We're number two! We're number two!

It's not exactly as catchy as being No. 1. It even flies in the face of Ricky Bobby's mantra, "If you ain't first, you're last."

With all due respect to the best driver to race for Wonder Bread, this week may be one of the few times it would be OK for Warren County teams to finish second.

District 6AAA tournaments will be cranking up (or in the Lady Pioneers' case, continuing). While it stands to reason coaches Gooby Martin, Trice Powers and Matt Jackson aren't lecturing their teams on the joys of finishing second, they know it's the bar they have to clear.

It's all about surviving and advancing this time of year. Teams are going to do whatever it takes to make sure the expiration date doesn't come too quick.

Martin and the Lady Pioneers already have made a solid step toward finishing in the top two in the district tournament, which guarantees a spot in the region tournament. Warren County bounced back from an 8-4 loss Wednesday - one which dropped the Lady Pioneers into a three-way tie for the district title - to beat Rhea County 9-1 Friday.

With one more win Tuesday, the Lady Pioneers would punch their ticket to the region tournament for the second straight year. Two wins and the Lady Pioneers make history - they'd hold the first home region game for the program.

It's doable, especially if Ashton Whiles keeps pitching like she did Friday and the Lady Pioneer lineup keeps cranking out hits.

Likewise, coach Powers has his Pioneer baseball team positioned to contend for the title. Warren County embarks on a three-game series with White County Monday, owners of an eight-game district winning streak.

Throwing Tyler Hollingsworth has pretty much been the formula for one win all season for the Pioneers, while Jack Keele, Brooks Helton and Dylan Ward are all capable of toeing the rubber for Powers. If the Pioneers get past the Warriors, they'd enter a one-game playoff for the right to bring the region back to Patrick Ramsey Field.

The soccer team may enter the tournament as an underdog, but James Jackson gives the Pioneers a chance every time they take the field. Warren County opens against Rhea County, a team it split with in the regular season. Don't count out the Pioneers making a tourney run, especially if Jackson heats up.

There's a dream where Warren County has three fields within 100 yards of each other lit up for region games.

This week, the dream could become a reality.