Jumping to an early first-inning lead, the WCHS Pioneers went on to score in each of the first five innings, run-ruling district opponent Stone Memorial on Tuesday 12-0 on the road.
“We did what we needed to do to win the game,” said WCHS baseball coach Adam Childs. “Stone has been struggling so we knew we needed to get out in front and not give them a chance. I was real happy how we got ahead and put them away.”
Noah Fann didn’t allow a single run on the mound for the Pioneers, earning the win, throwing for all 5 innings, allowing only 1 hit and getting 1 strikeout.
Taking advantage of Stone’s sloppy defense in the top of the first, Brooks Helton reached on a pop fly scoring runners Taisei Yasunaga and Lucas Rogers, 2-0. Isaac Golden reached off an error by the Panther second baseman scoring Helton, 3-0, and Wesley Jennings doubled on a line drive to left field scoring Golden, 4-0.
After retiring the side, Stone went three and out on its at-bats, and the Pioneers just kept tacking on the runs scoring 8 more runs in the next 4 innings.
The Pioneers garnered 11 hits in the contest with Rogers going 3-for-4 at the plate with 3 RBIs, Cole Estes had 2 hits and 2 RBIs and Yasunaga (1 RBI), Helton, Golden (1 RBI), Jennings (1 RBI), Nick Williamson, and Ethan Smith all had 1 hit each in the ballgame.
The Pioneers committed 0 errors with Yasunaga having the most chances with four.
Warren County is now 9-3 in the district at 17-10 overall, leaving the Pioneers currently in a three-way tie for first place in the district with Cookeville and Rhea County. Cookeville stands with 106 runs scored, Rhea at 93 and Warren at 85.
The Pioneers have a non-district home game against Tullahoma on Saturday night at 6 p.m., followed by a road trip to Cumberland County to face the Jets on Monday night beginning at 5:30 p.m.