Back on the diamond in time for senior night, the WCHS Lady Pioneers dealt another district foe a loss winning 3-0 over the Lady Jets of Cumberland County and staying undefeated in the district 7-0 with a 10-4 record overall.
“I’m happy for our girls to get a win on senior night,” said WCHS Lady Pioneer coach Gooby Martin. “Senior night is tough, especially on the seniors mentally and emotionally. We battled through our nerves and came out with a district win. We need to finish strong in the district and continue to compete and get better.”
It was a classic, low-scoring pitching battle, with Ashton Whiles in the circle for Warren County earning the win, throwing for 6.6 innings. Whiles gave up 0 runs, 3 hits, 2 strikeouts and 0 walks.
The game stayed scoreless until the bottom of the fourth when Hailey Wood hit a home run to left field scoring 1 run for a Lady Pioneer lead that would hold for the rest of the game.
Wood would go on to score the second run of the game after a line-drive single to left field by Whiles that drove in Wood and Skyler Youngblood, 3-0.
Warren County tallied 6 hits in total with Wood going 2-for-3 at the plate and Emily Mikkola, Whiles, Hope Mullican and Bethany Porter all had 1 hit apiece.
The Lady Pioneers are losing five players to graduation this year, as Madison Mason, daughter of Tommy and Lisa Mason, Ashlyn Patterson, daughter of Charlotte Hale and Jamie and Tonya Patterson, Bethany Porter, daughter of Ronnie and Sandy Porter, Neva Tackett, daughter of Ryan and Gail Tackett, and Skyler Youngblood, daughter of Houston and Linsey Youngblood and Leslea Osborne were all honored along with their families before the start of the game.
Some memories of the graduates on their favorite highlight of their softball career are:
“When I hit the game-winning hit against Rhea County.”
 – Neva Tackett
“Winning the CTC in middle school.”
– Madison Mason
“Sitting in the dugout cheering my teammates on.”
– Ashlyn Patterson
“When Kevin started getting my name right … thanks Kevin.”
– Bethany Porter
“Hitting an inside-the-park home run because it showed even if I am a big girl, I still have a little speed.”
– Skyler Youngblood