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Fun Run sees record numbers
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Jacob Carrigan, left, and Anne Hunter Myers were the overall winners of the 5K Fun Run. Carrigan received the Danny Stubblefield Memorial Trophy for taking top honors. - photo by Photo provided

A record number of participants took part in the 30th Annual Stars and Stripes Fun Run Monday in downtown McMinnville.
Over 300 competitors took part in a number of events, headlined by the 5K run. For the second straight year, Nashville resident Jacob Carrigan claimed the overall title in the 3.2- mile run which took runners from Court Square to the Civic Center and back to Main Street.
Carrigan, 30, completed the course in a near-record time of 16:42, nearly three minutes faster than his nearest competitor.
Anne Hunter Myers, 32, was the overall female winner, turning in a time of 20:09.
Carrigan is no stranger to victory at the Stars and Stripes Fun Run. He has won the event several times in the past, including 2010.
For his exceptional effort, Carrigan received the Danny Stubblefield Memorial Trophy. The trophy, standing over six feet tall, is given to the overall winner. The trophy was named after Stubblefield, who was an avid runner and overall winner of the Stars and Stripes 5K run several times in the 1980s.
David Marttala, the chairman of the event for the 11th straight year, was very thrilled with the turnout. The event, co-sponsored by Dr Pepper and McMinnville Noon Rotary, has seen a record number of runners the past two years.
“With over 300 participants, this is the largest event we’ve ever had,” Marttala said Monday during trophy presentations. “We’d like to thank everybody who came out and helped make this event special.”
There were a few surprises for spectators who turned out for the event. Several muskets were shot to announce the start of the race to runners and spectators alike at 7:30 a.m.
Once the race began, some runners seemed to stand out. Ben Myers, competing in the 30-39-year-old male division, ran the entire 5K pushing his child in a stroller.
The entire Warren County High School Lady Pioneer soccer team ran the race side-by-side, wearing matching purple shirts which could be seen all the way down Main Street as they approached the finish line.
Tracey Caten also provided an inspiring story for the 5K walk. Caten was injured last month in a car accident, doing severe damage to her back. Despite the pain, Caten was able to walk the course and finish among the leaders in the walk.
Some dashes to the finish also highlighted a great day for sprinters in Warren County. Grant Hitchcock and James Jackson settled for a tie in the junior division of the one-mile run after both crossed the finish line at the same time. For their efforts, both runners received first-place trophies.
Other winners in the one-mile run include Katie Toney, Kelcey Wilcher and Rachel Miller in the junior divisions and Ray Cantrell and Jana O’Connor in the adult division.
Male and female top finishers in each of the 5K’s age divisions included:
10-under — Gabe Nafrada (26:40) and Gracie Miller (32:52).
10-13 — Cole Millard (20:35) and Katelyn Lepley (27:35).
14-19 male — Amiel Emerson (19:40), Chaz Miller (19:58) and Ryan Gipson (20:39).
14-19 female — Caroline McKinley (28:23), Leah Steakley (28:24) and Allison Hubert (30:54).
20-29 male — Patrick Gibson (21:36), John Hines (23:03) and Jason Austin (24:16).
20-29 female — Alex Smartt (20:29), Carol Nelson (20:35) and Rebecca Murray (21:12)
30-39 male — Michael Mathis (19:43), Travis Crouch (19:50) and Noah Stefanick (20:18).
30-39 female — Emily Graves (21:33), Amanda Chambers (25:03) and Julia Noblin (25:56).
40-49 male — Paul Toney (20:31), Jeff Bandy (20:44) and Mike Mullins (21:51).
40-49 female — Becky Gipson (27:54), Terry Stubblefield (27:59) and Debbi Cole (28:05).
50-59 male — Mark Keisling (19:55), Fred Hoover (21:17) and Richard Evans (21:36).
50-59 female — Leslie Hoover (25:36), Lesa Duvall (29:51) and Betty Troop (33:09)
60+ male — Gerald Goodwin (27:39), Jim Money (38:21) and Mike Galligan (38:23).
60+ female — Darlene Caten (51:00).

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.