The Warren County High School softball team took baby steps against Lincoln County Monday, but the giant leap was nowhere to be seen.
Three weeks after Lady Falcon Tanner Sanders threw a no-hitter against the Lady Pioneers, Sanders held Warren County to one hit in an 8-0 win for Lincoln County.
The loss for the Lady Pioneers dropped the team to 18-18 overall this season.
Warren County knew facing Sanders a second time would be a challenge, but the Lady Pioneers were determined to at least get a hit this time around.
Chelsea Cope finally broke through in the fifth inning as her infield single broke a streak of 11 hitless innings for the Lady Pioneers against Sanders.
Cope was one of three base runners for Warren County Monday. Sarah Jacobs and Monica Lane each drew walks. Lane advanced to third on two passed balls, but the Lady Pioneers failed to score for the second straight time against the dominant pitcher.
Lincoln County opened the game with three runs in the first, then built the lead to four by the start of the fifth inning.
Cope gave the Lady Pioneers something to celebrate when she reached on an infield single. Cope hit a dribbler and used her speed to beat the throw to first. Cope didn’t stay on long. The speedy senior was thrown out trying to steal second.
The Lady Falcons added two more runs in the fifth, then a two-run home run in the sixth finished the scoring.
Gabi Keith took the loss against Lincoln County, pitching six innings and allowing eight runs on 10 hits while striking out three and walking three. Keith has 117 strikeouts this season.
The Lady Pioneers did pick up a big victory Monday though. Warren County earned the No. 2 seed in the District 6-AAA tournament thanks to a tiebreaker.
Warren County finished the District 6-AAA season with a 4-4 record. Cookeville also finished 4-4, while White County had a chance to move to 4-4 with a win last night against Cumberland County. Warren County split its regular-season series with Cookeville. The Lady Pioneers also split with White County. Cookeville and White County also split, sending the district to its second tiebreaker.
With runs allowed in district play being the next tiebreaker, the Lady Pioneers are assured the No. 2 seed in this weekend’s District 6-AAA tournament. Warren County has allowed 31 runs in eight games, while Cookeville has given up 42. White County had surrendered 43 runs going into last night’s game.
Warren County will begin play in the District 6-AAA tournament Friday night against Cookeville, the No. 3 seed. The game, which will be played in Coffee County, is set to begin at 5 p.m.