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First National wins Babe Ruth championship
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First National Bank pulled off a sweep of the two titles in the boys 13-15-year-old Babe Ruth league on Thursday.
First National, the regular-season champion, defeated Rotary Club 6-5 to claim the tournament title on Edley Newman Field.
Chase Hillis brought in the game-winning run with a sacrifice in the fifth inning and Dustyn Kilgore battled out of a bases-loaded jam in the seventh to pick up a crucial save in the championship.
Rotary Club picked up an early 3-0 lead with a run in the first, second and fourth innings, but First National Bank used a five-run fourth to move out front.
Hillis’ sacrifice to bring in Charles Calvert in the fifth made it 6-3, but Rotary Club closed to within one in the sixth after Ethan Fliss stole home on a passed ball and Adrian Lusk knocked in a run with a single.
Everything rested on the arm of Kilgore in the top of the seventh. Trying to protect a one-run lead, Kilgore quickly picked up two outs to begin the seventh inning.
A two-out walk to Brayden Neal gave Rotary new life. Noah Kuykendall followed with a single, moving the tying run into scoring position.
Another single by Christian Barrett loaded the bases for Fliss, Rotary’s clean-up batter and one of the top hitters in the league.
Kilgore battled to a full count with Fliss as the pressure mounted after each pitch. Having to throw a strike or let the tying run score on a walk, Kilgore got Fliss to strike out swinging to end the game.
First National’s win wouldn’t have happened without the offense waking up the fourth inning. Austin Wright ignited the rally with a lead-off single, then stole second base. Wright would score on a double by Glen Llewellyn to put First National on the board.
A walk to Kilgore was followed by two infield fly balls, which nearly ended the rally. Austin Melton was able to come up with a clutch hit though, as his two-run double tied the game at three.
A.D. Majors would keep the ball rolling with a single, followed by another single by Sweeton which scored Melton. Majors would put the final touches on the five-run inning by stealing home on a passed ball.
Sweeton turned over the game to Kilgore after pitching five solid innings.
Sweeton allowed only three hits over five innings to pick up the win in the championship.
Rotary built its early lead by using small ball. In the first inning, Barrett brought in Neal with a sacrifice ground out. In the second, Brody Fernandez made it 2-0 by stealing three bases after a walk.
Rotary’s final run off a Sweeton came in the fourth when Fernandez lead off the inning with a triple and scored on a sacrifice by Lusk.
Lusk would end up taking the loss for Rotary. Lusk relieved Barrett in the third inning and allowed six runs on seven hits. Barrett pitched the first two innings, striking out four while allowing one hit and no runs.
Sweeton, Wright, Llewellyn, Calvert, Melton, Majors and Bradley Stewart each had hits in the victory for First National Bank.
Izzy McDonnell led Rotary with two hits in the championship. Neal, Kuykendall, Barrett, Fernandez, Lusk and Jordan Bonner had one hit apiece.

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.