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JROTC Raiders win Hurricane Challenge
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Photos provided There were plenty of trophies that came back with the JROTC Pioneer Battalion from East Hamilton Saturday. The Raider boys team won the overall event, while the girls finished second and the co-ed team placed in the top three in two events.
Jeffery Simmons
Published: Sep 21, 2022, 3:21 AM
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Co-ed team members Jonathan Cox, left, and Cole Pendergraph participate in the log carry in Saturday's Hurricane Challenge at East Hamilton High School.

Don’t look now, but the Pioneer Battalion Raiders are starting to find their groove once again. The local JROTC program, which has been among one of the top squads in the state for the last three years, has won back-to-back events after claiming the top spot at East Hamilton over the weekend.

The Pioneer Raider team was the top finisher in the Hurricane Challenge, outlasting 32 teams for the trophy Saturday. It came on the heels of the group winning top honors at Bring the Sting event at Fairview High School Sept. 10.

“It was another awesome weekend in the books for the Pioneer Raider team,” said First Sergeant Tim Howard after his team’s second straight victory Saturday.

The Pioneer Battalion just missed out in sweeping the three divisions in the Hurricane Challenge. The girls finished second overall, while the co-ed team had a pair of top-3 finishes in events.

The boys set the tone, claiming individual victories in the rope bridge, obstacle and terrain run (which featured a log carry). The Pioneer Raider team was also second in the uphill equipment carry and “Murph” challenge, giving them more than enough points to pace the field.

It’s been a great two weeks for the team, which has incorporated some new athletes this year after last year’s run to being a top-10 team in the nation. It seems like the Raiders haven’t missed a beat.

 “The key is just perseverance – just following your training and push through it while leaning on each other. It’s about work ethic and never giving up,” said Howard.

The girls won the uphill equipment carry and took second in the rope bridge – one of the group’s favorite events – and the terrain run/log carry. 

The co-ed team had its best finish in the uphill equipment carry as well, finishing second. 

This Saturday, the Pioneer Battalion will have a new test. The local Raiders will be the host school for a 32-team event at Warren County High School. The group won’t be participating, but they will be in charge of organizing and running the event. Action will be ongoing Saturday on the JROTC course behind the school if locals want to see the grueling tasks and precision training required of the young cadets across the state.
WCHS baseball, softball compete in weekend tournaments
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Matt Tyson
Published: Apr 2, 2025, 10:16 PM

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.