Doctors may need to be on scene at Patrick Ramsey Field for all Warren County High School baseball games. It seems each time the Pioneers take the field, heart-stopping action awaits.
The Pioneers claimed their third walk-off win – and second in four nights – this season Thursday when Hunter Mullican hit a game-winning double to lift his team to 6-5 victory over Sequatchie County.
Warren County (9-8) has been no stranger to late-game heroics this year and Mullican added another moment Thursday night. The senior left fielder celebrated his 18th birthday in style when he hit a 0-1 pitch deep into center field. The ball went to the fence and allowed Chayse Frye and Jerrick McKnight to score and cap a three-run rally by the Pioneers as the team won for the fourth time in five games.
Warren County had celebrated earlier in the week when Jon Reed hit a walk-off home run to beat Stone Memorial, but the team’s late-game dramatics date back to the first game of the season. The Pioneers started the year with a 2-1 victory over Coffee County in 14 innings – a game where Warren County walked off with a win following a Red Raider error.
Thursday’s contest looked destined for another thrilling finish when the Pioneers went into the bottom of the seventh trailing 5-3, but quickly loaded the bases with no outs. Lee Carden started the inning with a single before Chayse Frye doubled and Lucas Rogers was hit by a pitch.
With Rogers trotting to first to load the bases, Monday’s hero walked to the plate with another chance to win the game with one swing. Reed battled to a full count, but his chance to make another memory was taken from him on the payoff pitch. Indian reliever Aaron Grayson came too far inside against Reed and hit the Pioneer third baseman, bringing in Carden and moving the winning run to second base.
It was only fitting the birthday boy would come up with a chance to win and Mullican came through for the Pioneers. His double ignited another big celebration for the Pioneers, one Mullican cherished on his birthday.
“It was awesome. I wasn’t having the best day until that happened, so it ended really well,” said Mullican. “I’m glad I got a chance at the plate to make something happen.”
Warren County out hit the Indians 12-3 in the contest, but Sequatchie County made the most of its hits off Pioneer starter Collin Smedley. The Indians plated one run in the first on a double, then tied the game at 2-2 in the fifth inning on a single after the Pioneers had rallied to take the lead in the fourth. Sequathie County went up 4-2 in the fifth on a costly Pioneer error and add another run in the sixth inning to lead 5-3.
Warren County got on the scoreboard in the third inning when Carden  hit a solo home run that knotted the score at 1-1.
The Pioneers would go ahead 2-1 in the fourth inning when Mullican scored on an overthrow at first base following a bunt by Isaac Golden, but the Pioneers wouldn’t lead again until the final swing after Sequatchie County scored three in the fifth inning.
Warren County responded with an RBI single from Rogers in the bottom of the fifth, keeping the home team within striking distance heading into the final stretch.
Smedley worked into the seventh inning before being relieved by Ryan Jennings with two on and one out. Jennings, who would earn the win, got out of the inning without having to retire a batter. Jennings picked off the lead runner at second base before throwing a pitch, then worked to a full count while the second runner stole second. Instead of going to the plate with the payoff pitch, Jennings saw the runner straying too far from second and got another pickoff to end the inning. It was an exciting way to end the top of the seventh and the Pioneers would carry that momentum into their comeback win.
Smedley didn’t earn a decision, but pitched six-plus innings and allowed five runs on three hits while striking out five and walking four.
Mullican finished with a team-high two RBIs on his game-winning hit while Carden led the team with three hits – including his first home run this season.
Warren County will be back at home Tuesday when it plays a District 6-AAA game against Cumberland County. The Pioneers will make the trip to Crossville Monday as part of a home-and-home series with the Jets. Both games are scheduled to start at 5:30 p.m.