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Diamonds in the rough
Young Pioneers making strides
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With seniors sitting in several starting spots on the Warren County High School football team’s depth chart, young Pioneers have had to work hard to make an impression during fall practice.
Coach Tommy Johnson has wanted to see his veteran players tested by some relative newcomers and several players have stepped up to the challenge. Whether it has been opportunities due to another player’s injuries or moving positions, coach Johnson is seeing new players step up on a daily basis.
“With some guys having injuries and sitting out, other players have stepped in and made an impression,” said Johnson. “We have guys taking advantage of the reps they are getting and making themselves better each day.”
Darius Wright is one player who went into fall practice searching for a spot and may leave practice as one of the team’s most indispensable players. The skilled sophomore got his opportunity when junior fullback Tristan Reish had to miss practice due to a shoulder injury, opening the door for a Wright to emerge.
Wright has been a wrecking ball carrying the football ever since. With a rugged running style and the ability to protect the passer, Wright figures to be a part of the rotation at running back and fullback the rest of the season.
Other young players making a push for significant playing time include sophomores Rickie King and Jordan Tidwell, along with freshman lineman Ethan Stuart.
King made the transition from WCMS running back to cornerback during his first season at Warren County High School last year. Playing time was sparse behind seniors Ty Worthington and Alex Hillis, but their graduation opened the door for King to make his impact. Coach Johnson, a former defensive back, thinks King can be the team’s lock-down corner.
Tidwell is also making strides in the Pioneer secondary at free safety. Tidwell turned heads with his physical play at wide receiver as a freshman and that physicality is paying dividends on defense this year.
Tidwell is currently starting on the back line of the defense while senior Lee Carden recovers from a leg injury. The sophomore free safety should remain in the regular playing rotation after Carden’s return.
Stuart was a player the coaching staff wanted to bring along slowly, but his size and skill are too much to keep off the field. Stuart, standing 6-foot-1 and weighing 290 pounds, already has the physical tools to compete on the varsity level.
His grasp of the team’s offense is improving every day, making him a viable option to be a starter on opening night Friday, Aug. 23.
Park Hilliard is a newcomer to the Pioneers this year like Stuart, but he is three years older than the freshman lineman. Hilliard is making a return to the football program in his senior year after a taking last season off to focus on baseball.
Coaches have welcomed Hilliard’s comeback with open arms as the lanky receiver could be a difference maker in the team’s passing attack.
Another senior turning heads is Christian Taylor, although not at the position most expected. Taylor received extensive playing time at linebacker last year, but has stood out to coaches in practices this year on the offensive line.
Taylor plays with good pad leverage and works hard while playing guard during the absence of senior Ethan Turner, who is expected to miss a few more days while dealing with a hip injury. When Turner returns, Taylor still will be counted on to provide depth on the interior of the line.
Junior Bryson Lewis is another Pioneer enjoying a resurgence during fall practice. Lewis arrived at WCHS with most expecting the 1,400-yard rusher at WCMS to make an immediate impact. Although Lewis has played the last two years, his numbers never stood out as a superstar in the making.
With new offensive coordinator Chris MacKeown bringing in a new scheme, Lewis has emerged as a threat out of the backfield once again. Coach Johnson has praised the junior running back for his aggressiveness during practice and is hopeful he can be a great change-of-pace back behind starter Cameron Lusk.
Players will get to make their mark this Friday when the Pioneer football teams travel for preseason scrimmages. The varsity team will go to the Marshall County jamboree Friday to play two quarters against Lincoln County.
Coach Greg Cotten will be taking the freshman and junior varsity Pioneers to Manchester for a scrimmage against Coffee County.

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.