By allowing ads to appear on this site, you support the local businesses who, in turn, support local journalism.
Lady Cosmos star at state
Katie Toney
Jacob Dodd photos Katie Toney works to keep the ball in front of her during the TN State Cup over Memorial Day Weekend. The Lady Cosmos, a local club soccer team, advanced to the semifinals of the prestigious state tournament.
Jeffery Simmons
Updated: Jun 9, 2018, 11:12 PM
Published: Jun 9, 2018, 11:13 PM

"Age is just a number" is an old adage the Lady Cosmos prove each time they take the pitch.

The local club soccer team takes on all-comers, despite many times competing against players with 2-3 years of added experience.

The restraints didn’t seem to bother the Lady Cosmos over Memorial Day weekend, when the team advanced to the semifinals in the TN State Cup tournament.

“We constantly have to combine age groups to make teams and that puts us at a disadvantage to most other competitive club teams who have groups with all one age group,” said Lady Cosmos coach Myra Jackson. “We had a good run. They have an insatiable desire to win and that is how we have gotten so far.”

It seemed to pay off this season.

In their first year competing in the TN State League, the Lady Cosmos finished third in a high-powered league featuring teams from all across the state. Jackson entered the group, which has been playing together since 2014, forward in the 2003 age bracket, despite only having three players who were relegated to the bracket.

Jackson’s 17-player roster consisted of Jessi Alvarez, Sami Anderson, Bailey Bundy, Jessica Chastain, Claire Colvard, Ella Colvard, Journey Cowan, Molly Dodd, Savanna Duggin, Bekah Jackson, Alondra Parada, Shelby Roberts, Hailey Simpson, Caroline Stiles, Natalie Stepien, Katie Toney and Carmen Verdel.

The majority of the team was forced to play at a higher level, something Jackson believes made her team better as the season went along.

“Most of our girls always have to play an age group, or two, up. It’s taught the girls the discipline of hard work – we have to put in harder work than the older teams we play,” said Jackson. “My girls may not be as big or as old as our opponents, but we always are the team that works the hardest and never gives up.”

In the tournament, the Lady Cosmos matched up against NUSA from Nashville. After falling behind 2-0 by halftime, the Lady Cosmos rallied to tie the game late in the second half.

Just as the momentum was swinging toward the Lady Cosmos, the game was paused as a weather delay forced both teams off the field. When play resumed, a refreshed NUSA scored in the final five minutes to prevail.

“I think the weather delay worked in their favor. They were tired and we were wearing them down with our persistent attack,” said Jackson. “Our team is very fit. We had worked on fitness heavily in the last month because I knew that could be the difference between winning and losing.”

The loss may have been a downer at the end, but the Lady Cosmos proved their mettle around the state.
WCHS baseball, softball compete in weekend tournaments
sports.png
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.