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Boyd looks to start 8-man football team
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Big football news keeps coming in Warren County.
Boyd Christian School is currently exploring the option of fielding an 8-man high school football team in the future and athletic director Brent Warren has received board approval to begin searching for a head coach to lead the program.
Warren has long wanted to grow the athletic landscape at the local private school and, at long last, football has been given the green light.
“We started talking about beginning a football program three years ago. When the economic turn happened, we postponed the plans,” said Warren. “Over the last six months, we started talking about reviving those plans and started the process of putting it in motion in October.
“In early January, the board accepted our proposal and we started the hiring process. At this point we’re still pursuing the right coach. We have several interviews planned and will be announcing a coach in the near future.”
Currently, Boyd High School offers basketball and cross country for Broncos and Lady Broncos. The middle school also fields squads in those sports, along with having a baseball team. Football would be a huge boost for the Broncos, who had hoped the announcement of a football program would also come with the naming of Greg Cotten as football coach.
Cotten had been in constant talks with Boyd from early December – coinciding with his resignation from the WCHS coaching staff that was confirmed by former Pioneer head coach Tommy Johnson – until last week when he formally accepted the position Wednesday, Jan. 8. Just two days later, Cotten informed Warren through email he would be leaving the program.
It was a tough loss for the Boyd program as it felt great disappointment the person who originally approached the school about starting football would leave once the Broncos made the commitment to him.
“Of course we are disappointed in how things developed. We thought we had a coach wanting to help build the program,” said Warren. “We went above and beyond to do whatever this coach wanted. After he committed to us, he was then persuaded to reconsider from sources within Warren County to not accept the position. We are moving on and are seeking the right person to make this program successful.”
Cotten was remorseful for his decision – one he admits was wrong.
“I have nothing negative to say about the Boyd Christian family and I wish them the best,” said Cotten. “I understand accepting the position, then backing out was wrong. I accept responsibility and the negative feelings that come with it.”
Cotten confirmed he backed out of the Boyd job to accept a position on new WCHS football coach Scott Smith’s staff.
“Having a position with coach Smith did change my mind. I understand the timing and how I handled the situation wasn't professional and for that I am sorry,” said Cotten. “The main reason for staying is to continue working with the young men I have been with the past six years. We've had a lot of success at the middle school and junior varsity levels and I wanted to stay and continue on that success rather than potentially taking from that success to start somewhere new.”
With Cotten out of the picture, Boyd has moved on to new candidates. Warren wants a person who will commit to the program and stay committed for the long haul.
“We are seeking someone who wants to put their stamp on Boyd Christian football in the beginning phase – someone who wants to help build a program from 8-man to 11-man football over the coming years,” said Warren. “We want someone with high character who means what they say and says what they mean. We thought we had the right person to help us move forward, but it’s better now to find out he wasn't as committed as we were led to believe than to find out months down the road.
“We believe over the coming days we will find the right person to lead us. We teach our kids every day to keep moving forward no matter what obstacle is put in place. We will do as we teach.”
The Broncos would like to have at least 20 players before beginning a team, but the school hasn’t set an exact number for its squad. Boyd has been contacted by several interested players and parents about the program.
The Broncos will play in the Middle Tennessee Athletic Conference – the same league the school’s other sports programs participate in. Warren believes the growing popularity of 8-man football could be a drawing point.
“Eight-man football is growing very fast in the Middle Tennessee area. Currently there are 12 teams in the Midstate,” said Warren. “Each year they are adding new teams. Eight-man football is huge in several surrounding state and is growing each year in the United States.”

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.