Lady Pioneer Ashton Whiles pitched a shutout Tuesday night as Warren County High School played host to White County’s Lady Warriors sending them packing, 5-0, in a game the Lady Pioneers dominated.
Whiles only allowed 2 hits in the entire contest, one being a double in the top of the fourth where the runner was left stranded on second. The other was a single which White County couldn’t capitalize on either. Whiles struck out 7.
“Our girls were excited to get back to playing a game after two shortened rainout games,” said Warren County coach Gooby Martin. “It always good to get a district win, especially against a good, quality pitcher. Ashton set the tone on the mound early in the game. She was aggressive and attacking the strike zone. Our defense stepped up and made some plays early. That was great to see.”
“We have been struggling defensively early on this season,” Martin continued. “We swung the bat really well at times. We had 12 hits, which is great, but we also had 8 strikeouts as a team and left too many runners on base. All around it was a good game, a district win, and we’ll take it. We’ll continue to work hard and get better as a team.”
On their at-bats, Warren County started scoring early with 2 runs in the bottom of the first after Emily Mikkola singled with a hard ground ball to third and then advanced to second on a fielder’s choice. Mikkola crossed home plate after Skyler Youngblood hit to shortstop and a Lady Warrior error gave her first, 1-0.
Courtesy runner Madison Mason, in for Youngblood, advanced to second on a passed ball and pitcher Whiles hits a shot to centerfield for a single scoring Mason, 2-0, before the Lady Pioneers took their third out to end the inning.
A static second inning led to the bottom of the third, where Neva Tackett singled on a line drive to right field. With two outs and Tackett now on second, Hope Mullican hit a fly ball to left field giving Tackett running room to score, 3-0.
Having no answers to the Lady Pioneers, Warren County cemented the win by adding 2 runs in the bottom of the fifth. Whiles singled as lead-off batter with Ashlyn Patterson in as a courtesy runner, followed by Mullican who bunted for a single advancing Patterson.
Kyra Hillis sacrificed to third base and Patterson reached third and Mullican second. With two outs, Mason singled a long line drive to centerfield, scoring Patterson with Mullican advancing to third, 4-0. To end the rally, Hailey Wood hit a hard ground ball to left field scoring Mullican, 5-0.
For the Lady Pioneers, Tackett and Wood both had 3 hits, Whiles and Mullican both had 2 and Mikkola, and Mason both had 1 hit each.
The Lady Pioneers hit the road to take on Stone Memorial Thursday night. Results were not available at press time.
Warren County travels to Ooltewah for tournament action Friday and Saturday.