Midway through the 2017 season, the Warren County High School Pioneer baseball team is heading into the stretch with a solid 9-5 overall record and 5-2 in the district, second only to the undefeated Rhea County Golden Eagles.
The Pioneers hope to become the spoilers for Rhea County as they have two upcoming games with the Golden Eagles, one Monday at home and Tuesday away. It would be a golden opportunity for the Pioneers to make a move in the district with a set of wins here.
With two victories over Rhea County, Warren County would make a statement in District 6-AAA. The two teams played the first game of the season as the Pioneers went on the road and fell behind early in the contest, 8-4, after two innings. A big inning by Rhea County in the bottom of the fourth cemented its 13-8 victory.
Despite the loss, the Pioneers collected 8 hits in the ballgame and Colby Elkins homered in the first for Warren County, which had the lead 4-2 after one.
District wise, the Pioneers have been playing great baseball so far and have been able to come back in several contests for the win, as the team seems to find a way to make a play all across the roster.
The big bats of Elkins .396, Brooks Helton .366, and Wesley Jennings .341 have complemented a crew of talented players who find a way on base. Elkins leads the district with RBIs at 24 and the team’s combined batting average is .296.
From the mound, the Pioneers have been showing strength with Noah Fann and Helton leading in district stats, while Tyler Hollingsworth earned player of the week honors with 1 win, 0 earned runs, and 8 strikeouts the week of March 20-26. Hollingsworth has an ERA of .412 and with 18 strikeouts, second in the district on both accounts. The Pioneers also have had Trevor Collins on the mound for 12 innings this season and 1 win.
The Pioneers have been doing some excellent field work so far this year, with catcher Nick Williamson rock steady behind the plate with 77 chances, 8 assists, 67 putouts and only 2 errors putting him at a fielding percentage of .974.
Jennings handles the glove well on first with 73 chances, 4 assists, 65 putouts, 4 errors and 3 double plays for a .945 percentage. Second baseman Lucas Rogers has 4 double plays, just behind shortstop Taisei Yasunaga who has 5. Rogers’ percentage is .900 with 19 assists and 17 putouts.
Outfielder Isaac Golden has had 18 chances, 2 assists, 13 putouts, only 1 error, and is sitting at .944.
The Pioneers will play at Patrick Ramsey Field on Monday. The game begins at 5:30 p.m.
District 6-AAA
Standings as of April 6
Rhea County 6-0
Warren County 5-2
Cookeville 3-2
White County 3-3
Cumberland County 0-5
Stone Memorial 0-5
DISTRICT RESULTS
April 4
Warren County - 10 Cumberland County - 5
White County - 10 Cookeville - 9
Rhea County - 13 Stone Memorial - 0
March 29
White County - 16 Stone Memorial - 3
March 28
Rhea County - 19 Cumberland County - 5
White County - 12 Stone Memorial - 2
Cookeville - 9 Warren County - 2
Warren County - 6 Cookeville - 1
March 27
Rhea County - 3 Cumberland County 2
March 22
Cookeville - 9 Cumberland County - 0
March 21
Warren County - 11 Stone Memorial - 0
Rhea County - 8 White County - 1
March 20
Cookeville - 6 Cumberland County – 0
Rhea County - 10 White County - 9
Warren County - 10 Stone Memorial - 0
March 15
Warren County - 8 Rhea County - 13
March 14
White County - 3 Warren County - 13
