By allowing ads to appear on this site, you support the local businesses who, in turn, support local journalism.
Pioneer offense rules fall camp
Placeholder Image

Hunter Mullican finds a wide receiver in the endzone and Warren County High School coach Tommy Johnson cheers. Cameron Lusk piles through defenders on his way for a touchdown and coach Johnson applauds. D’Andre League gets the ball in space and makes defenders miss while coach Johnson watches in awe.
After a week of fall camp, it is the Pioneer offense that has continually impressed the defensive-minded head coach of the Warren County High School football team. It’s an offense coach Johnson is glad he will be coaching instead of coaching against this fall.
“This is the most comfortable I’ve been with the offense since I arrived,” said Johnson as he enters his fourth year with the Pioneers. “Our offense is making us a better, well-rounded team. It feeds everybody and allows everybody to contribute. We find the open man and make plays.”
The difference between this year’s squad and the first three coach Johnson has put on the field is the leadership on the offensive side. Coach Chris MacKeown has made a smooth transition as the team’s offensive coordinator and his impact is already being felt.
“I wasn’t sure how much coach Mac could install of his system this late after we had a good spring, but he’s been able to tweak his scheme to fit what we have,” said Johnson. “We’ve married together what we did in the spring and what he adds. The kids love it. We’ve got a strong running game and good passing game.”
Coach MacKeown was quick to praise the players he inherited when he started coaching the Pioneers when fall camp began. With Mullican being entrenched as a senior starter at quarterback and surrounded by a cast of seniors on offense, his plans have been executed well this week.
Mullican has benefited by the players surrounding him, many who have paid their dues since their freshman years and are ready to make plays as seniors.
Lusk still looks the part of the bruising running back while standing 6-foot-1 and weighing over 200 pounds, but the senior’s speed has stood out. Lusk came into fall practice after running a 40-yard dash in 4.6 seconds at Tennessee Tech camp in July. Adding breakaway speed to the ability to move the pile for extra yards makes Lusk an even bigger threat this season.
At receiver, the Pioneers have League and Lee Carden entering their senior seasons with a chance to break the school record for receptions set by Mitchell Ashford last year. Ashford graduated with 68 catches, but League and Carden each come into this season with 45 receptions each.
Senior receiver Park Hilliard and senior tight end Drew Davidson also made big plays in the passing game during fall camp, further adding to an already potent Pioneer offense.
While coach Johnson comes out of fall practice very pleased with the play of his team, he realizes there are things to work on before the season starts Friday, Aug. 23 at home against DeKalb County - a team that beat Warren County 50-0 in last year’s season opener.
“We got to get sharper and in shape before the season,” said Johnson. “Knowing our assignments and what we want to do is going to be key.”
Still, coach Johnson coincides that this is the best he has felt about his roster since being in McMinnville.
“This is most excited that I’ve ever been,” said Johnson. “It’s not just from the player’s standout either. Coaching wise I like who we got and what we’re doing.”
The Pioneers will be back on the field Monday as the team continues to work toward the start of the regular season. The countdown to kickoff stands at 19 days.

WCHS baseball, softball compete in weekend tournaments
sports.png

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.