunity, especially playing before a sellout crowd that was very loud from before the opening faceoff to the final horn.

Only Emery making great save after save kept the Predators from blowing out the Ducks, especially early.

Selanne was blunt in his assessment of the Ducks' play.

"We had no business in this game. ... No business. They wanted it more. They won the battles. We were lucky to even be in this game. I'm very disappointed," Selanne said.

Ryan is part of the Ducks' top offensive line with Ryan Getzlaf and Perry and one of the best in the NHL. Ryan ranked second on the team with 34 goals and had a career-high 71 points. Anaheim coach Randy Carlyle started Brandon McMillan at left wing for Ryan, adding more speed over Ryan's size.

"The first 30 minutes we stood around and really didn't get our feet moving," Carlyle said. "We committed some atrocious turnovers in the hockey game in the defensive zone. If we don't play better defensively than we played tonight, then I don't think we can give ourselves much of a chance."

The Predators opened by taking the first five shots, and the Ducks didn't get their first shot on net until 9:33 of the first by Francois Beauchemin. When Luca Sbisa was called for roughing Matt Halischuk, that gave Nashville the opening it needed.

Erat scored with 8 seconds left on the man advantage with a wrister over Emery's glove with 5 minutes left in the period for his seventh career postseason goal. The goal hadn't been announced when Getzlaf had an ugly turnover with the puck going to Tootoo. He hit the post, then tapped the puck back into the open net for his first goal of the series with 4:22 to go for the 2-0 lead.

Getzlaf apparently tried to fire up his teammates late in the second. He skated up to Mike Fisher, then dropped a glove as the two fought briefly. That meant Getzlaf was in the box when Shane O'Brien drew an elbowing penalty, but Selanne and Perry took care of things.

Perry fed the puck to Selanne for a wrister from the slot with 1:50 left to pull Anaheim to 2-1 on just the Ducks' ninth shot on Pekka Rinne. Selanne tied it up 30 seconds later with a wrister behind Rinne from the side of the net on another assist by Perry.

Legwand scored his first this series on a cross-ice pass from Suter at 5:25 of the third to put Nashville up 3-2. But that didn't last long as Beleskey scored his first at 6:48, knocking the puck from Koivu off Nashville defenseman Cody Franson's skate past Rinne.

"It's been frustrating for them to get a couple breaks when we're playing so well," Fisher said. "We just stuck with it. We never let up. We didn't sit back, and that was huge for us."

 

WCHS baseball, softball compete in weekend tournaments
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One day after a close home win over Cumberland County Thursday night, the Warren County baseball team was back on the road for a weekend tournament slate. Taking part in the Viking Classic, the Pioneers went 2-2 across Friday and Saturday’s contests.

Kicking things off against Huntland at Tullahoma High School Friday evening, Warren County notched its third straight victory with a 4-3 decision over the Hornets.

Sam Robinson had three of the team’s eight hits. Ryder Gilispie followed with two. Tyler Adams, Jerren Harris and Keaton Rowe each added one hit.

Gilispie and Harris were both credited with one RBI each.

Adams, Robinson, Gilispie and Adrian Harris each scored one run.

On the mound, Miguel Garcia pitched four innings, finishing with four strikeouts, two hits, three runs and four walks. Keagan Thompson followed for two innings, striking out two.

In the nightcap, the Pioneers were held scoreless in an 8-0 shutout against the host Wildcats. Robinson had Warren County’s lone hit of the game.

Hayven Jones pitched 1.1 innings, recording one strikeout, four hits, seven runs and two walks. Jerren Harris came on for 2.2 innings, finishing with two hits, one run and four walks.

Back in action for day two of the tournament at Cascade High School, the Pioneers bounced back with a 9-8 win over the host Champions Saturday morning.

The team finished with nine hits, led by Adams and Robinson with two each. Gilispie, Jerren Harris, Adrian Harris, Woogs Bryan and Corban Felton all added one.

Bryan led the team in RBI with four of its eight. Gilispie, Felton, Jerren Harris and Brady Norris each brought in one.

Jaytton Baker went 3.1 innings on the bump, striking out five and coming off with eight hits and five runs. Lealon Arnold followed for 1.2 innings, striking out one and adding two hits and three runs. Gilispie pitched for one inning and recorded two strikeouts and one hit.

Closing out the weekend against Alabama’s Heritage Christian, Warren County came out on the losing end of a 14-6 contest. At the plate, Jerren Harris led the way with two of the team’s eight hits. Adams, Gilispie, Bryan, Felton, Adrian Harris and Evan Snapp all followed with one each.

The Pioneers posted four RBI, with two each for Adams and Snapp.

Snapp had two of the team’s six runs, with one each for Adams, Gilispie, Felton and Jones.

Braden Whinnery pitched 2.2 innings, striking out four and surrendering seven hits, five runs and one walk. Rowe followed for 0.2 innings, adding four hits and five runs. Up next was Keagan Thompson, who went one inning and came off with five hits and four runs. Daylen Holguin wrapped up the day, striking out one and allowing one hit over 0.2 innings.

WCHS softball goes 1-3 through weekend

The Lady Pioneers got their Southern Warrior Classic schedule started with a game against Summertown Friday evening, a matchup in which they fell 10-1.

Warren County finished with six hits, with two each for Ky Damon, Lola Wells and Kaydence Wiser.

Wiser had a home run in the top of the fourth inning for the team’s lone run.

In the circle, Ceilee Gudat pitched 3.1 innings and finished with one strikeout, nine hits, 10 runs and two walks. Kyaira Sharpe followed for the game’s remainder, closing out the last 0.2 innings.

The Lady Pioneers were again bested in their second Friday night game, falling 10-2 to Moline (Ill.).

Wells led the Warren County hitting effort with two of the team’s six. Damon, Callie Roberts, Cortlyn Porter and Ali Young each added one.

Wells and Lily Rains had one run each.

Ruby Denning had one strikeout and gave up eight hits, 10 runs and three walks across all four innings.

The Lady Pioneers had better luck in their Saturday morning opener, flying ahead with an 11-run fifth inning to take down Illinois’s Oswego East 15-9.

Warren County racked up 12 hits over the course of the game, with two each for Rains, Wells, Sharpe, Porter and Addison Smith. This included home runs for both Wells and Smith. Damon and Young both added one hit each.

Smith led the Lady Pioneers in RBI with four of their 15, followed by Sharpe with three. Rains and Wells both had two RBI. Damon, Wiser, Porter and Young all tacked on one.

Sharpe pitched the first four innings and came out with 13 hits, nine runs and two walks. Denning added one hit across one inning.

Warren County was unable to duplicate this in their final game of the weekend later that afternoon, falling 3-2 to Stewarts Creek.

The team notched six hits, with two each for Rains and Porter. Damon and Wiser both added one hit.

Rains had the Lady Pioneers’ lone RBI.

On the rubber, Gudat pitched all five innings, striking out three and finishing the day with five hits, three runs and one walk.